Baggies offer deals to key duo McAuley and Yacob

Albion have opened the bidding in contract talks with Gareth McAuley and Claudio Yacob.

But transfer chief Richard Garlick has urged fans to stay calm in the wait for new faces at The Hawthorns.

Garlick insists many of the stories linking the club with players from around the world in recent days are "simply not true".

But he says the Baggies are working hard to revamp Tony Pulis's squad despite a possible takeover .

Garlick, the director of football administration, said: "This is the quietest month on the football calendar.

"We are being linked with, quite strongly in some cases, all manner of players from all corners of the globe and the stories are simply not true. What I can say is that we have spoken to the agents of Claudio and Gareth and we have now made our offers to them and I'm awaiting a response.

"The stories build an expectation of business which the fans feed on and I don't think that helps us in the long term.

"Tony has made it clear that he wants to shake things up so we are not resting on our laurels. But it is important for supporters to stay calm."

The Baggies have already tied down Yacob and goalkeeper Boaz Myhill for next season by activating one-year options in their contracts.

But they are keen to keep the pair for longer by agreeing new, extended deals. McAuley, meanwhile, is a free agent after his contract expired at the end of the season but Pulis is a fan of the 35-year-old and has instructed Garlick to try to keep the Northern Ireland international.

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That is likely to be a one-year agreement, given the veteran centre-back's age.

Despite Garlick's warning, the Baggies do have an interest in Marseille striker Andre-PIerre Gignac, who is a free agent.

The former France hitman is keen on a move to England but a host of clubs from across Europe are competing with Albion in the race for his signature, including big-spending Dynamo Moscow.

Hawthorns sources have dismissed reports in France that Albion have tabled a firm contract offer, although they are understood to have held detailed talks with the 29-year-old's representatives.

Pulis wants at least two new forwards for next season while full-backs and wide players are also high on the agenda.

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