Saido Berahino close to signing five-year deal at West Bromwich Albion
Exclusive: Striker offered £40,000 a week contract as club attempts to head off interest from Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton
West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino is close to agreeing a new five-year contract.
The Burundi-born player, called up by England this week for the games against Slovenia and Scotland, is attracting interest from Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.
But even before his call-up, West Bromwich had opened talks about a new deal and the negotiations are now at an advanced stage.
Berahino signed a contract extension 12 months ago which took his wages from £800 to £15,000 a week. That runs until 2017 but the new package will add a further two years and increase his wage to around £40,000 a week.
West Bromwich were uncomfortable with the striker’s public announcement, made after his England call-up, that he wants to play Champions League football, even if that means leaving The Hawthorns.
The new contract offer has two purposes: first, to ward off any immediate interest from the bigger clubs; secondly, to ensure West Bromwich can get the highest possible transfer fee should he decide to leave in years to come.
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