Despite featuring throughout pre-season for Nottingham Forest, Jonathan Panzo is set to leave the club this summer.
The Reds signed the 22-year-old from Dijon for a fee of £1.5 million last January, reuniting with boss Steve Cooper after playing under him for England U17s.
Panzo only made one first-team appearance during the 2021/22 campaign, against Hull City in a heavily rotated squad on the final day.
Former Chelsea youngster Panzo spent last season on loan at Coventry City and made 29 appearances as he helped Mark Robins’ side reach the play-off final.
Rangers are said to have a long-standing interest in the central defender, with Forest wanting around £2.5 million for the ‘elegant‘ defender.
Would Panzo be a good fit for Albion?
West Brom currently have five central defensive options at the club.
Erik Peters, Martin Kelly, Kyle Bartley, Semi Ajayi and Cedric Kipre are Carlos Corberan’s current choices. However, only Ajayi and Kipre are under the age of 30, reiterating the need for young blood at the back.
Playing alongside the likes of Bartley or Kelly would allow for a good balance and dynamic of youth and experience, something which Albion’s squad desperately lacks.
Panzo is a very agile, ball-playing central defender and would add versatility to the defence, as he’s capable of playing at left-back.
His loan spell at Coventry last season is proof he is a solid player in the Championship and aged just 22 is only going to develop further, making the transfer fee a worthwhile investment.
The Baggies’ financial problems mean that a deal may be hard to complete, however, they should be trying everything possible to fend off competition in order to bring Panzo to The Hawthorns this summer.