[h=3]Albion forced to look elsewhere to solve striker crisis[/h]5:00am Tuesday 22nd October 2013 in Albion By Andy Naylor
Dexter Blackstock is expected to join Leeds United
Albion have been thwarted by Championship rivals Leeds United in their bid to add Dexter Blackstock to their depleted strike force.
The Nottingham Forest marksman is joining the Yorkshiremen on loan instead of the Seagulls, The Argus understands.
Albion had identified Blackstock as the next addition to their forward ranks after clinching a temporary deal for Swansea’s Leroy Lita.
Head coach Oscar Garcia is still short of options up front, with top scorer Leo Ulloa, Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Hoskins all long-term injury casualties.
Albion thought they had their man following Lita’s debut as a second half substitute in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Yeovil.
Oscar’s assistant Nathan Jones, speaking after the game about the continuing striker search, did not name Blackstock but said: “We think we have him but we have just got to finalise everything.”
Leeds were keen on Blackstock in January, when Neil Warnock was manager.
Warnock’s successor Brian McDermott has now resurrected their interest and Leeds are thought to have tempted Blackstock with the prospect of a permanent deal further down the line.
Forest have a glut of strikers and Blackstock is well down the pecking order but Albion only want a temporary replacement, with Ulloa and Mackail-Smith both expected to be back in action by the New Year.
The Seagulls are not the only ones to have missed out on the 27-year-old. Another un-named club were initially the frontrunners.
Huddersfield and Wolves were both keen on signing him as well on a permanent basis earlier in the season but wages proved a stumbling block for the former, while Blackstock did not want to drop down to League One with Wanderers.`
Original article
Albion have been thwarted by Championship rivals Leeds United in their bid to add Dexter Blackstock to their depleted strike force.
The Nottingham Forest marksman is joining the Yorkshiremen on loan instead of the Seagulls, The Argus understands.
Albion had identified Blackstock as the next addition to their forward ranks after clinching a temporary deal for Swansea’s Leroy Lita.
Head coach Oscar Garcia is still short of options up front, with top scorer Leo Ulloa, Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Hoskins all long-term injury casualties.
Albion thought they had their man following Lita’s debut as a second half substitute in Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Yeovil.
Oscar’s assistant Nathan Jones, speaking after the game about the continuing striker search, did not name Blackstock but said: “We think we have him but we have just got to finalise everything.”
Leeds were keen on Blackstock in January, when Neil Warnock was manager.
Warnock’s successor Brian McDermott has now resurrected their interest and Leeds are thought to have tempted Blackstock with the prospect of a permanent deal further down the line.
Forest have a glut of strikers and Blackstock is well down the pecking order but Albion only want a temporary replacement, with Ulloa and Mackail-Smith both expected to be back in action by the New Year.
The Seagulls are not the only ones to have missed out on the 27-year-old. Another un-named club were initially the frontrunners.
Huddersfield and Wolves were both keen on signing him as well on a permanent basis earlier in the season but wages proved a stumbling block for the former, while Blackstock did not want to drop down to League One with Wanderers.`
Original article