West Brom set to hijack move for Joleon Lescott

The 31-year-old one-time Wolves defender, looking for a new club at the end of his title-winning Manchester City career, is also wanted by Hull City and Stoke.

But Lescott is ready to give Alan Irvine's troubled start at The Hawthorns a huge boost by opting for a move to the Baggies.

The former England defender is back from holiday today and booked for a medical at the club tomorrow – if the final details of a two-year deal can be agreed.

Lescott had been negotiating with first Hull and then Stoke who had been favourites to sign him. But Albion's interest gathered momentum over the weekend and the defender has told pals he has opted for a Hawthorns switch.

Albion are keen to drive through the deal as a positive response to the hostile reaction the low-key appointment of Irvine has provoked.

And Lescott's preference for a transfer to Albion has been influenced by Irvine's surprise arrival having been impressed by his coaching during his three-year stint at Everton.

There are other links luring Lescott to Albion where assistant manager Keith Downing was his former youth coach at Molineux and Rob Kelly – who Irvine is bringing in as an addition to the staff – is also a former coach of his.

Lescott was worried about a possible negative response from Albion supporters because of his Molineux background but both the player and club hope the eight years that have elapsed since he left Wolves will soften any resistance.

And it promises to be an important signing for Irvine and Albion after such a hotly-disputed appointment in which fears about such a low-profile management team attracting big name players have been one of the criticisms.

Irvine was meeting the media today in another key moment in his efforts to win over fans, some of whom are organising a protest against his appointment and chairman Jeremy Peace for Saturday.

Such was the opposition to the arrival of a new head coach without any experience of the No.1 seat in a Premier League set-up, there have also been demands from other disgruntled fans to return their season tickets.

But Albion are sticking to their conviction that Irvine can prove critics of his appointment wrong and believe sealing a deal for Lescott – one of at least six signings the club is working on over the coming weeks – is a bold step forward.