Albion have enquired about FC Cologne goalkeeper Michael Rensing in case they can’t strike a deal with Blues for Ben Foster.

The Baggies are hoping to make ex-England international Foster their first summer signing but have failed to agree a fee.

Foster is Albion’s top target but other stoppers, including 28-year-old Rensing, have been checked out as they look to fill the vacant No.1 spot. With ex-standby Marton Fulop leaving last month and Foster’s loan spell expiring at the same time, there is a shortage of goalkeepers at the club.

An understudy to provide competition is also on Albion’s wishlist and they feel Rensing could potentially come in as No.1 or second choice depending on how the Foster pursuit unfolds.

The German has spent the last 18 months on the books at Cologne but following the club’s relegation to the second division he is now considered a luxury they cannot afford to keep.

Rensing has already seen his old team-mate Lukas Podolski move to Arsenal and he, too, would relish the opportunity of playing in the Premier League.

Sources close to him insist he wants regular first-team football but suggest he would be prepared to go head-to-head with another goalkeeper in search of the starting jersey.

Despite conceding the most amount of goals in the Bundesliga last season as his side finished bottom-but-one, he was one of the stand-out performers in his position.