There’s an ideal Torbjorn Heggem replacement West Brom should be eyeing – and he plays for Ryan Mason’s former club Tottenham.
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West Bromwich Albion are looking likelier and likelier to bid farewell to star central defender Torbjorn Heggem, who is closing in on a mega-money move to Bologna.
The Baggies have been in advanced talks with the Italian Serie A club over an exit deal worth around £10 million. Our sister publication, the Express & Star, revealed over the weekend that Albion have decided to cash in on Heggem as his sale would significantly reduce any concerns over breaching the Championship’s profit and sustainability rules.
Heggem, who signed just 13 months ago from Norwegian club Brommapojkarna, cost merely £500,000. If he is to leave for £10 million, that represents £9.5 million of pure, bookable profit. To make matters better, Albion can spend much of that income on new players, as, in the eyes of PSR, transfer fees are spread over the course of a signing’s contract.
Heggem will be dearly missed by Albion
It’s a no-brainer to sell Heggem for such a substantial fee but the seven-time Norway international’s exit will certainly be felt. And hard. West Brom were such a better team defensively last season when Heggem was in it and his ability to play at both centre-back and left-back got Carlos Corberan and Tony Mowbray out of trouble on many occasions.
Most who have watched Heggem know he’s a huge talent. The 26-year-old is not only a towering figure in the box but also superb at reading situations and brilliant at timing his challenges. The Norwegian’s passing out from the back was a joy to behold at times, too, as he did well to beat the press and find teammates in midfield.
Although he’s 26 and that’s when defenders often peak, there’s a feeling Heggem is by no means the finished article. The centre-back has shown great potential over the past 12 months, though, and is bound to improve further the more he’s exposed to higher-level football.
West Brom could land Tottenham star as Heggem replacement
Who should West Brom target to replace Heggem, then? Well, it’d be difficult to land him, but Tottenham Hotspur’s Luka Vuskovic could be perfect. Available for a loan move this summer, the 18-year-old recently joined Spurs in a £12 million deal from Hajduk Split after performing brilliantly out on loan in Belgium.
In 28 Jupiler Pro League appearances for KVC Westerlo, Vuskovic proved himself as an insane goal threat from centre-back. Compared to other central defenders, the 18-year-old topped the Belgium top-flight charts for goals (7), expected goals (3.56), shots (45) and shots on target (17).
Vuskovic also showcased his top defensive capabilities. Every 90 minutes on average, the centre-half won 5.8 duels, made 5.59 recoveries and came out on top in 3.86 aerial duels. The 6ft 3in defender, described by Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge as ‘unbelievable’ when Spurs signed him, could replace Heggem’s height in both boxes – and more.
West Brom must act quickly if they are to sign Vuskovic as Genoa, HSV, Besiktas and several other top European clubs have made enquiries to Spurs. Albion are yet to be linked themselves, though new manager Ryan Mason has a direct line to his former club and Vuskovic could gain star status at The Hawthorns.