Sakho’s West Brom arrival hands Berahino chance to leave
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It may have taken longer than many expected, but the West Brom/Saido Berahino saga looks to be nearing an end, with the club on the verge of signing Diafra Sakho from West Ham.
The Telegraph have reported that the Baggies’ move for Sakho – believed to be a club record of £15m – will be completed in the next couple of days, and gives Berahino the green light to end his tenure at the Hawthorns.
Berahino was keen on departing 12 months ago, but boss Tony Pulis refused to sell, leading to a strenuous campaign between player, manager and club.
But with Sakho now on the way, Pulis will now open the door for either Stoke or Crystal Palace, both of whom have tabled bids of £20m for the 22-year-old.
After bursting onto the scene two seasons ago with 14 Premier League goals, last term proved disastrous for Berahino, with a starting position under Pulis proving few and far between.
But Baggies fans can now breathe a sigh of relief that the ordeal is nearing an end, with the club struggling to handle the inevitability last season that Berahino would eventually leave.
In return, West Brom get Sakho, a player who can conjure sublime pieces of football.
The 26-year-old will be keen to impress after falling down the pecking order under Slaven Bilic, and the Senegal international is plenty capable of reaching double figures for the Birmingham club this term.
It might not be a move that gets Baggies’ faithful too excited, but a combination of Sakho and Salomon Rondon offers the club two strong outlets this season, while the improvement in harmony at the Hawthorns can only be a good thing.
West Brom could open the season by facing against Berahino on the opening day of the season, should the forward join Palace.
The Baggies are 3/1 to begin the year with a win at Selhurst Park, with Palace – and possibly Berahino too – the Evens favourites.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
