If West Brom are to challenge for Europa League football, signing a player with Eder’s status is the right way to go.
With a number of the Premier League’s second-class citizens now bankrolled by wealthy, ambitious investors, there are countless teams attempting to break through the glass ceiling and gate-crash the traditional elite.
And West Brom, enjoying their finest ever Premier League season and with a top half finish within their grasp, will surely be hoping to follow the lead of Everton, West Ham and co by pushing themselves to the ‘next level’.
The prospect of Tony Pulis’ Baggies fighting for a Europa League spot next season may appear fanciful at best but, with Chinese owners giving the club never-before-seen financial power, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that they could aim even higher than eighth next season.
The fact there are genuine reports suggesting West Brom have launched club-record bids for William Carvalho and Ignacio Camacho, previously linked with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal, merely highlights the chance taking place at The Hawthorns.
And a marquee summer signing may be something of a watershed moment. Though Inter Milan striker Eder may not command a £20 million transfer fee, a player of his stature arriving at West Brom would surely increase the optimism at The Midlands club.
According to Calciomercato, the Italy international is on Pulis’ radar, along with Premier League duo Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Negredo (below).
The latter duo may be proven in English football, netting 12 and eight goals respectively for struggling Swansea and Middlesbrough, but swooping for a player with 21 caps for the Azzurri could be far more enticing.
Eder has started just nine Serie A games for Inter this season, meaning his future at the San Siro is far from secure. And though he’s hit 30 years of age, the wily frontman’s ability to create something out of nothing means he could be an influential creative spark in a rather rugged starting XI.
In short, Eder is exactly the kind of statement signing West Brom need.
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