Ipswich Town have agreed to sell defender Hermann Hreidarsson to Premiership new boys West Bromwich Albion, it has been reported. And the Baggies are set to make a double swoop after rekindling their interest in Leicester City midfielder Lee Marshall.
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Hreidarsson: On way to Baggies
(MikeHewitt/Allsport) |
Albion managing director Brendon Batson told the club's official website: 'We have had further talks with Leicester and (Marshall's) Agent, which are ongoing. We want to try and conclude a deal as soon as possible.'
Hreidarsson, meanwhile, who joined Ipswich for £4.5million from Wimbledon in summer 2000, is now set to discuss personal terms with Baggies officials.
Hawthorns manager Gary Megson has spoken of a desire to strengthen his squad for the top flight challenges ahead - and Icelandic international Hreidarsson will add speed and strength to the defence.
He began his English football career at Crystal Palace before moving to Brentford and then being snapped up by Wimbledon.
Batson added: 'It's been well documented we've been focusing on several players, and Hermann Hreidarsson is one of them.
'We've agreed a fee with Ipswich and have been given permission to talk to the player later today.'
The Baggies are keen to wrap up the deals as a matter of urgency,
with their opening fixture in the Premiership against
Manchester United to come on Saturday.
And Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks said the offer for Hreidarsson had been accepted 'with reluctance'.
He added: 'We have reluctantly accepted an offer for Hermann from West Brom and the player has been given permission to discuss personal terms with them.'
Sheepshanks warned Aston Villa that the Portman Road outfit were not willing to sell Republic of Ireland international Matt Holland.
Villa manager Graham Taylor was in the stands as Ipswich beat Walsall on Saturday, but Sheepshanks stressed: 'I know Graham Taylor was here. But that doesn't mean for a moment that we want to sell. Villa have not made a bid.'
Megson is also targeting Leceister midfielder Lee Marshall, valued at £1million, but has hit out at the new transfer window system that demands all deals are done by the end of the month.
He said: 'There are 650 players out of work at the moment and they will stay that way if they are not signed up by the end of August.
'That sounds like a restraint of trade to me. It's not a good rule for football. And it means clubs can ask high fees because they know there's only until August 31 to force a deal through.'
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