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Baggies close to new signing Somen Tchoyi

Albion are closing in on a deal to sign Cameroon international winger Somen Tchoyi from Red Bull Salzburg.

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Albion are closing in on a deal to sign Cameroon international winger Somen Tchoyi from Red Bull Salzburg.

The Baggies are in talks over a fee for the reigning Austrian player-of-the-year, who can also play as an attacking central midfielder.

The powerful 6ft 3in tall attacker was pulled out of a Champions League qualifier against Omonia Nicosia on Wednesday night, which his team won 4-1, to avoid jeopardising any move to The Hawthorns.

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Tchoyi, who has been capped 14 times by his country, is rated by Salzburg in the £2m bracket and has been linked in the past with Wolves, Blackburn and Stoke.

The 27-year-old has been tracked by the Baggies for some time and they have now made their move as they look to boost their attacking options before the Premier League season kicks off at Chelsea in eight days.

Tchoyi was born in Douala, Cameroon, and began his career with his hometown club before moving to Europe in 2005 to join Odd Grenland in Norway.

He spent time with another Norwegian clun, Stabaek, before joining Salzburg in 2008.

He has scored 14 goals in 68 appearances in the Austrian league.

The Baggies remain keen to beef up their forward line for the new season and are still tracking several strikers.

And they have been placed on alert after possible goalscoring target Jason Roberts was told he can leave Blackburn.

The 32-year-old former Baggies striker has received confirmation that he is not part of Rovers' long-term plans. And he is believed to be open to the prospect of returning for a second spell.

Roberts will not be allowed to leave Ewood Park until Rovers sign a replacement centre forward.

But manager Sam Allardyce has made it clear he will not stand in the player's way once he has reinforced his own playing staff.

Roberts could be available for less than £1m and that would make him a potential back-up signing for Albion.

He has a year remaining on his Rovers contract and it is unlikely that Albion could match his current salary with the former Premier League champions. But the prospect of a two-year deal on lower wages could tempt him to move.

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