West Bromwich Albion’s hopes of luring Wigan Athletic defender Antonee Robinsion to the Hawthorns depends on whether Slaven Bilic can secure promotion back to the Premier League, according to The Sun (12 July, page 61).
Considering that the USA international has a whole host of top-flight clubs fluttering their eyelashes in his direction, it should be no surprise that he has little interest in joining another Championship club this summer.
After all, Robinson, the one-time Everton youngster, appears to have already outgrown the second tier of English football.
And while a once-in-a-lifetime move to AC Milan passed him by in heartbreaking fashion six months ago, the swashbuckling left-back may himself by securing his place in the Premier League after failing to make the grade at Goodison Park.
West Brom could solve their left-back problem by luring Robinson to the Midlands, after another injury-hit campaign for ex-England international Kieran Gibbs.
But, according to The Sun, second-placed West Brom will have to secure promotion during the final three games of the season to have a chance to beating the likes of Leicester and West Ham to Robinson’s signature.
Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that he is valued by Wigan at £10 million – a fee that would be out of West Brom’s reach if they are consigned to another year in the Championship.
Then again, with the crisis-hit Latics starting relegation in the face, The Sun adds that Robinson’s price-tag will drop to £1.5 million if they fail to escape from the clutches of League One.
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