[John Boy]

ALBION have completed their EIGHTH transfer swoop of the summer after signing Senegal international Alassane N’Dour on a season-long loan from French club St Etienne

The 21-year-old left wing-back joined Albion on trial on Thursday and the Baggies have had to move quickly to sign him due to the closure of the international transfer window on Sunday at 5pm.

The club would have otherwise had to wait until January to recruit the 6ft 1in player.
N’Dour, who played for Senegal during their march to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals in Japan & South Korea, will provide cover and competition for Neil Clement.The move is subject to international clearance being granted.

Boss Gary Megson said: “Alassane has got a good record in French football and was the subject of a big bid from another French club a couple of seasons ago.“Neil’s position is one we need competition and cover for so we’re really pleased to have got Alassane on a year’s loan.”Chairman Jeremy Peace added: “We’re delighted to have Alassane on board. His signing means we’ve now got cover for every position in the squad which is a big plus for the long season ahead.”Dakar-born N’Dour has made 41 appearances for St Etienne over the past two seasons.Meanwhile, Albion are hoping to be granted clearance to field their seventh summer signing, Mali-born centre-half Sekou Berthe, shortly.

News from across the channel suggests Berthe should receive his French passport in the “next few days” which will free him to join the Baggies’ promotion push.

[DevilDave]

Certainly the signing of N'dour will be a motivating factor for Clem to improve his performances.

I've got to wonder with the system of squad rotation Megson has in place if we won't see N'dour in the first eleven more often than off the bench. Of course it depends on his performances, and I know virtually nothing about the lad.

I may need to test my three semesters of university French...