West Bromwich Albion might sign their next Jonas Olsson if this summer transfer is completed. West Bromwich Albion will be wary about their chances of attempting another promotion next season, as doubt surrounds some important first-team players at the Hawthorns. Cedric Kipre, who starred for the Baggies in the heart of defence last season, looks increasingly likely to be allowed to leave on a free transfer, while central midfield gem Alex Mowatt has yet to sign a new contract, adding to the anxiety.
Carlos Corberan’s team can try to alleviate concerns over Kipre’s current condition by swooping for a new centre-back behemoth this summer, with reports indicating they’re targeting a new Scandinavian recruit.
West Brom looking at St Pauli defender.
According to Swedish football website SportBladet, the West Midlands club has a serious interest in 27-year-old St Pauli defender Eric Smith this summer, but they are not the only Championship club looking at the 6’3 Swede.
Leeds United have also been said to be interested in Smith, which might lead to a scuffle between the two teams as Leeds look to address their own defensive concerns, with Joe Rodon now permanently back at Tottenham.
Så där kan man också göra 🤯🔥
Eric Smith löste en plats i veckans lag med den där frisparken för sitt FC St. Pauli 🇸🇪💪 pic.twitter.com/jldI3Wa2wR
— Viaplay Fotboll (@ViaplayFotboll) September 18, 2023
What Smith Can Offer West Brom
West Brom will hope that this new signing will provide them with a new Swedish warrior at the back, similar to Jonas Olsson in his prime at the Hawthorns, with the popular and imposing centre-back becoming a fan favourite during the Baggies’ recent Premier League days, amassing 201 top-flight games across nine memorable seasons.
It puts a lot of expectation on the St. Pauli man to be that influential in his new surroundings, but he hopes to taste Premier League football with the Baggies if he signs, becoming their next Olsson in the process.
There are numerous reasons why two clubs, who will be vying for a spot near the top of the Championship table next season, are so keen in Smith, who starred for St. Pauli in their own 2. Bundesliga promotion success.
.@J_OlssonViasat's first of 14 goals for us came #OTD 11 years ago at the Riverside Stadium. 🗓🇸🇪 pic.twitter.com/AdEseHB1bR
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) September 27, 2019
The in-demand 27-year-old will score two goals and six assists while playing out of the back for his current club last season, bringing his total assists to an outstanding 12 over 82 appearances in Germany after moving from his home Sweden in 2021. As can be seen from the table above, Smith is more of a calm and graceful operator with the ball at his feet than Kipre, who prides himself in doing the less glamorous defensive
Parts of his game work well. Smith, on the other hand, has demonstrated his ability to compete for his team in the German second division, evoking memories of Olsson’s Baggies career, who was known for being a no-nonsense, tough centre-back to face.
Olsson finished his West Brom career in the top tier in 2016-17, averaging 3.9 duels won per game, while Smith won a very similar number of four on average in last season’s 2. Bundesliga.
His final game perhaps for the second-tier champions saw him put in an imperious display, winning five duels and compiling 85 correct passes, demonstrating himself to be a multidimensional defender, with an unbelievable free-kick like the one below in his back.
pocket. Leeds may have the upper hand in this transfer battle, but West Brom will be hoping to emerge victorious in order to sign their next Olsson.
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