Ben Foster will join West Brom, new Blues boss hints

New Birmingham City manager Lee Clark began life at St Andrew's by dropping a major hint that keeper Ben Foster will sign for West Bromwich Albion.

The Baggies are in talks with Blues about signing last season's Player of the Year on a permanent deal.

Both new head coach Steve Clarke and Albion fans are anxious to see Foster pinned down on a permanent deal after his acclaimed debut season at The Hawthorns on loan from the Championship outfit.

And, while the new Blues boss made it clear on his first day in charge that he expected the club to keep the rest of its prized assets, Clark had no such expectations about Foster.

Clark said: "There's been dialogue with West Bromwich Albion over Ben Foster and we will see how that develops over the coming weeks.

"I don't know how far down the line that is but talks are ongoing.

"It has come to the financial aspects of the deal. I know that talks are progressing but how far they are towards the completion of a deal I am not certain.

"But I think everyone knows the situation with Foster and West Brom."

That will be good news for Albion fans who see Foster as the first of a series of key pieces of business.

The two clubs are locked in a valuation war with cash-strapped Blues understandably holding out for as long as possible to try to push the deal up to £6m.