Two more beat the deadline

31 August 2004

The last day of transfer activity before the closure of the window has seen two more new faces brought in to aid Albion's Premiership campaign.

The first is no stranger to English football: Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto, who has had loan spells with Arsenal and Fulham, has joined on a permanent basis from Gamba Osaka. Although currently in the final stages of recovering from the broken leg that saw him taken off during the friendly between England and Japan in June, he is expected to be fit by October. The transfer fee of ?200,000 transfer won't be paid by Albion until he plays competitive football for the club, which would seem to put them in something of a no-lose position - if he doesn't recover, Albion can simply release him from his contract.

Next in the door comes Romanian right back Cosmin Contra on a season long loan from Atletico Madrid. Contra was previously with AC Milan, from where he joined Madrid for a fee of ?5 million in 2002, but his Spanish career has been hampered by injury and an ankle ligament problem kept him out of action for most of last season. Albion have again appeared to pull off a good deal by negotiating a loan that sees them pay Madrid for each game that Contra plays in.

Meanwhile, Albion look to have lost out on the other targets such as ex-Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord, who joined Olympique Lyon for Champions League football, French midfielder Dabo, currently with Lazio but apparently surplus to requirements, and Hungarian left back Szabolcs Hustzi - while Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane has been frustrated in his attempts to leave Anderlecht and has gone on strike. However, reports say that Albion are working away frantically to complete some last-minute deals in the run-up to the midnight deadline.

Elsewhere, former Albion legend Bob Taylor has joined non-league Tamworth after leaving Cheltenham Town last season. Certainly convenient for his home in Lichfield!

Previous Stories:

  30 August 2004:  Earnshaw signs!!

  27 August 2004:  Earnshaw latest

  25 August 2004:  Carling Cup draw

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