Albion hopeful of loan for Manchester City teen striker Liam Delap

The 19-year-old Etihad Stadium prospect has long been linked with a temporary switch to The Hawthorns and has emerged as a target this summer amid the injury crisis in Steve Bruce's frontline.

Delap, a Derby County scholar snapped up by City in 2019, is believed to be on Albion's list of candidates to fill the void left by absentees.

England youth international Delap, who is also attracting the interest of other Championship sides, was linked with a loan switch to The Hawthorns last summer, and also in January, but a move is understood to be in motion for the exciting teen.

Delap has made six senior appearances for City, with just one start – in which he netted in a 2-1 EFL Cup win over Bournemouth in 2020.

City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed over the weekend that Delap, son of former Stoke midfielder Rory, was free to leave on loan to further his experience by playing regular senior football.

It is believed the Potters are rivals for the youngster's signature.

After the 2-1 defeat at Blackburn, Bruce said Albion were hopeful of adding a striker, understood to be on loan, to their ranks in the coming days.

The necessity to add to to the squad was heightened after the news Daryl Dike was ruled out for a couple of months with a thigh tear. Kenneth Zohore, who has been given the green light to leave the club, is also injured.

Karlan Grant overcame a back scare to feature at Ewood Park but is the club's only fit natural senior centre-forward.

Guardiola said of Delap: "We loaned James McAtee, Liam is in that process because we have Erling (Haaland) and Julian (Alvarez) and he needs minutes.

"The EDS (Elite Development Squad) process has gone, is done (for Delap). He has to try and go there and play and the other ones."

The exciting youngster scored 45 goals and registered 16 assists for City at academy level in 54 appearances in three seasons.

He scored 24 goals in City under-23s Premier League 2 title-winning season of 2020/21.

The former Derby schoolboy has been training with Guardiola's all-star first-team Premier League champions for around a year.