It’s never easy having a 16-year old talent, knowing that the bigger clubs are out there to snatch him away from you. West Brom have that “problem” with the talented Isaiah Brown, so far only playing for the side’s U-21 team. While they’re still hoping he’ll sign a professional contract very soon, both Arsenal and Chelsea are waiting in line to try and sign him for a reduced fee.
Brown is on a two-year scholarship with the club, and Steve Clarke is hoping that by trying to show Brown the light, meaning convincing him that making it into the lineup in a club like Chelsea or Arsenal is extremely difficult for English youngsters, especially in Stamford Bridge, where Clarke knows a thing or two about how things are run. Arsenal are a bit of a different story but there’s no doubt his best chances of getting playing time are with West Brom, probably using Romelu Lukaku as an example.
Meanwhile, the big London clubs are prepping a £1-2 million bid for the player, hoping they can snag him away from the midlands before he signs a professional contract with the team, and becomes a much more expensive target to chase. Brown, as we’ve mentioned, hasn’t played a match with the senior team for West Brom, but has sat on the bench in the game against Chelsea last month. He’ll turn 17 only next January, and any offer for him will have to through a tribunal in order to determine the fee West Brom will be owed if he elects to join either Arsenal or Chelsea.