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West Brom beating Foxes to James Chester

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West Brom are poised to make Hull City defender James Chester their second signing of the summer - after a late attempt by Leicester City to hijack the move.

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Boss Tony Pulis confirmed the Baggies were "very close" to completing a deal which is understood to be worth up to £8million.

Chester returned home from the Tigers pre-season training camp in Austria earlier today to discuss terms.

Leicester then matched the figure in a bid to nip in and tempt the 26-year-old at the 11th hour, but Pulis revealed the Baggies remain very much favourites.

He said: "We are very, very close. Fingers crossed we get the deal done. I have met the lad and had a good chat with him.

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"You are hoping we bring him in. He is a very good young player, the type I like, a strong character, a good defender and he has good feet as well."

Pulis, meanwhile, appeared to hint any deal for former Wolves winger Bakary Sako rests on whether Albion's success in snaring other targets elsewhere.

The Baggies have held positive talks with the 26-year-old, but are also keen on Queens Park Rangers' Matt Phillips and Michail Antonio.

Pulis said: "He is maybe one of six or seven players we have enquired about and are talking to. Some drop for you and some don't.

"I think the most important thing is everyone stays nice and patient. It's difficult but it is the feeding season.

"You have to careful about signing players who don't improve what you've got. We don't want to get in that situation."