West Bromwich Albion are surely regretting the decision to not sign one of Slaven Bilic's former stars after his electric start to the season...

What was the word?

As the domestic deadline approached earlier this month, the Daily Mail reported that Swansea City forward Andre Ayew had emerged as a late option for the Baggies.

It came just a few weeks after Ghana SoccerNet revealed that the Championship outfit were keen to get him off the wage bill for the right price - hardly a surprise given he's on around £80k-per-week in Wales.

Back in 2016, Bilic signed the Ghanian international in a £20.5m deal from the Swans.

One that got away?

Ayew has started the season immensely, directly contributing to four goals in just eight starts, he is also averaging 2.6 shots and 1.4 key passes per game, via WhoScored.

These are much better returns than what Grady Diangana has managed after his mega £18m switch from the Hammers in the summer.

The 22-year-old has scored just once in six matches, managing only 1.2 shots and 0.7 key passes per outing, also via WhoScored.

Albion are among the league's lowest scorers on six goals, in fact, only the bottom three teams in the relegation zone have managed fewer, so clearly Bilic has a problem with creating and converting chances.

Ayew has eclipsed one of his star players, popping off over double the number of shots per match.

It's no wonder that the Croatian once hailed his former signing as a "game-changer."

Now valued at just £3.6m by Transfermarkt, a late swoop for the veteran winger could've been an absolute steal and perhaps, would have helped Diangana too in terms of being a mentor and someone to learn from.

Clearly, Bilic doesn't fancy his options outside of Diangana and Matheus Pereira out wide, so he must regret not pouncing on Ayew when he had the chance this summer.

AND in other news, West Brom sensation has become Bilic's new Dimitri Payet...