REKEEM HARPER Three of the biggest names in Europe have emerged as contenders for West Brom midfielder Rekeem Harper this summer. Italian champions Juventus will go up against Champions League finalists Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur to battle for the Albion teenager, whose current contract expires in the near future. Albion have made their final offer to Harper, which remains on the table, but the academy product is yet to decide on where he’ll be playing his football next season. Full story SALOMON RONDON’S FUTURE It appears increasingly likely that Rafael Benitez will be leaving Newcastle United in the near future. Talks between the Magpies and the popular Spaniard over a fresh contract appear to have stalled ahead of the new season, and with Benitez’s current deal up next week, his exit is imminent. Benitez won’t be short on offers, of course; he’s been linked with the vacancy at Chelsea, a job he’s held before, while there is believed to be considerable money on offer to head out and manage in the Chinese Super League. The 59-year-old, whose decorated CV includes spells at Liverpool, Valencia, Real Madrid, Inter and Napoli, is largely adored on Tyneside, and the club hierarchy – namely owner Mike Ashley – faces a backlash from supporters if they allow Benitez to walk away. This is your round up of all things Albion; the one-stop shop that will keep you updated on the latest goings on at The Hawthorns and beyond. Transfers, injuries, match-days and managers, we’ve got you covered. We’ll be bringing the very latest on the Baggies throughout week and around the clock. Make sure you keep yourself updated with our handy daily catch up… THE MUST READS… * Dwight Gayle latest – READ * Albion’s 2019/20 promotion odds – READ * West Brom’s fixtures – READ * West Brom odds – READ A further complication should Benitez depart St James’s Park is the knock-on effect it’ll have on Salomon Rondon’s future. One of the many subjects touched open during Benitez’s talks with Newcastle was their transfer policy, and the sort of budget the manager might be allowed ahead of the new campaign. There was interest in Wesley Moraes, but United missed out after being beaten to the Club Brugge powerhouse by Aston Villa. READ MORE Rondon, though, is seven years Wesley’s senior, and Ashley’s reluctance to spend money on players of a certain age – i.e. with no sell-on value – is well known. The Venezuelan, currently away on international duty at the Copa America in Brazil, has attracted interest from Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United, but Newcastle were always the forward’s preferred destination. West Brom star Rondon thoroughly enjoyed his time in the North East last season, scoring 12 goals and collecting the player of the year accolade. He has a single year left on his contract at The Hawthorns and will be sold this summer having indicated previously that he’s not willing to play in the Championship. poll loading HOW WOULD YOU GRADE SALOMON RONDON’S CAREER SO FAR AT ALBION? 500+ VOTES SO FAR A B C D E READ MORE Ex Malaga and Zenit striker Rondon could yet have options to move abroad, with clubs in Turkey and France keen, but he’s ideally like to remain in the Premier League. A permanent move to Newcastle would have to be considered extremely unlikely at this stage, however, if – as is now expected – Benitez departs. Rondon will cost interested suitors £16.5m this summer, after Albion’s failure to win promotion. FILIP KROVINOVIĆ Slaven Bilic is interested in bringing Croatian starlet Filip Krovinović to West Bromwich Albion, according to reports. The 23-year-old midfielder spent last season on the fringes at Portuguese club Benfica and is reportedly keen on a move away from the Stadium of Light. The Portuguese press recently claimed a deal to take Krovinović to fellow Primeira Liga side Guimaraes was close to completion – but European broadcaster SportKlub now states Albion have entered the race. Zagreb-born Krovinović has never been capped at senior level by Croatia, although he was a regular for his nation’s youth teams. Krovinović only made 12 appearances for Portuguese champions Benfica last season and isn’t in manager Bruno Lage’s plans. WEST BROM MOVE TO RETAIN PRODIGY AMID BARCELONA INTEREST – READ Premier League side Norwich City have expressed an interest in Krovinović, but SportKlub claims Bilic ‘would gladly bring him to West Brom’. Bilic, who only took charge of Albion last week, is yet to make his first signing with youngster Owen Windsor the club’s only addition so far this summer. For all your latest Albion news, opinion, analysis and transfer gossip, click here DWIGHT GAYLE (Image: Adam Fradgley/AMA) Fulham are the latest team to show an interest in Newcastle United striker Dwight Gayle. Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion are both reported to be interested in signing the striker for the news season, but Fulham are reportedly ready to spend £20m to secure his services. The Express suggests that Scott Parker is desperate to land the striker, who netted 24 goals at the second tier for West Bromwich Albion during the most recent campaign. The Baggies can’t afford Gayle’s wages to even have him on loan next term. Gayle however is keen to give things another go at Newcastle and stay in the Premier League. Landing Gayle would likely see Fulham sell Aleksandr Mitrovic back to the top flight. Stoke City have also been linked with a £20m bid for Gayle. Full story READ MORE WHAT’S HAPPENING AT WEST BROM? LOUIE BARRY West Brom have offered Barcelona target Louie Barry a three-year deal – including professional terms – after the striker turned 16, in the hope that it’ll convince him to remain at The Hawthorns. Barry celebrated his 16th birthday on Friday, meaning he is now eligible to discuss his future with other clubs, and European giants Barcelona – as well as German champions Bayern Munich – are among a number of clubs around the continent who have considered offering Barry a contract, having met with him previously. Understandably, the Baggies wish to retain the teenager and have opened talks over a one-year scholarship followed by a two-year professional deal. Full story PARDS Former West Brom manager Alan Pardew is reportedly in the running for the job vacancy at FC Cincinnati. The MLS club, currently bottom of the Eastern Conference – and indeed the overall table – after taking just 11 points from their first 16 matches, have lost nine of their last ten games after a fairly promising start to the campaign. The club parted company with South African boss Alan Koch back in May, and Yoan Damet is their current interim head coach. Cincinnati, though, are understandably keen on appointing a new, permanent boss in the hope that it’ll turn their fortunes around, and Pardew – reports ESPN – has emerged as a serious candidate to take the job. Full story Follow us! All of the latest West Brom stories can be found in our dedicated Albion section, but if you wish to keep updated on all things Albion around the clock we’re on different social media platforms, too. We have a Facebook page focusing on Albion, and also a Twitter page, both that provide the latest news, gossip and opinion. We have a number of writers who cover West Brom. You can follow them on Twitter, below: Paul Suart Joseph Chapman Gregg Evans, Mat Kendrick, Shane Ireland Brian Dick Ben Husband, Alex Dicken, Steve Wollaston FOR ALL YOUR LATEST ALBION NEWS, OPINION, ANALYSIS AND TRANSFER GOSSIP, CLICK HERE Source link The post West Brom expecting a transfer frenzy as Liverpool and Spurs close in and Salomon Rondon’s future takes a twist appeared first on 10z Soccer. #SalomonRondon #AlanPardew #TheHawthorns
