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Claudio Yacob on West Brom radar

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Argentina international midfielder Claudio Yacob today emerged as a potential transfer target for Albion.

Argentina international midfielder Claudio Yacob today emerged as a potential transfer target for Albion.

The Baggies are understood to have held talks with the out-of-contract 24-year-old as they consider their options for midfield signings.

Yacob, who was previously linked to Arsenal and Manchester United, is looking for a new club after ending his time at Argentine side Racing Club de Avellaneda when his contract expired last month.

The Baggies are keen to increase their midfield options after releasing Paul Scharner and Keith Andrews at the end of last season and are expected to meet with Rennes star Tongo Doumbia in the next few days.

But Yacob has now emerged as a possible alternative target with sources in Argentina claiming talks have already taken place.

The 5ft 11in holding midfielder, who has been compared to countryman Javier Mascherano, has spent six years with Racing Club, captaining the team since 2008 and making more than 100 appearances.

He represented his country twice last year in friendlies, scoring in a 2-2 draw with Ecuador.

He was in talks with Brazilian side Botafogo but negotiations have stalled, opening the way for a potential move to Europe.

Meanwhile, former Albion boss Tony Mowbray is considering a bid to take striker Simon Cox to Middlesbrough.

Mowbray is keeping tabs on the 25-year-old hitman as he plots Boro's assault on the Championship promotion race this season.

Mowbray – and especially his No.2 Mark Venus – and long-standing fans of Cox, who has struggled to nail down a place in the Baggies' starting line-up since moving from Swindon for £1.5m in 2009.

The pair sanctioned the Baggies' move for the former Reading trainee, although they had left for Celtic by the time Cox's switch to The Hawthorns was eventually rubber-stamped by Roberto Di Matteo.

Mowbray is keen to add to his attacking options, especially with targetman Lukas Jutkiewicz ruled out for up to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery.

And Albion would consider bids for the player despite activating an option to keep him for an extra year when his contract expired at the end of last season.

See also:

  • Defender hails West Brom’s Ben Foster coup

  • West Brom step up Tongo Doumbia chase

  • El Ghanassy vows to wow West Brom fans