West Bromwich Albion have no plans to initiate new contract talks with Saido Berahino and will consider selling their leading scorer in the summer after becoming exasperated with his off-field conduct. There is a feeling within the club that it is a case of one step forward and two steps back with Berahino, who found himself in trouble again this week when he gave an interview without permission in which he talked of his desire to “move on to bigger things”.
Although Berahino spoke in the same interview about scoring the goals to keep Albion in the Premier League this season, it was a breach of protocol to talk to Sky without the club’s consent and there is growing frustration among Albion’s hierarchy that the 21-year-old cannot keep his head down and stick to doing his talking on the pitch.
Berahino has not been formally put up for sale or transfer-listed. However, Albion are tired of dealing with all the baggage that comes with a player who has no shortage of ability but possesses a magnetic attraction to controversy – only three weeks ago he received a 12-month driving ban after pleading guilty to drink-driving.
Albion had hoped that the conclusion of that case would draw a line under things, with Jeremy Peace, the chairman, later releasing a statement in which he confirmed that Berahino would be disciplined by the club but also praised the player for the way he had “responded positively” to the arrival of Tony Pulis.
The Albion head coach had a one-on-one chat with Berahino when he took over from Alan Irvine and it is understood the two have spoken again this week. For now Albion are prepared to take a short-term view. Berahino is their leading scorer with 14 goals in all competitions and they know that they have a much better chance of staying up with him in the team.
There is, however, no prospect of the contract talks that were postponed in light of the drink-driving case being resurrected in the coming weeks and months and, subject to the right sort of offer being received – figures in the region of £20m have been mentioned – the likelihood is that Berahino will move on in the summer.
Albion, however, did not receive any genuine interest in Berahino during the recent transfer window, including from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, two clubs who have been strongly linked with the England Under-21 international.
