Liam Ridgewell wants more new Albion faces

The Baggies full-back reckons the club hierarchy must back boss Steve Clarke to build the squad he wants.

Lugano was expected to complete his free-transfer move from Paris Saint Germain today after watching his prospective new team-mates from the stands in their 1-0 defeat to Genoa in Telford.

The formalities of the 32-year-old's move have taken longer than expected but the switch remains on track, with the former Fenerbache man set to become the second new recruit of the summer after Nicolas Anelka.

And Ridgewell reckons more new faces are needed.

"The type of players who have been talked about is good for West Brom," said Ridgewell.

"It shows how far we have moved forward. Hopefully the chairman and the gaffer can work together and bring in the players that hopefully will make us better as a squad.

"That's what the gaffer is trying to do. Hopefully it will create competition for places. It will be interesting.

"We're trying to bring quality players into the squad, and hopefully they can produce the kind of form that they produced before and push us up the league.

"People can pick up knocks and the gaffer has stated before that he wants to bring it new players. It's only healthy for us."

Albion remain in the hunt for attacking reinforcements with former Chelsea man Salomon Kalou mulling over a contract offer from the club.

They are also pursuing loan deals for Udinese striker Matej Vydra and Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair.