Express & Star

West Brom keen to sign new right-back before weekend

Albion are hoping to bring in a right-back on loan before Saturday’s home match with Queens Park Rangers – and are eyeing up Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward.

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Joel Ward, right, in action for Crystal Palace. (AMA)

Boss Darren Moore has been in the market for a right-back all summer, but has been unable to sign one so far.

Ward could be available following Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s impressive start to the season under Roy Hodgson.

The Baggies are hoping to bring a new full-back in on loan with a view to a permanent deal, and are willing to spend around £4m.

Moore has been left frustrated in his pursuit of a right-back this summer.

He pulled out of a deal for Luton Town’s Jack Stacey, who could line up against the Baggies at The Hawthorns tomorrow night in their Carabao Cup first round match, in order to sign Tom James of Yeovil Town.

The Baggies agreed a fee of £400,000 with the Glovers, but James failed a medical and the transfer fell through.

Albion then made a bid of £1.8m rising to a possible £3m for Rangers captain James Tavernier which was turned down by the Scottish giants.

But Moore, who can still sign players on loan, insists he doesn’t regret failing to sign a right-back.

“I’m not sitting here with any regrets,” he said. “We’ve got a right back in the building in Allan Nyom.

“We’re looking at all areas (in the loan market). Like any manager will say, if a good player comes up in that area, we’ll try and add them to the squad. There’s no disappointment in me at all.”

Nyom cast uncertainty over his Baggies future over the weekend, when he responded to abuse from an Albion fan on social media.

After a supporter messaged him on Instagram saying: “U are s**t”, Nyom responded: “Don’t worry, I’m leaving soon.”

However, it’s understood he is not close to leaving the club.

Nyom was dropped for last week’s game at Nottingham Forest, and then made a mistake in the 4-3 victory at Norwich that let the Canaries back into the game.

The 30-year-old was signed from Watford two years ago for £3m, and was a cult hero in his first season at the club. He has two years left on his contract.