West Brom manager Slaven Bilic has ruled out the prospect of departures for either Rekeem Harper or Oliver Burke before the transfer window closes for sides from Leagues One and Two, as well as Europe, on Monday.

Harper has played just six minutes of Championship football this season, having only signed a new three-year contract at The Hawthorns this summer, but Bilic is adamant that there will be no loan deal for the 19-year-old.

Asked about the possibility of a temporary move elsewhere for Harper before the end of the window, the Croatian told the Express and Star: “Definitely not, we can’t.

“He’s a great talent. I insisted that he stayed, because he was out of contract. I rate him extremely highly and I have had meetings with him and talks. He’s improving a lot since then, the quality was never in doubt, and he’s getting there."

Discussing Harper's lack of game time so far this season, Bilic admitted that it would be hard to make changes to a side that has started the season so impressively, although he did hint that the midfielder, who made 17 league appearances for the Baggies last season, will get his chance sooner rather than later, adding: "At the same time we have a big squad and the guys are doing well at the moment.

“Like any other player he has to be patient, work hard, and wait for his chance that is going to come 100 per cent, probably soon.”

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Burke meanwhile has been absent from the Baggies last three league games, but Bilic does not believe the 22-year-old - who spent last season on loan at Celtic - will leave the club again this summer, as he added: “With Burkey, what I like is he didn’t sink after not being in the 18.

“They reacted really positively, he’s also good.

“From my point of view, the both of them are staying, both of them are good players we are going to need this season.”

West Brom are unbeaten in their opening five games of the Championship season, winning two and drawing three to sit eighth in the early standings.

The Verdict

I think this is the right move from Bilic and West Brom.

Having been somewhat unheralded prior to being given his opportunity last season, Harper seemed to burst onto the scene somewhat in the latter stages of the previous campaign, during which time he certainly prooved that he is more than capable of competing at this level.

Burke too has the ability to make an impact for West Brom this season, and the fact that his recent experience includes spells with both Leipzig and Celtic does seem to suggest that there is still potential for the Baggies to exploit.

As Bilic has said, West Brom's is not exactly the biggest squad in the Championship, so it does seem to make sense for them to keep hold of two genuine first-team options in Harper and Burke, even if it means that they may be forced to wait their turn for time in the first-team.