Ellington hands in transfer request

The Latics are understood to have offered £2 million plus bonuses depending upon his success, while WBA want a figure closer to the £3 million they paid for the Duke.

Ellington's transfer request has been reluctantly accepted by the club and Jeremy Peace commented on the Baggies official website: "We've had a long and very amicable chat with Nathan and are sympathetic to his circumstances. That is why the manager and the board have reluctantly accepted Nathan's transfer request.

"However we will only sell him if we receive an acceptable offer. We have stated all along we are under no pressure to sell any of our players and no-one will leave the club unless it suits us."

Should the Baggies leave the asking price too high in a one club market, the Latics will no doubt take their business elsewhere.

Paul Jewell has already moved onto other targets and is rumoured to have lodged a £5 million bid for Manchester United striker Alan Smith.