Albion are poised to tie up the signing of England goalkeeper Scott Carson from Liverpool for a club record fee of around £4m.
The Baggies are hoping to finish off the remaining paperwork on the transfer and the deal could be announced officially as early as this afternoon.
Albion officials are now extremely confident that they have beaten off any competition for the 22-year-old.
Manager Tony Mowbray – still in Holland today on the club’s summer tour – is awaiting news from England that the loose ends of the transfer had been tied up.
The £4m fee will smash the existing transfer record of £3.6m, paid to Cardiff for striker Robert Earnshaw.
Captain Jonathan Greening predicts the England international is guaranteed a warm reception at the Baggies, although he is predicting Dean Kiely will fight hard to retain the number one spot.
He said: “Dean Kiely is a quality goalkeeper and he is experienced, a top lad and one of my good friends here.
“He knew someone was coming in and if that is Carson it will be good for him. I don’t think Villa would have finished sixth last year without him.
“You need a top quality keeper to finish high in the League and he proved last year that he is a top keeper.”
Greening believes fans and players alike will look beyond Carson’s infamous England blunder in the European Championships qualifier against Croatia at Wembley.
He said: “People always remember that one mistake with England but that happens with goalkeepers. If we can sign him it would be a major coup.”
The final major hurdle to the deal’s completion was removed yesterday, when Stoke announced they had withdrawn from the race. Rumours of interest from Blackburn and Middlesbrough have come to nothing.
55 Comments
If we pull this off it’s a great move!
sign then i will believe it, but if it happens fantastic
Fingers crossed??? - this could well be our most important signing. With our defence at least he knows he will get plenty of opportunities to impress for an England place.
My only concern would be the add-ons to his contract - if we struggle in the Prem.
Get him in then!!
As I said before, he’s an improvement on what we have, and since Burfmeister convinvced me that he’ll have the fact that crosses are there for catching drummed into him by Mogga, Venus, Grant, Joe Corrigan et al he’ll be a massive player for us.
Please don’t let me think this is nearly in the bag, for it all to fall through though please and thank you!!
Ha, Ha, Ha!! If Carson were to keep goal in over-sized shoes, baggy trousers and a big red nose he could be no more of a clown!! Just ask the Villa fans!!
God, I hope you sign him!! £5-odd million pounds? Ha, Ha, Ha!!! They’ve seen you lot coming!!!
Very good signing! Me like very much!!
would/will be a great signing!
My only concern is that according to the Villa fans he doesnt come even an inch of his line….which sound like Deano ( Drackula ) mark two and not what our hesitant set piece defending needs. A commanding heading centre half is the next must!!
Boing Boing
If this is true would great need a top class keeper only a top class centre half needed now and should finish 15th ish
Boing boing
5. you are just jealous mate, good luck against doncaster next year
Villa fans dont like him and neither do Liverpool as he had fell to Fourth choice in their pecking order???
Is this really such a great deal for us? We need a keeper who is going to command his box and have a go at what still is a very poor defence when called to defend set peices …. If what a very good friend of mine says is true (who is a home & away s.tckt holder) this could be a big waste of money!!
2 new centre halves required Mowbray - We are still not good enough in that area!
Was told he was at the Hawthorns yesterday doing medical stuff - and im told but you know what rumours are like that he’s already signed a deal.. so welcome to the baggies Carson - as for wolfinsheeps clothing comment you clearly forgot the howler/flap/comic mess up last season with Karmara and your Goal keeper.
Between the sticks for villa he got them to 6th place - another quality signing from Mowbray - keep them coming!!!
This would be a great signing and at a reasonable price in modern terms. You really need a class centre back and I think you could be safe next year with a little bit of luck regarding no bad injuries.
Outfielders make mistakes, doesn’t always mean a goal. Goalkeeper makes mistake…howler and a goal to be remembered for eternity. It’s how the lad survives it that matters. David James a case in point. Kiely will continue for a while in my view and that will give Carson a chance to settle. Let’s give him a warm welcome, then when Hennessey leaves the Wulfies, we can loan them Deano, an Irish International no less!
He’s got to be better than Kiely but I really think we need a commaning keeper in his prime rather than a youngster lacking in confidence whose still developing. Fingers crossed if we do sign him that he gets some confidence back but I can’t see him being any different to Kiely in that he won’t come off his line, won’t catch the ball and won’t organise the defence at all!
