CRAIG Dawson is understood to be considering an official transfer request after Burnley had a second bid for the defender turned down by West Bromwich Albion.

The Clarets remain determined to bring Dawson to Turf Moor but saw a second offer rejected by the Midlands club earlier this week, just over a month after having their initial £1million offer knocked back.

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Burnley’s latest bid is thought to have crept over the £1.5m mark but was met with a similar response from the Baggies, with new head coach Alan Irvine saying: “He’s not a player we want to lose.”

Dawson featured in West Brom’s first public friendly on Tuesday night – a 2-1 win at Shrewsbury – and is expected to be with the Baggies squad when they set off for their pre-season tour of America today.

But the 24-year-old centre back still wants to join Burnley, having previously been disappointed when he learned that the Clarets’ first bid had been turned down.

He made it clear at that point that he wanted to leave, but was told by West Brom that they wanted to keep him.

Dawson has grown frustrated at West Brom after making just 13 starts for the Baggies last season, three of those in the cup, and only 15 appearances in total.

It is believed that his eagerness to play regular Premier League football is so great that he is now giving serious consideration to reiterating his desire to leave by putting in an official transfer request at the Hawthorns.

Clarets boss Sean Dyche is unlikely to be deterred, either, by Irvine’s stance.

After Burnley’s second offer was rejected, Irvine added: “My first signing after I came in was Joleon Lescott – that was so we could have four centre-backs that I feel comfortable with.

“And right now we have four centre-backs I am comfortable with. I’m not wanting to lose any of those centre-backs. Craig is on the way up. He’s played for England under-21s, he’s 24-years-old and he’s not a player we want to lose.

“I think he will stay with us. He’s going with us to the States and it’ll take a very good bid for anyone to make the club accept it.

“He is an important player for us and if we were to lose Craig we would need to replace him because we would need another up-and-coming centre-half who has played in the Premier League and I’m not sure where you find those.”