Carlton Palmer has weighed in on the potential price tag Southampton might face for West Bromwich Albion’s Brandon Thomas-Asante.
Thomas-Asante has had two strong seasons with West Brom since joining from Salford City two years ago. It’s believed that the Premier League newcomers, Southampton, are targeting the Ghanaian international as a potential replacement for the recently departed Che Adams.
Both Albion and Southampton are preparing for their respective top flight and Championship seasons. This comes just two months after the two clubs met in the play-off semi-finals, where the Saints triumphed 3-0 in the second leg and eventually defeated Leeds United at Wembley Stadium on May 26th.
Meanwhile, Carlos Corberan has seen a lot of turnover at The Hawthorns this summer, with many experienced players leaving after their contracts ended and only three new arrivals thus far.
Carlton Palmer Reacts to Southampton’s Interest in Brandon Thomas-Asante
Carlton Palmer, who has played for both Albion and the Saints, shared his thoughts on the potential fee for the 25-year-old and whether he could adjust to the Premier League.
“Southampton are ready to test West Brom’s resolve for Brandon Thomas-Asante,” he told FLW. He noted that West Brom finished in the top six last season but lost in the play-offs to Southampton, who then earned promotion to the Premier League.
Palmer emphasized that Thomas-Asante played 41 Championship games last season, scoring 11 goals and providing two assists. He adapted well to the second tier since his arrival from League Two Salford City. However, Palmer questioned whether Thomas-Asante could make the step up to the Premier League.
Thomas-Asante’s contract situation is a major issue for West Brom, Palmer stated. With only one year left on his contract, West Brom may need to sell him now to get a decent fee if he doesn’t intend to renew. Palmer estimated that Southampton might be looking at a £7m-8m fee, considering Thomas-Asante’s age and potential.
Palmer concluded that if Thomas-Asante doesn’t sign a new deal with West Brom, it’s in their interest to let him go. Although £7m-8m might seem high, a fee in the range of £4m-5m could be more realistic given his contract situation. If a deal doesn’t materialize, West Brom risks losing him for nothing in 12 months, so all scenarios must be considered in negotiations.