West Brom talk personal terms with Liam Ridgewell
Tuesday 31st January 2012, 9:23AM GMT.
West Brom today agreed a fee for Birmingham City’s Liam Ridgewell after late-night talks brought a breakthrough in the transfer saga.
The 27-year-old was discussing personal terms this afternoon after the Baggies finally thrashed out an agreement with Blues on a deal thought to be worth around £1.5m.
They have agreed a structured deal with Ridgewell set to become Albion’s second signing of the transfer window before this evening’s 11pm transfer deadline.
If a deal is concluded it will bring to an end a lengthy pursuit of the player by Albion, who first tried to sign him in the summer during Blues’ fire sale on the back of their relegation.
The St Andrew’s club were in a stronger bargaining position this month but relented and agreed to sell the former Villa man after he reiterated his desire to return to the Premier League.
The Baggies were keeping a watching brief on other transfer targets with boss Roy Hodgson’s top priority a winger to replace the injured Zoltan Gera and Chris Brunt.
But they were unsure whether any of their prospective targets would become available before the deadline after they pulled the plug on the move for Zenit St Petersburg wideman Szabolcs Huszti at the weekend.
The Hungary international flew to England for talks but Albion backed out of an agreed loan move amid concerns about the 28-year-old’s fitness.
French club Monaco now look set to pounce with a loan deal.
Reports yesterday linked the Baggies with Sweden international Emir Bajrami, of FC Twente. But, although he was watched some time ago, there has been no recent .
Hodgson would also like a striker to add competition to his squad following the departure of Roman Bednar to Blackpool but that appeared to be the lowest of his priorities today.
Russia international striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, who was the subject of an enquiry by the Baggies, looks set to join Fulham and could even make his debut against Hodgson’s side tomorrow.
Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard also remains available but is unlikely to arrive.
UK Sport
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