New signing Branislav Ivanovic of West Bromwich Albion
Josh Griffiths, West Bromwich Albion’s backup goalkeeper, may leave the team this summer as Crystal Palace considers a transfer for him, according to sources.
Under head coach Carlos Corberan, the Baggies are fighting for promotion back to the Premier League. After a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon, they opened up a four-point lead on seventh place, which could have grown to six.
In addition, the Midlands team has given up 29 goals in just 30 league games, giving them the third-best defensive record in England’s second division. Goalkeeper Alex Palmer, who shares the division record with Leeds United’s Ilian Meslier with 13 clean sheets, is largely responsible for this outstanding record.
However, second-choice keeper Griffiths has seen little action for West Brom this season due to Palmer’s play in goal at The Hawthorns. The 22-year-old academy product has played twice in the FA Cup and once in the EFL Cup this season, but he has not yet made an appearance for the team in the Championship. The former Portsmouth loanee has since been connected to a move away from the team.
West Bromwich Albion will have to fight to hang onto Griffiths this summer as top-flight contenders Palace have expressed interest in signing the former England U21 international, according to journalist Alan Nixon of The Sun.
Griffiths is in the last 18 months of a five-year contract, and according to Transfermarkt, his market value is presently £1 million. This suggests that if he were to go, the Baggies could be able to fetch a respectable price.
Author’s Perspective
When the backup option is inexperienced and eager for playing time, this is a common occurrence in goalie pecking orders in football. Palmer, who is just 27 years old, still has a lot of gas remaining in his tank, while Griffiths has been forced to subsist on leftovers by. But since Corberan’s team is eliminated from the knockout games, Griffiths might not play for the rest of the season unless Palmer sustains an unusual injury. Maybe he’ll try his luck at a new club by the summer window.
