‘Get him off the wage bill’ – Exclusive: West Brom urged by Whelan to bin big name
Noel Whelan has urged West Brom forward Oliver Burke to quit the club and find a new permanent home this summer transfer window.
The former Leeds striker and Championship expert, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, suggests a move away from the Baggies would be best for both parties.
Spanish publication AS report that Alaves’ sporting director Sergio Fernandez is exploring the possibility of turning the 23-year-old’s loan spell into a permanent stay after his season in La Liga.
Whelan admits he had high hopes for the versatile attacker and believes a fresh start is needed for him to realise his potential.
Whelan told Football Insider: “A player that’s had massive potential and thought he was going to go on and do great things but he’s never happened at any club since he left Forest.
“It’s a really strange one because a player of that much quality and ability is usually a permanent fixture in most teams but it’s just not happened.
“Maybe now at Alaves he’s found his team and found his happy place in football but definitely best for both player and club to get him off the wage bill, get him somewhere else playing his football.
“Maybe he can kickstart his career there and we might see him back in the Championship or Premier League later on but it just seems to me he needs to mature and find that consistency and that love for the game again.”
Burke has played a total of 24 times for West Brom, scoring once, while he has 22 appearances and a single goal under his belt for Alaves.
In other West Brom news, it can be REVEALED that the club agree with Leeds United when the season should resume.