Albion are poised to complete the £1.1 million capture of Lewis Grabban – providing the Bournemouth hotshot agrees personal terms.

The deal was still unconfirmed last night as The Argus went to press.

Grabban had talks with the Seagulls yesterday lunchtime after Albion made a £1.1 million bid for the former Crystal Palace and Millwall marksman on Wednesday evening.

Their offer triggered a clause in the new contract Grabban signed with Bournemouth in November permitting him to speak to another club.

Grabban was at The Amex yesterday afternoon for a medical but Albion chairman Tony Bloom is currently in Australia.

The ten-hour time difference has complicated the length of the negotiations and the conclusion of a deal. If it falls through then Albion will turn instead to Cardiff's £600,000-rated Joe Mason as the replacement for Ashley Barnes, who was sold to Burnley last week.

Grabban, 26, has scored ten goals in 25 League and Cup appearances for Bournemouth this season.

He can play as a lone striker, in a pair or on the wing, which would restore the attacking options of head coach Oscar Garcia after the departure of Barnes.

Albion also need a centre-half replacement in the January transfer window for Adam El-Abd following his move to Bristol City yesterday and a box-to-box midfield replacement for Andrew Crofts after the Welsh international suffered a ruptured cruciate knee ligament against Birmingham last Saturday.