West Brom manager Gary Megson has broken the club's transfer record to sign FC Copenhagen and Danish international defender Martin Albrechtsen.
The 24-year-old Albrechtsen arrived at The Hawthorns this afternoon after agreeing a three-year contract which also features a clause allowing Albion
to extend the deal into a fourth season.
Albion's previous highest expenditure on a player was the 2.5million spent on striker Lee Hughes when he switched from Coventry in August 2001.
But Albrechtsen's signature has cost Albion an initial 2.5million down payment plus an additional 200,000 paid when he makes a certain number of
appearances.
Well i am not sure about the Baggies they have the best chance out of the 3 new boys to stay up. They have been up in recent years and know what it is
all about. They have some half decent players and with a few signings they could do a Portsmouth and avoid the drop.
West Brom have failed in an ambitious bid to sign PSV Eindhoven striker Mateja Kezman.
Albion reportedly made an approach for the free-scoring 25-year-old, only to be told the £7m-rated Serbia and Montenegro international was not
interested in a move to The Hawthorns.
Kezman, who scored 30 goals in 29 league appearances for PSV last season, has just a year left on his contract with the Dutch club.
He joined PSV from Partizan Belgrade in July 2000 as a replacement for Ruud van Nistelrooy and he has scored more than 100 goals during his spell in
Holland.
West Brom have agreed a 500,000 fee with Birmingham for centre-back Darren Purse.
The Baggies are now in talks with the former Oxford and Leyton Orient defender, who has struggled to break into the Blues' first team ahead of Kenny
Cunningham and Matthew Upson.
Albion chairman Jeremy Peace told the club's official website: "We've agreed terms with Birmingham and have now begun negotiations with Darren and his
representative."
The fee could rise to 750,000 subject to the fulfilment of an appearances clause.
Mateja Kezman has ruled out a move to West Bromwich Albion after the Premiership new boys joined Charlton Athletic in the race to sign the PSV
Eindhoven striker.
The Serbo-Montenegrin international is expected to leave the Philips Stadion this summer in search of a fresh challenge.
Thus far, Charlton are believed to be the only club to have submitted a firm offer for the prolific hit-man but it is rumoured to be slightly below
PSV's valuation.
That would have been a massive signing if they had got Kezman. They have made a couple of decent signings and i don't think they will struggle as
badly as the other two teams that came up. They might just stay up. It all depends on how others do.
West Bromwich Albion are nearing the capture of striker Tresor Lomana Lua Lua from Newcastle United, according to the player's agent.
Agent Tony Finnigan revealed that the Democratic Republic of Congo international has opened talks with the Black Country club after The Baggies
reportedly agreed to Newcastle's 2 million price tag for the African star.
Middlesbrough midfielder Jonathan Greening looks to be on his way out of the Riverside Stadium after newly-promoted West Brom were given permission to
talk to him.
The Teessiders have accepted an undisclosed offer for the 25-year-old former Manchester United starlet, who was Boro's player of the year in 2002-03.
Poland goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak has joined West Brom on a three-year deal from Hertha Berlin.
Kuszczak lapsed out of contract at Hertha and had been courted by a number of other top English, Spanish and German clubs before Albion got their man
after the 22-year-old passed a routine medical on Tuesday night.
The goalkeeper's initial three-year deal has an option for an additional 12 months.
West Brom's long hunt to sign a top striker is set to end after Kanu made a move to The Hawthorns his top priority, according to his agent.
Albion manager Gary Megson has been seeking a big-name frontman all summer, but has so far drawn a blank after missing out on the likes of Paul
Dickov, Marcus Bent and Lomana LuaLua.
But now reports suggests Megson patience is about to be rewarded after former Arsenal striker Kanu, who was released at the end of last season, hinted
that a move to the Premiership new-boys was his preferred destination.