There seems alot of ENVY from the Moulinex….
If he pulls this off then both JP & Mr Mowbray should be very very proud of a job well done.
Centre Half in sights & will be signed next Tuesday !!!
He has a Euro 2008 Striker in talks too…
Watch this space
COME ON YOU STRIPES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Carson…..why do you think Stoke withdrew, and no further interest from Blackburn or Borough?
Simple he wants the town hall clock and it looks like the Baggies are willing to pay it!
I think this is a great signing for Sandwell. Should add a comedy element to the many goals conceded next season!!!
(16)Geoffry… Bitter bitter man
Use your common… Stoke withdrew because they cannot compete with what WBA can offer
As for Blackburn, they are very much still interested but again compare WBA with Blackburn rovers on a potential level for a 22 year old keeper who will only get better & have a career spanning another 10-15 years….. + the instability at Blackburn with a new manager….. + “BLACKBURN” the area (one road in / one road out)
As for middlesborough, he is planning to have kids… nuff said !!
With the above, then I think you can see why WBA will win his signature
COME ON ENGLANDS No.1 !!!!
Bananaman
The tone of your comment suggests to me that you are not an Albion fan, if you are then please accept my apologies for questioning your allegiance.
As for Vila fans not liking him,
when exactly did their opinion of a potential Baggies player become gospel ?…….
I can guarantee if he were to become a Villa player, the opinions of their fans would undoubtedly differ greatly, and remember, he was an ever present (i think) for them last term, so consequently MON must have seen something in him, and the only reason his signature was not pursued, was the £10m asking price, and obviously now, relationships between Villa and Liverpool are somewhat strained.
22 year old England International, anything less than £5million is cheap in my opinion.
im gob smacked but will remain sceptical until i see it confirmed on the baggies official page.
wonder who this mystery striker is?
any more details burf???
I cant beleive the amount of Albion fans having
a go at this signing,we are paying a club record
fee of 4M `so get behind him`.
You seem to think we can buy another keeper from
somewhere.
AND IF SO THEN TELL ME WHERE!
wbabomber
very very well put !!!
Keepers prime = 28years old
international keeper at 21 years old…. happy days
What is woz realy at our old reserve ground in WITTON, woz the fact ,Sott did’nt want to play in an “argie’ top any more! and who can blame him>>> Fair play mate, 2 clean sheats against em,job done in a proper kit!
Got a bad feeling about it.. no statements from him or his club!!! 11th hour bid from boro’ or bburn!!!! we’ll see….
Carson will excel at a club like the albion where there is more team spirit, and less of a foreign invasion, especially in defence.
Nice one Albion. When the pen hit’s the paper I’ll be well impressed.
Boing Boing!!
Yes it was a real howler for England, but what you have to remember is that he was picked for England because of his league form.
Hi guys, Villa fan here. I have no doubt that Carson will be a good goalie in a few years but for now he’s not good enough. Thats exactly why we won’t sign him because he just isn’t good enough for now which is what we need basically. He cost us so many points last year its unbeliavable and if we had a top quality goalkeeper there we would have finished 4th/5th without a doubt.
Unfortunetly for you guys Carson isn’t a top quality goalkeeper at the moment and that could cost you dearly this year. You need a goalkeeper to keep you in games seen as though you will most likeley be in a relegation battle and unfortunetly for you guys Carson won’t save you matches or points.
Good luck for the season guys, see you in September.
boing boing 666
Don’t know as yet. Hoping to find out tomorrow. All I know is that he is quick & can play left side too. Mowbray wants pace up front as he feels muscle is covered with Miller & Bednar & experience is covered with Moore.
Will keep you informed.
Centre half news is that we have option on two. will defo sign one of them & may even take 2nd on loan with eye to perm deal.
Let me tell you this…. The Baggies are going to suprise a few folk this season. News from the training camp, despite the BM loss is very very positive & team sessions “off pitch” that are going on are proving to be building a very very tight & effective unit…
Mid Table mediocrity here we come….
Fantastic if he arrives - England international on the books to rival the Ireland international and the Czech Rep #2 - not bad. For the centre half, why have we not been looking at Shittu - only £1.5M?
Why have you a bad feeling “not even top 6″ his names scott, not frank! were BIGGER than them,& mr carson knows………..
Just smile ……
cheers burf il look out for your posts, i still want to see if this young polish guy will come to anything….
sounds good.
