West Brom View: Reyes Cleary contract vital for club’s academy
The West Brom academy may have only been set up in 2003, but they are already facing a crucial negotiation to keep the fans onside.
Reyes Cleary has been in ultra prolific form for the club’s Under-23 side this season with the 17-year-old bagging seven goals while playing against players nearly five years his senior.
But he is still yet to sign a professional deal at the Hawthorns and getting him tied down is of high significance to the club.
A goal-scoring record like Cleary’s has understandably been catching the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs including German giants Bayern Munich, according to the Daily Mail.
But there are reasons to be encouraged for Baggies fans with a new development surfacing.
According to The Athletic, Cleary has been “encouraged by Albion’s plans for his future and the parties are not far apart financially”.
All the signs suggest Cleary will sign a new deal at the Hawthorns which may be the most crucial deal the club do all season.
A prolific striker is the most sought after player at any level of football and the Baggies’ first team have found goals hard to come by so far in 2021-22.
Cleary has featured in matchday squads for Valerien Ismael but if the drought continues, The Frenchman might have to give the kid a chance.
There are examples of other clubs being forced to use an academy player and reap the rewards when they step up to the plate.
Most notably, Liverpool were left with no other option than playing a young Trent Alexander-Arnold away at Old Trafford and the England star has become one of the Anfield club’s most crucial components.
There is no guarantee that the same will happen with Cleary but given the dry spell in front of goal, West Brom could do a lot worse than giving the 17-year-old a chance to shine in the Championship.
If he isn’t to get game time, he is at a stage now where a loan move is needed for him to develop further.
In other West Brom news, this 144-goal striker could be the answer according to Carlton Palmer.