Czech goalkeeper Michal Danek was set to sign for Albion today after the Baggies struck a loan deal that could turn into a permanent transfer.

The 24-year-old Viktoria Plzen keeper was due in the West Midlands today after the Tony Mowbray’s lengthy pursuit of him ended with a deal being struck over the weekend.

Danek will arrive initially on loan until the end of the season with the Baggies then having options to keep him longer at The Hawthorns.

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Danek said: “It is a great pleasure for me that the clubs made an agreement.

“England is a very big challenge and a big step ahead in my own football career.

“I still haven’t realised that I will now be finishing with Victoria Plzen and moving to West Bromwich Albion. I am still getting used to it.

“I believe this is a great move for me. I am looking forward to playing for West Brom and improving as a goalkeeper at a high level.”

The deal includes options in the summer for Albion to sign Danek permanently or extend the loan by another six months.

And if they opt for an extended loan they will have a further option to make the transfer permanent next January.

The clubs have not revealed the value of any potential transfer fee but a permanent deal for Danek is likely to cost Albion between £500,000 and £1m.

Plzen director Miroslav Kriz said: “Jeremy Peace (Albion chairman) as well as financial director Mark Jenkins have satisfied our requirements at the most and the transfer fee has got very close to our demand.”

And Baggies manager Tony Mowbray said: “He should sign for us hopefully today if the paperwork goes through.

“It creates competition, although Dean Kiely has done very well for us.”

Danek, who stands at 6ft 4in tall, has been Albion’s top transfer target since he trained with the club earlier this month.

He is rated as the hottest goalkeeping prospect in the Czech league and his performances earned him a call-up to the Czech Republic squad last year although he is yet to make a full international appearance.

He is unlikely to be part of the squad travelling to Preston tomorrow.