Chris Wilder wants Jay Rodriguez to boost Sheffield United’s strike force next season in the Premier League.
Rodriguez has an escape clause in his West Brom contract, which means he can leave for just £5million this summer because they failed to win promotion last season.
This has alerted Wilder and a number of other Premier League clubs because West Brom were demanding £15million for him last summer.
Wilder feels Rodriguez represents great value at £5million and the former Burnley trainee has proved he can score goals in the Premier League during his six seasons in the top flight with Southampton and West Brom.
Wilder has turned to Rodriguez because he feels his original striking targets Neal Maupay and Oli McBurnie are too dear.
Brentford value Frenchman Maupay at £20million and Swansea want £12million for Scotland international McBurnie.
Wilder has around £20million to spend this summer and signing either of those two would wipe out his budget.
Rodriguez, 29, is keen to move to a Premier League club and he does not want to spend another campaign in the Championship.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche was keen to bring Rodriguez home to Turf Moor last summer, but was put off by West Brom’s £15million valuation.
It is understood Dyche is no longer interested in Rodriguez because goalscoring is no longer as big an issue as it was for him 12 months ago.
Both Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood topped 10 Premier League goals last season, while Dyche also has Matej Vydra and is trying to persuade Peter Crouch to re-sign.
