Sam Allardyce is “very confident” of beating Burnley to free agent Ahmed Musa with West Bromwich Albion planning to raise funds via the sale of Kamil Grosicki, as reported by All Nigeria Soccer.
At this stage, the prospect of the Baggies signing an experienced free agent feels like a move straight out of the Boris Johnson play book – well-meaning, yes, but surely far too late to make any real difference.
A 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur yesterday means West Brom are now 12 points from safety – and 17th place Burnley have a game in hand too.
So while 95-time Nigeria international Musa is expected to arrive on a free transfer after cancelling his eye-watering £31 million contract at Al Nasr, West Brom are crying out for an act of escapology Harry Houdini – or even the great Bryan Robson – would struggle to pull off.
Burnley are also interested in Musa, along with Southampton and Burnley (Daily Mail).
However, ANS reports Allardyce is “very confident” of striking a deal for a man he tried to sign when in charge of West Ham five years ago, before Musa joined Leicester City in a £16 million deal from CSKA Moscow.
The 28-year-old underwent fitness tests at West Brom’s Midlands training base last week and is ready to jump straight back into the action despite spending the past four months without a club.
Apparently, West Brom will raise funds for Musa’s arrival by allowing the seldom-seen Kamil Grosicki to return to his native Poland with Legia Warsaw.
The Polish transfer window is due to stay open until 24 February.
A jet-heeled winger who can also play through the middle, Musa would slot nicely into Allardyce’s counter-attacking game plan, perhaps acting as the perfect foil for the physical Diagne.
Whether he’s capable of performing like a turbo-charged Geoff Horsfield as West Brom look to emulate the ‘Great Escape’ of 2005, however, feels doubtful.
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