One time Hammers target Saido Berahino will be available from West Bromwich Albion at a knockdown price in January but Slaven Bilic is unlikely to be tempted by the prospect.
Albion know it is the last chance they have to cash in on the club outcast who insists he is determined to see out his contract.
The Irons, Stoke and Palace were all linked to Berahino before the season started when he was available at around £25 million.
So with the striker on a free at the end of the season Albion instead will try to offload and it could be for as little as £5 million but his bad boy reputation is likely to halt any Bilic move.
He has had several run ins with Albion over recent months, the latest coming when Pulis told him he was overweight and to shape up. He was then sent to train on his own in October.
Berahino appeared to respond by posting a photograph on Instagram of himself topless during his four-day fitness programme in the south of France with the caption: ‘Fat boy.’
The asking price for a player who at 23 has represented his country at every level other than full international is ridiculous but the Irons boss is not a guy who could be interested in any player who may bring personality baggage.
And Berahino has had his share of that, apologising to the Baggies after videos of him inhaling nitrous oxide for recreational purposes emerged in the media.
He confessed: “This was very poor judgement on my part and not the right example to be setting. At the time, I wasn’t fully aware of the serious health risks involved but now I know, I won’t be doing it again”.
He denied allegations that he drove 120 miles under the influence of the substance.
Then in October 2014, Berahino was arrested on the M6 on suspicion of drunk driving. He was charged with the offence in January 2015 and admitted to it before North Cheshire Magistrates who gave him a 12-month driving ban and a fine of £3,400.
Last season the club rejected Berahino’s transfer request and a fourth bid for the player on transfer deadline day with the layer then saying on Twitter he would never play for the club again under then chairman Jeremy Peace and was fned before Pulis told the press that all parties had reconciled.
We should sign him imo 5 million is to much of a bargain to resist for premier league tested players
Disagree. Although it might seem a bargain its not worth the risk bringing in someone with a bad attitude. The unity in the team seems good at the moment and that’s the last thing we want to lose in the position we are in.
Id have him in a heartbeat for 5 million!!…..we are talking about a player who last season was worth 25m to both chelsea and tottenham …..if we get him fit and firing on all cylinders he would be worth that or more if he got a cap …and if we didnt then we lose 5m ….same as we have with Zaza and the 2.5 we lost with tore …he is definetly worth a risk , can he be any worse than ravel morrison ..or sakho??
“Slaven Bilic is unlikely to be tempted”.I have 2.5 million reasons to go for Berahino after the “captains pick” that was Gokhan Tore.
He will have his pick of clubs at £5m, or on a free, and not sure we will be on top of his wish list! The same folk clambering for Sakho’s return are saying they wouldn’t touch this guy. Really. Sakho’s behaviour is no better and Berahino is probably the better player, so I’d snap him up like a shot. God knows we need a decent striker go might stay fit.
At least you know he can score in the PL, whoever signs him for £5m would be a no lose gamble, he is that type of player that can turn games like Ravel could except he is a lot more consistent so he will always get opportunities. Personally I think he is waiting for the Bosman at the end of the season, the reason they have him training is so that they are not lumbered in January with a Sakho situation like we were, if they can sell him they will.
Here’s the reasons we shouldn’t touch him.
Will want a ridiculous wage
Previous for fighting with his team mates
Previous for not turning up or turning up late for training
Attitude issues
1 in 4 goal scoring record
Turned up for his England call and spent the time telling everyone there he was better than them all, deserved to be starting and would play for Barca
no thanks I wouldn’t touch the little scrout