Champion League
West Brom eye move for Newcastle’s Anderson
West Bromwich Albion are amongst the plethora of clubs interested in taking on Newcastle starlet Elliot Anderson next season, with the 19-year-old midfielder currently on loan at League Two Bristol Rovers.
What’s the story?
According to TEAMtalk, West Brom, as well as Middlesbrough, Coventry City, Reading and Stoke City, are interested in the young Englishman, who will be allowed to depart on loan again.
The current Gas loanee, whose side are two points off the automatic promotion places in League Two, has heavily impressed for Joey Barton’s side in the second half of the campaign, scoring six goals and registering three assists in 18 league appearances.
Now it seems as though the North East club are keen to allow the attacking midfielder to step up two divisions and go out on loan in the Championship next season.
Albion must swoop for Anderson
At just 19, Anderson has already received some serious praise, particularly from Rovers manager Barton who labelled the youngster as ‘the Geordie Maradona’.
The former Newcastle player also claimed: “Elliot has been brilliant for us from the first day we brought him in.
“I would have paid to watch him tonight, he was that good. He is growing into the shirt and his goal capped an outstanding performance.
“Elliot is a huge talent. He excites you and tonight he showed a different gear to be the stand-out player on the pitch.”
According to SofaScore, the £180k-rated maestro has been the Gas’ second-best player this term, averaging a 7.07 match rating, only bettered by Antony Evans’ 7.27.
The 19-year-old currently averages 63.8 touches a match whilst having 3.3 shots and produces 32.2 passes at an accuracy of 78%.
Although Anderson is playing fourth-tier football, his average league rating is only bettered by one current Baggies midfielder in Alex Mowatt, who has averaged a 7.10 rating.
Should WBA sign Anderson?
However, the Albion midfielder currently averages fewer passes a game at a lower accuracy with 30.7 at 76%, fewer touches at 55.7 and has scored fewer goals in a longer period of time with four in 34 matches.
After a thoroughly disappointing first season back in the Championship after last season’s Premier League relegation for West Brom, Steve Bruce and co. will certainly have high aspirations for the next campaign.
Therefore, whether signing a player with no second-tier experience will be worthwhile will have to be seen. However, there’s certainly an abundance of talent in the boots of Anderson and a loan move to West Brom could be the ideal next step in his development. Bruce would certainly love him.
AND in other news: £10.7m wasted: WBA had howler over “absolute nightmare” who rinsed Peace for 147 weeks
