Comment: Owners Bilkul shrewd in biggest call of West Brom's transfer window

His deadline day transfer to Ipswich Town, eventually worth up to £5million with an initial fee higher than the £2m figure bandied in Suffolk, was a bolt from the blue. Ipswich only came calling on Sunday, barely 24 hours after Arijanet Muric's latest horrorshow against Southampton.

Most pressingly for Albion, it is a deal that works well for the club - and all parties.

The 28-year-old goalkeeper has the opportunity to play a major role in keeping the Tractor Boys in the Premier League, which is a long shot, but achievable with a fair wind.

Albion pocketed a decent fee for somebody who, while in his prime years, only had 18 months left on his contract.

There was a real opportunity Palmer, an academy product who served the club well showing extreme patience before clocking up more than 100 games, could have left for nothing. It could have been a repeat of Sam Johnstone in 2022. Not smart business.