Express & Star

West Brom still want an additional forward

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West Brom boss Alan Irvine is targeting another striker for the Premier League season despite smashing the Baggies' transfer record for Brown Ideye.

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The club spent £10m on Nigeria international Ideye, who hopes to link up with his new team-mates this week once his work permit has been issued.

But Irvine is still hoping to add extra firepower after the club sold Shane Long in January and decided not to pursue permanent deals for loanees Matej Vydra and Thievy Bifouma.

Ideye is currently set to compete with Victor Anichebe and Saido Berahino for starting places.

Irvine said: "We've got Brown in now so that gives us three recognised strikers at the right level, and it would be lovely to have another one, but of course strikers cost a lot of money.

"We have a budget to work to and rightly so, and it's a case of trying to stretch that as well as we possibly can.

"I would love us to be able to get in another striker because you want to have options of how you can play up front, but having said that I've been absolutely delighted with Victor and Saido.

"I think they've been terrific since I came in, day in and day out in training."

The Baggies have already added Craig Gardner, Joleon Lescott, Chris Baird, Sebastien Pocognoli and Ideye to their ranks and were hoping to confirm the signing of Costa Rica full-back Cristian Gamboa today after the announcement, scheduled for the weekend, was held up by red tape.

"Nothing happens in a hurry now," said Irvine. "Unfortunately deals take a long time."

The Baggies still hope to finalise a deal for Australia full-back Jason Davidson but they are not actively pursuing Chelsea winger Victor Moses, although they will continue keeping tabs on the ex-Wigan man.