Albion open French striker talks

Thursday 8th January 2009, 11:49AM GMT.

marc_antoine_fortune_nancy_842539French striker Marc-Antoine Fortune is the latest player to be added to Albion’s list of January transfer targets.

The Baggies are in talks with Nancy about a loan move for the rest of the season for the 27-year-old. The player reckons he is ready to speak to Albion boss Tony Mowbray, if they can strike a deal with the French side.

Fortune has effectively issued a ‘come and get me’ plea to English clubs, with Mowbray keen to sign another forward during the January transfer window.

Agent Mikael Manuelo said: “There’s an interest from both parties. Negotiations are underway, but I have no idea whether the ending will be happy or not.”

Fortune said: “I’m dying to play Premier League football, as it has always been my favourite league. Of course, playing for West Brom would be an interesting challenge.

“I’m aware of the fact they aren’t in the ideal position in the league, but if you check the table you’ll see they are only four points behind the 15th-placed team.

“I can see them escaping, and I’d love to be part of that. Helping the club to avoid the drop would be a top challenge.

“For sure, having played in the Dutch league with Utrecht is a boost because it’s a very tough competition, even if it’s not as good as the Premier League, obviously.

“I learned a lot in Holland and it could help me settle into the English league. Right now, I’m going to call my agent to see if West Brom want to talk.

“A loan deal doesn’t scare me, because I have already experienced it when I was a Lille player. Being there for six months would help me show what I can do in English football.”

Albion sources have confirmed the talks, although Fortune is just one of a list of potential new strikers that also includes Ariza Makukula and Peguy Luyindula.

The 6ft tall Fortune has scored 10 goals in 53 games for Nancy having previously played for Angouleme, Lille, Rouen, Stadt Brest, and Utrecht.


  1. 1
    Dan

    Nice to see us going after such a prolific striker

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  2. 2
    Larry David

    10 goals in 53 starts…. hardy prolific

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  3. 3
    wbabomber

    Already spoke to a friend who is in the know in France, described him as a scorer of great goals rather than a great scorer of goals.
    When asked to comapre him in style to someone i would have heard of he said “Paulo Wanchope” an awkward lanky skillfull striker who doesnt score as many goals as he should.

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  4. 4
    Paris Baggie

    From a French point of view there are plenty better to go for over here. Luyindula would have been a decent acquisition but PSG don’t want to let him go.

    This could just be agent talk in any case; until Mowbray says he’s interested I won’t get too worried.

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  5. 5
    Nedball McQueen

    10 goals in 53 games, not starts.

    I’d welcome anyone who’s got ability and is obviously willing to give his all to prove himself in the Prem for us.
    He certainly seems enthusiastic enough!!

    Besides, we all know we’ve been missing some good Fortune this season!!

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  6. 6
    Roscoe

    He might not sign anyway so lets not worry too much. Lovenkrands would be much better if we can pay his wages, hes got tonnes of pace, knows where the net is and he can swing in a lovely cross when he runs wide on the left.

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  7. 7
    boingboing#1

    Has anybody heard the rumour about Peter Lovenkrands deal on a free and what do you think, and also I heard TM has sent Donk back, he must have another defender up his sleeve lets hope so after Leon Barnett’s display the weekend.

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  8. 8
    Wallop

    It sound like he is after us more than we are after him. Especially with the statement ” I’m going to call my agent to see if West Brom want to talk.”

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  9. 9
    Larry David

    Lack of ambition as per usual, which is why were going to get relegated.

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  10. 10
    Enzosmascara

    5. bah dum TISH!

    If its on loan then he has got to play his best to A) keep us up to earn anothe rcontract
    B) put himself in the shop window for another club to pay up for his services

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  11. 11
    Celtic Baggie!

    So that adds up to almost 1 goal every 5 games and with only 15 or so games left he can be expected to score 3 or 4. Which will not keep us in the premiership sign someone prolific or even a james beattie type of player.

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  12. 12
    ValeroLoves Brum

    I`d rather we sign a centre-defender and winger
    to replace the two crocks Meite and Morrison.
    Moore,Simpson,Beattie,Bednar,Teixeira could do
    enough to keep us in the prem.

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  13. 13
    Nedball McQueen

    2, 9 – Come on DB, admit it yo’m a Dinglet ay ya?!

    7 – I saw it on the web earlier, apparently he’s a free agent now….but there’s usually a good reason for that when it happens mid season, but he used to be rapid when he was at Rangers years ago.

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  14. 14
    AMS

    Seems like we’re scraping the barrel here. This guy has been around for some time in France and has not done enough to attract even modest attention from other clubs. There are probably better players in the championship that wouldn’t demand as much or required ‘acclimatisation.
    If ToMo does want another striker then Lita is still an option.
    He needs to find the holding tackling midfielder to add some steel to the creativity.
    The imbalance he spoke of last season is still there.
    Still 3 weeks left so lets’ wait and see and hope Luke Moore can give Curtis’ the run around on Saturday lunchtime.

