Barnett set for Sky Blues stay

Barnett: Regular games at Coventry

West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo has paved the way for Leon Barnett to complete a permanent switch to Coventry in the January transfer window.

The centre-back joined the Sky Blues on loan at the start of November in a deal that runs until the end of January.

But Di Matteo admits that he is unlikely to ask Barnett, who has confessed he is enjoying life at the Ricoh Arena, to return

Di Matteo told West Brom's official website: "We probably won't bring him back. I think he is happy where he is.

"He is playing week in, week out and I don't think he wants to come back and not play."

Meanwhile, Di Matteo has confirmed Gabriel Tamas, who has spent the last two seasons on loan at Dinamo Bucharest from Auxerre, is one of a number of central defenders that he is interested tracking.

"Abdoulaye (Meite) is going to leave for the African Nations Cup after the Boxing Day game so we have been looking to bring in another central defender," he said. "We need cover there because we are light in that position.

"He (Tamas) is one of the options but there are a number of players we are talking to."