Chaplow completes Baggies move

Premiership strugglers West Bromwich Albion have agreed a fee of 1.5 million pounds (2.17 million euros) for Burnley midfielder Richard Chaplow

Premiership strugglers West Bromwich Albion have agreed a fee of 1.5 million pounds (2.17 million euros) for Burnley midfielder Richard Chaplow, the clubs confirmed.

And with just hours of transfer deadline day remaining, the move was finalised when 19-year-old Chaplow agreed personal terms.

West Brom are bottom of the Premiership and five points shy of getting out of the relegation zone.

But Baggies boss Bryan Robson believes Chaplow can make a difference to the west midlands side's survival prospects.

"He is a young lad who has got a terrific work-rate and a bit of pace about him," said former Manchester United and England international Robson, who made his name as a midfield dynamo at West Brom during the late 1970s and early 80s.

"He will take the ball in any area of the pitch. He has got really good confidence and he can create and score a goal.

"The one thing he is maybe not great at is the defending side of the game but he can learn that. On everything else he has got good character about him and for me he is a good all-round midfield player.

"I saw him when he first came into the Burnley side. I had a game of golf one day with the then Burnley manager Stan Ternent and he was talking about Chaplow in really high terms," former Middlesbrough boss Robson added.

"I took notice of the kid from then on because of the way Stan was talking about him - and a lot of the things Stan said have come true and he is progressing as a player all of the time.

"He can make the step up to Premiership. I wouldn't be asking the chairman to pay the type of money we are paying Burnley unless I thought he could make that step up."

Championship Burnley's manager Steve Cotterill said: "For a deal of 1.5 million pounds in cash with a sell on clause, it is an excellent deal by the chairman.

"We've held our nerve right until the last minute and obviously we'll miss Richard around the place.

"I like him as a lad, but we have done well without him when he was injured this year and we will look to continue to do well in his absence.

"I met his parents during the contract talks with him in the summer and we said that if the right offer came in at the right time from a Premiership club, we would allow him that opportunity and we've been true to our word."