MX23RW : Sunday, May 5 12:25:30| >> :120:77664:77664:

West Brom complete Filip Krovinovic loan return from Benfica

West Brom complete Filip Krovinovic loan return from Benfica
© Reuters
The midfielder helped steer Slaven Bilic's men to Premier League promotion last term, making 43 Sky Bet Championship appearances.

Filip Krovinovic has completed his long-awaited return to West Brom for a second season-long loan with the Bagggies.

The Benfica midfielder helped steer Slaven Bilic's men to Premier League promotion last term, making 43 Sky Bet Championship appearances.

Now the Croatia Under-21 international is back on hand at The Hawthorns, after West Brom completed protracted negotiations with his Portuguese parent club.

The Baggies got off the mark for points in their third match back in the Premier League, scrambling a chaotic 3-3 draw with Chelsea on Saturday.

Krovinovic likened his return to a family reunion, saying: "It's an absolute pleasure to be back with family.

"I know it took a little bit of time but now I'm here and that's the most important thing.

"I said to my brother that it's like coming back to school after the summer holidays. To see your friends is one of the best things in your life."

West Brom boss Bilic had heaped pressure on the club's board to complete a new loan deal for Krovinovic, insisting he would be "extremely disappointed" should the 25-year-old not make a return.

Last week Bilic expected Krovinovic to be training with West Brom after the Chelsea clash, and that prediction has now been vindicated.

Speaking on Thursday, Bilic said: "It will happen in the next couple of days.

"I've been told that he should be here by the weekend, the end of the weekend, so I'm expecting him to start training with us after we play Chelsea.

"So it will be done. I got assured from the director that he will come and as I said, he's there, but until it's over the line we can't guarantee that, but it looks like everything is sorted with Benfica."

ID:416388: cacheID:416388:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2940:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leicester City's Jamie Vardy claims the match ball after his hat-trick against Manchester City on September 27, 2020
Read Next:
PL Team of the Week - Vardy, Grealish, Meslier
>
Read more about Filip Krovinovic Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!