Baggies plan £3m Luton raid

Albion are ready to launch a £3m double raid on Luton for Rowan Vine and Leon Barnett - as they braced themselves for a fresh battle to hold on to their stars.

Boss Tony Mowbray has identified the Hatters duo as his top targets for January and is ready to make his move.

Striker Vine has been a huge hit at Kenilworth Road since moving from Colchester in a £250,000 deal in July 2005, scoring 14 goals this term.

The 23-year-old is expected to cost around £2m, with 21-year-old defender Barnett priced in the £1m bracket.

Barnett's versatility - he can also play in a tough-tackling midfield anchor role that Albion are desperate to fill - is sure to be a major attraction.

Albion are also believed to have stepped up their interest in Hibernian midfielders Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson with a £4m bid, but face stiff competition from Rangers and Celtic.

The Baggies viewed them more as potential summer targets, but the Old Firm's interest has made them act now.

The Glasgow giants are favourites, but Mowbray is hoping his role in the pair's development at Easter Road will help swing the deal in Albion's favour.

Both deals will have to be financed by departures, with Wigan understood to be preparing a cash plus player deal for Nathan Ellington.

Albion rejected the Latics' latest offer of around £3m late last week.

Ellington's absence from Albion's 16 for Saturday's victory over Leeds only heightened speculation.

With Nigel Quashie gone, and Zoltan Gera attracting interest, there is plenty of scope for Albion to boost the transfer kitty.