It has recently been reported by Spanish media outlet AS that Alaves are considering making an offer to sign Oliver Burke on a permanent deal from West Brom. 

Burke is currently on loan with the Spanish club, and has scored once in 22 appearances in all competitions this term, and you would imagine that he could be tempted to leave the Baggies on a permanent basis.

It's been a spell to forget for Burke at The Hawthorns, with the Scotsman only making 24 appearances in his time with the club.

With Slaven Bilic's side currently occupying one of the automatic promotion places in the Championship, it seems unlikely that he'll have much of a future with the Baggies heading into next year's campaign, especially if they're playing their football in the Premier League.

Speaking in an interview with Football Insider, Noel Whelan revealed that he thought Burke would go on to make an impact for the Baggies, but labelled his struggles as 'a really strange one'.

"A player that’s had massive potential and thought he was going to go on and do great things but he’s never happened at any club since he left Forest.

"It’s a really strange one because a player of that much quality and ability is usually a permanent fixture in most teams but it’s just not happened."

Whelan went on to state that West Brom have to get Burke off the wage bill at the earliest of opportunities to find him regular game time elsewhere.

"Maybe now at Alaves he’s found his team and found his happy place in football but definitely best for both player and club to get him off the wage bill, get him somewhere else playing his football."

Can you score full marks in this West Brom quiz? 

The Verdict: 

I have to agree with Whelan here.

Burke simply hasn't hit the heights that were originally expected of him at West Brom for one reason or another, and his permanent departure in the summer seems like it's going to be the best move for both parties involved.

Burke has shown glimpses of his quality with Alaves this season, and I'm not surprised to hear that they're interested in making his loan move a permanent one.

This could be the ideal place for him to develop as a player, as he's still got his best years ahead of him.