Saido Berahino transfer news: West Brom ready to sell star striker amid Tottenham interest after losing patience over his behaviour - reports

West Brom had hoped to secure Berahino to a new long-term contract but will reportedly seek to sell him in the summer

Tony Pulis made a point of suggesting that striker Saido Berahino is the type of player who you can build a team around (Getty Images)

Tottenham have been handed a boost in their summer pursuit of England striker Saido Berahino after West Brom reportedly ended their attempts to negotiate a new contract and put him up for sale at the end of the season.

21-year-old Berahino was linked with a move to a rival Premier League club during the January transfer window, with Spurs being the most likely to snap up the England Under-21 international and strengthen their attack force that currently contains the out-of-form duo of Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado.

However, the transfer window deadline came and went without a bid being made for Berahino, and the Baggies were believed to harbour hopes that the could structure a new contract that would keep the striker at The Hawthorns for the foreseeable future.

However, The Telegraph today reports that the club have lost patience with Berahino’s reluctance to extend his current deal, and also have severe concerns regarding his behaviour in recent months. Three weeks ago, Berahino was banned from driving for 12 months after pleading guilty to drink-driving, and a recent interview with Sky Sports is said to have infuriated the club’s hierarchy to the point that they are ready to let him leave.

In the interview, which was broadcast without the club’s permission, Berahino said that he hoped to “move on to bigger things” at the end of the season. Unsurprisingly, the club did not take the announcement well.

Saido Berahino has infuriated his club with a recent interview (GETTY IMAGES)

According to The Telegraph, the club wanted to reopen negotiations regarding a new contract even though he still has over two years left to run on his current deal, but have now decided to sell him come the end of the season as long as any potential suitors meet their terms.

The interview is also said to have irked senior members within the West Brom dressing room, and could cause friction between the hot prospect and the rest of his team-mates at a time when they simply cannot afford any squabbles in the squad.

The club find themselves in a relegation battle, and will have record signing Brown Ideye back for the rest of the season after his proposed move to Qatari club Al Gharafa – despite the player’s insistence on Twitter that a move was ever in place.

Berahino is booked during the defeat to Spurs (Getty Images)

In the interview with Sky Sports, Berahino said: “I’m taking care of my short-term goals right now and if I keep scoring goals and doing well for West Brom, I know the future will be bright for me and I’ll go a long way.

“I need to stay focused on what I’m doing right now, which is scoring the goals and keeping West Brom in the Premier League.

“If I can keep them up and score as many goals as I can, I’m pretty sure the fans wouldn’t mind me pushing on and moving on to bigger things.”

The situation is likely to be addressed by West Brom manager Tony Pulis in his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash against Burnley.