Kevin Phillips: Kenneth Zohore may have played final match for West Brom
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…
Kevin Phillips expects West Brom to sell or either loan out Kenneth Zohore before the transfer deadline next Tuesday.
Zohore, 27, was woeful in Albion’s 6-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night and he was booed off the pitch when he was substituted just after an hour of play.
Since joining from Cardiff for £8million in 2019, Zohore has consistently struggled for the Baggies while he also failed to have much of an impact in an injury-ravaged loan spell at Millwall last season.
West Brom signed Norwich striker Jordan Hugill on a season-long loan prior to the loss to Arsenal, adding an extra option for Valerien Ismael in attack.
When asked if he feels Zohore has played his final game for the club, Phillips told West Brom News: “Hand on heart, my honest opinion is yes.
“Now that Hugill has been brought in, I’d be very surprised if Zohore was named in the squad in the coming weeks.
“If his injury’s not too bad, they may move him on before the window shuts.
“I don’t think Ismael had any other to play Zohore [against Arsenal] because he didn’t want to use any of his first-team players.
“It was just a case of letting him get fit in case there’s anyone out there who’ll take him on loan or permanently.
“I’d be very surprised if you saw him in a West Brom shirt again.”
Before being named to start against Arsenal in what was effectively an Under-23s line-up, Zohore had been left out of two matchday squads by Ismael in the Championship.
He has another two years left on his deal at The Hawthorns, meaning it could be difficult to flog a striker who’s shy of goals, low on confidence, struggling to impress and prone to injuries.
In other West Brom news, talkSPORT reporters have blasted the club for a “disgrace” they noticed against Arsenal.
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