Valerien Ismael plans West Brom raid for Daryl Dike after amid ‘intensive’ Besiktas meeting
Former West Brom manager Valerien Ismael wants to sign Daryl Dike for a third time at his new club Besiktas, according to a report from Haber 365 in Turkey.
According to the report, a €2.5million – €3million offer is being lined up to take the American striker on loan in the first instance, following an “intensive meeting” with club management.
The Frenchman, who was sacked by the Baggies two months ago amid poor form and unrest within the squad, was named as the new boss at the reigning Turkish champions this week (25 March).
Dike arrived for more than £7million in the January transfer window, but was almost immediately ruled out with a significant injury, and has yet to return to the first team following set backs.
The 21-year-old, who previously played under Ismael at Barnsley last season, has a “positive attitude” towards the potential transfer according to Haber 365, and as such “action has been taken” towards taking him on loan.
Thanks Val
Unless the injury has completely changed Dike’s attitude to being at the Hawthorns, and the primary driver of the move was a chance to work with the now-departed manager, this surely isn’t happening.
The club would require significant return on investment to give up on a player they shelled out a decent fee for just over two months ago.
Possibly, if the money is too good to turn down it might make sense for all parties to agree to it and move on.
But otherwise Ron Gourlay is unlikely to let the player go considering only days ago he tried to assuage fears for the American’s future at the club.
The chief executive was last week quoted by Express and Star saying: “Anybody who has any concerns that he came only because of Val – he left (Barnsley) and went on to have another career and do fantastically well for Orlando.
“I have no doubt that he’ll be a future star of the football club, and I think the fans think that too.”
Valerien no doubt sees Dike as the ideal man for his way of playing as he said upon signing him in January, via Birmingham Mail: “I was with him last season and he knew exactly what was expected of him after the first day, so we don’t need to spend a lot of time with him on the way we want to play.”
But in light of how his way of playing turned out at West Brom, fans will hardly be delighted that he appears to be trying to return to take Dike.
In other West Brom news, one important first team player has reportedly secured his future at the club for next season.
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