The Baggies are also believed to be eyeing up 23-year-old Schalke defender Sead Kolasinac as a potential new left-back.

New chairman John Williams is acutely aware that the squad is in desperate need of new faces, and wants to give head coach Tony Pulis the best chance of succeeding next season.

The Baggies pulled the plug on a £16million club-record deal for Diafra Sakho last week over fears the West Ham striker wouldn't be fit for the start of the season.

With that deal falling through, Albion have now turned their attention to Ayew, but they face strong resistance from Villa who are not keen to sell the striker.

It's believed Albion's claret and blue West Midlands rivals have already rejected an £8m bid for Ayew from German club Hamburg and are currently fending off interest from West Ham

Both head coach Roberto Di Matteo and owner Tony Xia have claimed this summer that the 24-year-old is staying put.

Villa have lost other players like Idrissa Gana and Ciaran Clark because of release clauses, but Di Matteo claims Ayew has no such clause in his contract.

However, Williams knows Albion need two new strikers before the window closes and is eager to get going in this window.

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Albion have already proved they are willing to break their transfer record for a striker, with money from new owner Guochuan Lai and a potential Saido Berahino sale available.

The Baggies have made just one signing so far this summer and still have plenty of gaps that need filling, including one at left-back.

It's understood head coach Tony Pulis is interested in 6ft Kolasinac, a £5m-rated versatile defender who has been converted to a left-back at Schalke but can also play left-wing, centre-back or in defensive midfield.

The 23-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international made 30 appearances for Schalke last season, but has just one year left on his current contract.

Albion are also still keen on left-back Charlie Taylor, and watched him play for Leeds United against Queens Park Rangers at the weekend.