Albion step up search for central defender

9:00am Monday 28th January 2013 in Sport By Andy Naylor

Gordon Greer limps off against Arsenal Gordon Greer limps off against Arsenal

ALBION are stepping up their efforts to sign a centre-half before the close of the January transfer window on Thursday night, with captain Gordon Greer ruled out for three weeks.

Greer will miss at least the next three matches of the Seagulls’ push for a place in the Championship play-offs after limping out of the 3-2 FA Cup defeat by Arsenal at The Amex with a hamstring injury in the first half.

The Seagulls were already trying to sign a central defender before Greer’s injury. They could now make a fresh approach for Virgil van Dijk after Groningen rejected their bid for the Dutch under-21 international.

Albion’s interest in other centre- half targets will intensify as well after Greer’s departure exposed a shortage of back-up. With Lewis Dunk involved in a court case, Inigo Calderon had to move into the centre of defence against the Gunners and David from midfield to right-back.

Boss Gus Poyet admitted to The Argus: “We need to work. I think we are lucky that it’s before the 31st of January.”

Poyet said of a renewed attempt to land van Dijk: “We’ll see, we are still in contact but it depends on so many things. You never know.”

The defensive crisis could be eased by the return of regular right-back Bruno (Achilles) for Saturday’s trip to Sheffield Wednesday. Poyet is also confident another recurrence of hamstring trouble which forced off winger Will Buckley at half-time against Arsenal is nothing serious. He said: “Bucker was feeling his hamstring again. I think it was tension. When you play in those type of games you are very tense. That one is maybe not that bad.”

Albion are five points outside the play-offs following Watford”s 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The defeat by Arsenal means Blackburn”s visit on February 12 goes ahead as scheduled but the game at Barnsley four days later will have to be rearranged as they are still involved in the FA Cup.

Comments(20)

Alan G Skinner says...
9:44am Mon 28 Jan 13

Submitting a fresh offer for Virgil Van Dijk, would certainly appear a logical strategy, in this new senario.

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WestStander17 says...
9:57am Mon 28 Jan 13

We definitely need some cover at CB in the short term. Good to hear that Bruno is nearing a return. That frees up Calderon to play CB but we are vulnerable in the air then as,without Greer, we have very little height in the team.

Would be brilliant if we can stretch to signing Van Dijk as he sounds like the guy Gus really wants. If that can't happen, I think we need to at least get a loan in to cover while Greer and Dunk are unavailable. Then we can go back in for Van Dijk when we've won the play-offs!!!

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jockithenoo says...
10:10am Mon 28 Jan 13

It's said he wants to play in England so maybe increasing the original bid thought to be around the 2 million (value of the player)
Bring him in if we can !
UTA

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Clean Sheet says...
10:21am Mon 28 Jan 13

I guess Vincelot is a potential short term option too?

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WestStander17 says...
10:39am Mon 28 Jan 13

Clean Sheet wrote:
I guess Vincelot is a potential short term option too?
Vincelot has done a good job at the back before so its an option. Doesn't add any height but he has a good leap. I guess Painter could probably do it too but then pace would be a worry. Both would give 100% to the cause, I'm sure.

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Jonathan Mouette says...
10:53am Mon 28 Jan 13

The Vincelot option is certainly one that should be considered. May I ask what happened to the Latvian guy - I know he has been put in the DS but isn't there scope there too...? I'm sure that if he could be mentored by Wayne Bridge he could raise his game. Oh well, just a thought.

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seagullsays says...
11:26am Mon 28 Jan 13

Would Hammond be an option at centre back? He has the height other options lack, but would leave a hole in midfield, and I'm not sure who would fill that with Crofts being injured. Tricky position for Gus.

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Albion23 says...
12:26pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Van Dijk doese seem best option. Depends on what they want for him.
But one thing is for sure if we are lucky enough to get a player in he must have hieght (imho).But if Bruno is fit at least we can rejig.

