Have West Brom found their Ruben Neves amid £14.5m Wilmar Barrios reports?

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Tottenham Hotspur were heavily linked with Wilmar Barrios but he’s reportedly a target for Championship outfit West Brom now.

If you thought that West Brom would be adopting a scrimp and save approach to the transfer market after being relegated from the Premier League, think again.

As reported by El Dia, West Brom have shown an interest in the highly-rated Boca Juniors midfielder Wilmar Barrios and are expected to make a bid of around £14.5 million, triggering the release clause of one of the most promising talents in south American football.

And this has come out of absolutely nowhere. It seemed that if Barrios was to move to England this summer, Tottenham Hotspur would be his destination after the Independent reported interest from North London.

So imagine the surprise among West Brom fans if the Colombian World Cup midfielder headed to The Hawthorns instead. Barrios, a fantastic all round talent renowned for his sharp passing and ability to win possession back with well-timed challenges, has the potential to be the best midfielder in the Championship next season.

He’ll probably be the most expensive. In fact, West Brom could have their own answer to Ruben Neves, the £15.8 million Portuguese playmaker who looked an absolute cut above as midland rivals Wolves cruised to the Championship title last season.

Neves was far too good for the second tier and it showed. Barrios, who has also been linked with Borussia Dortmund, should find the Championship a stroll in the park too and would be a major boost to West Brom’s hopes of an immediate Premier League return.