As clubs begin to welcome their players back for pre-season from next week, thoughts will turn to the transfer market.
There are only five weeks until the start of the 2021/22 campaign, and no manager will want to begin the Premier League season with doubts about the depth of their squad and whether any other players might be recruited.
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To that end, it’s being reported that both Crystal Palace and Newcastle United are on the trail of a highly-rated West Bromwich Albion defender, who is potentially available for as little as £3m.
At that price, a real tug-of-war could develop between Steve Bruce and Patrick Vieira over who eventually gets the services of Kyle Bartley.
According to The Telegraph, Bartley, 30, who only signed a new contract with the Baggies a few months ago, could be available for a small fee now, rather than West Brom losing him for nothing when his short-term contract runs out in the summer of 2022.