Fresh West Brom transfer twist emerges involving David Brooks | OneFootball

West Bromwich Albion's chances of landing gifted AFC Bournemouth winger David Brooks have been made clearer in a fresh update...

AFC Bournemouth's David Brooks will not be signing for West Bromwich Albion, amid claims on social media suggesting the winger was on the verge of moving to the Hawthorns.

Online speculation had gone as far as to claim a medical was being completed ahead of a move to West Brom from the Premier League side.

However, it has now been confirmed by Steve Hermon of BBC Sport that Brooks will not be joining the Baggies in what will mark an undoubted blow for supporters.

West Brom have made one signing so far this summer in the form of seasoned defender Nat Phillips, who has arrived on a permanent basis from Liverpool.

New head coach Ryan Mason is looking to add to that and bring further fresh faces in through the door, but any potential move for Brooks now appears to be off the table.

West Brom, David Brooks transfer truth emerges

The Championship outfit's interest in Brooks was first called in a report last month by the Express and Star, which revealed that West Brom had been among a number of second-tier sides keeping tabs on the playmaker's situation at Bournemouth amid suggestions that the Cherries could sanction a loan exit this summer in order to afford him increased playing time elsewhere.

Bournemouth may yet give the green-light for a temporary or even permanent departure for Brooks, who only started nine of his 29 Premier League appearances under Andoni Iraola last season, but West Brom are seemingly no longer in the running to land his coveted signature.

Hermon's update this morning, which effectively ruled out the Albion, came following a series of recent claims made on social media and while things can always change quickly, it does look like they are going to have to look elsewhere now.

Not signing AFC Bournemouth's David Brooks is a blow for West Brom

If the latest report is to be believed, it's an undeniable blow for West Brom supporters who got their hopes up about signing Brooks. Indeed, if the Albion were as close as certain claims online suggested, then Mason himself will surely be left with more than a tinge of frustration.

The 35-cap Welsh international has proven his class for both club and country over the years, having won two promotions to the Premier League while establishing himself as a player capable of cutting it in English football's top-flight, too.

He played a starring role while on loan with Southampton just two seasons ago, with his return of two goals and six assists from 20 appearances helping the Saints to promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt via the play-offs.

A technically-gifted right-sided winger with excellent creative quality in tight pockets of space, Brooks can also operate in attacking midfield and his pace, creativity and ability to beat his man would have brought much-needed X-Factor to what could be a new-look West Brom forward line.

At Championship level, players simply don't come too much better than Brooks and he would have been a seriously impressive acquisition for the Baggies as they bid to build upon last season's eventual ninth-placed finish and compete for promotion under Mason's stewardship.