PREMIER League clubs Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion have taken up a “transfer tug-of-war” involving Cherries striker Joshua King, according to the Mirror.

The Daily Echo understands Italian outfit Torino lodged a bid for the forward on Sunday, an offer which was nowhere near the Dorset club’s valuation of the 28-year-old.

But with Premier League clubs still able to buy from the Football League until 5pm on October 16, the Mirror claim Villa and the Baggies are interested in frontman King.

The publication reports West Brom are “desperate for a striker” where Villa “might be okay in that department”.

King missed the Dorset club’s 3-1 victory at Coventry on Friday with a migraine, having text the club doctor late in the afternoon to withdraw from Jason Tindall’s squad.

He is however expected to be part of the Norway squad for international fixtures against Serbia, Romania and Northern Ireland over the next two weeks.

Asked about his future during the September’s international break, King said: “I will not comment anymore and try to make headlines. I am in the situation I am in.”

The striker has featured once for Tindall’s men this season, having come off the bench against Norwich City.