West Brom transfer collapse ‘difficult to accept’ – Steven Alzate
West Brom were unable to complete a last-gasp deal to sign Steven Alzate on deadline day and the Colombian found it hard to accept.
The 24-year-old was all set to complete his medical at The Hawthorns ahead of a proposed loan deal, as reported by John Percy, 1 September, but the Seagulls wanted to get Billy Gilmour over the line first.
Unfortunately for the Baggies, that deal was completed extremely late which left no time for Albion to do their side of the deal with the deadline touching down that evening.
As a result, Alzate had to look elsewhere and found the Belgian transfer window still wide open and one of the nation’s biggest clubs in Standard Liege were his choice but he still finds it hard to accept that he could have played for West Brom.
“That was equally difficult to accept,” he said to Nieuwsblad. “I had to think about it for a while, but at a certain moment I thought: Standard, why not?
“The Belgian league is of a good, competitive level. I’m happy to be here and want to play as many games as possible. Standard should finish in the top eight because it is a historic and one of the biggest clubs in Belgium.”
Missed opportunity
Steve Bruce could really do with his South American flair combine with the steely determination needed to make it in one of the World’s hotbeds of football talent.
His semi-regular playing time at the Amex Stadium had shown that he could hold his own in the Premier League so he could have been truly sensational in the Championship.
But the complications of both deals involved in the collapse of the move have really hurt West Brom who would have surely started the six-time Colombia international for the vast majority of games.
Instead, Albion have been forced to settle for Celtic icon Tom Rogic on a free transfer after his release from the Scottish champions but it is not the same level.
Someone who couldn’t get in Ange Postecoglu’s side last season compared to someone Graham Potter used most games is hardly a fair contest and the Baggies have come off worse.
In other West Brom news, there are 11 senior contracts set to expire at the conclusion of this season including those of some very important players.