Rekeem’s Albion future is a big deal for club
WEST Bromwich Albion are making progress in their efforts to tie down talented young midfielder Rekeem Harper with a new contract.
Harper has cemented his place in the team with a string of excellent performances since getting the nod in Albion’s FA Cup win over Wigan at the start of January.
The 18-year-old is out of contract this summer and the Baggies are keen to ensure the highly-rated youngster doesn’t go anywhere.
Negotiations over a new deal “have moved on”, according to head coach Darren Moore, who has started Harper in Albion’s last nine fixtures.
“I believe his advisers and our advisers at the club have proposed a deal,” he said. “We’re one step again closer. Obviously it’s about Rekeem’s advisers and us coming to an agreement. We’re getting there.”
Converted from a striker to a midfielder three years ago by Albion’s academy staff, Harper occupied three different positions in Saturday’s win at Villa. Harper, who grew up in Aston, was coy when asked after the match about his long-term Albion future.
He said: “I don’t really want to talk about that. I’m just trying to focus on my football, keep playing, keep showing the fans what I’m about and keep helping the team win.”
Harper’s form will not have got unnoticed by Premier League clubs on the lookout for young English talent.
Albion have had their fingers burned in the past with regards to los- ing promising young players nurtured within the academy. Izzy Brown landed a move to Chelsea while Yan Dhanda and Jerome Sinclair were both picked up as teenagers by Liverpool.
The situation is different with Harper, who is further along with his development having now played a good number of first-team games.
Moore, who first encountered him as a youth-team coach at The Hawthorns, is not unduly worried about higher-league vultures.
“I’m not concerned because I feel the right place for him is West Brom,” he said. “Rekeem’s a local boy, he’s still young and needs his family around him.
“He’s still establishing himself as an elite footballer, he’s doing extremely well. I think this is the club to keep him right. We know his strengths, where he needs to improve, and he is improving. He’s enjoying his football so why change that?
“We want to see him stay here, his advisers agree he should stay. It’s just a matter of getting it sorted now.”
After a period of adjustment, while he got to grips with the hostile atmosphere, Harper handled his first big local derby against Villa with genuine maturity and authority.
“His ability to soak up the atmosphere was incredible,” Moore added. “His use of the ball was excellent, he travelled well with it and has got wonderful energy and speed. He’s going to be a top player for us.
“You’ve seen him this season, the performances are getting stronger. For him to play in a local derby and put in a performance like he did, is one he and his family can be proud of.”