Latest rumours!

08 July 2004

Albion are on the verge of signing an exciting new strike force, if the rumours and media reports currently circulating are true.

A story in the Western Mail has them "poised to offer a player plus cash package to Cardiff City in a bid to land Robert Earnshaw." The Mail goes on to say that Megson has missed out on a number of other striker targets, but that Albion would not match the ?4 million asking price for Earnshaw, preferring to offer a lower figure along with one or more players that Cardiff are known to be interested in - Sean Gregan and Rob Hulse.

However, the article goes on to quote an Albion insider saying "Earnshaw is one we've looked at and Gary Megson likes him, but he's not an immediate target". So don't hold your breath just yet...

Meanwhile, closer to home, the Evening Mail reports that Albion are on the verge of signing Lomana Lua Lua from Newcastle for an agreed fee of around ?2 million, and that the striker was at The Hawthorns this afternoon to discuss personal terms.

But again, before you get too excited and put his name on your shirt, Lua Lua's agent Tony Finnigan is quoted as saying just "We've had the green light from Newcastle and are now having provisional discussions with West Brom".

The Mail adds that Portsmouth took Lua Lua on loan last season, and would like to have kept him but failed to meet the asking price.

Elsewhere, rumours have suggested that Albion will sign strikers Thomas Radzinski, from Everton, and Marcus Allback, from Aston Villa, tomorrow. Should be a busy day.

Friday update:

Latest reports are that we have had a ?1.9 million bid accepted by Middlesbrough for ex-Manchester United midfielder Jonathan Greening, with the player now due to arrive at Albion for contract talks and a medical. The article on Yahoo goes on to say that we had previously seen a bid of ?1.7 million for him turned down.

As if that wasn't enough, a story on Sky Sports has us "on the verge of sealing a shock deal for Norwegian striker John Carew". Carew is currently with Valencia but seems surplus to requirements, and spent last year on loan at Roma where he scored six times. Albion are reported to have agreed a fee of ?2.6 million with Valencia and have offered Carew around ?20,000 a week in salary for three years. But as usual, there's the vague quote from the players agent - "John is considering a number of options". Again, Carew has been the subject of an approach from Albion in the past - last time we got promoted to the Premiership.

Finally, the Daily Mail seems to think that Jason Koumas and Thomas Radzinski are both heading for Fulham and talks about the young midfielder's stormy relationship with Megson.

Previous Stories:

  24 June 2004:  2004/5 Fixtures Announced

  19 June 2004:  BOING FC Scoop another trophy !

  04 June 2004:  Jon's Review of the Season

Back to the News Index