Arsenal linked with Baggies forward

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly considering a summer swoop for West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie. The Nigerian striker has been in sparkling form this season with 10 goals to date and the Daily Mail claims Wenger could be set to reignite his interest in the forward. The Arsenal boss is believed to have failed with an £8million move in the summer, but the Frenchman could be set to test West Brom's resolve yet again. However, Wenger has also been heavily tipped to snap up German international striker Lukas Podolski at the end of the current campaign and it remains to be seen whether or not he will launch a raid for Odemwingie if he is successful in his bid for the Cologne frontman. The 30-year-old forward snubbed a move to Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala in January and is tied down to a long-term deal at the Hawthorns, meaning Arsenal may miss out on Odemwingie even if they do make a concrete offer at the end of the season.

West Brom Sign Gera

Midfielder Zoltan Gera has put pen to paper on a two-year contract with his former club West Brom, with the option of a further 12 months in the Baggies' favour. The Hungary international scored 25 goals in 155 appearances during four years with the Baggies before moving to Fulham, where he was managed by current West Brom boss Roy Hodgson, on a free transfer in 2008. "Having decided not to renew his contract at Fulham, Zoltan has come back to the club where he started his career in England," Hodgson said on the club's official website. "The last time he played at West Bromwich Albion he was a very popular figure with everyone at the club, not least of all the fans. "I of course know him well and admired him in the two years we worked together at Fulham, where he was an integral part of the team that did well during those years. "I think it is a massive coup for the club that we have been able to persuade him to come back to West Brom despite the many other offers he had, because he is a player that is widely appreciated in the Premier League and abroad. "I think it is an excellent signing and he is a player I hope will do as well in the coming seasons as he has done in the past seasons with West Brom and Fulham. "In Zoltan Gera we've acquired not only a first-class player but a first-class person and we think that's also important to the way we want the club to move forward."

WEST BROM IN FOR BEN FOSTER

West Brom are aiming to take advantage of Birmingham’s desperate financial situation by swooping for goalkeeper Ben Foster in a £1million loan deal. Birmingham are offloading their big earners following relegation and cannot afford Ben Foster’s £1.5m-a-year wages. West Brom manager Roy Hodgson said: “If we can get him on loan or on a permanent deal, that would be something we would be very happy about.” Birmingham also want to sell Scott Dann, Cameron Jerome and Nikola Zigic for about £20m as the cost-cutting bites. New Blues boss Chris Hughton is trying to sign striker Billy Sharp from Doncaster Rovers.

West Brom lining up Hargreaves talks

West Brom could meet with Owen Hargreaves as early as next week as they continue their interest in the former England international.Albion have already been in contact with Hargreaves, who has been released Manchester United after playing only 27 games in the past four years due to chronic knee problems and the Baggies' sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth has revealed he is hoping to set up a meeting with the 30-year-old.Ashworth, who insists West Brom contacted Hargreaves well before the player released his YouTube clips in an apparent attempt to dispel doubts about his fitness, said on his club's official website: "He's based over in the United States at the moment so we might try to get to meet him in the next week or so and see if he would consider coming to us."He added: "If Owen is fit to play Premier League football, it is a no-brainer."Make no mistake, Owen Hargreaves is a fantastic player. He's shown he's a top, top player from his England, Manchester United and Bayern Munich days."Obviously, Owen has had a few medical issues over the last few years. But we would be absolutely delighted to get a fit Owen Hargreaves.

"That would be a wonderful signing for us."

Ashworth added: "The three things we've got going for us are: one, we're in the Premier League, which is attractive in itself; the second thing is we've got a fantastic medical team. We had an unbelievable hit-rate last season in terms of player availability.

"I think that's attractive to Owen, that we've got a proven track record in the last couple of years of maintaining players and keeping them out on the pitch, which is the most important thing.

"Thirdly, we were the first club to contact him. He's told me that, and he appreciates that. I'd like to think we`ve got a chance - but Owen has plenty of other options as well."

