Hart and Foster were Albion targets
Thursday 20th May 2010, 9:20AM BST.
Albion did enquire about England duo Joe Hart and Ben Foster in their hunt for a new goalkeeper this summer.
Neither move went beyond an initial enquiry, but the news is a clear signal that the Baggies are chasing a serious challenger to captain Scott Carson and not simply an understudy.
Head coach Roberto Di Matteo has been keen to recruit a new goalkeeper ever since Dean Kiely’s move from the playing to the coaching ranks.
The interest in Hart and Foster is a clear signal of intention that any new signing is to contend for the No 1 spot with club captain Carson, who has started regularly in the last two seasons.
Kiely has accepted an official position as goalkeeping coach, after filling the role on a stand-in basis last season.
Although the former Republic of Ireland shot-stopper will remain registered as a player, it will be strictly as third choice at the Hawthorns next term.
That has left the Baggies chasing fresh competition for Carson, with sources in the north west confirming today that Manchester United and Manchester City received enquiries from the Baggies for Foster and Hart respectively.
Foster has since joined Birmingham for a transfer fee that could rise as high as £6million – a figure that Albion are unlikely to splash out on a keeper.
His move to St Andrew’s was to replace Hart, whose future remains uncertain after returning to Manchester City following a successful season on loan with Blues.
But the World Cup-bound former Shrewsbury’s youngster’s stock has risen to such an extent that a loan move would have been the Baggies only hope of acquiring his services.
Albion have been linked with a host of keepers since the announcement over Kiely’s future, with Hawthorns scouts known to have watched Sheffield Wednesday’s highly-rated Lee Grant on several occasions.
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