[ad_pod ]
Rekeem Harper could be a classic case of a young player never truly realising his potential. That’s unless he changes he attitude.
Harper has been embroiled in contract negotiations towards the back end of the season but a breakthrough hasn’t been reached, per Express & Star.
As a result, it looks as though the promising midfielder will leave the club when his current deal expires at the end of next month.
The 19-year-old is one of the most gifted players to come through Albion’s academy in recent years but it looks like the club are staring down the barrel of losing another top prospect.
For many reasons that would usually be a negative. Yet on this occasion there is a sense that it wouldn’t be too much of a disaster.
Harper’s attitude in the final few months of the campaign was poor and therefore it’s hardly a surprise to see him left out of England’s U20 squad for the Toulon tournament this summer.
Sam Field and Kyle Edwards have both been selected, which given they didn’t receive as many first team minutes as Harper in 2018/19 is a damning statement.
In truth, it sums up his lack of quality. It’s hard to actually work out what he brings to the team barring a slight change of pace when he picks up the ball. Field, on the other hand, has shown himself to offer a great deal.
He’s composed in possession and has a maturity beyond his years. As far as the latter aspect goes, Harper is lacking that in abundance.
And perhaps that’s why he hasn’t been selected for the England U20 squad.
Appearing seven times for England U19s, he will have been in with a solid chance of attaining a call-up this summer. However, the fact he’s been left out is a massive sign that he still has a lot of work to do.
Earlier in the month, Celtic joined the race to sign him but it would be a questionable move, particularly if he wants to improve further.
Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…
If Harper was to join the Hoops it’s incredibly unlikely he’d receive regular minutes and would only further hinder his development.
For the sake of progression, West Brom seems an ideal fit, but whether the Albion fans will want him to stay after a string of poor performances is another matter.
