Mbwana Samatta has scored for fun in Genk but can he fire Slaven Bilic’s West Bromwich Albion back to the Premier League?
West Bromwich Albion are aiming high in pursuit of a new striker with Genk’s Champions League hero Mbwana Samatta a £10 million target for Slaven Bilic’s side, according to Het Laaste Nieuws.
Considering that the Baggies are sitting pretty in the automatic promotion positions with the most goals in the division to their name, you might be surprised to learn that another centre-forward is on their January wish list.
But Charlie Austin is yet to fully convince at The Hawthorns, Hal Robson-Kanu is not a natural number nine despite his best efforts and Kenneth Zohore, the big-money signing from Cardiff, has started just four league games.
And Zohore in particular may be left fretting about his future amid claims that Samatta could be on his way to the Midlands.
The Tanzania international fired Genk to the Jupiler League title in 2018/19 with a remarkable 32 goals in all competitions and he can now consider himself to be proven on the European stage too.
Three in six Champions League group-stage games, including one against Liverpool at Anfield, is a fine return for a man making his debut in the competition.
Time will tell whether Samatta is willing to swap the Champions League for the Championship, however, with West Brom understood to be considering a move to trigger the affordable £10 millino release clause in his contract.
Brighton, Norwich City and Crystal Palace will offer Samatta a chance in the Premier League, HLN adds, though the chance to fire West Brom back to the big time should appeal to a striker who knows what it takes in a title race.
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