Agent claims Gera interest

West Brom could face a fight to hold onto inspirational midfielder Zoltan Gera after his agent claimed that Aston Villa and Tottenham were interested in signing the Hungarian skipper.

Gera is only one year into his spell with the Baggies following his move from Ferencvaros last summer and he played a huge part in keeping the club in the Premiership.

Albion manager Bryan Robson recently said he was confident that 26-year-old Gera would remain at the Hawthorns, but that has not stopped his advisor Viadan Filipovic from declaring interest from top-flight rivals.

Filipovic said: “There are two clubs interested in signing Zoltan but their approaches aren’t official ones.

“I and the player may connect with them if West Brom accept the approaches and then we can start talks.

“The main teams are the ones that showed interest recently. The clubs are Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur. But they haven’t made anything official.”

The feeling remains that the declaration of Filipovic may be aimed at earning a new contract for Gera rather than because of any great desire for the player to leave West Brom.

He added: “I can confirm that Zoltan’s price has doubled since he joined West Brom thanks to his amazing first year.”

Gera is indebted to Albion for giving him his chance in the Premiership and for being patient when he took time to adapt to life in the top-flight and in England.

He said: “Let me say how good I feel at West Brom and how grateful I am to the club. They have helped me a lot to adapt and to develop.

“I am partly in the club’s hands because I am contracted to West Brom but my future might be decided in the following weeks.”