Video: Albion eyeing loan swoop for Gunners ace

Albion are considering a loan move for Arsenal's teenage winger Serge Gnabry while they step up efforts to bring their long-time pursuit of QPR's Matt Phillips to a successful conclusion.

Boss Tony Pulis is an admirer of Gnabry, who turns 20 tomorrow, with the Gunners eager to loan the German youth international out to another top-flight club to help his development.

The wide man has made 17 appearances for Arsene Wenger's side since making his debut when aged just 16, but he did not feature for the first team last term. Pulis meanwhile is keen to bolster Albion's pace on the flanks but any deal for Gnabry would not be viewed as an alternative to Phillips, who very much remains his No.1 target.

Negotiations continued over the weekend as Albion tried to persuade the R's to lower their £10m valuation of the 24-year-old, who Pulis believes could be utilised up front as well as on the wing.

The Baggies have already seen an opening bid of £5m rejected and are hopeful they can persuade the London club to meet them some somewhere in the middle.

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For now Albion are prepared to be patient but are aware they cannot wait forever and have contingency plans in place should talks fail to progress as hoped.

Nottingham Forest's Michail Antonio remains the most likely alternative at this point, with Albion having held initial talks over a possible deal. The Championship club are likely to want around £6m for a player who cost them £1.5m from Sheffield Wednesday 12 months ago and went on to score 15 goals last season.

Albion's squad meanwhile flew out yesterday for the start of their week-long tour of the USA, in which they face friendly matches against Orlando City, Charleston Battery and Richmond Kickers.

Goalkeeper Ben Foster is the only senior player to have remained at home as he continues his recovery from an ankle ligament injury. The Baggies No.1 is not expected to return until October.