Albion appear willing to let Craig Beattie leave the Hawthorns in search of a better chance of first-team football – but not on loan.

Championship side Crystal Palace are known to be interested in the 25-year-old, who spent three months on loan at Selhurst Park last season.

He finished the campaign at Sheffield United, even playing in the play-off final at Wembley, only for the Blades to be pipped at the post by Burnley for promotion to the Premier League.

The Scotland international then returned to his parent club at the end of his third loan spell, after an earlier period at Preston North End.

After just 28 appearances for the Baggies since a £1.25million in the summer of 2007, Beattie seems set to move on.

But Palace boss Neil Warnock claims that Albion are only interest in letting the player go for good.

He said: We have spoken to West Brom about the prospect of bringing Craig back here. But they said they would only do a permanent deal and we can’t afford that.”