ALBION have completed the signing of Sunderland’s Jason Steele and confirmed the departure of Niki Maenpaa as No.1 Mathew Ryan’s World Cup hopes hang by a thread.
A feverish day of goalkeeper-related activity began with third-choice Maenpaa officially calling time on his three-year association with the Seagulls.
It continued in Russia with a 1-1 draw for Ryan’s Australia against Denmark, which has kept alive their bid to qualify for the last 16. And it ended with the bargain capture of Steele, 27, on a three-year contract.
The former Middlesbrough and Blackburn shot-stopper has been snapped up on a free transfer, just a year after Sunderland bought him from Rovers for £500,000.
The Black Cats were keen to get Steele off the wage bill following a second successive relegation to League One. He will provide back-up and cover for Ryan along with another probable new addition to the goalkeeping ranks, although Albion have not entirely given up hope that last season’s No.2 Tim Krul will stay. A vacancy remains with Maenpaa’s exit and Christian Walton lined up for a loan return to Wigan.
Meanwhile, Albion are interested in versatile 23-year-old Brazilian full-back Bernardo Fernandes da Silva from Bundesliga side Red Bull Leipzig. Da Silva, formerly with Red Bull Salzburg, can also operate in midfield.
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