Sky Sports pundit reacts as West Brom, Leicester City and West Ham United want to sign Ao Tanaka

We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Campbell as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…

Kevin Campbell believes West Brom will find it hard to sign Ao Tanaka ahead of West Ham and Leicester City this summer.

Rheinische Post reported Friday (28 July, page D4) that the Baggies have increased their interest in the 24-year-old Fortuna Dusseldorf midfielder.

He had a £4.2million release clause which expired in May which is what’s seen them amplify their interest in him.

The Telegraph reported on June 20 that the Hammers, Fulham and Foxes were keen on signing the Japan international

Discussing this exclusively with West Brom News, Campbell, a Sky Sports pundit said, “Will be tough because, from the Premier League, Leicester are obviously just coming down.

“They’ll have the parachute money to be able to maybe lure as a project.

“I’ve been in the Championship a couple of seasons now and West Brom are going to have to do a really good job of selling the club if this lad’s going to bypass West Ham and Leicester, that’s for sure.“

The Baggies are still to make any ground-breaking moves this summer and have just been dealing with the exits of their players.

Dara O’Shea’s departure has been the biggest blow for them and the money is to be utilised to buy new players.

The Championship season is just around the corner and Carlos Corberan certainly will not be too pleased with the lack of transfer activity.

Tanaka will certainly be a good signing and it remains to be seen if they can get the deal over the line this summer.

In other West Brom news, a Sky Sports pundit shares if an ‘Outstanding’ Premier League player who’s got England ambitions is set to seal a move to the Hawthorns this summer.

Despite his lack of game time at Selhurst Park, the fact that he left the Hawthorns where he was the first choice, suggests, in his opinion, that he does not want second tier football.

Sun journalist Alan Nixon reported in his Patreon back when the Baggies were fighting for promotion that they would want to sign him if they returned to the top flight.

Discussing this exclusively with West Brom News, Campbell, a Sky Sports pundit said, “No, I can’t see it happening. Why would he not be in the Premier League?

“I know that the goalkeepers want to play and stuff, but he’s been in the Championship, he came out there and went back to the Premier League.

“I think he’s going want to stay in the Premier League because of his England ambitions and that does get stunted when you’re in the championship.“

The 30-year-old has been a peripheral figure in London since his return to the top flight.

He played towards the back end of this past season but that was only because Vicente Guaita suffered a hamstring injury.

The crisis was so bad that 19-year-old Joe Whitworth was also handed his Premier League debut and that only shows that Johnstone isn’t rated highly by the club hierarchy.

Palace chairman Steve Parish labelled him as “outstanding” when signed for the club in 2022 and if he wants to play for England again, he’ll need to prove his worth by being a first-team regular.