BURNLEY have been put on alert after it emerged that former Clarets midfielder Richard Chaplow could be on his way out of West Brom.

The former England Under 21 man has struggled to hold down a first-team place at The Hawthorns and has made just two Championship starts this season.

Sources in the West Midlands have said that Baggies boss Tony Mowbray is considering offers for the 22-year-old playmaker.

And while Stoke are reported to be leading the chase for Chaplow, the Clarets may also be interested in the Accrington-born player that was a firm favourite during his time at Turf Moor.

A die-hard Burnley fan, Chaplow came through the club's junior ranks before eventually playing 74 games for the Clarets.

He became the club's first first-ever England Under 21 international in February 2004, when he came off the bench on his debut against the Netherlands at the KC Stadium.

After becoming a mainstay with the Clarets, the silky-skilled midfielder completed a £1.5million move to West Brom.

But Chaplow has since struggled to nail down a permanent place in the Baggies side and, at the back end of the 2005/06 season, was sent on loan to Southampton, where he made 11 league appearances.

Many of his friends and family still live in East Lancashire, and whenever Chaplow has returned to Turf Moor to face the Clarets, he has been handed a warm reception from Burnley fans.

Prior to last season's league encounter against West Brom, Chaplow said: "Last time I went back I got a round of applause which was nice.

"Obviously, I support Burnley and I've been at the club since I was eight.

"I left on good terms and to further my career, it wasn't a fall-out or anything like that."