"A short-term solution" - Luton Town told to secure deadline day transfer for 35-year-old | OneFootball

Eagles stalwart Joel Ward has been linked with a move to the Hatters

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Luton Town have been urged to complete the signing of Crystal Palace stalwart Joel Ward before the window shuts on Monday night, following rumours of the Hatters' interest in the 35-year-old's services.

Ward is a bonafide Eagles legend, and is now into his 13th season at Selhurst Park after a £400,000 move from Portsmouth back in May 2012.

He has been a constant in Palace's backline under multiple different managers and in numerous seasons gone by, but has seen his opportunities limited under current boss Oliver Glasner, and may now wish to seek a new challenge with either a loan or permanent exit in the next 24 hours.

Journalist Alan Nixon has reported, via Patreon, that Luton are keen on a move for Ward to aid their bid for Championship survival in the second-half of the season, and he also claims that the Hatters have asked to speak to his representatives ahead of a possible move.

Luton Town told to complete Joel Ward transfer by fan pundit

Ward is currently the joint-third longest-serving player in the whole of the Premier League, and he has featured over 350 times so far for Palace in his near-13 years at the club.

The 35-year-old has only played less than 20 league games in a single season for the Eagles on two occasions, in 2017/18 and 2018/19, yet has not featured once in the top-flight this term, and has played just once all campaign with an EFL Cup cameo against Norwich City.

He has been an unused substitute on 14 occasions in the league so far, so has been fit and readily available to boss Glasner, but his lack of minutes could force an exit, with only Luton seemingly interested at this late stage in the window.

Our Hatters fan pundit, Simon Mills, has urged his club to get a deal over the line for Ward before the window slams shut on Monday night, as he believes that his experience and nous would be ideal to add to Matt Bloomfield's squad for the last few months of the campaign.

“Joel Ward is a very interesting one. On one hand, people will say that he is 35 years old and his best days are behind him," Simon told FLW.

“Whereas, I think he would actually be a solid addition to the squad at this stage. He brings vast experience and has got many Premier League appearances to his name.

“He could also probably help Daiki Hashioka, and bring him up to another level.

“I think Hashioka is actually a pretty good player, but has been asked to play out of position too many times.

“If we could do a deal for Joel Ward, I think that it would be solid for a short-term solution.”

A move for Ward would be ideal for Luton right now

Luton have been the surprise package in the Championship this season for all the wrong reasons, and recently-appointed boss Matt Bloomfield has a tough job on his hands to motivate his squad as they look to avoid a shock successive relegation to League One.

Ex-Wycombe boss Bloomfield has only been in charge of four games so far, but is yet to win as Hatters boss and will be well aware of the task at hand with the club now occupying 23rd place in the second-tier, while they hold poor records at both ends of the pitch.

Luton have seriously struggled defensively at times this term, and their lack of numbers and quality has cost them on multiple occasions, so to bring in a player like Ward, who has over 300 appearances in the Premier League, seems like a no-brainer if a deal is financially viable, and he wants to join.

The Hatters' current right-back options include the aforementioned Hashioka and Arsenal loanee Reuell Walters, and while both have been constantly rotated this season, neither has impressed nor made the position their own.

As well as being able to play on the right of a back four, Ward would also provide an option for Bloomfield at centre-back, likely on the right of a back three, and even at left-back, where he has made 57 appearances in his career up to now.

If he is open to an emotional and sudden exit from Selhurst Park, with either a loan or a permanent deal likely being the end of his time at Palace, given that he is out-of-contract at the end of the season, then this feels like a deal that Luton should proceed with immediately before other clubs are alerted to his availability.