Kevin Phillips doubts West Brom will make move for Leeds United ace Alioski
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kieran Gibbs will be leaving West Brom at the end of the season to join Inter Miami and that is bound to prompt a search for a new left-back.
Conor Townsend looks set to be the only left-back the Baggies have going into next season, which is likely to be in the Championship due to the club’s perilous position in the Premier League with nine matches left to play.
One player who’s been played at left-back in the Premier League and could be available for free in the summer is Leeds United ace Ezgjan Alioski with his contract at Elland Road expiring at the end of June.
According to Football Insider, Galatasaray have agreed to sign the 29-year-old North Macedonia international on a pre-contract basis.
In an exclusive interview with West Brom News, Kevin Phillips was asked whether he thinks Alioski should be someone the Baggies try to land before that agreement with Galatasaray becomes watertight.
However, Super Kev doesn’t believe signing Alioski would be the best of ideas as the left-back role isn’t his natural position.
“I don’t think they would look at him as a left-back,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“If I’m in charge there, I’d be looking at specialising. I know it’s difficult and they’re hard to come by but Alioski, is he really a left-back? Is he really defensive-minded? Not really.
“If you want to come back up next year you need a solid back-four and a proper left-back is certainly something I’d be looking at.”
Alioski has made 29 appearances in all competitions for Leeds this season and has started 20 of their 29 Premier League fixtures.
Most of those appearances have seen Alioski start in the left-back slot for the Yorkshire club with him scoring from that position against West Brom at The Hawthorns in December.
Luke Dowling faces quite a rebuild at The Hawthorns in the summer with it seeming as though a new manager and an upheaval of the squad could take place.
Numerous players will be out of contract while loan deals will also expire at the end of the season, leaving the Baggies down to the bare bones.
Exploiting the free-agent market could be a way to add to the squad and cut down on expenditure but if Phillips is right, Alioski won’t be someone Albion will try to sign unless they see him as someone who could fill in a gap in the attack.
In other West Brom news, Albion have set their sights on this 24-year-old goalkeeper who made two stunning saves for his country this week.
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