Wanderers target Tim Ream is unlikely to move to the Premier League unless he is guaranteed first team football.
Owen Coyle will run the rule over the 24-year-old defender in a fortnight after he has completed a similar trial spell with West Brom, which begins on Monday.
Both clubs are interested in taking the New York Red Bulls star in the next window, with Wanderers potentially in the market for a defensive replacement for Gary Cahill, who is a target for Tottenham and Chelsea.
But Ream’s agent Patrick McCabe has warned his client is in no rush to leave the States, where his contract with the MLS has two one-year options left to run.
“Red Bull has maintained that Tim is an important piece of the club for next season,” he said.
“Tim certainly is interested in moving to Europe but, at the right time and under the right conditions.
“He still needs to play regularly and Red Bull currently provides that.
“As he moves toward the end of his contract, I believe that there will be some interesting options for him in Europe in the future.
“Both clubs (Wanderers and Albion) have admired Tim for some time and it affords both parties a chance to see each other up close.
“Roy Hodgson and Owen Coyle are top manager and, above all, this will be a good opportunity for Tim’s professional development.”
Whether Ream will be open to a loan deal or a permanent one in January remains to be seen, as the £2million-rated defender has already turned down a chance to join Arsenal last summer.
Red Bulls view Ream’s spell in Europe as a means for him to stay fit and remain in contention for the national team, who have a series of friendlies early in the New Year.
And McCabe reckons that being a man in demand is not an unfamiliar feeling for his client, who has seven international caps to his name.
“There are numerous teams that have been watching Tim for the last two years,” he said.
“I won’t comment on specific clubs at this time but they are from England, France, Holland, Scotland and Germany.
“Arsenal did make an offer to purchase Tim at the end of the 2010 season.
“The offer was rejected and no further negotiations followed.
“Red Bull was not interested in selling Tim at that time.”
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