This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...
West Bromwich Albion boss Slaven Bilic is keen on bringing Jeremy Ngakia to the Hawthorns this summer, according to West Ham insider ExWHUEmployee.
Ngakia, who has made five Premier League starts for West Ham this season, will depart the London Stadium at the end of the month with his contract set to expire.
The Daily Mail claim that the young defender was offered £5,000-a-week to remain at the London club, but they failed to reach an agreement with Ngakia demanding nearly £15,000 more.
Now set to become a free agent, Ngakia is wanted by West Bromwich Albion, ExWHUEmployee has revealed on the West Ham Way podcast.
He said: "It’s believed that the latest club to be strongly interested in Ngakia is West Brom. There’s a strong chance that they will be in the Premier league next season. Their right-back Nathan Ferguson is out of contract himself and has possibly agreed to join Crystal Palace. So Bilic has maybe said to him you will come in and you’ll be our right-back."
Here, the FLW team discuss whether Ngakia would be a much-needed signing for the Baggies...
George Harbey
Ngakia could be an excellent Nathan Ferguson replacement, with the youngster looking set to depart the Hawthorns and complete a long-awaited move to Premier League side Crystal Palace.
I have been impressed with what I have seen of Ngakia this season - he looks to be a fast, strong, powerful defender who hasn't really looked out of place in the Premier League.
It's a blow for West Ham to be losing him for nothing, as he is only young and he has a massive future ahead of him, which makes it impressive if West Brom went on and acquired his signature.
Ferguson leaving the West Midlands is obviously a blow, but bringing in a young full-back who is arguably just as good, for practically nothing, is potentially a big coup for West Brom and a no-brainer too.
Ned Holmes
This would be a bit of a coup for West Brom and the sort of signing that may pay dividends for them in years to come.
The 19-year-old looks a really bright prospect and hasn't looked out of place in the Premier League, having been handed his first five appearances in the English top flight this season.
He is still raw but could be just what Slaven Bilic needs, with Nathan Ferguson having left the club as a free agent. Ferguson's exit has left West Brom needing to strengthen at full-back and landing Ngakia would help them do just that.
It's been reported that the defender wants a £15,000-per-week deal, so it looks a move that will be reliant on the Baggies securing Premier League promotion
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Jacob Potter
This would be a smart bit of business by the Baggies if they can strike an agreement with the full-back.
Ngakia really impressed me in his appearances for the West Ham first-team, and he certainly showed that he can play to a high level in the Premier League.
That will be encouraging to see for Slaven Bilic's side, as the West Brom boss looks to add quality and depth to his squad ahead of the 2020/21 season, which could well be back in the top-flight
Admittedly, I'm not sure a full-back should be the top priority for West Brom in terms of new additions though, as they already have the likes of Darnell Furlong and Dara O'Shea available to them in that position.
But you have to raise questions as to whether they'd be good enough to play in the Premier League, and I think competition for places never hurt anyone, so West Brom should definitely make their move for Ngakia in the summer.
George Dagless
It's an interesting suggestion.
Ngakia is a good young full-back but evidently feels as though his career lies elsewhere and it remains to be seen who will offer him the terms that he feels he wants.
West Brom do need to strengthen ahead of next season and Ngakia would fit into their evident significance that they place on youth - though I just wonder whether at right-back there is such a need for him.
Dara O'Shea and Darnell Furlong have had a great tussle for the position - where does Ngakia fit into that?
If he can go on the left and challenge Kieran Gibbs that might help him out but I'd not be surprised to not see this happen to be honest