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Two buyers looking into Albion's accounts

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Two possible buyers are looking at West Brom's accounts as new figures revealed they spend more of their income on wages than any other Premier League club.

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Two prospective new owners – including one from the Far East – have begun checking the books ahead of a possible takeover bid in the next six weeks.

And the news came as new figures showed more than 75 per cent of the club's income was spent on wages last season.

That was the highest percentage in the Premier League last term, with only relegated Fulham rivalling the Baggies' figure.

In the year ending June 2014, Albion spent 75.5 per cent of their £86.8million turnover on staff, with the vast majority of the £65.5m wage bill made up of players' salaries.

Albion's income last season was the third lowest in the Premier League with only Hull (£84.5m) and relegated Cardiff (£83.1m) bringing in less money.

But the Baggies' wage bill was the 12th highest in the division.

Albion announced a club record pre-tax profit of £14.7m with both the turnover and wage bill the highest in their history.

The figures also showed the Baggies had the second lowest number of full-time staff among the 20 Premier League clubs with 159, with only Crystal Palace (142) having fewer full-time employees.

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Meanwhile, a possible takeover is moving closer with two interested parties asking to inspect the accounts.

Both are now examining the books before deciding whether to bid, with chairman Jeremy Peace wanting a deal in place in principle by the end of May.

Detailed takeover talks could extend later into the summer. If it's advancing by the end of next month, Peace will halt his search and commit his own future to the club.