West Bromwich Albion are looking to open contract talks with key defender Nathan Ferguson according to the Express & Star.
The teenager has began the season in fantastic fashion and is now the number one choice at right back despite his tender years.
The 18-year-old is flourishing under new manager Slaven Bilic and put in a man of the match performance against Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the season.
Ferguson has competition for the right back slot from Darnell Furlong who is a £2million acquisition from QPR but so far the youngster looks to be a tough act to remove from the starting line up.
He signed his first professional contract in December 2017 and that deal runs out next summer. It’s thought that Bilic and the recruitment staff are keen to reward the youngster for his progress this season with a new deal that should also ward off any potential suitors from the Premier League and elsewhere.
There have been a number of academy graduates leaving the club recently including Louie Barry to Barcelona and Morgan Rogers to Manchester City and the Baggies will be wary of not allowing such a situation to arise again.
Bilic is a huge admirer of Ferguson, whom he has converted from a centre-back to an all-action full-back and his pace and energy so far has been of paramount importance to Albion.
Ferguson has been pleased with his recent performances and said: “I feel like I’ve matured, especially with the new gaffer coming in and giving me chances in pre-season to prove myself.”
“He’s a great manager. I’m usually a centre-back so he’s been able to morph me into a right-back. He’s seen qualities in me I’m happy he’s seen and I’ve been able to show them off, such as my speed and running with the ball.”
