West Bromwich Albion have been installed as the favourites to nab Troy Deeney from Premier League rivals Watford in January.
Aston Villa are not the only club in the Midlands struggling to make an impression on the transfer market due to the restrictions of Financial Fair Play.
West Bromwich Albion are desperately in need of a new additions this month as they sit second from bottom in the Premier League table. But that is easier said than done as the club, who boasted the fifth highest net spend in the top flight during the summer, are a little light on funds right now.
The prospect of them pulling off a deal for Troy Deeney, then, seemed a little dubious. Sky Bet made the Baggies 6/4 favourites to land the long-serving Watford skipper this month – but the Birmingham Mail reports that he is valued as highly as £20 million, a figure that would eclipse the club-record fee West Brom paid RB Leipzig for Oliver Burke last summer.
Fortunately, however, the Birmingham Mail has good news for concerned Baggies fans. They state that West Brom would be able to afford Deeney’s £20 million price-tag as the club’s under-fire Chinese owners are willing to invest in January.
Although the report does suggest that West Brom’s ability to go hell-for-leather in the transfer market could be impacted by whether Jonny Evans stays or goes. According to Daily Star, however, an exit looks likely with a move to Arsenal possibly landing The Baggies a cool £30 million.
That would allow Pardew to reinforce a less-than-potent front line with the addition of one of the Premier League’s most aggressive and physical centre-forwards, with a bit of money left over.
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