Alex Palmer set to remain at West Brom as Luton Town see bid rejected
West Brom goalkeeper, Alex Palmer’s potential move to Luton Town is now off after the Baggies rejected the Premier League new-boys offer, according to the Express and Star.
The 26-year-old was left out of Carlos Corberan’s final pre-season match, a 4-3 defeat to Bolton Wanderers [29 July] after the Baggies received a bid the day before from the Hatters.
Luton offered a fee higher than the previously reported £3m and due to the precarious financial situation at The Hawthorns, a potential sale of Corberan’s first-choice keeper was considered only a week before the Championship season gets underway.
Discussing the collapse of the deal, Lewis Cox wrote: “The offer, understood to be from Championship play-off winners Luton, was initially considered as it was a full cash up-front offer as opposed to a fee paid in instalments.
“The Express & Star understands the Hatters’ bid for the 26-year-old was higher than the £2.5million-£3million reported in places. But, with head coach Corberan fully involved in discussions with managing director Mark Miles and head of football operations Ian Pearce, the move will now no longer go ahead.
“Corberan issued a reminder that such interest in one of the club’s key men was a reminder that, due to their financial position, Albion must remain ready to be reactive to the transfer market and any unexpected movements in the final month of the summer window.”
Correct approach
While the Baggies are probably more than equipped to lose one of the members of their overstaffed goalkeeping department, it appears they would much rather that man be David Button than either of Palmer or Josh Griffiths.
Luckily, the early sale of Dara O’Shea this summer to Burnley for £7m has given Corberan and his recruitment team to be a bit more cutthroat when selling for the remainder of the summer and likely has meant they are in a position to reject a big fee from Luton.
Losing your first-choice keeper a week before the season begins isn’t ideal for any side, especially one that has looked rather indifferent throughout pre-season so far, the former Huddersfield boss needs as strong a side as possible available to him for the season opener against Blackburn to have a strong start.
The only question mark will be over whether the Baggies could have reinvested that fee elsewhere in their squad, with reports suggesting they remain in the market for a new striker, an extra £3m could’ve helped that pursuit.
Then again, what use is it if you’re now able to score goals, but you have no keeper at the other end. It looks like West Brom have made a sensible decision here.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies have looked to a Premier League side for inspiration this summer