Stoke chairman not giving up on Saido Berahino

The Potters have made a bid of £17million up front plus £3m in add-ons, but face competition from Crystal Palace, who have offered £20m up front.

However, the Baggies have rejected both of those offers and will not sell the 22-year-old until they have at least one replacement striker guaranteed to join the club.

Albion are waiting for West Ham to add a new forward to their squad before launching a club-record bid for want-away striker Diafra Sakho.

But at the moment, any deal for Berahino is log-jammed thanks to the Hammers' inactivity.

Coates told TalkSport: "We're after that elusive striker that everyone is looking for – and signing players like Joe Allen helps. All that helps.

"It gives confidence and players like to see new faces and the club moving on even if it might affect their position. They still want to feel you're improving.

"Berahino is on our list. We'd like to do something. We're in the hands of the player and West Bromwich on that and we're working away on it.

"We'd like to take him if a deal can be done."

The Stoke chairman is a long-term friend of Baggies head coach Tony Pulis, who worked under Coates for seven years at the club.

Although Palace have made the best bid so far, it's believed Stoke are willing to offer more money, but realise there is no point in doing so yet.

It's believed Berahino, who liked a tweet linking him with the Potters and rejected a new four-year deal at Albion, would prefer to move to Mark Hughes' team.