Premier League quintet West Brom, West Ham, Southampton, Leicester City and Brighton all watched Ostersunds forward Saman Ghoddos on Thursday.
Five Premier League clubs sent scouts to watch Arsenal’s Europa League clash with Swedish minnows Ostersunds last Thursday but they weren not there to watch anyone in red and white.
Instead, West Brom, West Ham, Southampton, Leicester City and Brighton all had representatives present at the Emirates to watch the away side’s Iranian international striker Saman Ghoddos, as reported by ESPN, and they will not have gone home disappointed.
The 24-year-old might not have got on the scoresheet in North London but it was he who set up both of Ostersunds’ goals to seal a stunning 2-1 win away at one of the competitions’ favourites.
No wonder Southampton and co are keen. The Saints have only managed to score 29 goals in 28 Premier League games this season with Shane Long’s struggles well documented, Charlie Austin injury-prone and Manolo Gabbiadini far too inconsistent to be relied upon fully.
However, West Brom could give themselves an advantage in the race for one of Scandinavia’s most in-demand players – by hiring Ghoddos’ gaffer.
Per The Mail, The Baggies had identified 42-year-old Graham Potter as a potential successor to the ailing Alan Pardew, whose job is hanging by a thread after the dreadful 2-1 home defeat to relegation rivals Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
Potter has been in charge of Ostersunds since 2011, taking them from the fourth tier of Swedish football into the Europa League via the first ever cup triumph in the club’s history, and Ghoddos’ goals have been a major factor; he has 31 in 70 games for the club.
If Ghoddos is to move to England, there is one surefire way West Brom could put themselves at the front of the queue.
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