West Brom lose out in race for Liam Delap, player set for Stoke medical on Wednesday – David Ornstein
West Brom have lost out in the race to sign Manchester City striker Liam Delap on loan after he agreed to join Stoke City, according to David Ornstein.
The Baggies had been hoping to complete a deal for the teen starlet after Daryl Dike picked up a thigh injury that ruled him out for two months and left the club short of striker options.
But the 19-year-old has agreed a deal with Stoke, who his dad famously played for, and is now set to undergo a medical today ahead of completing the deal.
This marks the second time this summer that Steve Bruce has missed out on a striker target to Stoke, after they completed the signing of Dwight Gayle earlier in the window.
Blow
It’s a major blow for Bruce and the boys that Delap isn’t coming, because he had the potential to be a real game changer for the team this season.
A player who already has appearances under Pep Guardiola for Man City at senior level, his goal record in youth football is phenomenal and he would surely be ready to step into the Championship.
Physically he is strong and quick and stylistically similar to Dike, which made him an ideal target. In the end though, the lure of nostalgia has got to him.
He will compete for a place in the starting lineup with Gayle now rather than getting regular minutes at The Hawthorns, and West Brom must go back to square one to find a new man to lead the line.
With no wins in the Championship yet this season, goals are required to get the club’s promotion charge back on track despite only being four games in after tonight’s clash against Cardiff.
In other West Brom news, one senior ace to be axed in West Brom predicted XI vs Cardiff