Barnsley have rejected an opening offer from Championship side West Brom for Hungary international Callum Styles and the prospect of a deal appears doubtful with the English Football League restricting the Baggies’ transfer activity due to concerns they may breach the league’s financial rules.
Callum Styles has 23 caps for his country but spent the second half of last season on loan at Championship Sunderland, where he made 12 appearances in the second tier across a variety of positions, highlighting the player’s versatility.
Previous Owners to Blame for Restriction on Transfer Activity
Sky Sports have broken the news about West Brom’s troubles with the EFL’s financial rules and player wages are the leading cause of the implementation of a restriction on transfer activity. There are no concerns about the financial health of the club but there are concerns they are due to breach the profit and sustainability rules despite several significant departures.
The likes of Dara O’Shea, Jake Livermore, Yann M’Villa and Brandon Thomas-Asante have been moved off the wage bill in recent seasons but it appears there will have to be further departures to ensure no further penalties are imposed on the club. West Brom have seen several other departures this summer, including key players Okay Yokuşlu and Conor Townsend.
The new owners, Bilkul Football WBA, bought an 87.8 per cent shareholding in Albion in February and are working with the EFL as they look to strengthen the squad ahead of the Championship season. The concerns relate to the activities of the previous owners and Bilkul Football WBA will be hoping to avoid the fate of Championship rivals Sheffield United, who have suffered a two-point deduction ahead of the new season having been found to have breached the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
It is unclear if the news will have an impact on the club’s move for Barnsley player Callum Styles, who they have had a bid rejected for according to reports from Sky Sports, or if the restriction will lead to the departure of other star players such as Darnell Furlong or Grady Diangana.
Callum Styles Attracting Interest Amid Impending Barnsley Departure
The same report states that there are many clubs interested in the 24-year-old in the Championship and from further afield in the MLS. Styles scored three goals in 20 appearances in the third tier for Barnsley before moving to Sunderland late in the 2024 mid-season transfer window.
The former Bury player is English-born but represented Hungary at the most European Championships in Germany, starting the 1-0 win over Scotland in the group stages. His loan spell in 2022/23 with Millwall in the second tier was disrupted by injury but he still accumulated 20 league appearances.
He played a major role for Barnsley in their run to the Championship play-offs in 2020/21, scoring four goals and providing four assists. Styles started both legs of their semi-final defeat to Swansea City. He was also a regular for the Barnsley team that suffered relegation from the second tier the following season.
Styles has built a career in the Championship and despite making his most significant contributions on the left side of midfield, he is comfortable in the middle or further back at left-full back. His defensive attributes are the highlight of his game and he ranked in the top three for tackles per game with 1.8 at Sunderland despite only joining on loan in February.
It appears that the player will be on the move this summer and he would be a welcome addition for any Championship sides looking for a player that can cover both midfield and left-back roles, but it is unclear if West Brom, hampered by the EFL’s restriction on transfer activity, will be able to submit an improved offer for the player.