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Ben Foster deal with West Brom 'in the balance'

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West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson today admitted Birmingham's surge to the Championship play-offs could leave the Baggies with a goalkeeping headache.

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West Bromwich Albion boss Roy Hodgson today admitted Birmingham's surge to the Championship play-offs could leave the Baggies with a goalkeeping headache.

Hodgson is keen to open talks with Blues over a permanent deal for Ben Foster after his impressive season on loan at The Hawthorns – but St Andrew's officials have put negotiations on hold until the end of their season.

And with Birmingham potentially still in action until the Championship play-off final on May 19, West Brom face a tough decision on whether to wait and risk losing out on alternative targets including Rangers' Allan McGregor. Hodgson said: "As far as I know, in answer to our request to open a discussion, we've been told 'not before the end of the season.'

"I can't imagine them being in the play-offs will accelerate the process – if anything it will decelerate the process."

Foster, who has expressed a desire to remain in his native Midlands, picked up the Baggies' first end-of-season trophy yesterday when he was named player of the year by the disabled branch of the West Bromwich Albion Supporters' Club.

And Hodgson admitted he remains keen to keep the 29-year-old at The Hawthorns but Foster's future remains in Blues' hands.

"We have a goalkeeper vacancy for next season," said Hodgson. "Whether that position will be filled by Ben or if it will have to be filled by someone else is not a dilemma, because there are other people who would want to join us.

"Ben's got the shirt and has done very well so there's no reason for me as coach not to say it would be nice to continue with him."