Hodgson poised for big signings

Hodgson: West Brom boss has already brought in three players on free transfers

Roy Hodgson believes his next round of signings for West Brom will not come cheap.

The Baggies manager has been able to exploit the free transfer system to good effect this summer with the signings of defenders Gareth McAuley and Billy Jones on Bosman deals.

Zoltan Gera is also poised to return to the Hawthorns from Fulham on another free, which would constitute some shrewd business by the former Liverpool boss.

Yet, if the Baggies are to recruit a slighter higher calibre of player, Hodgson knows he will be required to open his cheque book.

He has been linked with goalkeepers Ben Foster and Robert Green, who would both be costly replacements for Scott Carson, who signed for Turkish side Bursaspor.

Targets

Reading's Shane Long is also being targeted as a potential strike partner for last season's 15-goal top-scorer Peter Odemwingie.

And Hodgson is determined to add that extra bit of quality to his squad before the season starts.

"If the deal for Gera goes through, that would be a third excellent acquisition, all of which would have been brought in for no transfer money," Hodgson told the Wolverhampton Express and Star.

"That, hopefully, would give us a chance to get the last couple of pieces in the jigsaw of the right quality that might cost us a little bit more than these three have cost us.

"It could be as many as five or six players coming in, all of whom would be great acquisitions, and the total outlay hopefully won't break the bank."