OPINION
Things have not been easy for West Brom manager Darren Moore during the off-season, and there might have been some worries about the club’s push for a Premier League return after a slow start to the season.
A surprise home defeat to Bolton Wanderers was followed by a last gasp draw at Nottingham Forest, but the Baggies finally managed to secure their first win of the campaign with an exciting 4-3 victory away at Norwich City – a result which the Hawthorns faithful will be hoping launches them in the right direction.
However, one area of weakness which is still evident is right back, and Moore is said to have plans in place after being frustrated in his hunt for a new recruit to fill the gap.
The Express and Star state that after failing in moves for Tom James and James Tavernier, his attentions are now firmly on Crystal Palace’s Joel Ward, with the 28-year-old having been usurped in the first team by Aaron Wan-Bissaka for the first game of the season.
It is stated that with league sides still able to secure loans, that a temporary move with a view to buy could be on the cards, and that a fee of £4million is what the Baggies want to spend.
With 163 Premier League appearances and 111 Championship outings, Ward is a proven talent in England’s top two tiers, and with a return to the elite of English football in the Baggies’ plans, he would not just be an excellent signing this season but for years to come.
At £4million, he would be an absolute steal in a transfer market where prices have skyrocketed, and while he might not be the most adventurous full back in the world, he has proven to be a dependable performer at the back – exactly what Moore needs right now.