West Brom linked with move for former Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry

The 36-year-old Everton player may be surplus to requirements at Goodison Park – and could fit the bill to replace Darren Fletcher following his shock exit to Stoke City.

It’s thought that Burnley are also interested in signing the midfielder, who has more than 600 Premier League appearances under his belt.

With Fletcher gone, Jake Livermore, Claudio Yacob, James Morrison and Sam Field are the four central midfielders available to Pulis.

Barry wouldn’t come cheap in terms of wages but any fee would be minimal for a player who has one year left on his existing contract.

Meanwhile, Hal Robson-Kanu says the Baggies are embracing Tony Pulis’ notoriously tough pre-season training schedule.

Albion are currently out in Austria for a gruelling week of fitness drills, as well as a friendly against Czech champions Slavia Prague on Wednesday.

Robson-Kanu said: “All pre-seasons are tough, but this one in particular has a real focus on getting us stronger and fitter.”

"That’s what pre-season is all about so we’re lapping it up.

“It really feels like this is a camp made to help us improve. You can see that in the hill sessions which are built around that.

“It’s important we maintain the levels we have currently. If we do that come the start of the season then we’ll be ready to go.”

The 28-year-old Welsh international last week signed a new contract to keep him at the Hawthorns until 2020.

He has previously expressed his disappointment to Tony Pulis about a lack of game time and the £12m signing of Southampton forward Jay Rodriguez has increased competition in the forward areas.

Robson-Kanu, though, is backing himself to be in Pulis’ XI for the curtain-raiser at home to Bournemouth on August 12.

“We’ve got good competition for places at the moment, but you’ve got to back yourself and what you think you bring to the team,” he added.

“I showed that last season as I played more and more games and I’m looking forward to the season ahead.”