Reports in this morning’s tabloids claim that West Bromwich Albion are keen to sign the Fulham centre back Zat Knight on a season-long loan.

The Baggies are looking for defensive reinforcements to bolster their hopes of a return to the top flight this term and have identified the promising Birmingham-born beanpole centre half as a leading candidate. But Fulham are in no mood to late their highly-rated, ball-playing defender leave as Chris Coleman considers him pivotal to the club’s plans as prepares for a first full season in the managerial hotseat.

Knight, who was handed his first-team debut by Jean Tigana in 2000, has become a first-team regular in the Premier League over the past couple of seasons and is set to challenge Andy Melville and Alain Goma for a starting spot in Coleman’s line-up. With Melville troubled by injuries over the course of the summer, the 6ft 6in defender is poised to start the first game of the season against Middlesbrough later this month.