Albion admit it was too late to sell Saido

Lack of time to find an adequate replacement played a part in Albion's decision to reject two deadline day bids from Tottenham for Saido Berahino.

The Baggies' director of football administration Richard Garlick also backed up chairman Jeremy Peace's claim none of the offers from the London club came close to being acceptable, either in fee or structure.

Albion turned down a total of four bids for Berahino including two on deadline day, prompting the 22-year-old to threaten he would never play for the club again.

Garlick revealed the striker's initial transfer request arrived on the same day as the first bid from Spurs in mid-August.

He also admits the decision not to sell him on deadline day was in part motivated by concern at being unable to bring in a replacement with the time remaining in the transfer window.

Speaking at a meeting of the Albion Assembly fans' group, said: "Every player has a price and if the price is right you can use the mone.

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"But you can't do it with six hours to go (in the window). There were no replacements available. We were preparing for different eventualities – it would have been remiss of us not to do that.

"As it clocked down and got to the final day your hands are tied and then you start doing deals which are not right for the club.

"We didn't want to be in the situation we have been in the past when we have done deals on the last day. It is not right for the club."

Garlick revealed that, under the terms of Spurs' first bid, Albion would have received just a payment of just £3million up front.

He said: "It just wasn't acceptable and was rejected out of hand. At the same time as the offer came in, there was a transfer request put in by the player.

"You can read into the timing what you want in relation to the bid coming in, terms of the bid and the transfer request coming in on the same day."

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Berahino, who was given extended time off following his social media outburst, is now beginning his re-integration into squad after returning to training earlier this week.

Garlick insists the striker was kept firmly in the loop on all developments during the transfer window.

He continued: "There were a lot of conversations taking place and then it wasn't until deadline day we received a third offer in the morning and then a fourth offer in the afternoon.

"At which stage, neither was the offer or structure acceptable and we were left without being able to get a replacement in.

"Saido spoke to me, spoke to the chairman and was asking what was happening.

"We all know every player in the world has a price. If you don't want to sell something you don't put a price in it. Someone then has to make an offer which will make you interested."