West Bromwich Albion look set to miss out on yet another transfer target this summer, as Aston Villa's Keinan Davis closes in on a move to Watford.

What's the word?

Steve Bruce is clearly keen to add a new striker to his side before the transfer window shuts and Davis had been touted as a potential option for the Baggies, as the forward seeks first-team football away from Villa Park.

The Hawthorns was one possible destination for the 24-year-old, who was not short of suitors after impressing in a loan spell with Nottingham Forest last season, helping them earn promotion to the Premier League.

However, it seems as if Watford have won the race to sign Davis this summer, with the latest reports suggesting that he is on the brink of joining Rob Edwards' side on loan, with an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.

Bruce will be gutted

Bruce is clearly desperate to sign a forward following the injury to Daryl Dike, which has left just Karlan Grant and the out-of-favour Kenneth Zohore as the Baggies' natural options up front.

The Baggies will be hoping for a promotion push after an underwhelming season in the Championship but a lack of squad depth in attack could cost them later in the season, especially if Grant is injured.

Davis showed last season in his spell at Forest that he can be an extremely dangerous option in the second tier, making 17 appearances for Steve Cooper's side, in which he contributed five goals and two assists, averaging a superb 7.16 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

For context, the top performer in West Brom's side last season would average a 7.09 rating, while only Grant and Alex Mowatt would outscore Davis across the whole season, which goes to show that the Baggies definitely need more quality in attack.

Forest defender Steve Cook was full of praise for Davis last season, saying:

“Keinan has been outstanding. He’s probably a bit of an unsung hero for us at the moment because he’s doing the hard work. He’s bullying defenders and he’s connecting the play from back to front, without scoring the goals he probably would have liked so far.

“He’s looked such a threat. Keepers have made great saves against the efforts he’s had."

Therefore, Davis would definitely have been a quality addition to Bruce's side, and the manager will be gutted that West Brom couldn't get a deal done with Aston Villa.