Report: West Brom favourites to sign £40k-a-week player Alan Shearer once deemed ‘brilliant’

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West Bromwich Albion are reportedly in advanced talks with West Ham over a January move for Robert Snodgrass, according to Sky Sports.

New Baggies boss Sam Allardyce is eager to bolster his ranks following a difficult start to life at The Hawthorns.

While Allardyce steered Albion to a draw at reigning Premier League champions Liverpool on 27 December, the Baggies have also suffered three heavy home defeats without reply.

West Brom have been beaten 3-0 by Aston Villa, 5-0 by Leeds United and 4-0 by Arsenal over the past three weeks, and as things stand, they sit 19th in the table, six points from safety.

According to Sky Sports, Snodgrass has been earmarked by Allardyce as a potential target, and while there is other Premier League interest in the 33-year-old, West Brom are currently favourites to complete a deal.

The former Scotland international’s West Ham contract – worth £40,000-a-week, according to Spotrac – is up in the summer and he is deemed surplus to requirements by David Moyes at the London Stadium.

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Snodgrass is a player Allardyce is thought to be fond of, the veteran manager having reportedly wanted to bring him to Crystal Palace in January 2017, before his eventual move to West Ham.

A dead-ball specialist with a brilliant left foot and superb focus, Snodgrass has also shown his class during open play – one example is shown below, with Alan Shearer praising his efforts in the 1-0 win over Chelsea in December 2019.

“Robert Snodgrass making the effort there, okay they don’t get the first one, Ogbonna blocks that one, Fredericks’ position is absolutely perfect in covering,” he told Match of the Day (via Football London).

“Tracking back again, last ditch tackle, it wasn’t all about defending, this was the best chance of the half. Brilliant from Snodgrass, takes the touch, another one in to Antonio, he came on at half-time and kept his place, there were four changes in the team.

“This is the goal, this was everything that was good about West Ham today. Have a look at Snodgrass, have a look at Cresswell. The ball goes up to Antonio, look at Snodgrass breaking his neck to get up there to help him and support him.”