Premier League clubs keep tabs on West Brom's Nigerian born centreback Kevin Joshua

SEVERAL English Premier League clubs have stepped up their interest in Nigerian-born centreback Kevin Joshua with a view to prising him away from West Bromwich Albion (WBA) at the end of the season.

Joshua, 19, has made quite an impression since arriving at West Brom last month following a successful trial and is seen as having a great future. A left-footed central defender, he  performed excellently in his last three matches for the Baggies within the last one week, leading to him catching the eye.

He featured in games against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stoke City in the Premier League Two Division Two and in an in-house game against West Brom's first team players. Southampton , Crystal Palace, Everton and Leicester City are all said to be watching Joshua closely after receiving glowing reports from their talent scouts.

Apparently Joshua has a big chance of breaking into WBA's first team over the coming months and the Baggies are considering offering him improved terms in a bid to convince him that his future lies at The Hawthorns. Already, Joshua has drawn comparisons to RB Leipzig's French youth defender Ibrahim Konaté due to his playing style.

It is not yet clear of the Nigerian Football Federation has made contact with the player born of an Irish mother and a Nigerian father.  However, the Football Association of Ireland are closely watching his progress of with a view to calling him up to one of their youth teams in the near future.