West Brom to get ‘significant earner’ off the books with David Button set for transfer exit to Reading
David Button is set to leave West Brom for Reading dependent on the League One side’s transfer embargo, Tom Collomosse reports.
The 34-year-old is surplus to requirements at The Hawthorns having lost his starting position last season under both Steve Bruce and Carlos Corberan.
So, despite question marks over the futures of both Alex Palmer and Lewis Griffiths it appears that the Baggies are ready to get the former Brighton keeper off the wage bill and that some agreement has been reached.
Reporting via Twitter on Tuesday morning (1 August) Daily Mail journalist Collomosse wrote: “David Button set to join Reading depending on League One club’s transfer circumstances.
“Royals currently under embargo. Would be a significant earner off the books for WBA.”
In limbo
Reading’s second transfer embargo this summer will presumably make it impossible for them to pay a fee for Button, who has a year left on his contract.
But shedding a “significant earner” who is third choice at best and not likely to feature, assuming neither Palmer or Griffiths are snapped up this summer, is a boost in itself.
The relegated Royals were thought to be in no position to take over the terms of his deal as they are at The Hawthorns and a pay-off from the Baggies had been mooted, so the latest update may mean West Brom have agreed to do that.
If that is the case the club would have had to weigh up the longer-term benefits of having Button off the books over the next year with whatever up-front cost would have been involved.
Under the terms of their previous embargo, which had been lifted just over a fortnight ago, Reading were allowed to sign free agents and loan players [BBC Sport, 13 July].
So while their latest sanctions could potentially scupper Button’s move it is likely that the terms are similar and it should be possible on a free transfer.
Assuming he now leaves, Button would depart having made a total of 31 appearances for the club since arriving from the Amex in 2020 for around £1million [Birmingham Mail].
In other West Brom news, the Baggies are set to win the race for a sought-after signing with a medical already completed.