West Brom want Jonny Evans to commit to a new contract — or are ready to sell him this month.
Manchester United have emerged as serious competition to Manchester City in the race for their former defender and are prepared to make a £20million move to take him back to Old Trafford.
Evans, who turned 30 on Wednesday, has 18 months left on his current deal.
Relegation-threatened Albion are desperate to keep him and have offered their captain £100,000-a-week to sign a new pact.
But they also know his value will drop as his contract runs down, and there is a feeling at the club they may have to listen to offers unless Evans re-signs.
City tried to sign Evans last summer but West Brom wanted more than £30m. They may struggle to get that figure in the winter window unless there is a bidding war.
Arsenal were also keen in August, made an 11th-hour bid and are still watching developments — but the Northern Ireland international would prefer a move back to the north.
Evans left United after almost a decade and nearly 200 appearances for just £8m in 2015 when Louis val Gaal was manager.
Current boss Jose Mourinho has admitted he would not have sold him had he been in charge and is now looking at re-signing him to bolster his defence.
It would be an incredible and costly U-turn by the Old Trafford giants to bring back the centre-half, who has been outstanding for West Brom.
Selling Evans now would give new boss Alan Pardew funds to strengthen a side that's in desperate relegation trouble elsewhere.
While City remain keen, they have also looked at Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti and Inigo Martinez of Real Socidedad.