West Brom manager Tony Pulis has urged players to leave their comfort zone with target Morgan Schneiderlin ready to quit Manchester United.
Sources tell Press Association the Baggies have tabled a club record bid of around £18 million for the midfielder ahead of the January transfer window.
United boss Jose Mourinho has said the France international can leave Old Trafford after making just eight appearances this season.
Albion, who go to Arsenal on Boxing Day, have made bids for several players as they prepare for next month and broke their transfer record in the summer to sign Nacer Chadli for £13m from Tottenham.
West Brom are also still interested in Leicester's Jeff Schlupp after two failed bids in the summer and, as he tries to attract more talent, Pulis wants players to be brave with their moves.
"The big picture is we're trying to get players into this club who will progress us over a period of time, not just in this moment,'' said Pulis, having already signed Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans from Manchester United in the last two years.
"It's not just time and money, it's getting the players to come to the club.
"A lot of players now are not in their teams, but still prefer to be at the so-called bigger clubs rather than playing week in and week out.
"There are players at the bigger clubs who haven't even broken into their teams.
"They still prefer the protection of that bigger club rather than having to go to another club and having to work and play and earn their money.
"There's big problems everywhere in the industry because of finances and the way football is.
"The spectacle of the game and the enormity of it rides high with certain players. More so than sometimes playing football.''