Fee too high for Albion striker

Albion striker Craig Beattie could be priced out of a move to Preston North End.

The Lilywhites are keen on taking the former Celtic forward back to Deepdale after his loan spell last season.

The 24-year-old arrived at The Hawthorns last year but failed to establish himself in Tony Mowbray’s promotion-winning side.

With Luke Moore and Roman Bednar making their loan moves permanent this summer, Beattie’s chances of forcing his way into the side in the Premier League this season appear even slimmer.

Albion paid £1.25m for the 6ft forward and would be looking to recoup as much of that fee as possible.

North End boss Alan Irvine, who is waiting to hear exactly how much the Baggies want for the Scottish international, has not heard anything direct from Albion about the player’s future. He fears the asking price may be too high.

He said: “I think they have intimated they would be prepared to sell him.

“I think the fee they are looking for is pretty high. So high, in fact, that it may well be out of our reach.

“We will just wait and see what our options are as far as that is concerned. There is a limit to what we would want to pay.”

Glaswegian Beattie spent two months on loan at Preston at the end of last season, but managed only 70 minutes of action.

He limped off within 37 minutes of his debut at Leicester in March with a hamstring tear.

He did not reappear until the final day of the season, when he played the last 33 minutes against Bristol City.

Irvine admits he was frustrated not to get a good look at the striker during that time.

He added: “I felt very sorry for Craig the way things worked out.”