Leicester City boss Claude Puel has handed West Brom a major boost ahead of the January transfer window by confirming his plans for loan star Harvey Barnes.
The Baggies took the attacking midfielder on a season-long temporary deal this summer and he has made an immediate impact at the Hawthorns with a series of dazzling displays in their push for promotion.
However, there were fears that the young talent would be recalled by the Foxes in the January transfer window after an injury blow to Demerai Gray, but Puel has moved to address and allay those worries by insisting he looks set to remain at the club.
He was quoted by journalist Laurie Whitwell as saying: “It is not normal priority to come back in the middle of the season. It would be better for him to continue this way at West Brom.”
Plan is for Harvey Barnes to stay for campaign at #wba, says Claude Puel: 'It is not normal priority to come back in the middle of the season. It would be better for him to continue this way at West Brom.' #lcfc
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) October 21, 2018
Opinion
This is the news that all West Brom fans wanted to hear, for Barnes has quickly become a favourite of theirs with his attacking threat in a potent Baggies line up. He is a constant thorn in the side of the opposition no matter who Darren Moore’s side are taking on, and losing him would be a huge blow to their chances of promotion this season. Finding a replacement would be hugely difficult, if not impossible, for the Baggies in January and so hearing that Puel intends on keeping him at the Hawthorns for the entirety of the campaign is a huge boon to their hopes moving forward. Of course, it is not a promise and should anything happen, Puel might be forced to go back on his word, but it looks for now as though West Brom have very little to worry about when it comes to their loan maestro.