West Brom head coach Roy Hodgson is hopeful of concluding a deal to sign Zenit St Petersburg winger Szabolcs Huszti for the remainder of the season.
Hodgson has been preparing his side for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Norwich at the Hawthorns amid ongoing talks with the Russian club about taking the Hungary international on loan with a view to a permanent deal in the summer.
Hodgson is keen to strengthen his wide options in midfield, with Zoltan Gera and skipper Chris Brunt both long-term injury casualties, and said: "Huszti is a player who has had a very good career with Metz, Hannover and now St Petersburg, who have been the top side in Russia for two or three years."
He added: "He is a player who comes with a very good CV, a type of player we don't really have at the club, not least with Gera and Brunt injured long term.
"We hope we can finalise the deal with the club and the player himself and he will be a good addition to our squad for the final 16 league games if it all gets tied up."
Hodgson has also not given hope of signing Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell, even though Albion's initial bid was rejected by their midlands rivals.
He said: "I know that Birmingham are still in dialogue with Dan Ashworth [West Brom's sporting and technical director]. Whether that means there will be another offer from our side I couldn't say.
"I was under the impression that the offer we made was pretty much a final one, but who knows? It would be nice for a deal to be done and, if it can't, then that is okay too."
Hodgson has written off any hopes of signing defender Chris Baird from his former club Fulham, however.
He said: "We have been told he is not available. His name was mentioned and I said yes, if he was going to be released we would be interested. Then I have been informed that Fulham will not be releasing him."
Source: PA
