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SHOCKING: West Brom’s E16m bid for Celtic’s top talented midfielder has been rejected with immediate effect as…
Sheffield United could hijack £6m Celtic, West Brom deal to land Ben Brereton Diaz replacement:
Mikey Johnston impressed on loan at West Brom last term and the Baggies want to bring him back to The Hawthorns
The answer to Sheffield United’s quest to replace Ben Brereton Diaz could lie in the green and white half of Glasgow, in the shape of Celtic winger Mikey Johnston.
The Chile international was one of the Blades’ only positives in an otherwise dismal season, scoring six goals in 14 Premier League appearances after joining from Villarreal on loan in January.
But the 25-year-old, who was the Blades’ joint-top scorer alongside Oli McBurnie last term, will return to LaLiga in the summer after the end of his loan spell, joining a lengthy list of departures which, as the Blades have already confirmed, also include Chris Basham, George Baldock, Oliver Norwood, Wes Foderingham and Max Lowe.
Ben Brereton Diaz’s departure is a headache for Chris Wilder
Brereton Diaz’s departure leaves a gaping hole in Chris Wilder’s attacking options, with the 56-year-old expected to overhaul his squad this summer in a bid to lead Sheffield United back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
The Blades’ return to the top flight ended disastrously last season as they finished rock bottom with just 16 points and conceded a Premier League record 104 goals in 38 matches while scoring a league-worst 35 goals.
Similarly, Johnston is set to return to Celtic following the conclusion of his successful loan spell at West Brom.
The Irishman spent the second half of last season on loan at The Hawthorns, where he proved to be a key player for Carlos Corberan’s side, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in 20 appearances in all competitions to help the Baggies to fifth place after joining in January.
Prior to his loan spell at The Hawthorns, Johnston had made 92 appearances in all competitions for Celtic, scoring 13 goals and providing 12 assists.
West Brom ultimately missed out on promotion after losing 3-0 on aggregate in the play-off semi-final to Southampton, but look well placed to go one better next season.
