West Brom door opens to £2.5m striker as manager admits Watford-linked star could be sold

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While Watford are closing in on Udinese prospect Vivaldo Semedo, Championship rivals West Brom suffered a Lawrence Shankland-shaped blow this week.

EFL Analysis understands that Southampton and Ipswich were eyeing up Shankland, while West Bromwich Albion have also been heavily linked to the Hearts captain.

But with Fabrizio Romano now uttering the words that every Heart of Midlothian fan was waiting for – Shankland has ‘agreed to re-sign’, he says, while turning down big-money offers from outside of Scotland – the Baggies appear back at square one in their pursuit of a new number nine.

In stark contrast, our football correspondent Graeme Bailey has revealed that Watford have beaten Middlesbrough and Birmingham City to 20-year-old Vivaldo Semedo. Making good use of those Udinese connections, the Portugal youth striker is on his way to Vicarage Road after netting nine goals on loan at Vizela last term.

Could this leave West Brom free to pursue highly-rated Guingamp frontman Jacques Siwe? Or are Watford still in the race, regardless of Vivaldo’s imminent arrival and with the uncertain future of Mileta Rajovic in mind?

West Brom and Watford door opened to Guingamp striker Jacques Siwe

Only time will tell, of course.

But in comments which should improve the mood at the Hawthorns, Guingamp’s head coach Sylvain Ripoll has now confirmed that the £2.5 million-rated Jacques Siwa could be on his way out of a club who missed out on promotion to France’s top flight via the play-offs in May.

“Losing these players is a possibility,” former France Under-21 boss Ripoll told Le Telegramme when asked about the futures of Siwe and Guingamp’s other prized assets.

“You have to take a long, hard look at things. When I arrived last year, there were fourteen departures for four or five arrivals. We were already in a period of reconstruction. We have to respect the economic situation.

“I don’t know what the squad will be like in three weeks or a month. Once again, we’re in a zone of uncertainty.”

‘Remarkable’ Jacques Siwe could be the striker Ryan Mason needs

Guingamp are already set to green-light Hugo Picard’s £1.5 million switch to Columbus Crew. Ripoll indicates that obstacles will not be placed in the way of his similarly coveted teammates, though Siwe did extend his contract until the summer of 2027 only a few months ago.

It was local publication L’Echo de l’armor et l’argoat who reported in June that Siwe had caught the eye of both West Brom and Watford.

A 23-year-old forward of Cameroonian descent, Siwe represented Annecy and Dijon before joining Guingamp in 2022.

Last season was the youngster’s breakout campaign. He scored 13 times in all competitions. A tally of 11 in France’s second tier was enough to fire his current employers into the play-off picture, with Guingamp president Fred le Grand describing his performances as ‘remarkable’.

Siwe, if he does indeed make the switch to England, will be hoping to do the same next time out at promotion-seeking West Brom or Watford.

Ryan Mason’s Baggies have signed only one players so far this summer. Liverpool defender Nat Phillips rejected a return to Derby in favour of the Hawthorns. West Brom missed out on the Hibernian-bound Josh Mulligan, however, despite holding talks with the all-action Dundee utility man.