Alan Irvine admits Preston may have to end their interest in striker Craig Beattie as he feels the fee West Brom want for him is "pretty high".

The Scotland forward moved to The Hawthorns last summer in a £1.25million deal from Celtic - but failed to cement a regular first-team spot.

The 24-year-old fell behind Kevin Phillips, Roman Bednar and Ishmael Miller in the striker pecking order and was sent to Deepdale on loan in March.

However he picked up an injury on his debut for the Lilywhites, who had hoped to sign him on a permanent deal this summer.

That looks unlikely now as it appears Albion want to recoup most of the fee they paid for Beattie, pricing Irvine out of a move for him.

The Preston gaffer told the Lancashire Evening Post: "I think it may well be out of our reach. I think they [West Brom] have intimated they would be prepared to sell him.

"But I think the fee they are looking for is pretty high. So high in fact that it may well be out of our reach."

Beattie has fallen even further out of favour under Tony Mowbray since the season ended, as Luke Moore has joined from Aston Villa for £3.5million.