West Bromwich Albion are reportedly keen on Barnsley defender Marc Roberts.
According to The Sun, West Bromwich Albion are interested in signing Barnsley defender Marc Roberts, with Tony Pulis keeping tabs on the centre back.
The Baggies have a number of defenders already, with the likes of Jonny Evans, Jonas Olsson and Gareth McAuley all available at Tony Pulis’ disposal, whilst Craig Dawson and Allan Nyom can also play at centre back.
Mohamed Diame in action with Barnsley’s Marc Roberts
However, reports suggest that manager Pulis may still want some more defensive reinforcements, which isn’t a huge shock given that McAuley is almost 37, and Olsson turns 34 in March.
Now, The Sun claim that Pulis is interested in a younger defender, with Barnsley ace Marc Roberts believed to be on his radar ahead of the January transfer window.
Marc Roberts of Barnsley in action
Roberts, 26, has enjoyed a remarkable rise from non-league to the Championship, as after spells with Wakefield, Worksop Town, Buxton and Halifax Town, the centre back join hometown club Barnsley in 2015.
The 6ft 4in defender played a key role last season as he played 41 times for the Tykes, with Barnsley winning promotion to the Championship – and Roberts has remained a vital player for Paul Heckingbottom’s side, playing in 15 of Barnsley’s 18 Championship games.
Kemar Roofe gets past a tackle from Barnsley’s Marc Roberts
It now seems that Roberts’ performances at Oakwell have triggered interest, with Pulis and West Brom allegedly keen to cap off his rise from non-league by handing him Premier League football, much like players such as Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin have done in recent years.
The report suggests that Roberts’ no-nonsense style appeals to Pulis, and having plucked the aforementioned Dawson from the Football League, this could be another smart move for West Brom.
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