West Bromwich Albion have been linked with a move for free agent Raul Meireles.
According to a recent report from the Daily Mirror, West Brom are among the Premier League sides who may be interested in handing Raul Meireles a return to England’s top flight as the free agent searches for a new club.
The Mirror reports that the Baggies have simply expressed an interest in him, so perhaps Tony Pulis is weighing up a couple of factors before making a concrete bid for the Portuguese.
Though the 34-year-old would be a low-risk signing based on the lack of a transfer fee, there would arguably still be an element of risk involved in a deal given his age and the fact that he has not played a competitive game for most recent club Fenerbahce since May 2016.
And Meireles would be joining a West Brom midfield that looks very strong this season, with Gareth Barry and Grzegorz Krychowiak both being added during the summer, so there seems little point making a move unless Pulis feels that there is a void in their midfield that Meireles could fill.
Therefore, perhaps it would not be out of the question to suggest that Nacer Chadli’s form upon his return – whenever that may be – could have a major say on how seriously West Brom take their pursuit of Meireles.
If the Belgian finds the form he showed immediately following his £13 million move to The Hawthorns last year (via BBC Sport) when he does finally make his first Premier League appearance of the season, then there seems almost little point targeting Meireles given that he will surely not be a long-term option for the Baggies.
But if Chadli looks off the pace and is struggling to prove that he can contribute, then perhaps Pulis may feel that bolstering their options in attacking midfield would be a smart idea.
And with Meireles available on a free, the Portuguese could perhaps be a decent option to consider for the time-being.
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