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West Brom eager for attacking reinforcements

Albion have stepped up their bid to land attacking reinforcements following the news Grady Diangana is set to be sidelined for at least a month.

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Grady Diangana of West Bromwich Albion reacts as he is substituted early with an injury.

Diangana – who first injured his hamstring in the win over Blues on December 14 – suffered a recurrence of the problem just three minutes into Monday night’s clash with Stoke.

The West Ham loanee underwent a scan yesterday to determine the extent of the injury. But Hammers boss David Moyes said he expects the winger to be sidelined for at least a month.

Albion have failed to win a league game since Diangana was forced to come off at St Andrew’s.

And now he is injured again, the Baggies are ramping up their efforts to bring in attacking reinforcements this month.

At the start of the window, head coach Slaven Bilic stressed his main aim was to keep his squad intact.

It’s also understood the boss was willing to strengthen all areas if the right player became available – with central midfielder Conor Gallagher, who has now gone to Swansea, a target.

But now the focus is very much on landing attacking players with Albion plotting moves for a striker and winger.

While Diangana’s injury is a huge blow for Albion, the positive news is the Baggies now look set to keep him for the season at a much-reduced rate.

West Ham have the option to recall the winger from his loan any time before January 27.

And with the Baggies desperate to keep him, they were squeezing Albion for extra cash.

The two clubs had been in discussion over a £1.5million deal that would keep Diangana at The Hawthorns for the rest of the campaign. But that deal will now have to be renegotiated, with the 21-year-old set to miss the next six league games at the very least.

Moyes also confirmed Diangana’s latest injury means it is unlikely he will now be recalled.

“It was a big consideration,” Moyes said when asked if he had considered recalling the winger. “His injury has put paid to him coming back. We are short of players just now and it’ll be maybe a month’s time when he’s recovered. He’ll probably stay there until the end of the season.”