West Brom and Bolton target Tim Ream wanted back in New York
West Brom and Bolton target Tim Ream has seen his club New York Red Bulls rule out a permanent transfer of his services.
West Brom and Bolton target Tim Ream has seen his club New York Red Bulls rule out a permanent transfer of his services.
Ream impressed Baggies head coach Roy Hodgson during a week's training, before the 24-year-old Missouri-born defender headed off to begin a similar stint their Premier League rivals.
But, whatever future awaits Ream, his parent club insist he will be back to get ready for the new Major League Soccer season in the spring.
It's not clear whether the Bulls will approve Ream even staying at either West Brom or Bolton for a David Beckham-style loan in the meantime.
That's the deal the Baggies will be pursuing if they get the right signals from the Ream camp, but the Bulls general manager Erik Soler dismissed any suggestions that Ream will be leaving.
Soler said: "Tim is going to play for us next year. I met with him, as I did with every single player after the season, and my message was very clear.
"We would like him to go on those two training sessions to gain experience and also to have a personal benchmark on what the mid or lower Premier League would feel like.
"Apart from that, we have absolutely no other plans than him returning here and gaining some experience that will be good for us."
Those comments were being interpreted in the United States media as a 'no' to even a loan deal but West Brom – and Ream – don't see it that way.
The club responded with less enthusiasm, however, to reports from Scotland that they had upped the tempo of their interest in Dundee United midfielder Scott Allan by agreeing a fee with the Scottish club.
The Baggies concede Allen is on their radar – but are mindful of the lure of fellow pursuers Rangers and Celtic.
Despite the inevitable lure of the Glasgow duo, there have been reports that Allen has set his heart on a move to England.
Now moving into the last six months of his contract, Allen has been free to talk to clubs since the start of the month but sources at the Hawthorns insist there had been "no major development."