The Baggies prepare for life without their influential on-loan striker.
With on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku due to return to Chelsea at the end of the season, West Bromwich Albion line up Anderlecht’s Dieumerci Mbokani as a replacement, reports the Daily Mail.
Mbokani has spent two years at the Belgian club since joining from AS Monaco for £3million in the summer of 2011.
Yet 37 goals in 61 appearances for his new club has seen the 27-year-old’s price go through the roof as teams from around Europe show interest in the Congolese international.
It is thought that manager Steve Clarke would have to find £10million to convince Anderlecht to part with their prized asset, although the forward has already publicly indicated he would like to play in the Premier League.
Chairman at the Belgian club Robert Vanden Stock is resigned to the fact that Mbokani will be leaving Anderlecht in the summer, but after the success of Christian Benteke at Aston Villa – who arrived from Belgian side Genk last year – Stock thinks more money can be demanded for the striker.
‘We have agreed Mbokani can leave in June, but only for the right price,” Stock was quoted in the Daily Mail.
“English clubs have seen what Christian Benteke is capable of, and they know that Dieu is even better. He can be one of the best strikers in Europe, so I think the fee would be closer to 20million euros than 10.”
West Brom boss Clarke is unwilling to wait and see if Chelsea will loan Lukaku out again next season, after the 20-year-old scored 14 Premier League goals for the Birmingham side in 2012/13, and Mbokani is looking like the ideal replacement.
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