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West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Pulis believes the Saido Berahino transfer saga could extend right into the final hours of the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old forward is Newcastle United’s No 1 transfer target and they are prepared to pay upwards of £18million to secure his signature, though they have yet to table a formal offer.

Berahino has not started a Premier League match for the Baggies since the end of October, and Pulis privately accepts that the forward’s future lies away from The Hawthorns.

Four clubs are understood to be interested in Berahino - including Tottenham Hotspur - but West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace is keen to recoup £20million-plus for the striker.

And Pulis insists West Brom are yet to receive any formal offers, meaning the saga could drag on until the final throes of January.

Asked about Berahino’s future, Pulis told The Birmingham Mail: “The present situation, the club has not received any offers at all so everything is speculation and you can’t stop people talking.

“I’m more disappointed for Saido.

“I told him at the beginning of the window the circus starts again.

“If something happens, something happens and he understands that from the last window.

“Unless he’s sold now, tomorrow or the next two days it could go to the deadline - it’s a good story.”

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Pulis also insists the reason why Berahino sat out the Baggies’ FA Cup third-round replay win over Bristol City in midweek was due to illness - but he will be fit for West Brom’s local derby with Aston Villa this weekend.

The Baggies boss added: “He’s okay and fit.

“He’ll be okay for tomorrow.

“He had a tummy bug - a couple of the lads had it.

“I couldn’t involve him in the Cup game which was a shame because I probably would have started him.

“It’s the window again and him on all the back pages.

“We play Villa in a massive game and we’re not talking about the game.”