West Brom backed to seal Chelsea transfer | OneFootball

West Brom backed to seal Chelsea transfer | OneFootball

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Football League World

·22 January 2025

West Brom backed to seal Chelsea transfer

Article image:West Brom backed to seal Chelsea transfer

We asked our West Brom fan pundit what he thought about their interest in Chelsea's Harvey Vale

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...


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West Brom have been told that Harvey Vale would be a good signing, with the Chelsea youngster likely to get minutes over fringe players Jed Wallace and John Swift.

Mark McAdam has reported via X that a number of Championship clubs are keen to sign Vale this month, with the Baggies joined by the likes of QPR, Oxford United, and Sunderland in holding an interest in the 21-year-old.

Vale's contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of the season, and, as per Kieran Gill, the Blues are willing to waive a transfer fee to facilitate a move this month with a sell-on clause included.

The 21-year-old is a midfielder by trade but was used as a wingback on loan at Bristol Rovers last season, and this sort of versatility makes him an attractive player to our West Brom fan pundit.

Harvey Vale deemed a suitable signing for West Brom

Article image:West Brom backed to seal Chelsea transfer

We asked our West Brom fan pundit, Callum Burgess, whether he'd be in favour of signing Vale amid interest from a number of Championship clubs, and he feels his versatility would make him a good addition.

Speaking to Football League World, Callum said: "I think it could end up being a decent signing, whether it’s for a bit of squad depth or whether it’s for the future if Albion went to get Harvey Vale, only 22 years old, on a free transfer, especially when you take into consideration his versatility.

“He played at left-back for Bristol Rovers last season, where he seemed to impress at League One level, so it might be a case of being able to find a team where he can stay permanently and gain fairly consistent minutes would be a good opportunity for him, and who knows how far he can keep progressing if he’s able to reach the potential he’s shown?

“I think when some of the fringe players at Albion are towards the end of their twenties or in their early thirties, he might be able to have a more of an opportunity to impress, whereas the likes of QPR and Oxford United may offer easier opportunities for game time, but there’s a chance he could stake a claim and get minutes over the likes of Jed Wallace and John Swift at Albion who probably will be looking to move on.

“I’d be quite happy if Albion were to sign him.”

Harvey Vale would be a good signing for the future for West Brom

Article image:West Brom backed to seal Chelsea transfer

Vale might not be an immediate starter for the Baggies, but on a free transfer he would be a shrewd signing and a player that's capable of developing and becoming a key player in the future.

As Callum mentioned, both Wallace and Swift aren't young anymore, and it could work out better for the Baggies to have talented young players like Vale as their fringe players rather than players on big wages who have probably had their best days.

His versatility means that he'd be a good player to have on the bench as cover, and the fact he's captained Chelsea's U21 side in both the EFL Trophy and Premier League 2 this season shows that he's a leader too.

Vale looks to have no future at Stamford Bridge, and while he's made two Europa Conference League appearances this term, he's not made a single Premier League matchday squad, and if he departs this month, West Brom should be doing all they can to secure his signature.

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