Express & Star

West Brom hoping Jay Rodriguez stays despite £10m release clause

Jay Rodriguez is not agitating for a move away from Albion – and it wouldn’t surprise technical director Luke Dowling if he stayed.

Published
Baggies striker Jay Rodriguez. (AMA)

The Baggies striker has a £10million release clause in his contract agreed last summer, and is believed to be interesting a number of Premier League clubs.

Dowling is aware the matter could be taken out of Albion's hands, and a top-tier offer will be difficult for Rodriguez to turn down.

But he’s been impressed with the striker’s attitude since the players returned for pre-season on Monday.

“Jay had a great season, he’s really settled in the area, his family are here,” said Dowling.

“Last year was one of his best in terms of game time. He recognises the support the club have given him over the years.

“He’s not indicated to us that he’s in a rush to move.

"There’s always going to be speculation, but he was in Monday with a smile on his face, the normal Jay that we know.

"It wouldn’t surprise me if he was here on August 9 (the day after the transfer window shuts).”

Rodriguez is one of just two senior strikers left at the club, alongside Hal Robson-Kanu.

Loan star Dwight Gayle will not be returning due to his Premier League wage demands and Salomon Rondon will be sold this summer because he has one year left on his contract.

Slaven Bilic’s arrival has gone down well with the playing squad, but Dowling said it wouldn’t stop Albion selling if it suited the club.

When asked if the appointment would allow them to keep hold of more players, he said: “It might make one or two of them think ‘I like the look of this, this is interesting’, but it won’t stop the club doing what’s best for the club if the right offer does come in.

“Naturally they want to play in the Premier League, we want to work in the Premier League.

“If we get an offer, it doesn’t matter who they are, if it was something the club accepted it would be hard for them to turn it down.”