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Albion’s Andy Lonergan bid rejected
Thursday 15th July 2010, 10:30AM BST.
Albion have had an opening bid for Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan rejected.
The Baggies have finally made their move to sign the highly-rated shot-stopper but the club have turned down the initial offer.
The size of Albion’s bid has not been made public but it is believed to fall well short of Preston’s valuation of more than £2m.
Lonergan had been identified to provide competition for captain Scott Carson in the Premier League next season.
Dean Kiely will be Carson’s only back-up from Monday, when 22-year-old academy graduate Luke Daniels makes a season-long loan move to Bristol Rovers having extended his Albion contract until 2012.
The 22-year-old has penned a one-year extension to his existing deal, keeping him tied to the club for the next two seasons.
But the former England youth international will leave for a season at the Memorial Ground as Albion look to further his football education.
Head coach Roberto Di Matteo said: “Luke gained valuable experience at Tranmere last season and this is an opportunity for him to get another year of league football under his belt as part of his development.”
Sporting & technical director Dan Ashworth added: “Luke’s contract extension is reward for the progress he has been making and we’ll be keeping a close eye on how he gets on.”
Daniels joined Albion’s academy in 2004 after being released by Manchester United but has yet to figure for the first team.
Rovers will be his fourth loan move from the Hawthorns following spells with Motherwell, two spells with Shrewsbury and Tranmere last season.
There is no recall clause for Albion in the latest deal.
The 6ft 4in shot-stopper would have found himself as fourth-choice next season, had he stayed with Di Matteo’s squad.
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