A player apparently ‘sounded out’ to West Ham United, Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion wants to stay and fight for his place at the club he has ‘always dreamed of’.
The Mirror reports [19 November, page 57] that West Ham, Leeds and West Brom have all been approached by agents about the Barcelona striker, Martin Braithwaite.
The newspaper adds that Barca are ‘facing financial problems’ and ‘ready to offload players in January, with Braithwaite among those who could leave.
But the former Middlesbrough man is quoted as saying: “I am where I always dreamed of and you can only improve if you are here. Many things are happening, but I only focus on those I can control.”
Braithwaite struggled in English football but revived his career with Leganes in Spain – prompting Barca to spend 18 million in February this year, having been granted special dispensation to make a domestic signing to cover Ousmane Dembele’s absence.
The 29-year-old has only scored once for the Catalan giants since then, however – though he has played fewer than 500 minutes of football so far.
And it would appear that Barca are hoping for a helping from England as they try to move him on.
But it remains to be seen if West Ham, Leeds or West Brom would be tempted to move.
Unlike Leeds and West Brom, who paid sizeable sums to strengthen their forward lines in the summer transfer window, West Ham left themselves short in Braithwaite’s position, and have seen their problem compounded by an injury to Michail Antonio.
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