The Baggies took fellow Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku on a season-long loan in 2012-13, however new manager Jose Mourinho has ruled out any chance of the Belgian returning to the Hawthorns.
Former Toon coach Steve Clarke - still a Chelsea legend with a lot of 'pull' at the club - was keen on seeing Lukaku return, instead it appears that Mourinho is willing to let Ba go.
Clarke worked under Mourinho throughout his first spell in charge of Chelsea, between 2004 and 2007.
Mourinho seems happy to aid the Scot at West Brom.
Ba has struggled for goals since arriving from Newcastle, and the former Real Madrid boss is looking to partner Fernando Torres with Napoli striker Edinson Cavani.
Man City had appeared frontrunners for Cavani's services but Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis revealed last week they had baulked at his £54million price tag.
Chelsea are also loath to meet that buy-out clause and, with Cavani anxious for an end to the uncertainty, it is understood talks between his agent and Napoli officials over his asking price will take place this week.
Speaking after Uruguay's Confederations Cup defeat to Italy, Cavani said: "I want to talk as soon as possible with president De Laurentiis.
"We must clear this (situation up) ourselves. I'll talk with him, as it's done between men, really soon.
"Right now, I'm at Napoli and I'm very proud to be there. If I leave one day, I'll be ready to move to a bigger club. We'll see."
Napoli coach is former interim Chelsea manager, Rafa Benitez and I'm sure the LAST club he would want to let his star striker sign for is Chelsea!.
Benitez told the Corriere dello Sport: "We want Cavani to stay at Napoli.
"We would be really happy if that's how it works out. If he leaves, then it would only be because someone has matched the release clause or comes up with an irresistible offer.
"Cavani knows how much he is loved and how valuable he is to the city and to the team."
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