Despite recent reports to the contrary, West Bromwich Albion are no longer believed to be interested in signing soon-to-be-free agent Tom Lawrence.

What's the word?

That is according to an update from Joseph Masi (as per Express and Star), who believes that there is no truth to the reports linking Albion with a move for the former Derby County star.

Masi believes that the Baggies are not interested in signing the 28-year-old, with Bruce's squad said to be "well stocked with players who can play on the right and left wing".

It is instead claimed that the West Brom manager is searching the market for a striker who can compete with and provide cover for Daryl Dike.

Supporters will be gutted

Despite Derby's dismal relegation to League One, Lawrence enjoyed a great campaign on a personal level, registering the highest seasonal returns of his career so far with 11 goals and five assists in 38 league games.

Albion struggled to find the net last season, finishing as the sixth-lowest scorers in the Championship with just 52 goals, and it was thought that Lawrence would join the likes of summer signings Jed Wallace and John Swift as established Championship assets who could come in and transform the Baggies' front-line.

Considering the contrasting reports involving both player and club, West Brom supporters must now be gutted at the prospect of missing out on a player who achieved 16 attacking returns in the most recent campaign in the form of 11 goals and five assists.

Also, at the age of 28, Lawrence is approaching his prime footballing years, so there should certainly be more to come from the Manchester United youth product.

It's a big twist in this transfer link and also serves as a big disappointment, if the claims by Masi are indeed thought to be true.

AND in other news - Bruce can land a huge Livermore upgrade with WBA bid for "excellent" £61k-p/w target