West Brom show interest in winger ahead of Portsmouth clash as Middlesbrough confirm £11.2m deal
The latest transfer talk from across the Championship as Pompey prepare to face Norwich City and West Brom over the next week.
West Bromwich Albion are reportedly hoping to add a winger to their squad ahead of next week’s meeting with Pompey.
Hayters TV have reported The Baggies have ‘expressed an interest’ in signing Dapo Afolayan before the end of the summer transfer window after he scored 16 goals in the past three seasons across the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga. The former Bolton Wanderers man netted 21 goals and provided nine assists in 101 appearances for the Trotters and that was enough to earn him a move to German in January 2023.
Afolayan has impressed following his move to St Pauli as he scored 16 goals and provided seven assists in 84 appearances and helped the Millerntor Stadion club to promotion into the Bundesliga within six months of his arrival. The report suggested West Brom will face major competition for his signature should he be allowed to depart St Pauli this summer with the likes of Championship Leicester City, Blackburn and Swansea City all considering a move for his services and Belgian duo Genk and Gent also showing an interest.
St Pauli are reportedly open to offers for the former West Ham United winger and could authorise a deal as he enters the final 12 months of his current contract.
Middlesbrough confirm Bundesliga move
Middlesbrough have experienced a hectic summer transfer window following the appointment of Rob Edwards as permanent successor to Michael Carrick at the Riverside Stadium.
The former Luton Town boss has added Blackburn Rovers full-back Callum Brittain, Hull City centre-back Alfie Jones, Troyes midfielder Abdoulaye Kante and NEC Nijmegan winger Sontje Hansen to his ranks over the last month. Meanwhile, Josh Coburn and Anfernee Dijksteel have departed to Millwall and Kocaelispor respectively and Jonathan Howson and George Gitau have been released as their contracts have come to an end.
Another big departure has been confirmed on Wednesday after Boro agreed a deal believed to be worth around £11.2 million with Bundesliga club Cologne for defender Rav van den Berg. The Netherlands Under-21 international joined Boro from PEC Zwolle in July 2023 and has made 66 appearances in all competitions during a two-year spell with the club. However, he will now take the next step in his career in Germany after putting the finishing touches to a deal to join Cologne over the last 24 hours.
A club statement released on Wednesday read: “Rav van den Berg has completed his move to Bundesliga side FC Koln. The 21-year-old defender departs Boro having made 66 appearances across two seasons. He won both the POTY and YPOTY awards during his debut season in 2023/24, but was restricted by injuries last term. The Dutch U21 international departs with the best wishes of all at MFC.”