West Brom open talks with Sheffield Wednesday over deal

Sheffield Wednesday are working on a deal to sign West Brom attacker Jonathan Leko, Football Insider can reveal.

The forward, 21, spent the first half of last season on loan at Charlton Athletic and made a big impact before suffering a cruciate ligament injury.

A Wednesday source has told Football Insider the club have opened talks with West Brom over a potential loan deal for Leko.

The Baggies have high hopes for the England Under-20 international but he is unlikely to be fit to figure for them at the start of the Premier League season.

Leko tore his anterior cruciate ligament last December, an injury that normally requires at least nine months of rehabilitation.

West Brom manager Slaven Bilic is a big fan of the versatile forward and was impressed by his contribution while on loan at Charlton.

Leko scored five goals and supplied four assists from 21 Championship matches for Lee Bowyer’s side and his absence in the second half of the campaign was critical to their eventual relegation.

Bilic may well decide another spell on loan, where Leko can be gradually eased into a Championship campaign, may be better for his development than the more demanding top flight.

The versatile forward, who can play down the middle or on the flanks, has only played 23 times for the Baggies, scoring once and assisting twice.

He has also had a spell on loan at Bristol City.

In other news, West Brom have been hit by a major transfer blow as Londoners agree four-year contract.