West Brom Fan View: Baggies start transfer window early after securing Hegazi's future

Earlier this week, West Brom exercised their option to buy on-loan defender Ahmed Hegazi from Al Ahly for £4.5 million, with the club wanting to secure his future quickly as a number of clubs expressed their interest in the Egyptian.

This is a good start to what will undoubtedly be an important transfer window for the club, as it’s clear the squad needs to be strengthened in a number of areas, but thankfully, the centre of their defence isn’t now one of those areas.

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The Egyptian has looked a class act since his arrival in the summer and has struck up a great relationship with Jonny Evans at the heart of the Albion defence. The mistake against Stoke City aside, the former Fiorentina player hasn’t put a foot wrong so far in his West Brom career, summed up by the fact Pardew’s men haven’t missed the experience of Gareth McAuley.

His stand-out performance was the 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, with the 26-year-old being part of a defensive unit that stifled the likes of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Philippe Coutinho, in what was a really important result for Alan Pardew.

when he arrived at the club, it was easy to see why he’d been signed, as his height and physical presence is a key attribute for his position. But he’s surprised me with his composure on the ball, the ability to pass it out from defence and that his reading of the game is very good.

Clearly, the future of West Brom captain Jonny Evans will be up in the air again come January, but if the club can keep him and Hegazi at the centre of The Baggies defence, we stand a far better chance of staying in the division.

Boing Boing!