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Albion boss Russell Slade today confirmed the club have received no official approach from LA Galaxy regarding midfielder Chris Birchall - and added that he does not want to lose the Trinidad & Tobago international.

Birchall has been linked with a move to the MLS side, but Slade explained, "We've had no contact from LA Galaxy, but Chris's representative has been in touch to tell us he's had a verbal offer of a one-year deal, with a club option of an extension.

"Obviously it's an attractive offer, but first and foremost I need to consider the Albion, and we need Chris here in the fight for survival.

"Chris played an important part in Tuesday night's vital win at Hereford, and it would be wrong of me and the club to let a player of his calibre depart, bearing in mind the situation we are currently in."

The US transfer window closes on 15 April, but Birchall, whose contract with Albion expires on 30 June, could still join LA Galaxy in an arrangement similar to David Beckham's deal. The former England captain will rejoin the US side from AC Milan on 15 July, when the MLS transfer window reopens, with the season running until November.

Albion chairman Dick Knight added, "Chris is our most-experienced midfielder, he's an international, and we need him here.

"If we were mid-table then probably we would let Chris go. But Galaxy haven't respected our relegation battle and haven't bothered to make direct contact.

"Our transfer window is closed, so we have no opportunity to replace Chris and in our current predicament we can't afford to lose him."