Man United once tried to sign West Brom-bound ace who had £92m release clause
Uros Racic looks set to sign for West Brom this summer, just four years after he was linked with a big-money move to Manchester United.
The Express and Star journalist posted on X (22 August) to report that the Baggies are closing in on a loan deal with Sassuolo for the midfielder, with the temporary move likely to be confirmed on Thursday.
Racic was relegated to Serie B with Sassuolo last season – a massive fall from grace for a player who just four years ago was linked with a £28million switch to Manchester United as a 22-year-old [The Sun, 15 September 2020].
A Valencia player at the time, Racic had a whopping £92m release clause and was dubbed as the “new Nemanja Matic”, and had he stayed that course, there’s next to no chance the Albion would be in for him.
West Brom hope Uros Racic can rediscover form after loan move
Spending £28m on a player with a release clause more than three times that isn’t a reality for any club in the Championship, but his past potential does bode well for the Baggies and Carlos Corberan.
In dire need of a first-choice defensive midfielder following the exit of the ever-present Okay Yokuslu to Trabzonspor, adding 26-year-old Racic to the mix could prove to be the best deal for both parties.
No option or obligation to buy has been included in Albion’s reported loan deal with Sassuolo, essentially giving Racic a free hit to try and rekindle the form which saw him linked with a Premier League switch.
With his career potentially hanging in the balance, the onus is on Racic to put in the types of performances which result in £28m transfer fees and £92m release clauses.
While such sums are unlikely come the end of the season, if Racic can provide an even better impact than the likes of Yokuslu did, he could be the different in Albion’s promotion bid this season.
If he can play a role in taking Corberan’s side to the Premier League, £92m could look like small change.
In other West Brom news, the Baggies have sent one of their most promising young talents out on loan to their EFL neighbours.
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