West Bromwich Albion's pursuit of a new striker has taken a damning twist this week with fresh reports emerging from a reliable source...

What's the word?

According to the Telegraph's John Percy, the Baggies are eyeing up a loan swoop for Leicester City outcast Islam Slimani with just days remaining in the current transfer window.

He claims that Albion have made an inquiry for the once £28m club-record man and are considering taking him on loan for the rest of the 2020/21 season.

The Foxes have loaned out the 32-year-old three times since 2018 and would prefer to sell him permanently this summer. His contract is set to expire in under 12 months time.

Same old, same old

You have to wonder when West Brom will get it right with their strikers. Romelu Lukaku was a mere needle in the haystack as it's been year after year of disappointing flops.

Rickie Lambert, Nicolas Anekla, Georgios Samaras, Victor Anichebe, Brown Ideye are just a few from the last decade whilst it seems as if both of last summer's signings, Kenneth Zohore and Charlie Austin, could soon join that list as neither have featured in Slaven Bilic's plans this campaign.

The Algerian colossus would surely be another one you'd expect to fit in with these names, having cost a whopping £28m, he has only managed to score 13 goals in 46 appearances for the Midlands rivals. He's clearly none done enough whilst on loan to convince Brendan Rodgers either.

French newspaper L'Equipe described Slimani's performances for Monaco last season as "magnificent," "a constant danger," and "he offers solutions" yet he's still not in the first-team plans at the King Power.

The 6 foot 2 forward is also sitting on extortionate wages of around £80k-per-week, meaning it's still one hell of a gamble for Luke Dowling to sanction despite it only being a temporary switch.

Just go and pay what's required for Karlan Grant, there's a thousand times more upside there than adding to the list of Baggies flops.

AND in other news, Dowling on verge of West Brom masterclass if he lands £5m man...