West Brom Set To Offload Osaze

Roy Hodgson is prepared to cash in on Osaze Odemwingie in the summer – to make way for Andy Johnson.

West Brom boss Hodgson will consider moving the Nigeria star on after the striker had a ­disappointing second season up front at the Hawthorns.

Hodgson is planning a major re-shuffle of his strike-force, with Chris Wood and Simon Cox also expected to leave as he looks for the support of Baggies owner Jeremy Peace to take the club on to the next level.

Fulham striker Johnson, set to be available on a free transfer in June, is the first-choice replacement.

Hodgson signed Johnson from Everton in 2008, during his stint as Cottagers boss.

The move will hinge on Peace backing a three-year deal for the 31-year-old, and Odemwingie will be sacrificed to make room on the wage bill.

Hodgson also wants to land Nottingham Forest winger Garath McCleary on a free but faces competition from Swansea and Everton.

Odemwingie signed a new three-year contract, after a £4 m bid from Wigan Athletic was turned down by the club.

After some injury setbacks, he scored his first goal of the 2011–12 season away to Norwich City. Odemwingie’s second goal of the season came in the Black Country derby, where West Bromwich Albion defeated Wolves 2–0.

Odemwingie scored at Ewood Park on 17 December. On 12 February, Odemwingie scored his first hat trick for the club in a 5-1 victory over Black Country rival Wolverhampton Wanderers. Odemwingie followed this up on 25 February with another, scoring two goals in a 4-0 thumping of Sunderland. His performances in the month of February led him to be named the Premier League Player of the Month for the third time in his career.