BBC pundit Carlton Palmer has suggested that West Brom could now hold an advantage over Championship rivals Middlesbrough in the race to sign Leicester City ace Hamza Choudhury.

The Lowdown: Baggies facing competition

The Baggies had a disappointing end to the 2021/22 season after failing to secure a place in the top six, and so Steve Bruce is now looking for new reinforcements to bolster his squad as he hopes to make a serious push for promotion next term.

The Midlands outfit have been heavily linked with the 24-year-old Foxes midfielder in recent weeks, but it’s been reported that Boro have now also joined the race for his signature, creating stiff competition for the Hawthorns side.

The midfielder looks set to leave the top flight as his current contract at the King Power expires next summer, but where his next destination will be yet remains to be seen.

The Latest: Palmer’s ‘big’ Baggies boost

Speaking to Football League World, Palmer insisted that West Brom might have one 'big' advantage over their competitors when it comes to completing a move for Choudhury - location.

“I think, also, the fact that, you know, he’s gonna have to travel to Middlesbrough, he’s gonna have to stay up in Middlesbrough, and the fact that he’s playing at Leicester, he’ll be able to commute to West Brom daily for training and for matches and so forth.

“That’s a big difference.”

The Verdict: Perfect addition

Bruce will be wanting to complete his transfer business as early as he can so that he can have a full pre-season with his new players involved in the action, and Choudhury, who was once dubbed a “sensational” player by his manager Brendan Rodgers, would be a fantastic addition.

Even though the maestro only clocked up 287 minutes of Premier League football last season, he still managed to make a huge impact when on the pitch, averaging 1.7 clearances and 1.5 tackles per top-flight match, via WhoScored.

This combative presence is an attribute that the Baggies need to steady up that midfield area, and the Foxes starlet more than has the ability to control a game in the second tier after learning his trade in the top flight.

In other news… West Brom are reportedly interested in re-signing one of their former players.