Mowbray may look elsewhere
Albion are losing patience with Hibernian in their £5m bid for midfield duo Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson.Albion are losing patience with Hibernian in their £5m bid for midfield duo Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson. The Baggies had hoped to tie up a deal to bring the pair to The Hawthorns this week but have become frustrated by the mixed messages coming out of Easter Road. We understand Albion believe they have all but agreed a transfer fee with Hibs for Brown, aged 21, and Thomson, 23, only to then be told the Edinburgh-club had changed their mind. Talks between the clubs are continuing but, with time running out before the transfer window slams shut, Albion are ready to turn their attentions to other targets. Read the full story in the Express & Star
The Baggies had hoped to tie up a deal to bring the pair to The Hawthorns this week but have become frustrated by the mixed messages coming out of Easter Road.
We understand Albion believe they have all but agreed a transfer fee with Hibs for Brown, aged 21, and Thomson, 23, only to then be told the Edinburgh-club had changed their mind.
Talks between the clubs are continuing but, with time running out before the transfer window slams shut, Albion are ready to turn their attentions to other targets.Nevertheless, the pair remain Albion boss Tony Mowbray's top targets this month and the Baggies won't be put off by reports in Scotland suggesting Celtic are ready to tempt Hibs with a 'buy now, pay later' deal.
Celtic are understood to be ready to offer £3.5m up front with an extra £500,000 in add-ons, but with the proviso that they stay in the Scottish capital for the rest of the season to help Hibs with their CIS and Scottish Cup bids.
But that is unlikely to deter Albion, who remain confident the players' past history with Mowbray will help swing the deal in the favour.
Meanwhile, Albion were today hopeful of clinching the signing of Holland under-21 international striker Sherjill MacDonald on loan.
MacDonald was holding talks with the Baggies this morning but Albion were facing a race against time to sign him in time for Sunday's Cup showdown.