Despite his Tottenham connections as a former head coach, new West Brom boss Ryan Mason looks poised to miss out on one in-demand player.
West Brom appointed Ryan Mason in June to spearhead the Baggies’ promotion push in the Championship next season.
So far in the summer transfer window, the Hawthorns outfit have added quality to the new boss’ squad, with former Liverpool defender Nat Phillips joining West Brom in favour of a return to Derby County, with George Campbell and Aune Heggebo also arriving.
After a 17-year association as a player and seven years as a coach, Mason has strong connections with his former employers. As EFL Analysis revealed after his appointment, Mason’s priorities at West Brom this summer included using his Spurs “advantage” in the market to target loan moves.
Unfortunately for Mason and the Baggies hierarchy, West Brom are set to miss out on a loan move for an in-demand Spurs starlet, with Scottish giants Rangers now the “favourites” for his signature.
Rangers are now ‘favourites’ to sign Mikey Moore on loan from Tottenham
We understand that Mason won’t get a huge transfer budget for his first summer as West Brom boss, and after the £9m outlay for the aforementioned trio, the Baggies’ next move could be within the Premier League loan market.
It’s expected that Tom Fellows will leave West Brom this summer, with top flight Everton fighting for his signature, which would leave Mason in need of recruits in wide areas.
West Brom’s dream summer transfer window would include a loan move for Spurs starlet Mikey Moore, but now that potential deal is in jeopardy, with West Brom not being the only Championship side to miss out.
Unfortunately for Mason, Scottish Premier League giants Rangers are now “favourites” to sign Spurs youngster Moore on loan ahead of next season.
Daily Telegraph reporter Matt Law revealed on X: “Rangers have emerged as favourites to sign Mikey Moore on loan from Tottenham.
“There’s been a lot of interest, particularly from the Championship, but Rangers seen as most likely destination.”
With Rangers poised to beat West Brom and several second tier suitors to Moore, Mason has missed a golden chance to recruit such an impressive young talent, who was last season likened to a certain Brazil and Barcelona icon.
Ryan Mason will regret not signing Mikey Moore after Neymar comparison
Moore registered one assist in ten top flight outings, but scored and assisted one apiece in Spurs’ successful European journey.
Moore’s only Europa League goal of the campaign came against Elfsborg, but his best performance of the tournament came against AZ Alkmaar.
The youngster was in electric form, and after the game, then-Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou told Tottenham Hotspur’s website that comparisons to Neymar had been mooted by teammate James Maddison in the wake of Moore’s breakout display on the European stage.
In October last year, Postecoglou said of Moore: “I was going to try to downplay it, but apparently Madders (James Maddison) has called him Neymar, so that’s blown that out of the water!
“The beauty of Mikey is that I know it won’t affect him at all. He’s such a mature young man. It was exciting.
“He’s got that ability to go past people, which is the hardest thing to do in our game, apart from scoring goals.
“He’s just turned 17, but even physically, he’s such a strong young man, and I know he’ll get better. He was brilliant, but he’s been brilliant every time he’s played for us.
“He’s going to be a pretty special player. If he keeps performing like that, everything else takes care of itself.”