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Report: West Brom closing in on deal for £12m Southampton ace

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis (REUTERS)
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West Brom are set to sign Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez.

Jay Rodriguez is on the verge of becoming a West Bromwich Albion player, with the Birmingham Mail reporting the Southampton forward is close to joining the Baggies.

While the exact fee is yet to be agreed, it is thought that the Saints value Rodriguez – who has grown increasingly frustrated with a lack of game time at St Mary’s – at around £12m.

Southampton's Jay Rodriguez in action with Liverpool's Joel Matip and Nathaniel ClyneSouthampton’s Jay Rodriguez in action with Liverpool’s Joel Matip and Nathaniel Clyne

The 27-year-old was actually close to joining West Brom on loan in the summer of 2016, but then manager Claude Puel blocked the move.

Now Rodriguez will finally get his switch to the Hawthorns and on a permanent basis, putting behind him what has been a difficult few years on the south coast.

The attacker’s career in Hampshire started well following a 2012 transfer from Burnley and in 2013/14 he enjoyed a great season in which he scored 15 Premier League goals and was capped for the first (and to date only) time by England.

Yet a cruciate ligament injury towards the end of that campaign kept Rodriguez out of action for more than a year and the Clarets academy graduate has struggled to recapture the same form since.

Now the Englishman will be hoping a fresh start under Tony Pulis in the Midlands will be the catalyst to get back to those glory days.

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony PulisWest Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis