However, it is understood Albion are holding out for closer to the £3m (€4.4m) they paid Wigan for the services of the 25-year-old in the summer of 2005.

At that time Ellington rejected a new contract offer from Wigan, despite their promotion to the Premiership, and after scoring 67 goals in three seasons for the club.

West Brom were alerted to a clause in the player’s contract and they signed Ellington for £3,000,001 (€4.4m).

Nicknamed ‘the Duke’, Ellington has failed to recapture the form he showed at Wigan for Albion, and is apparently eager to leave.

Jewell is also desperate to strengthen his strike force, and while talks have taken place according to agent Tony Finnigan, the two clubs are still negotiating.

“We will see what happens in the next 48 hours, but I do expect some sort of outcome one way or another,” Finnigan told skysports.com.

Ideally, Jewell would prefer to have Ellington in the squad ahead of this Saturday’s FA Cup third-round clash at Portsmouth.

Andreas Granqvist, meanwhile, has told Jewell he is raring to go for the tie at Fratton Park.

Granqvist last week became Jewell’s first signing of the transfer window, joining the Latics on loan until the end of the season from Swedish side Helsingborg.

The Sweden U21 centre-back insists he has no fears if he is thrown in at the deep end.

“I cannot wait to start playing and fighting for my place,” said Granqvist.

“Hopefully, I can feature at Portsmouth in the FA Cup this weekend if the international clearance is sorted.

“It is obviously not my decision, but I feel ready physically.”