Tony Pulis has admitted that Saido Berahino has been distracted by lingering doubts over his future and suggested that as many as 15 clubs are pursuing the 22-year-old West Bromwich Albion striker’s signature.
Pulis, the West Brom head coach, omitted the forward from his squad yesterday, triggering speculation — unsubstantiated — that Tottenham Hotspur were close to completing a £20 million deal for the England Under-21 striker. The White Hart Lane club have already had one offer, worth about £15 million, rejected by West Brom. However, strong rumours last night suggested that Manchester United were preparing to hijack the deal in a manoeuvre not dissimilar to the way they lost Pedro, the former Barcelona winger, to Chelsea last week.
It is believed that no fee has been agreed for the player, but Pulis confirmed last night that, after a discussion with Berahino on Saturday morning, he decided that he was not in the correct frame of mind to play, which he blamed squarely on those clubs hoping to sign him before the close of the transfer window.
“It is just the kid,” Pulis said. “He is a young lad who needs to be protected. There is loads of stuff going on in his mind and there are loads of clubs [interested in him]. It is not one, it’s 15, saying things and doing things. Saido is a great lad. It happens when [potential transfers] can be disruptive, and it has been disruptive. I had a good chat with him yesterday and he’s fine, no problems.
“You will have to wait and see [where he spends this season]. It is seven days. Why are we talking about Saido? Because of the transfer window. It’s absolutely ridiculous. For it to be going through the start of the season is ridiculous. We should be talking about this game. Why can’t we have a system where it finishes before the start of the season?”
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Pulis, at least, can take heart from the performance of the player widely interpreted as Berahino’s replacement. Salomón Rondón, on his first home start, created West Brom’s first goal — hooking a cross back into the path of James Morrison — then contributed to John Terry’s sending-off, beating the Chelsea captain to Chris Brunt’s through-ball and drawing a foul.
The West Brom head coach was delighted with the £12 million Venezuelan’s performance, even if he felt that Terry’s dismissal was “a bit harsh,” but admitted that he requires an early goal if he is to settle into his new surroundings quickly. “We need Rondón to score early,” he said. “We have to be careful with him, but he’s shown some great attributes today.”