Baggies to Nick Nic

NIC THE BAG? ... Nicolas Anelka

WEST BROM boss Steve Clarke is lining up a move for Nicolas Anelka.

It means the Baggies boss will replace one bad boy for another, with transfer rebel Peter Odemwingie set to leave Albion.

Anelka, 34, is looking for a new club after a six-month spell at Juventus, which followed his year with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.

The former Arsenal, Chelsea, Bolton, Manchester City and Liverpool striker made just three appearances for Juve.

Clarke, who knows Anelka from their time at Stamford Bridge, is keen to discover if the player still has the appetite to play in the Premier League.

Albion have also held talks with free agent Franco Di Santo, who has left Wigan.

And they are keen too on Watford’s on-loan Udinese striker Matej Vydra, 21, and plan to speak to him this week.

Vydra hit 22 goals for Watford last season and has been told he can leave Italy.

Clarke needs new faces up front, with Odemwingie on his way out and Romelu Lukaku heading back to Chelsea after his loan spell last season.

And Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long has still to sign a new Albion deal.