Alan Pardew has seen West Brom fail with enquiries for Theo Walcott, Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings and is now eyeing cheaper options.
Walcott has gone to Everton from Arsenal while Liverpool are refusing to currently loan out either Strurridge or Ings.
It has left Pardew considering other options including teenage Stevenage defender Ben Wilmot, 18, who is also liked by Arsenal.
Pardew is open to selling skipper Jonny Evans to raise funds for new signings, including Egyptian centre-back Ali Gabr.
Pardew said: “We don’t really have any finance to do anything regarding a player of stature unless there’s a transfer out.
“Theo Walcott, can we do that? No, that goes to Everton.
“It’s how you react, right up to the last two days, sometimes the last hours.
“But we don’t want to be in a position going into those last three days in that equation, when the better options have already gone and you’re left with options that don’t work.”