‘Bad boy’ striker slipping off Irons radar as fee falls

One time Hammers target Saido Berahino will be available from West Bromwich Albion at a knockdown price in January but Slaven Bilic is unlikely to be tempted by the prospect.

Albion know it is the last chance they have to cash in on the club outcast who insists he is determined to see out his contract.

The Irons, Stoke and Palace were all linked to Berahino before the season started when he was available at around £25 million.

So with the striker on a free at the end of the season Albion instead will try to offload and it could be for as little as £5 million but his bad boy reputation is likely to halt any Bilic move.

He has had several run ins with Albion over recent months, the latest coming when Pulis told him he was overweight and to shape up. He was then sent to train on his own in October.

Berahino appeared to respond by posting a photograph on Instagram of himself topless during his four-day fitness programme in the south of France with the caption: ‘Fat boy.’

The asking price for a player who at 23 has represented his country at every level other than full international is ridiculous but the Irons boss is not a guy who could be interested in any player who may bring personality baggage.

And Berahino has had his share of that, apologising to the Baggies after videos of him inhaling nitrous oxide for recreational purposes emerged in the media.

He confessed: “This was very poor judgement on my part and not the right example to be setting. At the time, I wasn’t fully aware of the serious health risks involved but now I know, I won’t be doing it again”.

He denied allegations that he drove 120 miles under the influence of the substance.

Then in October 2014, Berahino was arrested on the M6 on suspicion of drunk driving. He was charged with the offence in January 2015 and admitted to it before North Cheshire Magistrates  who gave him a 12-month driving ban and a fine of £3,400.

Last season the club rejected Berahino’s transfer request and a fourth bid for the player on transfer deadline day with the layer then saying on Twitter he would never play for the club again under then chairman Jeremy Peace and was fned before Pulis told the press that all parties had reconciled.