Keeper Scott Carson leaves West Bromwich Albion
Albion cleared the decks for more summer signings last night as Scott Carson and Borja Valero completed permanent transfers out of The Hawthorns.
Albion cleared the decks for more summer signings last night as Scott Carson and Borja Valero completed permanent transfers out of The Hawthorns.
One-time England keeper Carson ended a three-year stay during which he has struggled to win over the Baggies fans by completing his move to Bursapor and the chance for a fresh start in Turkish football.
Valero has not kicked a ball for Albion since the club's Premier League relegation but after two seasons playing on loan in La Liga – and winning a place in the Spanish national squad – he has sealed a permanent switch to Villareal.
Both fees are undisclosed but Carson's is thought to be in the region of £1.5m-£2m with performance related add-ons.
Valero was a record-breaking £4.7m signing from Real Mallorca and Albion can be expected to have at least got their money back through loan fees and now this permanent switch.
Carson's exit leaves the door wide open for a new No.1 – although understudy Boaz Myhill will have his own thoughts on that prospect – and it is clear head coach Roy Hodgson is confident he can recruit a more commanding figure.
He said: "In the three months I worked with Scott I cannot fault his professionalism and dedication.
"He has been a good servant to the club and I wish him all the best as he looks to broaden his experience by playing in a foreign country."
Albion are in the process of completing the re-signing of Zoltan Gera on a two-year deal this weekend while they await the decision pending from fellow midfielder David Vaughan of Blackpool.
But the prospect of Gabriel Tamas' transfer to Lazio is the subject of doubts despite the defender's enthusiasm for the chance to switch to the Rome club.
Albion insist they still have not heard officially from Lazio while the agent driving the deal, Ivan Reggiani, admits the Seri A club are having second thoughts because of the Romanian's patchy disciplinary record.
James Hurst has been called up for the England squad in the Under-20s World Cup in Colombia. The defender was on standby but has possibly benefitted from club-mate George Thorne's withdrawal to go on Albion's first-team tour of the USA.
