West Brom youngster Saido Berahino has been linked with a move to a number of Premier League clubs
Young West Brom striker Saido Berahino has enjoyed a decent season for the Baggies, scoring 14 times this season in all competitions.
His decent form has reportedly seen him attract the attention of some of the Premier League big boys.
Statistics
Those statistics may be slightly misleading, as four of those goals came in the Baggies 7-0 victory over non-league Gateshead in the FA Cup.
His stats are also inflated by the fact that he is the Baggies spot-kick taker, which has helped the striker add to his goal tally this season.
Highly-rated
The youngster came into the Baggies first team last season and is now highly-rated. The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham have all been linked with a move for the striker.
However, it seems it is the player himself who rates himself most highly. He seems to have the attitude that he has already made it as a footballer and deserves to be at a bigger and better club. He has already stated in the press that he wants to ‘go on to bigger things’.
In truth Berahino is just a young player who does potential. The fact that nobody was willing to sign the 21-year-old in the January transfer window illustrates that clubs have their doubts over the young striker.
‘Naughty Chair’
According to Baggies boss Tony Pulis, Berahino is currently in the ‘naughty chair’. The former-Stoke boss told Sky Sports: “He’s been in the naughty chair – but he’s okay. It’s not too far from my desk,”
“Again, I do feel he’s gone and done an interview for something else, not for what he ended up talking about.
“The club has got to look at looking after the younger players and making sure they are guided through what is a minefield at times.
“I’ve spoken to him and I’ve spoken to his people. The most important thing Saido has got to do is don’t talk about what he wants to do – but actually go out there and do it. That’s what all the good players do. They actually go out and perform on the pitch.”
Pitch
Saido Berahino’s form in recent weeks has been poor and it seems the speculation has gone to his head. He looks like a boy who is starting to believe his own hype and that is never good for a young player.
Young players always go through slight troughs in form and it is how they react to it that decides whether they will become a top player or not.
If Berahino is going to become a top player then he needs to get his head down and work hard, instead of talking to the media about moving on. West Brom seems like a good family club, where Berahino will get regular first team football and be given room to develop.
If the striker moves to a bigger club he may struggle for first team football and may never fulfil his potential due to a lack of top level action.
Boss
Baggies boss Tony Pulis is a superb man-manager and is unlikely to stand for much nonsense from the youngster. He knows how to deal with difficult players and big egos. I am sure he will do what is best for the youngster and the club.
Money
A fee in the region of £20million has been mooted and that could be a major profit for the Baggies. With that amount of money Pulis could majorly strengthen his squad and improve his team’s weak areas.
Whether anybody is willing to pay that amount of money for the youngster remains to be seen. If Berahino’s form does not improve then it is unlikely that many clubs will be knocking on the Baggies door with their chequebook any time soon.
Relegation
The youngster now needs to concentrate on his team’s battle against relegation. The Baggies face a trip to fellow strugglers Burnley in the early kick-off on Sunday, in a game that the Midlanders are odds of 2/1 to win.
If Berahino really wants to become a top player then these are the sort of games that he needs to have an impact in. The striker is young and will learn and hopefully the England under-21 international will let his football do the talking from now on.
Should West Brom sell Saido Berahino in the summer?
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