Roy Hodgson today claimed Albion could spend money on transfer fees this month and insisted he and Jeremy Peace are “singing from the same hymnsheet”.

The Baggies boss believes the club could break their loans-only January tradition – if he can find the right players to improve his squad.

And head coach Hodgson dismissed suggestions of differences over transfer policy with chairman Peace after the pair held a lengthy meeting with sporting director Dan Ashworth on Tuesday.

Albion have not signed a first-team player in a January cash transfer since Nigel Quashie in 2006, but Hodgson said: “The policies of the past interest me less than the present.

“From the conversations we had the other day, I don’t think the club would be averse to spending some money if it was the right money and the right person.

“That’s where Dan and I have an enormous responsibility because it’s not our money and we’ve got to be certain when we say ‘this is what we think should be done’ we are 100 per cent behind it and then we’d hope we got the backing.

“I don’t get the impression that the backing is out of the question, the big question is whether we can find the right person.”

Hodgson’s comments after Albion’s defeat to Tottenham on New Year’s Day hinted at difference with Peace over transfer policy.

But Hodgson said: “He and I spent the whole afternoon together before playing Tottenham. I am also on the same wavelength and singing from the same hymnsheet as the chairman in the sense I don’t want to waste money that could be put to better use in the summer transfer market.”

Hodgson gave a cagey response to links with Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard, who is on the transfer list at Ashton Gate.

“We’re in a group of clubs that will be linked every year with one of the top players in the Championship,” he said.

Reports from Portugal today claimed Porto and Uruguay winger Cristian Rodriguez is the latest to interest Albion while national media reports claim Villa are keeping tabs on Hawthorns defender Jonas Olsson.

See also:

• Transfer rumours – January 7
• West Brom keep tabs on Nicky Maynard
• West Brom’s transfer targets assessed
• West Brom aiming for home comforts