Nathan Ferguson of West Bromwich Albion competes for the ball with Kasey Palmer of Bristol City in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between West Bromwich Albion and Bristol City at The Hawthorns on November 27, 2019 in West Bromwich, England. (Getty Images)
According to the Athletic, Crystal Palace are likely to make a summer move for West Brom defender Nathan Ferguson.
During the January window, the Evening Standard claimed Crystal Palace had agreed on a £4million deal with West Brom for Nathan Ferguson but a move to Selhurst Park fell through as the club discovered a potential issue that they felt required an operation.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed his breakthrough campaign at West Brom under Slaven Bilic. He has played a key role in the Championship run-in for Bilic’s side, scoring and assisting a goal each in 21 games. The full-back underwent surgery last month and is yet to return to action.
However, Ferguson’s current deal at West Brom expires this summer and he is set to become a free agent. Hence, Crystal Palace need to act swiftly and get a deal done.
Roy Hodgson has failed to bring in a replacement for Aaron Wan-Bissaka over the last two transfer windows. Wan-Bissaka joined Manchester United before the start of the season, leaving Hodgson with just Joel Ward and Martin Kelly as options at right-back. His exit left a huge void in Hodgson’s side this season.
Failing to replace Wan-Bissaka saw the Palace boss start the campaign with Joel Ward at right-back. Even though Ward has performed extremely well and made the right-back spot his own this season, the fact is he has endured injury problems this season and has entered his 30s.
Ward’s deputy, Martin Kelly is not a natural right-back and is most comfortable playing as a centre-back. Having said that, Hodgson should strengthen his right-back area in the summer by bringing in Nathan Ferguson. Ferguson has impressed in the Championship this season for West Brom and has shown his versatility by playing in a number of different positions across the backline.
He has played at right-back and left-back in the first-team, and also as a centre-back in the U23s, and such versatility could come handy and offer Hodgson a variety of options in his team selection next season if the veteran English manager is able to bring him to Selhurst Park.
The England Under-20 international would be a replacement for Wan-Bissaka while bringing competition for Ward and Patrick van Aanholt at full-back. He’ll also add depth to Hodgson’s squad.
Palace signing Ferguson would be the acquisition of a talented prospect who could go on to have an immediate impact for Hodgson’s side, while also developing over the years.