A surprising transfer rumour for a West Brom player. No, not that West Brom player, that wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?
For a significant number of Bolton fans, the jury is still out on Dougie Freedman. Amongst Whites` supporters, Dougie ranges from being tactically-inept, who`s already lost his dressing-room, to being the Messiah to take Wanderers back to the glory days.
Whatever your view, Dougie`s dealings in the two transfer windows he`s navigated, while at the Reebok, with the budget he`s had to play with, has been impressive. This summer`s window has not only restricted Freedman`s spending power, but with outgoings being a necessity before incomings a possibility, he must have felt bound and gagged at times.
When Tom Eaves was rumoured to be the latest front-man out the door, more grumblings started to circulate amongst social media. Some fans took the diplomatic stance, saying if he`s not going to play, let him leave for valuable experience. But some questioned Freedman`s judgments, saying Eaves, along with Sordell, are the wrong duo to be allowed to leave.
Today, however, it has emerged, Dougie Freedman is swooping for West Brom`s England under-21 hero Saido Berahino – and giving him a chance to play every week.
Freedman is tying up a loan deal with the young Albion striker who scored in both of the recent Young Lions internationals.
Burundi-born Berahino also notched a hat-trick for the Baggies in the Capital One Cup but he is unlikely to figure in the Premier League.
Many believed, Tom Eaves` move away would fund an approach for a West Brom player, but not a striker. Craig Dawson was the name on many fans lips, but the mention and possibility of bringing a talent such as Berahino to the Reebok would surely lift the Whites` spirits.
You see, when you join the dots of what Dougie`s trying to do, whatever your view on our young manager`s ability, he`s certainly trying to put his own stamp and flavour to the team.
I still say, though, Dougie will only get the best from the team he has, not by bringing new faces to the party, but by kicking out the trouble-makers first.