West Brom head coach Di Matteo issues finance warning

Roberto Di Matteo says he will not pay over the odds for his transfer targets

West Bromwich Albion head coach Roberto Di Matteo has said he is thankful that the Baggies are in a stable financial condition, while other clubs struggle.

"We are in a fortunate situation because the club only spend what they earn," Di Matteo told BBC WM.

"It's great for the supporters to know that there will always be a club here."

One of Albion's Championship rivals, Crystal Palace, were deducted 10 points by the Football League on Thursday after entering administration.

"You hope people will start realising that they can't live above their means. If everybody does it, the competition will be more balanced," added Di Matteo.

Albion are hoping to add a couple of new players to their squad before the January transfer window closes on Monday.

Di Matteo has made a £1.5m bid for Palace winger Victor Moses, 19, and has seen an offer to take James McArthur on loan from Hamilton rebuffed by the Scottish club.

"We are working behind the scenes, trying to get a few players out and a couple of fresh faces in, but nothing has been sealed yet," said the former MK Dons boss.

"But we won't pay over the odds. If we feel that a player is costing us more than his value, we'll pull out of the race."

Highly-rated Moses has been linked with moves to several top clubs, including Manchester City and Real Madrid.

However, Moses' agent Tony Finnegan told BBC Sport on Wednesday that Albion and Nottingham Forest were the only two clubs to have made official bids for the player.

Baggies winger Chris Brunt told BBC WM that if Moses was to move to the Hawthorns, it would be a significant coup.

"With the clubs he's been linked with, it would be a big statement," said the Northern Ireland international, who scored the equaliser in Albion's 1-1 draw against Ipswich on Tuesday.

"He's a good young player and he would be a great addition to the squad, but obviously he's going to be a tough player to get because of the amount of speculation that's been going on about him in the last few weeks.

"And obviously with Palace's difficulties, some of the big clubs might see a bit of a bargain there. But if we did pull it off, it would be a great signing."