Baggies close in on new keeper

West Brom assistant boss Michael Appleton has confirmed the club are close to finding a new goalkeeper.

Scott Carson had worn the number shirt at the Hawthorns for the last few years but the England goalkeeper recently signed for Turkish side Bursapor and the Baggies are now thought to be on the verge of bring a new stopper to the club. Those looking at the Betfair mobile sports betting will know this will be crucial to their season.

Local rivals Birmingham’s goalkeeper Ben Foster has been regularly linked with the club and it appears that a season long loan switch is now on the cards for the former Manchester United goalkeeper.

However, Appleton refused to say whether Foster was on the verge of joining the club and has also mentioned West Ham’s Rob Green as possible replacement for Carson and despite not being able to confirm name, he did hint that the Baggies will have a new goalkeeper in the next few weeks.

“Hopefully they’ll be one or two arrivals in the coming days or weeks but we’ve probably been hoping that for the last couple of weeks now,” Appleton told Sportinglife.com after the 3-0 pre-season defeat at Rochdale.

“I’d like to think we’re working hard to make that happen but ultimately there has to be agreement between the two clubs and if there isn’t agreement between the two clubs we have to look elsewhere.”

The Baggies will be looking to build on their success of last year which saw them consolidate their position in the Premier League. Those who bet in-play will know they need a new keeper first.

The Baggies had an impressive first season back in the Premiership, including an away victory away at Arsenal and a draw at Old Trafford and Roy Hodgson side will be hoping to bring some stability to the club after a tumultuous few seasons.