West Bromwich Albion have triggered the option to buy on-loan defender Ahmed Hegazi from Ah-Ahly, the club confirmed on Monday. The Egyptian giant was on a season-long loan at the Hawthorns but after a series of impressive defensive displays in the Premier League, the defender has committed his future at the club. His recently signed contract will keep him at West Brom till 2022.
West Brom’s decision to permanently secure the services of Ahmed Hegazi could be a step in the right direction from Alan Pardew’s men. The Baggies have struggled a lot this season, often failing to perform on a consistent basis.
Pardew heaped praise on Hegazi and believes fans will welcome the news. He said: ‘This is great news for the Club – Ahmed has been absolutely terrific for me since I arrived and I am sure there is, even more, to come from him in the future” – as per Metro.co.uk.
Currently lavishing in the bottom end of the Premier League table with just two points above bottom-placed Swansea City, an upturn of fortunes is imperative for the West-Midland outfit.
While there’s still the winter transfer window to look forward to, it’s also important for Alan Pardew to commit his star players for the long term. In this case, Ahmed Hegazi’s signing was even more vital for the Baggies, as Liverpool were showing some great interest in the services of the Egyptian International.
Hegazi has been the pillar of the West Bromwich defence, which has conceded just 24 goals this season. A relatively low figure for a Premier League club dawdling on the bottom end of the table. The Egyptian will be full of confidence after committing his long-term future to West Brom, which will, hopefully, lead to more impressive performances for the remainder of the season.
His partnership with former Manchester United defender Jonny Evans could be the foundation of a further solidified West Brom defence for the second half of the season. Evans has the quality while Hegazi has sheer physicality, both of which, combines for an excellent defensive combination.
Furthermore, Alan Pardew also seemed keen on signing Argentinian midfield Rodrigo Battaglia, whose partnership with Grzegorz Krychowiak could prove to be instrumental for the Baggies in the second half of the season, as they aim to survive relegation under the leadership of Alan Pardew.
