View: West Brom negotiations made harder with new club in for striker
West Brom have been in the race to sign Lazio striker Vedat Muriqi all transfer window but they have a new challenger in the hunt, according to Lazio Press.
The Italian media outlet believes that along with the Baggies’ interest, as reported by Alfredo Pedulla, Ligue 1 outfit Saint Etienne are also keen to sign the Kosovan international.
Les Verts are rooted to the bottom of the French top division and are in desperate need of a goal scorer having netted just 18 times in the league.
West Brom are in a much brighter league position but with it being the second division of England, Muriqi could be swayed to join the French side.
CSKA Moscow were also in the hunt but they have been emphatically ruled out by Lazio director Igli Tare [Football Italy]
He may be a 37-time international for Kosovo, scoring 18 times, but Muriqi would be a wasted signing for Valerien Ismael and West Brom.
The club have got to bear in mind that they have just bought Daryl Dike from MLS outfit Orlando City and they would essentially be saying that they don’t think he is the answer if they’re still pursuing other options.
Dike is yet to get the opportunity to show the Hawthorns faithful exactly what he can do as he is still trying to get match fitness into his legs at a high level.
Unless Muriqi is a generational talent, and everything we know about him suggests otherwise, then there seems to be no reason to sign yet another striker, no matter the issues at hand for Ismael.
Karaln Grant found the net on Saturday (22 January) as did Grady Diangana from a wide area and when Dike is fit, he will lead the line with purpose.
Ismael needs to forget his striking issues and believe in his players to come good in the second hlaf of the season.
In other West Brom news, this pundit has had his say on Dike’s full Baggies debut against Peterborough.