West Brom: Peter Odemwingie deal talks to begin

West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie's representatives will hold fresh talks with the club over a new contract for the Nigerian international during the next few days.Odemwingie had a memorable first season for the Baggies, scoring 15 goals and playing a major role in keeping them in the Barclays Premier League.
The 29-year-old has a year left of his current contract plus a 12 month option.But Albion are keen for the player to sign an improved long-term deal to stave off interest from other clubs.Odemwingie said: "A few days ago, I was supposed to have a meeting with the West Brom leadership on the current contract."However, it did not take place and the meeting has been rescheduled for the next couple of days (with his representative)."
Odemwingie is currently on holiday in the United States and there is nothing untoward about the contract talks being delayed.There has been intense speculation about the future of the Nigeria international since the end of the season.But the Baggies have not received an official approach.Albion want to secure Odemwingie's services after losing the battle with Swansea for Watford striker Danny Graham who is moving to the Premier League newcomers in a £3.5million deal.
West Brom had previously made a £2.5 million bid to the Hornets.

Arsenal in for Peter Odemwingie

Arsenal are weighing up a shock cut-price £4m move for West Bromwich striker Peter Odemwingie.
Odemwingie caught Wenger’s eye during both Premier League clashes against the Baggies last season, which saw the Midlands club take four points - including a 3-2 win at the Emirates.Odemwingie only has a year left on his current Baggies deal, though manager Roy Hodgson is desperate for the striker to commit to a long-term contract. But the lure of Champions League football could be too much for Odemwingie to resist.However, it is unlikely Baggies boss Roy Hodgson will let his star make a summer move to the Emirates without a ready-made replacement in the wings.Hodgson was recently rumoured to have tabled a £2.5 million bid for Watford's star striker Danny Graham and may be willing to release Odemwingie if the bid is successful.Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Lille’s Gervinho and Porto’s Radamel Falcao are also in Wenger’s thoughts, but a move for Odemwingie would be more cost-effective, freeing up funds to strengthen other areas.Wenger will step up plans to reshape his squad by going on a scouting mission to South America this month. He will watch a number of international friendlies leading up to the Copa America, which kicks off on July 1.

West Brom sign Billy Jones

West Bromwich have made the free-transfer signing of Preston defender Billy Jones on a three-year deal.Jones has moved to the Hawthorns after his contract with relegated North End came to an end.
The 24-year-old, who can also play in midfield, was Preston's player of the year last season in the Championship and made over 150 appearances for them.He is West Brom's second signing of the summer, the Ipswich defender Gareth McAuley having joined in May.The former England Under-20 international began his career with Crewe before joining Preston on a four-year deal in 2007.

West Brom 1 - 1 Wolverhampton

Carlos Vela's injury-time goal earned West Brom a vital point from a fiercely-fought Black Country derby against Wolves at the Hawthorns.
Jamie O'Hara's curling shot at the end of a lively but disjointed first half had looked sure to win it for Wolves.
Marc-Antoine Fortune wasted a great chance and Jonas Olsson had a header cleared off the line as West Brom seemed destined not to score.

But at the death, Vela followed up a Wayne Hennessey fumble to earn a draw.
Bottom-of-the-table Wolves had failed to win on their last eight visits to their biggest rivals but served notice of their intention to break that run as they had the better of the early exchanges.
Left winger Matt Jarvis was a particularly potent threat, linking up well with O'Hara and causing right-back Gonzalo Jara all kinds of problems.
After weathering the early storm, the home side found their feet and they were soon testing Wolves from a series of Chris Brunt corners.
Whenever the Baggies captain sent over the ball, it seemed to find a team-mate and the first real action for either goalkeeper came when Hennessey was forced to stretch and keep out Olsson's diving far-post header.
Gabriel Tamas put another header just off target and Christophe Berra had to be at his best to deny Paul Scharner a chance to get on the end of Nicky Shorey's cross as the Baggies continued to apply pressure.
But for all their territorial advantage, Hennessey's goal was rarely coming under direct threat.
And shortly before half-time, West Brom were made to pay for failing to take their chances as Wolves took the lead.
Tamas fouled Kevin Doyle just outside the angle of the penalty box and from the resulting free-kick Nenad Miljijas played the ball into the path of O'Hara, whose left-foot first-time shot from outside the area had enough curl on it to evade the grasp of Boaz Myhill in the Baggies goal.
Jarvis wasted a great chance to double Wolves' lead early in the second half when Tamas fluffed his attempted header back to Myhill, gifting a chance to the winger, but he put the ball wide of the far post.
This near-miss seemed to inspire the home side as they then launched a furious assault on Hennessey's goal.
First, Karl Henry was robbed of possession near the halfway line by Peter Odemwingie, who charged through on goal and laid the ball off to Fortune, whose effort was deflected behind for a corner by the keeper.
Then a thunderous challenge by Scharner won the ball for Brunt to send over a cross that Hennessey could only palm away. Odemwingie did his best to stretch and put the ball into the net, only to be denied by a challenge from George Elokobi.
The visitors barely had time to pause for breath before West Brom's next chance, as Odemwingie knocked the ball down into the path of Fortune just six yards out with only Hennessey to beat - but he failed to connect with the ball, letting the visitors off the hook in embarrassing fashion.
Olsson was the next to try his luck with a header that left Hennessey stranded but Jarvis was on the far post to head the ball off the line.
The Welsh keeper was called into action again when he used his knees to block substitute Vela's deflected shot.
Wolves almost snatched a second goal when Tamas came within inches of putting Doyle's cross into his own net but the longer the game went on without a second goal, the more inevitable Wolves' victory looked.

