Barcelona star rejected move to Premier League strugglers West Brom in January

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:44 CDT
• 2 min read

West Brom manager Sam Allardyce made no secret of his desire to bolster his attacking options in the January transfer window, and it has emerged he tried and failed to bring Barcelona forward Martin Braithwaite to the Hawthorns.

The Baggies currently sit 19th in the Premier League after defeat to Sheffield United on Tuesday night. Allardyce, who replaced Slaven Bilic as manager in December, had made a loan offer with an option to buy for €15million at the end of the season but was rejected by the Dane, per Mundo Deportivo.

Bids for Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke and Newcastle United’s Andy Carroll are also believed to have been knocked back, and the former Bolton Wanderers boss eventually settled on a deal for Galatasaray frontman Mbaye Diagne.

Braithwaite, a former Middlesbrough player who moved to the Camp Nou from Leganes in an emergency deal last season, is a surprise link to the Midlands side, but he has made clear his desire to stay in Catalonia.

He has struggled to impose himself in La Liga this season, failing to usurp the likes of Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann in attack. In 17 league games this season, the 29-year-old has scored just two goals. 

It is believed that Braithwaite is intent on seeing out his contract at Barcelona, which runs until 2024, and is satisfied with his role under coach Ronald Koeman.

Barcelona trail Atletico Madrid by 10 points in the title race, having played a game more.

Meanwhile, Diagne is yet to feature for West Brom and will certainly need to hit the ground running if he is to inspire a great escape from relegation. Losing at Bramall Lane leaves Allardyce’s men on 12 points just one clear of the Blades and nine adrift of safety ahead of a trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.