Ahmed Hegazi could miss start of season due to ongoing foot injury

Albion’s towering centre-back has been nursing the injury since last season, and played through the pain in both the play-offs and the African Cup of Nations.

The bone injury is manageable, but may require surgery, and the Baggies could use this summer to fix the problem.

Hegazi is due back in the United Kingdom on Monday, when a decision will be made with Albion over how to proceed.

However, the Baggies are not ruling out the possibility Hegazi wants to play on for now and fix the issue at a later date.

If surgery is required, he will miss several games at the start of the season, which begins at Nottingham Forest in just over a fortnight.

One upside of the injury is that it may put off prospective buyers. Rivals Aston Villa were eyeing up Hegazi before they bought Ezri Konsa and Bjorn Engels in defence.

Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli KSA approached the Baggies with an offer for the 28-year-old, but it was a low offer that was quickly dismissed.

Hegazi nearly joined Leicester City last summer, when he had a £10million release clause in his contract.

His injury was in danger of leaving Albion short at the back, particularly after Craig Dawson was sold to Watford for £6m.

But the Baggies are signing Rotherham United’s versatile player, Semi Ajayi, for a fee in the region of £1.5m rising to just over £2m in add-ons.

Although Ajayi sparkled in defensive midfield for the Millers last season, he can also play centre-back.

He will join Kyle Bartley, Dara O’Shea and Jack Fitzwater as Slaven Bilic's options at the heart of defence.

Bartley had a shaky start to his Albion career last season but vastly improved towards the end of the season and was one of the club’s best performers in the play-offs.

O’Shea impressed on loan at League Two Exeter City last season and has leapfrogged Fitzwater, who was on loan at Walsall, in the pecking order.