West Brom Reject Bids From Fulham and Birmingham for Jason Koumas and Diomansy Kamara

West Bromwich Albion have turned down bids from Fulham and Birmingham for striker Diomansy Kamara and midfielder Jason Koumas.

Birmingham, who had a £3m bid for Kamara turned down on Monday, returned with a £5m offer for the pair today, while Fulham lodged an undisclosed bid which included cash and two players from their own squad, but the Baggies were quick to dismiss both approaches. The pair have been attracting the attention of several Premiership clubs this summer, with Aston Villa, Everton, Celtic and Reading also rumored to be interested in the pair.

Both players are believed to be keen to move on after West Brom failed to earn promotion from the Championship, and Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace has reluctantly admitted the club's finances could force them to sell.

"We are in our last year of parachute payments from the Premiership and our aim for the next season has to be promotion," he said. "It is the same aspiration as last season but it is not the last fling of the dice. We have effectively got two years to get out of the Championship because we have got value in the squad and if we were to sell players, it would effectively give us an extra year beyond this season's parachute payment."

Birmingham are reportedly already preparing a third approach, but whether or not Fulham will continue to pursue their interest in the pair remains to be seen. Either way the move does suggest new manager Lawrie Sanchez is keen to reinforce a squad that won just eight Premiership games last season - two less than relegated Sheffield United - and just two of their last 20 league fixtures.

Former Celtic captain Neil Lennon, meanwhile, has joined Nottingham Forest on a one-year deal. Lennon, who was reported to have been approached by at least one Premiership club, left the Hoops at the end of the season after seven years with the club.