PNE issued Callum Robinson transfer instruction as West Brom rumours swirl

Steve Bruce has advised that Preston North End cough up if they want to secure a return for West Bromwich Albion forward Callum Robinson. The Irish international is of interest to his former employers, who he left in the summer of 2019 for Sheffield United.

Robinson, who limped off the field after just 11 minutes in last Wednesday’s 3-0 pre-season friendly win over Northampton Town, has since missed the draw with Crewe Alexandra and the dismantling of Oxford United with a dead leg.

In the meantime, speculation is mounting surrounding his future. PNE are the front-runners to secure a deal for Robinson, expected to be a loan move if anything transpires, for an attacker who still has three years left to run on his Hawthorns contract.

PNE boss Ryan Lowe has previously publicly outlined his admiration for Robinson and the interest he has in bringing him back to Deepdale if an agreement could be reached with Albion, but speaking after the 3-0 victory at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night, Bruce was blunt in his address.

“I keep hearing the rumblings but there is nothing to really report on it,” he said. “They can make as much noise as they want but what they have got to do is put their money where their mouth is.”

Robinson scored eight goals and delivered nine assists in all competitions for Albion in what was admittedly a generally disappointing campaign for the club, but it’s understood that he is permitted to secure a move elsewhere if the right deal were to present itself this summer.

Bruce has Daryl Dike, Karlan Grant, Grady Diangana and Matt Phillips to call upon in the forward areas, as well as new signings John Swift and Jed Wallace. He still hopes that the remainder of this summer transfer window brings a new striker