Bolton are believed to have rejected a £1million bid from West Brom for Abdoulaye Meite - and want nearer to £3million for the defender.Baggies boss Tony Mowbray is currently on a pre-season tour in Holland with his squad, but is keeping tabs on transfer developments after leaving a list of targets with chairman Jeremy Peace and technical director Dan Ashworth.

Albion have already been busy in the market so far this summer, and added left-back Marek Cech to their playing staff earlier this week.

Mowbray has pinpointed 6ft 1ins Ivory Coast powerhouse Meite as the man he wants to bolster his central defensive options, having lost Martin Albrechtsen to Derby on a free transfer.

But Albion's opening offer for the 27-year-old has been dismissed out of hand by Trotters boss Gary Megson, who values Meite in the £3million bracket.

It is more likely, however, that a bid of around £2million could be enough as Meite appears not to have a future at The Reebok under Megson.

The former Albion gaffer sees Andy O'Brien and Gary Cahill as his first-choice central defensive partnership after the duo's impressive performances in Bolton's escape from relegation last season when they conceded only two goals in the crucial last five games.

Meite also infuriated Megson when he reportedly refused to go out for the second half of his side's 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford in March.

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