OPINION
West Brom have reportedly approached Aston Villa about potentially signing defender Ritchie De Laet, and the reaction from some of the Villa fans prove that Darren Moore would be playing a blinder by snapping up the 29-year-old.
News outlet Football Insider has reported that the Baggies have made an enquiry about the two-times Belgium international as they eye up a new right-back before the end of the month.
It is understood that any deal to sign De Laet would be on a loan-to-buy basis, with Moore short of options at right-back having let Allan Nyom join Leganes on loan earlier this month.
West Brom have since signed Tyrone Mears on a rolling contract to fill the void at right-back, but due to his age and lack of quality, it seems as though Moore still wants a first choice option that can play for a Championship team gunning for promotion.
And although De Laet has not made any of Steve Bruce’s matchday squads in the Championship, the reaction from some Aston Villa fans when seeing this news proves that he would be a top-class addition at The Hawthorns.
De Laet was also hailed by the Villa Park faithful for a pre-season masterclass against Burton in July.
The 6ft 2 (transfermarkt) defender has made 128 appearances in the Championship, has won both the second-tier and Premier League titles with Leicester and helped Middlesbrough achieve promotion in 2015/16.
While he has had his injury woes over the last couple of years and is now coping with being down the pecking order at Villa Park, De Laet is obviously still going to be a quality signing if Moore can strike up a deal with Bruce.
However given just how out of favour he is at Villa, it would not be a shock at all to see West Brom raid their next door neighbours for the ex-Manchester United man.