"Makes sense" - Carlton Palmer reacts to Grady Diangana, West Brom exit talk | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has been speaking exclusively with FLW over what the Baggies should do with Grady Diangana in the final days of the transfer window.

Pundit Carlton Palmer believes that it makes sense for West Bromwich Albion attacker Grady Diangana to remain at The Hawthorns, and backs Tony Mowbray to get the best out of the Congolese international.

The 26-year-old is out of contract with West Brom at the end of the season, which has enabled the possibility for overseas clubs to enter a pre-contract agreement with the versatile forward.

Serie A side Parma and La Liga outfit Celta Vigo are two potential suitors that have been credited with an interest in securing his signature, with the Baggies understood to be demanding a fee of €3m/£2.5m to sell him immediately.

Africa Foot are reporting that Diangana has turned down a three-year extension to stay at The Hawthorns, whilst stating that an agreement has been reached to join Celta Vigo.

It remains to be seen whether he will commit his future to West Brom, in what could be a hugely important decision in terms of having the potential to significantly dent Albion's promotion hopes.

"Hard to replace" Diangana - Carlton Palmer believes

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, pundit Carlton Palmer believes that whilst keeping Diangana would be a big boost for West Brom, he also recognises the danger of keeping hold of a player who has potentially had his head turned by outside interest.

Discussing the pros and cons of selling Diangana for a fee now, or letting his contract run down until the end of the season, Palmer said: "West Brom and Tony Mowbray find themselves in a difficult position regarding Grady Diangana.

"His contract is up in the summer, and the 26-year-old is refusing to sign a new contract. He's been offered a three-year contract by West Brom, which he's turned down. This is amid Celta Vigo's interest.

"He's in a position where he's in the last six months of his contract, so he's able to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs, but West Bromwich Albion are demanding €3m to let him go this window.

"It's a difficult one for West Brom given their position in the play-offs. Do you keep him until the end of the season? If they have a strong end to the season, Grady will be part of that. He needs to keep playing well, and especially for the sum they will receive for him, it's going to be hard for them to replace him in this transfer window for that amount of money.

"So, it probably makes sense for West Bromwich Albion to keep hold of him until the end of the season, and let his contract run down. It's bittersweet, isn't it? What do you do? He played really, really well against Portsmouth.

"His stats are four goals and two assists, and the difference between the teams at the top could be marginal this season, and West Brom would have to find a late replacement in the window."

Carlton Palmer backs Tony Mowbray to get best out of Grady Diangana if he stays at West Brom

Certain managers are able to come into a dressing room and extract the best out of a player who has either gone off the boil somewhat, or is able to convince them to stay and play their best football under the new regime.

Mowbray has certainly proven himself to be an excellent man-manager, with a track-record of improving and developing players at practically every stop in his managerial career. His attack-minded, front-foot approach could be an ideal systematic fit for Diangana.

Palmer is confident that should the versatile forward remain with Albion for the rest of the season, he would thrive under Mowbray. "The way Tony Mowbray manages, he'll be able to get the best out of Diangana, and West Brom could get the best out of him," the former England international said.

"So, it's just a case of whether he's had his head turned by Celta Vigo, which then could impact on his performances. This is where Tony Mowbray's brilliant. He's been in the game a long time, he'll have to decide when he speaks to the player.

"If his head is turned, and he's not going to put a shift in, and he's going to down tools, he might as well let him go now. So we'll have to wait and see what happens. I definitely could see this transfer going through this window given that he's refused to sign a new contract."