Albion adamant duo will not be sold

Albion have ring-fenced last season's star duo Peter Odemwingie and Youssouf Mulumbu from a transfer exit this summer.

The club, angered by speculation about the duo which they consider little more than mischief making, have made it clear neither are for sale.

For the second time in 24 hours, Albion found themselves having to forcefully deny foreign-based reports about a supposed sale.

Sporting director Dan Ashworth responded to claims that Mulumbu was bound for Fiorentina in the same way he dealt with the 'Odemwingie to Arsenal' rumours.

"They are not for sale," was the message from Ashworth, as he confirmed the club would not consider any offers.

Mulumbu signed a new deal in January and has another two years of that agreement to run.

The Baggies are currently in talks to extend Odemwingie's contract while they brush off stories linking the striker to Arsenal and, surprisingly, Chelsea.

The close-season transfer chatter about the pair was inevitable but, more surprising, were reports today of one of the potential targets for Hodgson to supplement his forward line - Cameroon striker Pierre Webo.

His agent Eugenio Botas is trying to engineer a move from Spanish club Real Mallorca, struggling financially and unable to extend the 29-year-old forward's contract to his liking.

Botas has claimed that he has spoken to Sunderland, Newcastle and Albion and the Baggies were the more likely to stump up the £2.5million asking price.

But, as in the case of Odemwingie and Mulumbu, Albion later dismissed Botas' claims and insisted they have no interest in the player.

Lazio, meanwhile, are interested in taking defender Gabriel Tamas on a season-long loan deal.