By Wayne Veysey

23rd Jun, 2021 | 12:17pm

Sources: West Brom talks to appoint Ismael hit eleventh-hour snag

West Brom hopes of appointing Valerien Ismael as their new manager today are being held up by an eleventh-hour delay, Football Insider understands.

The Baggies have agreed to pay Barnsley the full £2million compensation needed to trigger the Frenchman’s exit from his contract.

But an industry source told Football Insider that the deal is being held up as West Brom are haggling with their Championship rivals over how the compensation is paid.

Barnsley want it up front and Albion want to pay it in instalments.

The stumbling block is not being regarded by those involved as capable of killing the deal but it is slowing it down.

The 45-year-old joined Barnsley at the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign and is contracted to the club until 2023.

Ismael, fresh from an outstanding season with the South Yorkshire side, has emerged as Albion’s primary target following talks with multiple candidates.

As revealed by Football Insider on 10th June, the Baggies made contact with Derk McInnes over the vacant post at the Hawthorns.

That followed a collapse in talks with ex-Huddersfield boss David Wagner who instead elected to join Swiss side Young Boys.

Chris Wilder was an earlier option but, as revealed by this site on 5th June, that move hit the buffers after the club called off plans to appoint the 53-year-old.

Ismael led Barnsley to 6th place in the Championship last term but narrowly missed out on promotion after a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Swansea City in the play-off semi-finals.

Football Insider revealed on 19th June that West Brom have lined up up ex-Everton boss Marco Silva as a fall-back option should talks with Ismael collapse.

In other news, pundit speculates that Leeds United could sign West Brom player who shone in 2020-21.