West Brom ‘in the hunt for Germany’s Badstuber’

West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Pulis is renowned for keeping his sides defensively resolute and notoriously difficult to beat.

And if recent reports are to be believed, Pulis is set to bolster the Baggies’ backline with the signing of a World Cup winner.

Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber is set to be available after being told by Carlo Ancelotti he is surplus to requirements at the Allianz Arena.

The 28-year-old, who has been at Bayern for 15 years, has made 31 appearances for Germany, scoring once in a 6-1 win over Azerbaijan in 2010.

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The versatile defender can operate at centre-half or left-back, and was part of the Germany side which won the World Cup in 2014.

He joined Schalke 04 on loan in January, and made 10 appearances for the Gelsenkirchen outfit.

The Baggies finished the 2016-17 Premier League campaign in tenth, having spent much of the season in eighth.

However, a slump in form towards the end of the season meant Pulis’ side only just secured a top-half finish.

Swansea City, managed by former Bayern Munich assistant Paul Clement, are another top-flight side reportedly keen on Badstuber’s services.