Bologna and West Brom negotiations ongoing in move for Torbjorn Heggem

The Norwegian central defender, 26, enjoyed a stellar debut season with the Baggies and caught the eye on his way to two player of the season awards.

Links to Serie A side Bologna, who finished ninth in the Italian top flight last term, emerged earlier in the summer but a formal offer of around £10m has now been tabled and negotiations are ongoing.

Such a sale would represent a mammoth profit on the £500,000 Albion paid Swedish outfit Brommapojkarna 12 months ago. Heggem made 45 appearances for the club in the Championship, only missing out of the costly 2-1 defeat against Bristol City in April.

Since arriving at The Hawthorns the left-footed defender has become a fully-fledged senior Norway international.

Albion are closely managing their financial fair play situation when it comes to the EFL's profit and sustainability regulations.

The Baggies have so far added three new signings to the tune of around £7m and, as reported by the Express & Star this summer, at least one sale was always the likely outcome.

If negotiations advance between Albion and Bologna the deal would be a massive financial boost in the Baggies' favour.

It would assist the club in balancing the books and help the club add more players this summer to boost head coach Ryan Mason's squad.

Two of Albion's trio of additions so far this summer have been defenders - specifically capable of playing in the heart of defence. Nat Phillips checked in from Liverpool in an initial £1m move and George Campbell, a versatile defender, arrived from Canada side Montreal for around £1.7m.

Albion chairman and owner Shilen Patel has held a minority stake in Bologna since 2014.

Mason's Baggies play their final friendly of the summer at The Hawthorns against Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.