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West Brom's transfer plans hinge on Leicester City's Harvey Barnes decision

Albion’s January business is on hold until Leicester City indicate whether or not they will recall Harvey Barnes.

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Harvey Barnes. (AMA)

The Baggies are expecting to be given an idea of Claude Puel’s decision this week.

They are currently lining up contingency plans in the transfer market for both eventualities, but are unlikely to press forward with either of them until Barnes’s future is clearer.

Albion’s priority with Barnes at the club is a central midfielder, but if the 21-year-old was recalled by his parent club, it will encourage them to seek a replacement who can play further forward.

Leicester are expected to make their plans known to Albion before Monday, January 14, but the Baggies are flying out to Dubai on Saturday straight after the Norwich game for warm weather training.

Albion hope they will know by Saturday evening whether Barnes can join his Baggies team-mates on that trip.

A recall for Barnes after January 14 is not necessarily off the table, but Leicester are expected to give Albion time to sign a replacement if they want to recall him.

Leicester are sending Fousseni Diabate out on loan to Turkish club Sivasspor, sparking suggestions Barnes could be recalled.

Puel has also said publicly there are ‘more positives than negatives’ to recalling the youngster this month.

However, Barnes does not wish to return to Leicester if he is going to struggle for minutes.

Last season, he was recalled from a season-long loan at Barnsley in January but played just 12 minutes of Premier League football for the Foxes.

He is keen to stay at the Baggies for the rest of the season if that gives him the best opportunity of regular first team football.

As it stands, Barnes is expected to see out his season-long loan at The Hawthorns, but Leicester have not yet confirmed that.

“We're in that window where there will be speculation,” said Moore. “We'll keep going, Harvey will keep working with us (until we're told otherwise).

“We're just focused on making sure his training levels are right. If anything changes, we'll let you know about it.”