Albion poised to snap up Boaz Myhill

Albion were today poised to end their goalkeeper search by snapping up Wales international Boaz Myhill from Hull in a £1.5million deal.

The 27-year-old has emerged as the red-hot favourite to become the Baggies' new gloveman with the club closing in on an agreement to sign him.

Hull head of football operations Adam Pearson confirmed the Baggies lodged an official bid late yesterday and the clubs are believed to be close to agreeing a fee.

He said: "We've had one firm offer in and that is currently being considered.

"He's a player I've known a long, long time and have got a lot of time for. He has a very special part in the club's history so it's not an easy decision."

Myhill has not sought a move away from Hull and was happy to stay despite relegation to the Championship, with his family settled on Humberside.

But he now accepts he will be sold to bring in much-needed funds to the cash-strapped Tigers.

A move back to the Midlands suits all parties for him and his family.

His mother is from Llangollen and from the age of one, the California-born shotstopper was brought up in Oswestry where he initially played as a midfielder, while his wife is from Birmingham. He also played for Shropshire schools at cricket.

Hull are under pressure to raise money to ease their £30million debts and Myhill is among their most saleable assets.

Pearson said: "The fact we owe a lot of money to other clubs puts us under some pressure to raise cash this summer.

"All we've raised so far is the cash off the sales of Stephen Hunt and Steven Mouyokolo to Wolves, so it does put you under pressure to look at the deals.

"The position of the club is such that we have to consider them carefully."

Myhill, who former boss David O'Leary allowed to leave Villa for just £50,000 in 2003, has not yet talked personal terms with the Baggies so the move is not expected to be completed before the weekend.

The former Villa reserve, who climbed from League Two to the Premier League with the Tigers, has been on the Hawthorns transfer radar for several years and was added to a summer shortlist of potential goalkeeping signings, as revealed by the Express & Star in June 2.

Myhill made it on to a shortlist drawn up by goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely that included Preston's Andy Lonergan and Lee Grant of Sheffield Wednesday.

The Baggies targeted Myhill actively after failing to agree a fee with Preston for Lonergan.