Albion bag Hibs defender
Albion completed the cut-price signing of defender Shelton Martis from Hibernian today as the summer upheaval at The Hawthorns gathered momentum. Albion completed the cut-price signing of defender Shelton Martis from Hibernian today as the summer upheaval at The Hawthorns gathered momentum. Manager Tony Mowbray took the chance to recruit one of his Hibs old boys for £50,000 as the 24-year-old Dutch defender began the final year of his Easter Road contract. Albion were also locked in talks with Fulham striker Heidar Helguson in an effort to persuade the Icelandic international to drop back down to the Championship as part of the deal which will see Diomansy Kamara move to Craven Cottage. The Baggies are already in the final stages of bringing down Celtic striker Craig Beattie. Read the full story in the Express & Star.
Manager Tony Mowbray took the chance to recruit one of his Hibs old boys for £50,000 as the 24-year-old Dutch defender began the final year of his Easter Road contract.
Albion were also locked in talks with Fulham striker Heidar Helguson in an effort to persuade the Icelandic international to drop back down to the Championship as part of the deal which will see Diomansy Kamara move to Craven Cottage.
The Baggies are already in the final stages of bringing down Celtic striker Craig Beattie.
Martis, a centre-half, held talks with Albion over the weekend and underwent a medical before agreeing to the move last night.
A tall, athletic stopper who is seen as a "squad addition" by Mowbray, launched his career in the Dutch lower leagues before joining Darlington in 2005.
Last summer, Mowbray took him to Hibernian and swooped again knowing his team's defence is in for a major re-fit with the possible sales of Paul McShane and Curtis Davies following the release of Chris Perry and Sam Sodje.
Helguson will join him if he agrees to being part of the Kamara deal. The Senegal international striker's agent Willie McKay says the player has agreed his move to Fulham where a four-year contract awaits him.
"We have agreed terms with Fulham and Diomansy has undergone a medical," said McKay.
"The move is more or less done and he has been offered a four-year deal." Albion will land £4m for Kamara while also taking Helguson, whose value is rated at around £1.5m, providing he agrees to come.
The ex-Watford player, who joined Fulham for £1.3m two years ago, has struggled to prove himself at Premiership level but hit the 20-goal mark for the Vicarage Road club during his last Championship season.
Albion are also hunting other targets believed to include Norwich midfielder Safri and Luton full-back Kevin Foley.