CREWE have beaten off hot competition to make highly-rated Michael West their fourth signing of the summer.

Several clubs were chasing the 21-year-old winger who scored nine goals in 36 appearances to help Ebbsfleet United make a successful return to the Conference, last season.

But the former Fulham youth player saw his future with the Alex after both clubs agreed a nominal compensation package.

“At my age I need full-time football and Crewe seemed the right place to come,” he said.

“Everyone thinks they are the young Arsenal the way they play.

“They are brought up to play football and that’s what attracted me here.

“My first target to start the first game and I’m going to grab this opportunity with both hands.”

Boss Steve Davis was delighted to get his man.

“We wanted to bring in a winger with potential who we can work with that might make the team now or take a few months to get in,” he explained “He’s got huge potential and he’s a goal scoring winger.”

West joins defenders Gregor Robertson and Mark Ellis through the door along with 6ft 2ins striker Mathias Pogba.

Brother of Juventus and former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, the 21-year-old scored 12 goals to steer Wrexham into the Blue Square Bet Premier play-offs, last season.

Also named their Young Player-of-the-Year, the French-Guinean arrives for a nominal fee after his contract expired.

“Things are progressing well,” continued Davis.

“We managed to get the centre-half in who was one of the better defenders in the league below and I’m confident he will do well.

“We worked hard to bring Mathias in and I’m delighted to have someone with that potential..

“He’s a very powerful, quick player who has scored goals in the Conference.

“Because we lost Dave, we needed some experience and Gregor has played in the Championship and knows what this league is about.

“That’s virtually all the places that are filled apart from the midfield.”

Davis still expects to keep both Byron Moore and Kelvin Mellor while keeper Alan Martin has signed a six-month contract.

“We’re close with Bryon and we’ve made a couple of improved offers for Kelvin.

“The debate has been around the length of contract and a bit more money so we’ll try and meet him in the middle.

“He’s had his head turned a bit by Derby which has perhaps come a little earlier in his career than he thought, “I thought a year was going to be something that would push him on and he was looking for a bit more security.”

Crewe open their pre-season campaign at Congleton Town on Saturday (KO 1.30pm) before sending sides to Quorn and Chasetown on Monday (both KO 7.30pm).