However, in injury time substitute James Morrison's shot was blocked but not held by Hennessey and Vela was quickest to react and earn his side a valuable point.

West Brom 3 - 3 West Ham

Demba Ba scored two goals on his full debut as West Ham tenaciously fought back from three goals behind to claim a point at West Brom.
Goals from Graham Dorrans, Jerome Thomas and a Winston Reid own goal gave the Baggies what looked like an unassailable 3-0 half-time lead.

But a Ba double and a Carlton Cole header denied West Brom victory in front of their new boss Roy Hodgson.
Both sides spurned late chances to win what was an enthralling contest.
The Roy Hodgson era got off to a flying start when, after just three minutes, Graham Dorrans found space on the edge of the West Ham penalty area and unleashed an unstoppable rising drive beyond Robert Green.
West Ham had barely recovered from Dorrans' stunning opener before Jerome Thomas had doubled the home side's lead.
Thomas picked up Fortune's pass on the left wing, before bending the ball brilliantly inside the far post, taking full advantage of some woeful West Ham defending.
But West Brom were rampant and their lead should have been stretched to three when Peter Odemwingie escaped the attention of Wayne Bridge at Mark Noble's corner, but could only find Green with his close-range header.
West Ham thought they were back in the game when Carlton Cole latched onto Scott Parker's neat through pass, but the striker was flagged offside, despite appearing to be level.

It was end-to-end action as West Ham looked for route back into the game, the clearer chances fell to the home side, who thought they should have had a penalty when the lively Thomas appeared to be pulled down in the box by Winston Reid.
But West Brom eventually made it three in the 32nd minute - and the hapless Reid was at fault again.
Graham Dorrans' free kick from the left caused yet more disarray in the penalty area, deflecting off Reid and into his own net.
At 3-0, West Ham looked down-and-out but the Hammers showed glimpses of the brilliant comeback that was to follow, when Ba found space at Mark Noble's corner only to see his shot expertly palmed onto the post by Boaz Myhill and eventually hacked off the line by Morrison.
Moments later, Gary O'Neil rattled the crossbar with Myhill beaten this time.
But West Ham were not to be denied a goal back five minutes into the second half - taking advantage of the kind of questionable defending that was a feature of both side's play.
Ba, making his first West Ham start following his move from Bundesliga side Hoffenheim, got the goal when he latched on to Noble's ball into the danger area and, under pressure from Paul Scharner, Ba chested the ball down and turned it in from close-range.
The visitors capitalised on West Brom's vulnerability just eight minutes when Carlton Cole threw himself at the ball inside the six yard area. Despite picking up a head injury for his troubles, Cole's brave header set up a thrilling finale.
Green kept West Ham in the match with an excellent save to his left after Odemwingie skipped away from two challenges before attempting to curl in from the edge of the box.
That saved proved as crucial as the second-half introduction of Frederic Piquionne, whose presence in attack further unsettled West Brom, who breathed again when Piquionne's header crashed back off the bar.

