WBA drop Gregan bid

Gregan (right) is a combative midfielder

West Brom have given up trying to sign Preston captain Sean Gregan after their third and final bid for the midfielder was rejected.

The newly-promoted Premiership side upped their offer to £2m, which involved an initial payment of £1.5m plus an additional performance-related £500,000.

Batson back at Baggies

But Preston refused to accept West Brom's improved valuation.

"We feel this is more than a realistic valuation of the player and we will not be increasing our offer," West Brom managing director Brendon Batson told the club's official website.

"We never wanted to make these transfer negotiations for Sean public.

"Preston have decided to turn down our offer so we will now move on."

Preston had described the Baggies' initial offer - believed to be in the region of £1m - as "a joke". "This is not on," said Preston chairman Derek Shaw said.

"For about eight weeks West Brom have conducted business through the newspapers and to then come in with an offer of £1m for our club captain is a joke.