BTW - Przemyslaw Kazmierczak - put this guy’s name into Google and check out the U-Tube video clips ‘n start smiling ….
Just a hunch!! Lets wait and see… here’s hoping
Amazing how Carson has been written off so quickly even by Villa fans who were all calling for him to get in the England team after the first half of last season. He hasn’t become a clown overnight, keepers make mistakes sometimes, look at David James. He has talent and with Joe Corrigan and Dean Kiely to work with he’ll get his confidence back. Its all about creating competition for places anyway and he’ll strengthen us. 4m for an England international aged just 22 is peanuts these days.
Comment from above - “villa wouldn’t of finished 6th without him”. Correct - they would of probably finsished 4th….cna’t understand why you lot are all excited by a keeper nobody wants.
No 33, you’ll have a long wait! he’s got to finish my extention first? difficult to blood em in prem! injouries you aint got no choise, red cards???
u dingles make me laugh u had ur best team out playing against wrexham and wat was the score
why is it all of a suden, FANS! from our old place are joining our forum? I know? thry got out to talk about on theirs! have they got one? change ya colours mate, you cant keep looking like burnley, west ham, scunnie….too many to mention oh forgot about the Hand ov god kit…. rest my case.
Looking forward to more of Burfs comments.
Carson will be a great signing for us, Opening the door for more “big names” to sign.
I totally get the jealosy coming from some dingles, you just wished you could make the signings we have, oh for a moment I forgot, you’re still in the fizzy pop league with no chance of getting out! Oh well nevermind, enjoy your trip to Doncaster!
I think i know why Blackburn have pulled out. My mates an Estate Agent in Lancashire and he said that he had a Mr Wayne Hennessey inquiring about houses yesterday… I think it says it all!!!
we have to give carson a chance if he signs. lets look at it another way. does this not show how far we have come that we can even bid and be taken seriously about a potential future england player with caps already to his name, regardless of if he made a howler in the shirt. and to those villa fans with their views, they are all valid, but come on baggies fans if hes our player he gets our 100 percent backing from dayon!
In TM we TRUST!
Regarding Villa finishing 4th or 6th or wherever. Did Carson not have anything to do with your fine early season form then? Maybe your squad being too stretched and your goals drying up played a part in you dropping away. Carson lost form after the England error but I still don’t think he’s a write off and Tony Mowbray has a reputation for nurturing players, he can make him a top keeper again.
CARSON has signed according to Skysports website
Carson’s agent Colin Gordon has confirmed the deal has been done to bring Carson to West Brom.
“The deal has been done,” Gordon told skysports.com.
“Scott has signed a four-year deal with West Brom.
“They will pay £3.25million which will rise to £4million for Scott.”
no.43 I totally agree with you. Albion fans we always back our players, its called SOLIDARITY. this will be a huge sisning, I’m looking forward to watching from the stands next season England’s future number 1, wearing with pride an Albion Top! Who knows next stop maybe a Russian Billionaire, we’ll be buying Messi next!
Albion Till I Die
NO 43. I totally agree with you, us Albion don’t turn on our team when we go a goal or two down (like some supporters in orange I can think of) it’s called SOLIDARITY.
Carson, future England no.1 will be a huge sining if it goes through, who knows the next visitor could be a Russian Billionaire, we’ll soon be signing Messi!
ALBION TIL I DIE
He will be brilliant once ‘Magic Mowbs’ restores his confidence!
International and played for Villa and Liverpool, i’m having that. Plus he’s only 22, plenty of time left for him to mature into something great.
Get him signed!
Boing boing!
WE GOT HIM, ITS OFFICIAL
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST
Personally I just want there to be some more news on this. The longer it goes without and annoucement, the more I’m beginging to think it’s not going to happen. All the Albion supporters I work with keep asking if there is any more news and it’s driving me mental! I’m taking nothing for granted. Until I get the text message from the club telling me he has signed or not as the case may be, it is all still paper talk!
hes now ours welcome 2 the pride of the midlands scotty lad
50 its on sky sports news iv had a txt from the club it is official
4 year deal, deal done.
£3.25 million rising to £4million now on the Albion site so it’s official
just found out that polish chap ‘kazmierczak’ is signing for derby on season long loan, so its onto the next target ! ! !
Well done WBA a great signing BUT why did Liverpool want 10 million from Villa yet accept 4 million from you guys??!!