[h=3]Albion in race to sign striker before weekend[/h]5:00am Tuesday 15th October 2013 in Sport By Andy Naylor
Albion target Jonathan Obika has suffered an injury setback
Albion are still hopeful of signing a striker on loan before Saturday’s return to action against Yeovil.
But another injury setback for Jonathan Obika has forced them to abandon their interest in the Tottenham forward.
The Seagulls are hunting for two strikers to deputise for long-term injury victims Leo Ulloa and Craig Mackail-Smith.
A target man replacement for Ulloa remains top of the agenda ahead of the trip to Huish Park after the Argentinian fractured a metatarsal in his left foot in the home game against Sheffield Wednesday at the start of the month.
Obika, meanwhile, has been earmarked by Albion for weeks as a stand-in for Mackail-Smith, whose comeback from Achilles surgery has been delayed by a subsequent ankle injury.
They have been waiting for the former England Under-20 international to return to fitness and were poised to conclude a deal before the visit to Yeovil, where Obika had four spells on loan in four different seasons.
The Argus understands those plans have now been wrecked by a further injury setback for Obika, although Albion could, depending on circumstances, renew their interest in the January transfer window.
The Seagulls refuse to be held to ransom by some Premier League clubs stipulating as part of any loan deal a starting spot and most, if not all, of the wages being paid for players who have been largely inactive since August.
Head of football David Burke said: “To get one that hits the ground running is practically impossible. We have options that are ranked in order. We obviously want the top ones and plates are spinning on them all.”
Original article
Albion are still hopeful of signing a striker on loan before Saturday’s return to action against Yeovil.
But another injury setback for Jonathan Obika has forced them to abandon their interest in the Tottenham forward.
The Seagulls are hunting for two strikers to deputise for long-term injury victims Leo Ulloa and Craig Mackail-Smith.
A target man replacement for Ulloa remains top of the agenda ahead of the trip to Huish Park after the Argentinian fractured a metatarsal in his left foot in the home game against Sheffield Wednesday at the start of the month.
Obika, meanwhile, has been earmarked by Albion for weeks as a stand-in for Mackail-Smith, whose comeback from Achilles surgery has been delayed by a subsequent ankle injury.
They have been waiting for the former England Under-20 international to return to fitness and were poised to conclude a deal before the visit to Yeovil, where Obika had four spells on loan in four different seasons.
The Argus understands those plans have now been wrecked by a further injury setback for Obika, although Albion could, depending on circumstances, renew their interest in the January transfer window.
The Seagulls refuse to be held to ransom by some Premier League clubs stipulating as part of any loan deal a starting spot and most, if not all, of the wages being paid for players who have been largely inactive since August.
Head of football David Burke said: “To get one that hits the ground running is practically impossible. We have options that are ranked in order. We obviously want the top ones and plates are spinning on them all.”
Original article