West Brom to rival Everton in £10m swoop for Sassuolo striker Diego Falcinelli
Falcinelli spent last season on-loan at Crotone and is keen to try his luck in the Premier League
WEST BROM are ready to take on Everton with a swoop for Italian striker Diego Falcinelli.
Baggies boss Tony Pulis is looking to land another forward this summer following the arrival of Jay Rodriguez from Southampton.
Falcinelli, 26, is owned by parent club Sassuolo, but enjoyed a successful stint on-loan at Crotone last season and is valued at £10million.
The striker bagged 13 goals in Serie A last season in a Crotone side that avoided relegation by just two points.
Despite Crotone’s struggles, Falcinelli flourished as the main man upfront and is keen to find a permanent home in the Premier League after four years on loan.
Everton were monitoring his situation, knowing Romelu Lukaku was heading for the Goodison Park exit, but the Baggies have firmed up their interest ahead of the start of the campaign.
The West Midlands side finished tenth last term – but Pulis will demand more from his attackers this season.
Forwards Salomon Rondon and Hal Robson-Kanu scored just 11 league goals between them and that tally will have to improve if West Brom want to break into the top eight.
Rodriguez and Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazi are the only additions ready to go straight into the Hawthorns first team set up.
Middlesbrough centre-half Ben Gibson is also on their radar.
Two bids have already been rejected by the relegated side who look resigned to losing the defender called into the England squad last season by boss Gareth Southgate.
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