West Bromwich Albion feared their swoop for West Ham’s Robert Snodgrass would collapse if they did not agree to drop him for the subsequent match against David Moyes’s side.
The deal that took the Scotland midfielder, 33, to the Hawthorns is under investigation by the Premier League after West Brom boss Sam Allardyce let slip that Snodgrass’s absence on Tuesday was down to a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between the clubs.
Such an arrangement breaches top-fight regulations.
The Football Association are keeping tabs on the probe and could launch their own investigation into the transfer once the Premier League have completed their enquiries.