West Brom may regret not challenging for Laurent Depoitre

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Laurent Depoitre was scouted by West Bromwich Albion during a prolific spell at Genk but he has now signed for Huddersfield Town instead.

Laurent Depoitre was always likely to get his chance in the Premier League eventually. Yet, the timing of his £3.5 million move to Huddersfield Town, as reported by the BBC, came as something of a surprise.

Since stepping up from Gent to FC Porto last summer, Depoitre has scored just one goal and started two league games. In fact, it is difficult to imagine his debut season going any worse. Yet, it appears that a prolific spell in Belgium, notching 30 goals in two seasons for Genk to earn a debut cap for Belgium, has ensured that his reputation survived a disastrous spell in Iberia.

Laurent Depoitre featured just seven times for Porto in the league last season

A strong, stocky and hard-working forward, Huddersfield may find that Depoitre is far better suited to the rough and tumble of English football than the methodical Portuguese game.

Time will tell, however, whether West Brom have missed a trick not rivalling the newly-promoted Terriers to his signature.

Towards the end of the 2015/16 season, Baggies assistant coach David Kemp confirmed that the club had been tracking Depoitre’s late-blooming development in Belgium. The Birmingham Mail even reported that they had invited his agent to watch a game at The Hawthorns.

Missed opportunity

Therefore, it is something of a surprise that Huddersfield were able to complete the deal with little drama. And, with The Terriers closing in on a club-record deal for Montpellier hitman Steve Mounie, via Sky Sports, West Brom could lose another long-standing target to David Wagner’s side.

West Brom’s desire for a new centre-forward is well established and, at just £3.5 million, Depoitre is a far more affordable option than the likes of Duvan Zapata and Benik Afobe. Furthermore, his physical style means he fits the mould of forward Tony Pulis usually goes for.

Yet, whether West Brom will live to regret not renewing their interest depends on which version of Depoitre turns up at Huddersfield; the one who scored for fun with Genk or the one whose career crumbled at Porto.