The Hawthorns side – who are on the verge of signing Craig Beattie – are keen to add the Guinean international as boss Tony Mowbray is desperate to go one better than last season when he was pipped for Premiership gold in the play-off final by Derby County.

And he knows Balde, above, could add considerable strength to his challenge to go up next time.

The former Hibs’ manager is well aware of the qualities the big defender has. If Mowbray does go for Balde it would probably cost around £1million, which would go to Bhoys boss Gordon Strachan in addition to the £2m he will get from the sale of Beattie and goalkeeper David Marshall to Norwich City.

It will be another huge huge cash windfall for Strachan but, almost as importantly, it will free up something like £30,000-a-week in wages.

Balde has contributed nothing because of injury this year and only made 10 appearances for the Hoops all season and with Steven Pressley, Gary Caldwell, Darren O’Dea, John Kennedy, Stephen McManus and Scott Cuthbert all battling for two central defensive positions, he is superfluous at Parkhead.

The player, too, would welcome a move to kickstart a career that has stagnated since Martin O’Neill left.