West Brom loan swoop on the cards to sign £65,000-a-wk striker - report
West Brom are plotting a potential loan move to sign Watford striker Troy Deeney, according to the Telegraph.
John Percy has reported that the Baggies are seeking a centre-forward with Premier League experience and are discussing a loan swoop for Deeney, 32, due to their underwhelming transfer budget.
Deeney scored 47 goals in 163 Premier League appearances for Watford, including 10 goals last season as the Hornets were relegated to the Championship.
Since West Brom replaced Watford in the Premier League, there have been calls for Slaven Bilic to go out and sign the Birmingham-born striker.
Daryl Burgess and Kevin Phillips are among the former Albion players to suggest a move for the ex-Walsall man, with Phillips telling West Brom News in July that Deeney would "jump at the chance" to return to the West Midlands and sign for Bilic's side.
The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley reported earlier this month that a deal for Deeney would be unlikely due to his age and Watford's potential valuation of their captain.
However, it seems that a deal could be achievable if West Brom can sign the Hornets talisman on loan.
According to Spotrac, Deeney earns £65,000-a-week on his deal at Vicarage Road and in the coronavirus-affected world of football these days, that's hardly an affordable weekly wage for a Championship club.
Watford could be willing to loan Deeney out for the season but he is in the final year of his contract and would be lost on a free transfer next summer unless he agrees new terms.
Deeney will turn 33 in January.
He's older than all three strikers West Brom already have but is perhaps more likely to get among the goals next season than the likes of Charlie Austin and Hal Robson-Kanu.
We wouldn't be against signing Deeney - but only if Bilic brings in a younger striker on a permanent basis to compliment him.
In other West Brom news, the club is in advanced talks to sign this centre-back.