But that hasn’t prevented an already wide spread string of rumours surrounding arrivals and departures at the Hawthorns. 

As already reported this week Premiership outfit Portsmouth have secured the services of Albion youth player James Hurst.  At just 16 years old he has already been labelled as one of England’s most exciting up and coming defenders, having already featured on the international stage.  The South Coast club are reported to have paid £250,000 to secure the signature of the youngster, with that fee expected to rise to £1,000,000. 

The links between Albion and Pompey don’t end there however.  Although this story remains purely rumour at present.  Harry Redknapp is reportedly interested in signing Ishmael Miller, the 21 year old striker that Albion paid £900,000 for in January from Manchester City.  Miller enjoyed a fruitful season at Albion, spending the first half on loan at the club.  He was selected for the England Under 21 squad, although injury forced him to withdraw and scored 16 goals for the Baggies.  Redknapp is said to be looking at paying a figure of up to £5 million to bring Miller to Fratton Park. 

On the arrivals front it is widely believed that Mowbray has already expressed an interest in a replacement Goalkeeper despite Dean Kiely’s award of the Golden Glove yesterday.  The position is one said to have been a concern to Mowbray for some time, with the 37 year old coming close to the end of his career, despite announcing his decision yesterday to come out of international retirement.  Mowbray is said to be interested in Danish keeper Jesper Christiansen, who still has three years left to run on his contract at Copenhagen.  Moving the 30 year old highly rated keeper to the Hawthorns would involve paying £1 million to terminate his current contract early. 

Meanwhile Polish midfielder Radoslaw Majewski believed to be another target of Mowbray’s is at the centre of controversy today after being allegedly warned off a move to the Black Country by the outspoken Dutch manager of the Polish national side.  Leo Beenhakker is said to have told the 21 year old that a move to the Baggies could kill his career.  A final insult came as the gaffer commented that it would be different if the move was to a club such as Spurs or Manchester City.  But insisted that a move to relegation bound Albion could be a career wrecker.

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