Grady Diangana expected to leave West Brom as Leeds United want to sign him – Ben Jacobs
Grady Diangana is likely to leave West Brom this summer because of the “high volume of interest” there is in a deal, including from Leeds United, according to Ben Jacobs.
The CBS journalist told GIVEMESPORT (6 August) that the he “would expect this one to get done” to either the Whites, Leicester City or Burnley, with the Baggies tipped to “leverage” the competition to get a higher fee.
Express & Star reported on 1 August that West Brom wanted around £7million to sell the 25-year-old but Jacobs believes the price will end up higher than that when a move goes through before the deadline
He said: “The Leeds interest is there for sure as well. Leicester City have taken a look and Burnley have tracked the player as well.
“So, I would expect this one to get done to one of those clubs over the course of the next few weeks, just because there’s such a high volume of interest there.
“Because of that high volume of interest, obviously West Bromwich Albion can leverage the clubs and play them against each other to get the biggest possible fee, which means that it probably will be closer to £10m than £5m.”
Necessary?
Given how Daniel Farke hasn’t got the spending power that he and the supporters would have hoped for this summer, thanks to loan exits curbing the cash available, there seems little reason to chase this move.
Diangana would be a reasonable addition if the German needed options on the wings but, despite him citing only goalkeeper as the one position he is happy with following the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City on Sunday (6 August) he surely has more than enough wide forwards currently.
He was able to start four against the Bluebirds, with Willy Gnonto filling in up front thanks to an injury crisis that has ruled out Patrick Bamford, Mateo Joseph and Georginio Rutter, with the latter capable off the flank himself.
Crysencio Summerville excelled and scored the injury-time equaliser, as Luis Sinisterra also stood out with Gnonto, while Dan James put in a solid performance as well.
Ian Poveda came off the bench and Jack Harrison isn’t even back from injury yet, so unless there are exits before the window shuts Farke would surely be better off channelling whatever cash he does have towards other areas.
The Whites could probably even afford to lose one high-priced option and still not need to spend on Diangana, especially if West Brom are going to conduct a bidding war.
The defence was its usual disappointment on Sunday, striker seemed to be a need even before it was hit by an injury crisis, and only the development of 17-year-old Archie Gray has prevented central midfield from being another emergency.
So in the circumstances it would make sense to allow Diangana to the Foxes or the Clarets if they are going to make a move and push for deals to address those concerns.
In other Leeds United news, a player has accepted an offer to join the Whites as a seven-figure transfer bid is tabled.