Update in West Brom’s £4.5m striker chase days after Baggies submitted opening bid

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For obvious reasons, Ryan Mason could really do with West Brom’s new striker signing Aune Heggebo hitting the ground running in the Championship.

While former Tottenham Hotspur coach Mason is confident that Josh Maja ‘should be OK for the start of the season’, a setback in his return from a calf injury which has kept the forward out since January is the last thing the Baggies need.

The luckless Daryl Dike will be missing when West Bromwich Albion welcome Blackburn Rovers to the Hawthorns this weekend. Dike is expected to be out of action until the September international break.

So, while confidence is high back home in Norway that the almost Erling Haaland-esque Aune Heggebo will shine on English soil, West Brom realistically need all the help they can get in the final third if Mason hopes to avoid taking that shaky pre-season form into the opening weeks of the Championship campaign.

Especially with reports from Spain suggesting that, after West Brom submitted a bid for Chris Ramos, the Cadiz CF frontman has seen his potential switch to the Midlands grind to a halt.

Chris Ramos sale slows down after West Brom bid for Cadiz striker

According to Diario de Cadiz, West Brom made an opening offer of £2.2 million towards the end of July for the well-travelled, late-blooming 28-year-old.

Cadiz value Chris Ramos at closer to £4.5 million, however, while there is also interest from La Liga stalwarts Rayo Vallecano and newly-promoted Real Oviedo. Yet, just last week, the feeling among the Andalusian press was that ‘everything [pointed towards] a sale taking place’.

Now, things appear to have changed.

In a new report published on Tuesday, Diario de Cadiz claim that, despite interest from clubs in Europe, England and the United States of America, Chris Ramos’ prospective departure from the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla is ‘slowing down’.

‘The key is whether one of the proposals meets the aspirations of both Cadiz CF and the player,’ the report says. ‘At this point, there could be some disagreement that could lead to a blockage in his departure.

‘There are ongoing contacts, and the situation could change daily.’

Diario de Cadiz do make a point of insisting, however, that an agreement may still be reached with one of Chris Ramos’ many suitors.

Rayo Vallecano are alleged to have matched that £2.2 million bid from West Brom. And while Ramos has an £8.7 million release clause in his contract, it is reiterated that Cadiz would likely green-light a sale if they are offered just shy of £5 million.

West Brom land Aune Heggebo but miss out on Mikey Moore and Harry Toffolo

West Brom have already spent £4.7 million bringing Heggebo to the Hawthorns after he scored seven goals in his final 13 appearances for SK Brann in the Norwegian Eliteserien.

It has been a frustrating few days for Ryan Mason in the transfer market.

Mason lost out to Rangers for Mikey Moore; The Baggies boss’ Tottenham connections not enough to outmaneuverer the newly-minted Scottish giants.

EFL Analysis‘ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey claimed that West Brom wanted Nottingham Forest full-back Harry Toffolo too. The former Norwich City and Huddersfield Town ace has instead crossed the Atlantic to join Charlotte FC in the MLS.

West Brom have reportedly received a bid from Bologna for giant defender Torbjorn Heggem in the last couple of days as well. American youngster Luca Bombino is a possible successor, though, for a man who could earn the Baggies a windfall in excess of £10 million.