West Brom are still winless in the Premier League this season but a more pressing saga has developed off the pitch.

The Baggies' hierarchy sanctioned the sale of Ahmed Hegazi to Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad over the weekend, in the process saving on his mega £70k-per-week wages.

The Express & Star claim the deal is worth around £10m in total to Albion.

However, it's a decision that has angered Slaven Bilic as he wanted the Egyptian international to stay at the Hawthorns, especially outside of the English transfer window.

He said: "It definitely wasn't my decision. It wasn't a football decision to be fair. I am very disappointed. We are a team that needs all our good players. He is the player that has know-how in the Premier League, that has vast experience, a national team player, a great professional and played last week against Burnley."

Indeed, West Brom picked up their first clean sheet of the season versus the Clarets, where Branislav Ivanovic and Hegazi played together for the first time.

Yet just days later, he's sold and the Baggies go onto draw 1-1 with Brighton.

Nothing can be done until January - if chairman Lai Guochuan is even prepared to back his manager. According to reports, the Chinese businessman has been unwilling to invest in the playing squad, even despite the desperation to get Grant through the door.

Eventually, he got his man, but you can't help but feel the sale of Hegazi was some sort of financial consequence with Grant costing in excess of £15m.

It's time for Dara O'Shea to step up to the plate and playing alongside Premier League-winning veteran Ivanovic could be perfect for the club and his own career.

Bilic is a huge fan of his, previously claiming he is "the future" at the Midlands club, so it's time to hand him a regular starting berth going forward.

Whilst O'Shea's former boss Matt Taylor at Exeter City, lauded him as an "exceptional" talent who's got a "chance of making it all the way in the game."

The 21-year-old has started four Premier League games, where he has averaged a whopping 3.5 clearances and 3.3 tackles each match, via WhoScored.

No other Baggies defender has managed more tackles per appearance than O'Shea, and after picking up his first senior cap for Ireland, he ought to be playing week-in, week-out.

AND in other news, £18m signing's current West Brom form must be a major worry for Bilic...