According to The Telegraph’s John Percy, West Brom are to make a January move for Leeds United’s want-a-way left-back Charlie Taylor.
According to red top tabloid The Daily Star, both West Brom and Liverpool were showing interest in the Leeds United starlet and Academy product before the summer transfer window closed at the end of August with a figure of £7m rumoured to represent the level of the Baggies interest.
However, The Telegraph say that West Brom manager Tony Pulis, who is concerned with his sides problems at the left side of defence will “make a renewed move” for the much-vaunted Leeds United defender when the winter transfer window opens in January. They say that Pulis “is set to offer around £4m” to secure the services of the young left-back and with this amount “attempt to persuade Leeds owner Massimo Cellino to agree a deal.”
The situation with Taylor at Elland Road is that he handed in a transfer request after the final pre-season friendly against Serie A side Atalanta, a request that was dismissed out-of-hand by the club.
Like it or not, Charlie Taylor is not likely to last out this season as a Leeds United player, despite Massimo Cellino’s protestations and proclamations to the Daily Mirror to the contrary. Telling the Mirror, “I’m very disappointed with the way he has acted. We are not going to let him go. Trust me,” only carries so much cachet and would be far outweighed by the ruffling pages of a company cheque book. That will come, and it will be sooner rather than later.
Taylor broke through into the Leeds United first team more as a necessity, than a luxury, when replacing Stephen Warnock, who had moved to Derby County in mid-season. This was two seasons ago during the 2014/15 Championship campaign, since then he has made the left back position his own.
Taylor’s contract is up at the end of the season, this is common knowledge held by all parties and, ostensibly, the dependable youngster could be available on a free transfer. Should this be the case, any movement to another side would be subject to a tribunal fee according to his age and Leeds’ input into his development as a footballer.
The Telegraph say that Pulis and West Brom are ready to revisit their summer interest with a second bid for Taylor and that the Baggies “sent a senior member of their recruitment department to watch Taylor” in the 1-0 victory over Wolves at the weekend.
