Albion enter Frederic Piquionne race

Albion have entered the race to sign former Portsmouth striker Frederic Piquionne for around £800,000.

The 31-year-old, now back with his parent club Lyon after last season's loan to Fratton Park, is also wanted by Fulham and West Ham.

Fulham are believed to be at the head of a queue of Premier League clubs wanting to make a pitch to Piquionne.

Blackburn and West Ham have also registered their interest, which suggests that the player could be a tough deal to crack for Albion.

But it's now understood that the Baggies have made a formal offer to Lyon, which will see them pitching for the player's services.

It's the first concrete development from the Hawthorns, where boss Roberto Di Matteo has a modest budget but is keen to add to his forward options.

The head coach has been linked heavily with James Beattie at Stoke, who remains an option but appears to be behind Piquionne in Di Matteo's preferred pecking order.

Throughout the carnage of last season's crises for the south coast club, Piquionne was viewed as a measured success scoring 11 goals despite the team's relegation.

Turkish side Fenerbahce have also made an offer for him, but the Frenchman is understood to be ready to snub overtures from the Turks as he has his heart set on a switch to England.

And it is expected that Albion will get their chance to "test the water" with Piquionne this week, when he is expected to travel to England for talks with interested suitors.

Signals confirming Albion's move for the striker come at the same time as the club distanced itself strongly from offering the second-choice goalkeeping vacancy to Sunderland's Marton Fulop.

Instead the Baggies, who want a goalkeeper to slot in between Carson, are being linked with Watford's England under-21 international Scott Loach.