West Bromwich Albion will have to fork out £4m for Leeds United’s Charlie Taylor, according to pundit Noel Whelan

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The Baggies have been a keen admirer of the 23-year-old, who will leave Leeds in the summer.

Fleetwood Town’s David Ball and Leeds United’s Charlie Taylor in action

Former Leeds United player turned pundit Noel Whelan believes that West Bromich Albion will have to pay around £4m for Whites’ out of contract Charlie Taylor, with the player’s fee set to be decided by a tribunal, as reports BBC Radio Leeds.

As Taylor is under the age of 24, if the left back moves clubs at the end of his Leeds contract – which he is fully expected to – his transfer fee will be decided by a tribunal, which will take into account the player’s past and future before making a non-negotiable valuation.

Taylor made the headlines at the weekend as he refused to play in Leeds’ last match of the season against Wigan Athletic, as reports Sky Sports, which may have been down to the fact that very recently, West Brom made a fresh approach for Taylor, as reports the Telegraph.

Speaking in the aftermath of Taylor’s refusal to play, Whelan – who scored seven times in 48 appearances for United and is now co-commentator on BBC Radio Leeds – was upset how Taylor has treated the club who he’s been with since he was nine, and believes a fee of around £4m will be agreed by the tribunal.

Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum in action with Leeds’ Charlie Taylor

“It’s a sad way to end at a club that have given him so much,” Whelan said to BBC Radio Leeds. “We’ll see if he has enough to stay in the Premier League – he’s out of contract, so you can’t bargain.

“I think you’re looking at about £4m for him.”

Leeds United’s Charlie Taylor (R) in action against Blackburn Rovers’ Martin Samuelsen

In total, Taylor made 97 appearances for Leeds in all competitions, scoring three goals, and it seemed like the only way the left back would remain with the Whites is if they were promoted back to the Premier League.

Ultimately, Leeds finished seventh – five points behind sixth placed Fulham – despite being eight points clear of seventh place with eight matches to go, but it seems Taylor will be going to the top flight regardless.