West Bromwich Albion have reportedly signed Scotland international Oliver Burke from emerging Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee. The fee, however, is believed to be around the region of £15 million. The winger came to prominence after helping the German side finish second in the Bundesliga table last season, attracting interest from a lot of clubs.
Crystal Palace’s new manager Frank De Boer had admitted last week that the side is monitoring him and are interested in landing him. But, the Baggies have leapfrogged the London club to land him who becomes their fifth assigning of the summer following Gareth Barry, Jay Rodriguez, Zhang Yuning and Ahmed Hegazi.
The Baggies have started the season well winning both their games with a 1-0 margin over Bournemouth and Burnley before turning on the heat against League Two side Accrington Stanley where they won 3-1. The 20-year-old is expected to take the field right away as West Bromwich host a confident Stoke City without their forward Hal Robson Kanu.
Speaking to the media, Burke said, “I feel like it is a time for me to move on and play more games. I’m here, I want to impress and I want my name to be first on the team sheet.”
A move out for the former Nottingham Forest player was imminent with the decreasing number of first team chances he was having in Germany. It goes without saying that with RB Leipzig playing in the UEFA Champions League, a move out was rather more forceful and circumstantial for Burke than ambitious. However, with World Cup coming up next the player would want to remain in the spotlight.
Speaking on the move, Tony Pulis said, “He’s got a fantastic, raw ability but he has now also got the experience of going away from the comfort of his own area to a foreign country and experiencing life.”
Although only 20, Burke has played with some of the best players around him and under some brilliant coaches that he brings with him to Hawthorns. After breaking into the limelight for Nottingham Forest early last summer, Leipzig wasted no time in getting him.
He bagged 25 Bundesliga games under his belt, scoring once and assisting twice in them. He definitely has the talent and at just 20, would need more game time to get to the highest level. At 188cm, the player is big and strong and should have no problem adapting to Premier League’s physicality.
