West Brom have reportedly opened discussions over a potential loan swoop for Okay Yokuslu...

What's the word?

According to the Daily Mail, Baggies boss Sam Allardyce is looking to bring the Celta Vigo utility man to the Hawthorns this transfer window as he eyes extra protection for his leaky backline.

It's claimed that the La Liga outfit are open to offers for the 26-year-old despite him playing 13 times this season.

Two birds, one stone

With Filip Krovinovic looking more and more likely to be leaving Albion this month and with the rising need for a holding midfielder, sporting director Luke Dowling and Big Sam can resolve multiple problems at West Brom by making a move for Yokuslu.

As per the Express & Star, Krovinovic is deemed surplus to requirements and is set to have his season-long loan from Benfica cut short before joining Hajduk Split for the rest of the campaign.

The £9m-rated Yokuslu, meanwhile, can also play in central defence, meaning he could be an additional option to a backline that has leaked more goals than any other Premier League outfit this season.

Capped 28 times by Turkey, the Celta Vigo ace would be an interesting acquisition given their links to both William Carvalho and Hamza Choudhury since the transfer market opened over two weeks ago.

Over the course of his career so far, Yokuslu has proven to be an absolute animal defensively having averaged 2.2 tackles, 1.9 interceptions, 1.9 clearances and a whopping three aerial duels won per game, via WhoScored.

Standing at 6 foot 3 inches, he's an imposing figure, so it's perhaps no surprise to see these sorts of numbers as he is evidently difficult to get past - for comparison, only Conor Gallagher has averaged more tackles of any regular WBA player, whilst Yokuslu has won more aerials than either of Dara O'Shea or Semi Ajayi, so he'd be a crucial presence at set-pieces.

He'd also top Albion's charts currently for interceptions too.

By adding Yokuslu this month, Big Sam can not only replace Krovinovic in one fell swoop but he could also find that defensive midfielder he's longing for - one who is capable of playing in defence too.

It would certainly be a shrewd signing to make.

AND in other news, Allardyce can find his next Nzonzi in £18m-rated "giant" compared to Patrick Vieira...