If reports are to be believed, West Brom boss Sam Allardyce could be eyeing up an upgrade on Romaine Sawyers...

What's the word?

According to Football Insider, the 66-year-old has submitted an offer to Stade Rennais midfielder Clement Grenier with the 30-year-old available on a free transfer this January transfer window.

His contract is due to expire at the end of the season but the Ligue 1 outfit are thought to be looking to cut costs due to the drastic drop-off in revenue.

They also claim that several other Premier League teams are keen on signing him, though it is Albion who have offered a contract thus far.

Midfield upgrade?

Grenier, who is predominantly a central midfielder, has found himself in a rich vein of form in recent weeks, contributing to three goals in Rennes' last four league outings.

He also featured in five of their six Champions League matches before they were knocked out of a tricky group involving Chelsea and Sevilla.

In 14 overall appearances this term, the five-time French international has averaged 1.1 key passes, 0.9 shots and 1.1 tackles per game, as well as a respectable passing success rate just shy of 82%, via WhoScored.

The midfield engine room is certainly a problem for Big Sam, barring the exploits of Blues loanee Conor Gallagher, Albion's usual options have largely struggled with the increase in quality of opposition.

Indeed, neither Jake Livermore nor Romaine Sawyers have averaged better than a 6.21 rating per WhoScored, which ranks them as the two worst players who have started ten or more matches this term.

Grenier could be earmarked as a replacement for Sawyers as he's struggled in the final-third big time, averaging just 0.3 key passes and 0.2 shots, via WhoScored.

The veteran maestro could be an interesting option - former Baggies boss Alan Pardew was a fan of his, once chasing his signature whilst in charge of Newcastle, and at the time he claimed Grenier had "tremendous creative technical ability."

Considering the pursestrings are awfully tight at the Hawthorns, Big Sam could land himself a bargain in the £55k-per-week star as won't cost stubborn chairman Guochuan Lai a penny in terms of a transfer fee.

AND in other news, £15m West Brom target dubbed a "complete package" would be a dream for Matheus Pereira...