West Bromwich Albion have turned down the chance to sign Aston Villa striker Mbwana Samatta but Filip Krovinovic will return to the Hawthorns from Benfica, according to reports.
Despite hitting the net twice at Goodison Park on Saturday, it’s no secret Slaven Bilic wants a striker through the door before October’s transfer deadline.
No one in West Brom’s squad scored more than ten goals in the Championship last term and it seems unlikely Hal Robson-Kanu, Charlie Austin or out-of-favour Kenneth Zohore will hit double figures in the Premier League.
The Daily Mail reports West Brom were handed the chance to sign £8.5 million Samatta from Midland rivals Aston Villa.
However, while the Baggies need a forward, simply any old number nine won’t be good enough.
Samatta scored a grand total of one top-flight goal in 14 games for Aston Villa so you can see why West Brom feel the Tanzania international isn’t the man to fire them to safety.
On a more positive note, Bilic will be grinning from ear to ear as Krovinovic, one of the stars of West Brom’s promotion-winning campaign, closes in on a long-awaited return to the Hawthorns.
O Jogo reports the classy Croatian playmaker has agreed another season-long loan deal with the Premier League newcomers – albeit one without an option-to-buy clause included.
“I will be extremely disappointed if (Krovinovic’s return) doesn’t happen. I don’t even want to think about it,” a stressed Bilic told the Telegraph last week.
“Every day when I walk into the training ground I ask about him. Why? Because last year he played a lot of games for us. He was brilliant on the pitch. You can be versatile with him on the pitch, you can change systems without changing the players.
“Everybody loves him. He makes every player around him better, he is one of those unsung heroes. That is why every day I ask: ‘Has he come?’”
When Bilic enquires again on Friday, the answer from above may well be ‘yes’.
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