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  15. 15
    boingboing#1

    If TM does go for a domestic defender rather than 1 from the continent i would like to see us go for someone like Roger Johnson from Cardiff, strong in a tackle, good in tha air and chips in with a few goals too.

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  16. 16
    Nedball McQueen

    It looks as though Donk has been sent back to AZ Alkmaar, I’ve seen it on 2 different sites now.

    £350k on Lita is nothing IMO, we’d be stupid not to go for him at such a low price.

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  17. 17
    TERRY NEW TOP BAGGIE

    if i remember it was a fortune goal that kept us up in the great escape, get him signed up he wont cost a fortune will he,

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  18. 18
    Wbaforever

    IF and WHEN we sign this, or indeed any other player, i think it would be prudent to see them in a few games before deciding they are not good/prolific enough.
    We are all entitled to our opinions, but i would prefer to actually see someone before formulating said opinion.

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  19. 19
    The Boys

    this dude is french and we all know french are dicks

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  20. 20
    KB

    £350k for Lita is cheap,But is he any better than what we have ?

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  21. 21
    terry nobrain baggie

    We gunna win the cup yet and get into europe. TM doing a great job I don’t mind losing 5-0 so long as we play well, I think we need Regis back to add some more pace to our attack!

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  22. 22
    Sutton Hoo.

    21.
    To carry this off you need to be funny.

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  23. 23
    Chrissybaggiebear

    19. Thierry Henry – ’nuff said!

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  24. 24
    AlbionCeltic

    Is lita up for graps at 350k? If so, we should snap him up. Roman and Lita up front, Mozza and Jay on the flanks. If we’re going down let’s do it scoring some goals along the way.

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  25. 25
    Nedball McQueen

    20 – I would say possibly yes.
    He’s scored goals in the Prem before, he isn’t afraid of shooting, has pace and a physical presence. Also, if the worst does happen and we’re relegated, he’s a dead cert to score goals for us in the Championship.

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  26. 26
    Strodder is God

    Nobody had heard of Koren when he joined, if he signs give him a chance. Can’t believe we are criticising a player we haven’t even seen!
    Saying that it is probably the same fans that have a go at Peace – who has probably been the best Chairman we have ever had.

    Come on Baggies keep the faith!

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  27. 27
    Sutton Hoo.

    26 SIG.
    You don’t post a lot but what you lack in quantity you make up in quality.

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  28. 28
    WEST BROMWICH WHO!

    27. Quality, You don,t know the meaning of the word you Boggies fans. The only quality you had left for Birmingham City!!

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  29. 29
    Baggiebob

    I said ages ago to get a striker from the Bundesliga.

    Imagine Lovenkrands and Beattie up top…

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  30. 30
    Albion Till I Die

    10goals in 53apps, not the best stat ive ever heard however id welcome him if he came and gave his all for us.
    Lovenkrands, not heard of him really since he moved away from Rangers, if he is still as good as he was then superb

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  31. 31
    JWolf

    Same negativity here as there appears to be with some Wolves fans at the moment, knocking a players ability before you’ve even seen him play a few games.

    To see a players true ability and potential you have to see him play in your own team, amongst your other team players, as some players join teams and fit in and shine, some don’t, that’s a risk worth taking when you’re in a bad position…

    Wolves fans are moaning about the signing of Alan Gow, considering we got Kightly for 25 grand and Iwelumo for a little bit more and they were all saying the same then… Any signings you make should be viewed with optimism, because any one of them could be the one thing you need to bring that spark and keep you up.

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  32. 32
    Sutton Hoo.

    28.
    The comma you’ve put in don’t, instead of an apostrophe, needs to go between had and left, otherwise your mail makes no sense. Oh I see.

    Report abuse

  33. 33
    Luton Baggie Pete

    Why can’t we gazzzump Blues and hav e a snif at Kris Boyd from Rangers, scores goals and surely premiership baggies is better than championship blues.

    Failing that, there’s Mackail-Smith at Posh, again scoring goals and we could have a chat next Tues when we march on in the FA Cup.

    Boing boing, keep the faith

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  34. 34
    owen_wba

    29
    yeahh we would be the laughing stock.
    we would score 3 goals all season, maybe defender off corner. and if valero actually passes a ball forwards one of our midfielders may get 1. also of you bring a striker on for one of those two muppets we may get one in the 97th minute when we are already 3-0 down
    shatttt uppp

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  35. 35
    afghani baggie

    at least hes willing to give his all for the club.
    who knows
    IMO we need a Kevin Cambell type striker

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  36. 36
    Afghani Baggie

    wats all this about kris boyd and other players
    have u all forgotten that we have NO MONEY. absolute zilch to spend
    ONLY LOANS

    Report abuse

  37. 37
    Santa!

    Afghani,Thats what i thought,we are supposed to have no money!I think someones playing games here.Don,t know if it will work or not though.Clubs aren,t that naive.

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