Kev: Grady could have a big say on his future
GRADY Diangana could present West Ham and West Brom with a difficult transfer saga this summer, according to former Baggies’ favourite Kevin Phillips. The on-loan Hammers winger had scored five goals in 21 games for Slaven Bilic’s side before football was suspended due to the coronavirus crisis.
Diangana, who is now back in training with Albion ahead of the Championship’s proposed return on June 20, isn’t guaranteed to sign permanently for the Baggies, even if the Hammers succumb to relegation.
Phillips says West Ham hold all the aces but a deal could be brokered if West Brom seal promotion – with Diangana standing a good chance of playing regular Premier League football in a Baggies team who have thrived with him in the side.
“It will be a difficult one from West Ham’s point of view because if they do go down, he’s the sort of player who can thrive in the Championship,’’ said the former striker.
“He’s been a highlight and he’s one of the top players in the league. If he’s your player, you’d be crazy to let him go.
“You’d use him to try and bounce straight back.”
However, Phillips believes there could be a fair amount of player power involved in the emerging saga – with a big decision ahead for the talented Diangana.
“From the player’s point of view, if the club you’ve been at all season gets promoted to the Premier League, you want to play in the Premier League so you can kind of smell an agent getting involved to say, ‘I want to stay where I am’,’’ he said.
“There could be a transfer request chucked in as well.”
West Ham were said to be unhappy with Bilic’s treatment of the player, claiming the Baggies had rushed Diangana back from an injury earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Tyler Roberts has lifted the lid on the promise Leeds made to pluck him from promotion rivals Albion.
A graduate from the Baggies’ academy, Roberts left The Hawthorns for Elland Road in January 2018 in a £2.5 million deal.
It came after the 21-year-old forward had been on loan to Oxford, Shrewsbury and Walsall in League One.
Roberts made his Albion debut aged 17 against Liverpool but when it became clear he would not be part of the first-team picture, Leeds made an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“I had just come back from a loan at Walsall and wanted to try and cement a first-team place at West Brom,” he said.
“When it got made obvious it was not going to happen that season, or maybe the next season after, I had had enough of going out on loan.
“I wanted to settle and try and fight for a spot. Leeds were interested and said I would be part of the first team. It is a massive club and it was a nobrainer for me.”