Baggies seal £2million Abdoulaye Meite deal

He said: "In my experiences of this window, this league and the way the market place is at the moment I would hope we would get some more players in - but I can't tell you if that will happen 100 per cent.

"I would hope we would, but I don't know. It's not easy. I think you have to have a belief in what you want to do and I won't allow people outside the football industry to upset the apple cart.

"We are at the point where we can speak to a few players at the moment but the sad thing about football these days is that you don't often get to speak to the players themselves, you have to go through their advisors and that's where the problems lie."

Having missed out on Madjid Bougherra, the former Charlton Athletic defender who signed for Rangers at a late stage of negotiations with the Baggies, securing Meite - or defensive cover - has become a top priority.

The Ivory Coast international has signed a three-year contract with a year's option in the club's favour and the fee could rise to £2.5 million depending on appearances.

Meite, who can also operate at full-back, started his career at French club Red Star 93 before joining Marseille in July 2001.

He became a first-term regular during his five years there and was a losing finalist in the Uefa Cup and French Cup in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

The 6ft 1in defender also played for Marseille in the Champions League before Sam Allardyce signed him in July 2006 and played him in all-but three of Bolton Wanderers' Premier League fixtures when they finished seventh and qualified for the Uefa Cup.

He was also a regular for Wanderers last season until January, when the arrival of Gary Cahill from Aston Villa limited his first-team chances.

Meite was born in Paris but pledged his international allegiance to the Ivory Coast for whom he has played at the 2006 World Cup and African Cup of Nations the same year and in 2008.