West Bromwich close in on deal for Orlando City striker Daryl Dike after the USA international arrived at the training ground to meet his old Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael on Saturday
- West Brom are close to finalising a loan deal for Orlando City striker Daryl Dike
- The 21-year old previously worked with manager Valerien Ismael at Barnsley
- Dike was seen at the West Brom training ground on Saturday afternoon
- A number of clubs have been following Dike’s form during the past MLS season
- His 11 goals caught the interest of Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Newcastle
West Bromwich Albion are close to finalising a loan deal for Orlando City striker Daryl Dike after he arrived at their training ground on Saturday.
The 21-year old USA international previously worked with manager Valerien Ismael at Barnsley scoring nine goals in 14 starts on the way to the play-offs and he was at Albion on Saturday as he prepares to help his old boss’s latest bid for promotion.
A number of clubs have been following Dike’s form during the past MLS season, where he scored another 11 goals, with the likes of Crystal Palace, Leeds United and Newcastle all linked.
West Bromwich Albion are close to finalising a loan deal for Orlando City striker Daryl Dike
Albion players were in for a 2pm training session on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s game with Cardiff City.
‘I know him from last season at Barnsley, but I can’t comment on any names,’ Ismael said. ‘We do our job behind the scenes, we work on our list and we have a clear picture. We have a priority. We must get the first job done.
‘In a perfect picture, in a perfect world, it’s good when you can get the player as quick as possible. Our job now is to understand what we want and get what we want as quick as possible, the window is open and then we must work intensely to get what we want.’
The 21-year old USA international previously worked with manager Valerien Ismael at Barnsley
Several clubs have been following Dike’s form during the past season as he scored 11 goals
Albion have been short of goals in comparison to their promotion rivals this season and Ismael has been searching for a solution.
Aston Villa’s Keinan Davis, who is close to joining Nottingham Forest, Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun and Rhys Healey of Toulouse were among the names to have been discussed but Ismael knows what Dike can provide and will be glad he has the American to bolster his attack.
Talks are ongoing over the final details of the deal with Albion willing to make the move permanent in the summer.
Albion have also made a new contract offer to their highly rated teenage prospect Reyes Cleary but face competition from Bayern Munich for the 17-year old centre forward.