Transfers, so what's going on?
So what's the latest.
Gabriel Tamas. Big interest here. But it's not as clear cut and there is red tape Albion will need to overcome, mainly because of the complexities of his current loan deal with Dinamo Bucharest from Auxerre. Likes a night out or two and would bring some rock n roll to Albion's dressing room. The most likely of all targets to materialise.
Jaycee Okwunwanne. The Mouscron man been watched a few times. There is an interest in the Bahrain striker, but, at this stage, no more. One for another time perhaps.
Antolin Alcaraz. The wonderfully-named Paraguayan defender, a former team-mate of Albion's ex-left-back Tininho, has been checked out by the club's European scout Tony Spearing. A potential target if things do not work out on the Tamas front. But, like Okwunwanne, one Albion are simply monitoring at the moment - no more than that.
Leon Best. The Coventry striker has been personally checked out by Roberto Di Matteo on a few occasions. Not really convinced in any of those games but his contractual situation - his deal runs out in the summer - could make him appealing. Could Albion do better? Possibly.
Elliott Grandin. The ex-Marseille striker's agent has been busy touting him around. The free agent is known to Albion's scouting network but his representative's comments that the Baggies are in talks with him couldn't be further from the truth. Albion have no interest in the Frenchman.
Adam Dudás. The Hungarian midfielder, whose had trials with Arsenal, has been linked with Albion in one of the newspapers in his homeland. The Baggies, again, have no intention of pursuing him at this stage.
Therry Racon. Chinny Reckon more like. A name plucked out the air and, most likely, touted by an agent. Not on the wish list at this moment in time.
For the pre-transfer window thoughts of Albion chairman Jeremy Peace and sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth check out Wednesday's Birmingham Mail (www.birminghammail.net), not least their views on Graham Dorrans' future. By the way, ever wondered why Dorrans keeps being linked with other clubs? His agent is Willie McKay... Say no more.
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Chris Lepkowski - Mail man Chris Lepkowski’s view of what’s going on at West Bromwich Albion FC.
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Cant you try and sign a player with a proper solid name, like Albert or Stan or George?
What about the bid for Moses, is that pie in the sky from the tabloids or did that get under your transfer target radar? If so, how much do you really know that is going on at the club & how close are you to the club, Chris?
Trevor
Thanks for message. They've spoken to Palace about Moses, but no more at this stage. There's been no bid.
It's not a case of slipping under my radar - the story was leaked by an agent, as many are. I try and cut out agents(unless I know the agent as a friend) as 90 per cent of time they are trying to tout their players and throw clubs' names into equation. If a player is mentioned elsewhere I run it past the club - that way I get definitive answer, as opposed to speculation which I try and shy away from. I must put about 10 players a week to the club. Rarely is there anything in those.
Speculating on players is very easy to do.
How close am I to the club? Well, I've been covering them for 9 years...
I speak to the manager (head coach), directors, press office, other contacts high up in the club. I spend a lot of my working time down the training ground so get to see/speak to people first hand.
My job isn't to be first with speculation or gossip - there's plenty of tabloids/websites/message boards for that. My job is to try and report the correct news to readers.
I've told people in the past, if they want speculation about different players every day then they won't get it from me. I only deal in what's going on in reality.
Chris
Hey Chris
Seen lots of rumours linking us with Lee Wallace of Hearts for 2 Million+.Any truth in these or just paper talk.
And also read about some top flight clubs chasing Paul Downing,Again is that just paper talk or any truth?
DiMATTeo's barmy army,
Re Lee Wallace - simply not true. they watched him some time ago (last season) but didn't fancy him. For some reason a national radio station suggested he was about to sign and others picked it up without bothering to make a phonecall to WBA/Hearts to check it was true.
As for Downing, nobody at Albion has heard anything about interest from MC or Villa.
Chris
Apparently lots of reports north of the border linking us with James McArthur of Hamilton,One radio station apparently stating that he IS coming to us(Probably the same station that said Lee Wallace was!)
Any Truth in this?