West Brom: Grady Diangana's transfer preference emerges amid new Saudi Arabia links | OneFootball

A Middle East move isn't the only option on the table for the ex-Baggies winger.

Grady Diangana has interest from Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq following his departure from West Bromwich Albion.

After nearly five years at The Hawthorns, the DR Congo international will leave the West Midlands club this summer. Diangana only started 14 times in Championship matches last season and was not offered a new deal by the Baggies.

He has been linked with clubs across the globe following the decision to let him go, and a new, potentially lucrative, avenue has now opened up for the 27-year-old winger. He isn't said to be overly keen on the fresh idea, though.

Saudi Arabia option emerges for Grady Diangana but he has a different transfer preference

Fabrizio Romano has reported that Diangana has been approached by Al Ettifaq, following his announced exit from Albion.

The Saudi Pro League club that used to be managed by Steven Gerrard may be in need of a winger this summer as one of their current options, former Premier League winner Demarai Gray, is eyeing a return to the UK - Birmingham City are reported to be interested.

Like Gray, the ex-West Brom attacker would like his next move to be within Europe, according to Romano.

Luckily for him, Spanish sides Real Mallorca and Valencia have supposedly shown interest in him too, per the Italian journalist. The latter are managed by old Baggies boss Carlos Corberan.

Valencia have been linked with a surprising number of EFL targets this summer. Jamie Vardy, Josh Windass and Cameron Burgess have all appeared on the La Liga outfit's transfer radar this summer, according to various reports. Diangana is the latest and maybe most likely to make the move to the Spanish club.

Following a loan spell that helped the club earn a Premier League return, Diangana was bought by West Brom in September 2020 from West Ham United for £18 million, a decision that did not go down well with former Hammers captain Mark Noble.

He had some successful seasons with the club, but none more so than his first stint with Albion, where he lodged 14 direct goal contributions.

Emerging interest in Grady Diangana justifies West Brom's contract decision

West Brom were certainly right to let Diangana leave at the end of his deal.

Even though it will hurt a little bit to see a player that they bought for that much money leave for nothing in return, Albion would have been worse off keeping him, and that's even if he wanted to stay in the first place.

The lack of EFL opposition that have been linked with the winger certainly suggests that Albion made the right decision.

The Spanish interest certainly offers him an interesting future should he take that path.