The three-man attack of Piquionne, Cole and Ba worked well for West Ham as the latter saw his shot from 12 yards cleared off the line after a jinking run by the influential Noble on the left.
Just as it was looking as though the Baggies might hold on for an invaluable win in their quest for survival, Ba dashed those hopes with a well taken equaliser.
Jonas Olsson inadvertently flicked Noble's cross from the right into the path of Ba, who was waiting unmarked at the far post, to send an accomplished volley past Myhill.
In a gripping finale, Piquionne blazed over and Odemwingie missed two decent chances to win the contest, ensuring West Ham climb off the foot of the table with this well-earned point.

Hughton in line for WBA job

Former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton is on the verge of becoming the new West Bromwich Albion boss after the club's surprise sacking of Roberto Di Matteo.Hughton was in talks with West Brom on Wednesday and he could be named the new boss as soon as Roy Hodgson was believed to be a preferred candidate for the Hawthorns post but the sacked Liverpool manager has turned down the offer of a swift return to football. Former Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce also ruled himself out of the running this week.Hughton has been out of a job since being sacked by Newcastle in December despite returning them to the Premier League and steering them to a mid-table position.West Brom caretaker Michael Appleton is still set to take charge for the important relegation six-pointer against West Ham this weekend regardless of whether Hughton is appointed before the match.Reserve team boss Appleton has stated he is keen to become a manager one day but it appears likely he will have to wait for his chance unless there is a last minute hitch with the Hughton negotiations.

Manchester City 3 West Brom 0

Carlos Tevez's first-half hat-trick helped Manchester City see off West Brom and end a three-game winless run.
The Argentine had already hit the post from Aleksandar Kolarov's cross when he slotted home from the spot after Steven Reid hauled Kolarov down in the box.
David Silva set Tevez up to make it 2-0 and he celebrated his 27th birthday with a third goal, converting another penalty after Jerome Thomas handled.
Marc-Antoine Fortune wasted West Brom's best chance when he fired wide.
City could have been further ahead at the break, and would have been but for Baggies keeper Boaz Myhill tipping a Kolarov thunderbolt on to the bar and also denying David Silva when he was clean through.
The second half was a different story, with the home side seemingly happy to sit back but, given the recent defensive fragility that has undermined his side's title bid, City boss Roberto Mancini will no doubt be satisfied with a clean sheet to go with the three points they collected.
On an emotional day at Eastlands that saw City mark the death of former star Neil Young with a minute's applause before kick-off, Mancini's men were quickly into their stride.
With £27m striker Edin Dzeko starting on the bench, Kolarov was operating in a more advanced position down the left and he got forward well to send over the cross that Tevez volleyed against the post after four minutes.
England goalkeeper Joe Hart has come under some criticism of late for his part in City's wobbles at the back but he was at his best to push Chris Brunt's free-kick wide and then tip Jonas Olsson's header over the bar from the resulting corner.
It was still City who were looking the more dangerous coming forward, however, and they made the breakthrough in the 17th minute.
Following a quick free-kick by Kolo Toure, Reid brought down Kolarov in the left-hand corner of the area and, after referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot, Tevez made no mistake to roll it into the bottom corner.
Tevez did not have wait long to add his 19th goal of the season, rounding off a neat build-up involving Vincent Kompany and Silva by hurdling a sliding Reid challenge and firing confidently home.
By now, City were rampant and only a series of super saves by Myhill stopped Kolarov and Silva adding to their tally.
But Myhill could do nothing to prevent Tevez completing his fourth hat-trick in English football shortly before the break when Atkinson awarded another penalty.
Pablo Zabaleta's cross span off Nicky Shorey and hit Thomas's arm, and this time Tevez stepped up to despatch the ball high to the goalkeeper's right.
West Brom, who came to the game with only one win in their last nine games and sliding rapidly down the Premier League table, might have feared an avalanche of City goals after the break.
But it was the Baggies who came out with more attacking purpose after the break and were arguably unlucky not to find the net at least once.
Peter Odemwingie sent a shot bouncing wide with Hart scrambling across his goal and, after Brunt blasted over, substitute Marc-Antoine Fortune fired into the side-netting after running clear and Carlos Vela headed wide when well placed.
Hart, who had made another good save from Brunt just before the break, again played his part when he pushed a Shorey free-kick round his post.
City rarely looked interesting in adding to their tally but still created a golden chance for Tevez to add a fourth before the end, with the Argentine blazing wastefully over.