BAGGIES’ MOVEFOR ISMAEL STALLS – REPORT

West Brom fans might need to wait a little longer to confirm Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael as their new manager as the two clubs are yet to reach an agreement for the Frenchman. According to Football Insider, Barnsley and the Baggies are still yet to agree on how the £2m compensation would be paid.

The Baggies approached Barnsleyon the possibility of manager Valerien Ismael taking over as the new manager at the Hawthorns and they were told to pay the compensation fee of £2m. The major issue delaying the imminent announcement of Ismael as the new West Brom boss is the terms of payment as far as the compensation package agreed is concerned as confirmed by the abovementioned English publication.

Frenchman Ismael is highly regarded in English football. The present Barnsley boss is widely seen as one of the best managers in the English Championship, the second tier of club football in England. Under his watch, Barnsley punched above their weight in the English Championship.

Valerien Ismael and his Barnsley players were the surprise package in the English Championship last season after they finished fifth on the log at the end of the regular season. Fifth position was enough to secure a place in the playoffs in the battle for Premier League football.

In the semi-finals of the playoff, Barnsley faced Welsh team Swansea City who finished the regular season in fourth place and they were beaten over two legs. Swansea City sealed a place in the playoff final after the 2-1 aggregate win over Barnsley. Ismael and his players lost the first leg 1-0 at home before a 1-1 draw in the second leg in Wales ensured that Swansea City moved into the final. Swansea City went on to lose the final of the playoff to London team Brentford via a 2-0 defeat suffered when the two teams met at the Emirates Stadium.