West Brom ready to sign Southampton defender in deadline-busting deal
West Brom could be about to strike a deal with Southampton to strengthen their squad ahead of the transfer deadline.
Championship clubs have until 7pm BST on Monday evening to add the finishing touches to their squads, and the Baggies could potentially have a couple of deals in the pipeline in the final stages of the window.
Samuel Iling-Junior has undergone a West Brom medical, and that deal to sign the Aston Villa youngster on loan is seemingly on the verge of completion.
Ryan Mason knows the areas in which his squad needs reinforcements, and one of those positions could be addressed imminently by the Black Country outfit.
West Brom eye up Charlie Taylor deal
Alfie Gilchrist arrived to strenghten West Brom’s backline on Friday, with the right-back joining on a permanent deal from his boyhood club Chelsea.
The Baggies could now also be about to bolster their options on the opposite side of the defence, with a deal to sign Charlie Taylor potentially on the horizon before the imminent cut-off, according to TalkWBA via X.
- Taylor has made over 165 appearances in the Premier League during his career
- He won the Championship title with Burnley on his last full campaign in the second tier
- Taylor started just three league games in Southampton’s relegation season last term
Mason and Co. are showing an interest in the Southampton defender, and both parties are believed to be keen to reach an agreement before the window draws to a close.
The 31-year-old has bags of Premier League experience from his previous stint with Burnley, and he was part of the Clarets side that raced to the Championship title with over 100 points back in the 2022/23 campaign.
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Charlie Taylor is ideal cover for Callum Styles
West Brom need cover for Callum Styles in the left-back position, with the Hungary international currently the only senior option for Mason in that area of the pitch.
Iling-Junior can drop deeper into that role, but is primarily a winger, and the Baggies’ interest in Taylor certainly suggests that they view him as more of an attacking option as well.
Taylor would not be the most glamorous deadline day addition by any means, but he is still a capable defender in the second tier and has a strong delivery with his left foot.
Ultimately, the Baggies would not have been able to make it through until January with only Styles to call upon on the left, so an addition in that area was always going to be essential.
With that in mind, they should be looking to strike a suitable deal with the Saints as quickly as possible.
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