West Brom are reportedly interested in signing Sheffield United striker Ollie McBurnie this summer but he could be a repeat of the disastrous decision to bring in Nicolas Anelka to the Baggies.
According to Alan Nixon on his Patreon (via Football League World), manager Steve Bruce is considering a late move for the Scottish forward as he looks to bolster his attacking options before the transfer window closes.
With Daryl Dike still sidelined through injury and Kenneth Zohore unsurprisingly out of favour after just five goals in 23 appearances for the Baggies, Bruce is desperate to add a new forward to his ranks at the Hawthorns.
However, he would surely be better looking elsewhere for a new frontman, as McBurnie has managed just eight goals in 98 appearances for the Blades since his £20m switch from Swansea City in 2019.
In that time, he has endured his fair share of disciplinary issues, including two appearances in court for a drink driving charge in 2019 and a charge for assault earlier this year.
Should West Brom sign McBurnie?
Yes
No
His form at Bramall Lane has been criticised by pundit Michael Stewart, who wrote:
“For a £20 million striker he can’t run, he can’t hold up the ball, he doesn’t link well, he doesn’t shoot. He’s simply not strong enough to play that role.”
A troubled striker with a poor goalscoring record isn’t what Bruce needs at all, and it may well remind Baggies fans of Anelka, who also struggled in his time at the Hawthorns.
After scoring two goals in just 12 matches, Anelka was sacked by the club after he refused to apologise for a ‘quenelle’ hand gesture following a goal against West Ham, which saw him earn an £80k fine and a five-game ban.
The striker then announced he was quitting the club on social media, but they disputed that claim and instead sacked him for gross misconduct.
If the Baggies are serious about achieving promotion this season, then the last thing Bruce needs is to sign a striker with similarly poor disciplinary issues, and a less than impressive goalscoring record to boot, so they should avoid McBurnie at all costs.