West Brom still want Villa's Alan Hutton

But Liverpool prospect Andre Wisdom has emerged as a rival target, if the two Midlands rivals cannot agree terms over Scottish international Hutton.

He has been in virtual exile under Paul Lambert at Villa and the Baggies are ready to pounce, as the 29-year-old reaches the last year of a four-year deal worth £35,000 a week.

It's a sale Lambert might have welcomed six months ago, but owner Randy Lerner's decision to put the club up for sale has changed the climate at Villa Park.

With Lambert desperately short of transfer funds, the chance of the first-team door opening again for Hutton is a fresh element as is Villa's anxiety about selling a player to such a close rival.

The fate of the deal could also be complicated by the exit of Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner last week, which has left Villa without an experienced figure in transfer dealings.

West Brom remain keen on the more experienced option for the right-back vacancy and believe Hutton's 'baggage' – his challenge on ex-striker Shane Long in a derby four years ago – will be overcome in time.

But the club have also been in touch with Liverpool now about their plans for 21-year-old prospect Wisdom, who played out last season with Derby County.

Liverpool now want Wisdom to extend his experience to Premier League level – and if Albion cannot do a deal for Hutton at the right price, the Anfield youngster looks a likely alternative.

On the left hand side, the club have now added Belgium international Sebastien Pocognoli but that doesn't mean an end to their interest in Australia's World Cup defender Jason Davidson.

This deal has been complicated by an outstanding contractual issue with Dutch club Heracles Almelo, on which West Brom want clarity before making a final decision.

After the Davidson camp presented their man as a potential free transfer, Heracles claimed that the player triggered a 12-month option in a deal which was due to expire this summer.

West Brom are trying to complete their defensive re-stocking to budget, in the knowledge that more expensive deals could lie ahead for the attacking recruits they need.

They are still sticking close to a deal for Monaco's Emmanuel Riviere despite competition hotting up. Newcastle, having plundered the French market successfully in recent years, are the latest to figure.