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mikeygit says...
12:29pm Mon 28 Jan 13

On Rumours site it is said we HAVE uped the offer for the Dutch guy and that another 'surprise' player coming back to the south coast on loan. As I say--only a rumour but we shall see.

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VegasSeagull says...
12:48pm Mon 28 Jan 13

I have posted this before but as we seem to be focused on Van Dijk I thought I would offer it up again.

There was a report on saturday that Van Dijk has been valued at 5 million by his club and, they don't want to see him go.

Sunderland are reported to also in the bidding for Dijk but they think the valuation is too high.

Any bid we make will have to be high enough for them to accept and to keep Sunderland out of the race. A tough race to win I think.

I found the report on News Now.

I noticed a report today that says Reading, and other prem clubs, are considering making a bid for Bridcutt. Sky Sports News Paper section.

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PressBoxTeaBoy says...
1:06pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Ferdinand is available at QPR. Just a thought.

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VegasSeagull says...
1:23pm Mon 28 Jan 13

PressBoxTeaBoy wrote:
Ferdinand is available at QPR. Just a thought.
As a loanee for the rest of the season, I could go with that but I think he is bound for pastures new.

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Eddy B says...
1:26pm Mon 28 Jan 13

It would appear the remaining area we need to strengthen. Hammond may well be a good option in the centre - I think we have plenty of options to replace him in the midfield. David looked impressive in a central role on Sat before he had to be moved and then you've got Dicker too, or even Calde or Bruno. I was also wondering what happened to the Latvian guy - he can play central defence too apparently. All this assuming Dunk is out of the picture at least temporarily.

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saraman says...
1:36pm Mon 28 Jan 13

It has been reported that Gus was at Gatwick yesterday on his way to Holland. Only second hand info I'm afraid. Also a loanee at The Amex yesterday for a medical. Could all be pie in the sky.

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VegasSeagull says...
1:39pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Who reported it Saraman?

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ballantrrae says...
2:30pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Clearly van Dijk would be a good option but I suspect will be too expensive. As VegasSeagull has posted it appears that Groningen are looking in the £4 - 5 million region for him. I have seen £4 million quoted on talkSPORT.
We have been short of a CB in the squad since Elphick left so whilst there is an urgent need now we need another CB anyway. Ideally we will land one with pace as well as height.
In the meantime I agree with other posters that Vincelot remains an option as defensive cover on the bench. I feel he offers more than Painter in that he can cover more positions. Hopefully a CB will be acquired in the next 3 and a bit days.
Changing subject I was quietly impressed with Hammond on Saturday especially before GG went off. He made some good driving forward runs and was involved with the build up to Ulloa's goal. Having said that I would still like a powerhouse type Midfielder to be signed. Such a player might just possibly have had the effect of reducing the impact Wilshire had on the game - only a possibility I grant you.
Good debut by Ulloa, it's good to have a striker with some physical presence aqain.

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saraman says...
2:43pm Mon 28 Jan 13

VegasSeagull wrote:
Who reported it Saraman?
Perhaps ''reported'' was the wrong choice Vegas. My son informed me this morning that it was mentioned on North Stand Chat. As I said it could all be pie in the sky, but it would make sense.

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GosportGull says...
2:49pm Mon 28 Jan 13

If we get £3/4 million for Bridcutt then the Dutch lad would be a viable option as a potential long term prospect. We definitely need to strengthen the centre of defence and he offers height, pace, Dutch know how and age ... I think it could be a good deal... But whats the likely hood ? GG

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mikeygit says...
3:13pm Mon 28 Jan 13

But we do NOT want Bridcut to go---we would be back to square one--and the Dutch lad wowould have to bed in --which takes time!!

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VegasSeagull says...
4:02pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Mickey if I had any say in the price of Bridcutt he wouldn't be going anywhere for under 5 million.

If we suppose that Gus has offered at least 2.5 million for Dijk then the sale of Bridcutt could give us around 7.5 million. I would buy a replacement for Bridcutt and Dijk. 4 million Dijk and 3.5 million for new midfield defender.

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