West Brom Set to Beat Premier League Rivals to Signature of Out-of-Favour Inter Defender
Internazionale's Andrea Ranocchia is reportedly set to join Tony Pulis' West Brom side this summer, with the Baggies beating Huddersfield to the centre-back's signature.
The 29-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan to Hull City, where he put in some impressive performances and quickly became an integral part of the Tigers' defensive line.
HULL, ENGLAND - APRIL 01: Andrea Ranocchia of Hull City (CL) celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Ahmed Elmohamady of Hull City (CR) during the Premier League match between Hull City and West Ham United at KCOM Stadium on April 1, 2017 in Hull, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
Nigel Roddis/GettyImages
Despite Hull's eagerness to keep hold of Ranocchia beyond the 2016/17 season, the Italian returned to Inter at the end of the Premier League campaign, where new manager Luciano Spalletti apparently informed him that he would have no future at the San Siro.
Interest from his former club Genoa was rebuffed when Ranocchia admitted he wanted to return to the Premier League, and now the Daily Star are claiming that he is on the verge of joining West Brom in a £5m deal.
The experienced defender will sign a contract worth £80,000 per week after shunning David Wagner's approaches for him to join the Terriers.
The newly-promoted Premier League side saw their bid turned down by Ranocchia, claiming that he wanted to sign for a more established outfit in England's top flight - meaning he would not become Wagner's tenth summer signing.
West Brom's soon-to-be latest arrival will come as the replacement to long serving centre back Jonas Olsson, who left the club at the end of last season.
Ranocchia will join Jay Rodriguez - who signed from Southampton for around £11.5m - as a new arrival at the Hawthorns this season, as Pulis looks to make signings that'll immediately impact the starting lineup.
