#thebaggies

Nathan Ferguson is reportedly waiting to see if West Brom can get promoted to the Premier League before deciding on signing a new £30,000-per-week deal with the Baggies. According to The Athletic, the 19-year-old defender might remain with his boyhood club beyond this season despite Ferguson nearly joining Crystal Palace on Deadline Day as reported by The Express and Star, with a knee problem being the defining factor as to why the teenager didn’t join the Eagles last Friday. The Athletic also reported in December that Ferguson has a new five-year deal at West Brom on the table for him with his current contract set to expire next summer, hence why the versatile defender was close to leaving the Albion in the January transfer window. Ferguson’s future at West Brom has been of major debate in recent days given the Palace links, yet this update from The Athletic has seemingly opened the door on the teenage fullback potentially remaining with West Brom if the Baggies can claim promotion back up into the Premier League. Whilst it makes sense from Ferguson’s point of view to hold off on deciding his future until he knows West Brom’s position next season, the Baggies themselves are playing a dangerous game in which they could end up losing one of their most promising starlets based on failing to gain promotion to the English top-flight. West Brom are no strangers to losing highly-rated youngsters, with last summer seeing Louie Barry now controversially leave for FC Barcelona (per BBC Sport), but with Ferguson now a bonafide first-team player as stats from WhoScored show, the Baggies can only hope that promotion to the Premier League will convince the 19-year-old to remain with the club. Interest has been high in the youngster in recent weeks (per The Mirror) and Deadline Day almost saw Ferguson leave West Brom for good had it not been for a failed medical, and with the defender seemingly willing to renew with the club if promotion is secured, the Baggies now have that extra layer of pressure to secure their status as a Premier League club for next season. West Brom fans, can the clue tie Ferguson down to a new deal? Let us know! Click here to comment on this articleorGive us feedback on your Football Transfer Tavern experience #WestBrom #TheBaggies #CrystalPalace

The Championship play-offs are set to get underway this weekend, in what is certain to be a closely-fought battle between the four Championship heavyweights. It’s anyone’s game, with each team having a strong chance of returning to the Premier League this season. In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Quest TV pundit, Dean Ashton issued a somewhat surprising verdict on who he thinks will be promoted from the Championship via the play-offs this month. “Aston Villa in the form they’ve been in, the most feared side. Leeds on their day are dangerous. But I think West Brom will win promotion.” Ashton went on to reveal why he thinks that the Baggies will come out on top, with experience being a key factor in their promotion bid. “No-one is talking about them, they’ve had some indifferent results, but I look at their players and the experience and quality in terms of the front two, and the amount of goals they’ve scored. “I really wouldn’t want to play West Brom and I fancy them to upset them all and get promoted back into the Premier League, if I was sticking my neck on the line.” The former West Ham forward felt that both Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle will be key to their promotion chances, with the pair being in impressive form coming into the play-offs. “They’re both in the 20 goal region, and they’re proven Premier League quality, I mean Dwight Gayle’s record in the Championship is absolutely ridiculous and I just think the rest of the squad, I wouldn’t want to play them over two legs.” #DeanAshton #TheBaggies #AstonVilla

Manager of WBA Tony Pulis for @skysports #wbafc #westbrom #manager #wba #premierleague #thebaggies #baggies #football Ad @dan73m Digi @rob_walker_photo (at West Bromwich Albion Football Club)