'Class striker': West Brom fans want Shinji Okazaki snapped up

Shinji Okazaki is a free agent again after leaving Malaga but could West Bromwich Albion be tempted to bring him to the Championship?

When Shinji Okazaki arrived in Spain to soak up the Costa del Sol sun, he probably didn’t expect to be a free agent again just a few weeks later.

But, after a bizarre twist of fate, the Leicester City hero has left Segunda outfit Malaga without ever making a single appearance for The Anchovies. There’s something rather fishy going on.

According to the BBC, Malaga terminated Okazaki’s contract when they realised that they couldn’t afford his wages. You’d think they would have checked that before they handed the Japanese international a deal, right?

Either way, Okazaki still has a lot to offer even at the age of 33 and he’d be welcomed back to England with open arms, at least by fans of West Bromwich Albion.

With the transfer window shut, The Baggies will have to make do with Charlie Austin and Kenneth Zohore with doubts persisting about whether the two summer signings are capable of replicating the prolific Jay Rodriguez-Dwight Gayle partnership at The Hawthorns.

Okazaki has never been the most prolific of goalscorers, even in Leicester’s 2016 Premier League title-winning campaign he netted just five, but his tireless work-rate would surely make him an immediate fans favourite at West Brom.

Though, with all due respect to West Bromwich, it's hardly Malaga.