TONY Mowbray expects to find out over the weekend whether veteran striker Kevin Phillips will remain with West Brom or make the switch to city rivals Birmingham.
Phillips, Albion's top scorer last season with 24 goals, is attracting the interest of Blues boss Alex McLeish.
Baggies manager Mowbray is keen to keep the 34-year-old and held talks with him yesterday. He expects to know in the next 48 hours whether Phillips will stay at The Hawthorns for a third season.
He said: "I had a good chat with Kevin and, until something is resolved either way, I don't really want to say too much.
"We are getting on with our jobs now with the players that are here. I am pretty sure it will be resolved one way or the other in the next day or two."
Phillips, whose agent Phil Smith is currently in America, is out of contract at present and training away from Albion until his future is sorted out.
Mowbray said: "Kevin is very conscious that clubs are back in training and he is working at home in his own gym. He wants to be back training and playing."
McLeish sees Phillips as the kind of proven goalscorer who can help City regain their Barclays Premier League status at the first attempt.
He needs to bring in a good finisher after the departure of Mikael Forssell at the end of last season.
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Meanwhile, West Brom today completed the £100,000 signing of Livingston midfielder Graham Dorrans.
Albion agreed a move for the Scotland Under-21 international in February after he impressed manager Tony Mowbray during a training spell at the club.
The player has penned a two-year contract, with Albion having the option of a further year, while the fee could rise by a further £150,000 depending on appearances.
Dorrans, 21, was named PFA Scottish Division One Player of the Year last season after scoring 12 goals for Livingston.
He becomes the Baggies' sixth summer signing.
Baggies manager Mowbray is keen to keep the 34-year-old and held talks with him yesterday. He expects to know in the next 48 hours whether Phillips will stay at The Hawthorns for a third season.
He said: "I had a good chat with Kevin and, until something is resolved either way, I don't really want to say too much.
"We are getting on with our jobs now with the players that are here. I am pretty sure it will be resolved one way or the other in the next day or two."
Phillips, whose agent Phil Smith is currently in America, is out of contract at present and training away from Albion until his future is sorted out.
Mowbray said: "Kevin is very conscious that clubs are back in training and he is working at home in his own gym. He wants to be back training and playing."
McLeish sees Phillips as the kind of proven goalscorer who can help City regain their Barclays Premier League status at the first attempt.
He needs to bring in a good finisher after the departure of Mikael Forssell at the end of last season.
(reopens)
Meanwhile, West Brom today completed the £100,000 signing of Livingston midfielder Graham Dorrans.
Albion agreed a move for the Scotland Under-21 international in February after he impressed manager Tony Mowbray during a training spell at the club.
The player has penned a two-year contract, with Albion having the option of a further year, while the fee could rise by a further £150,000 depending on appearances.
Dorrans, 21, was named PFA Scottish Division One Player of the Year last season after scoring 12 goals for Livingston.
He becomes the Baggies' sixth summer signing.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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