This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

West Brom are living the high life under Slaven Bilic in the Championship this season.

At one stage they were the division’s only unbeaten side, they are on track to surpass the goal-laden exploits of last season’s squad while individual accolades also carry through the team as seen with Matty Phillips, who is on for a career-best year, and Sam Johnstone, who earlier this week had made the most saves of anyone in the top two divisions.

Their impressive start to the season does come at a cost, though.

Naturally, this level of performance will attract the interest of teams in a better position; after all, it is only England’s second tier.

Albion’s Nathan Ferguson has been one of the standouts amongst the squad after the Croatian promoted him to the first-team during the off-season.

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The 19-year-old primarily played as a centre-back for the U23 squad but made his senior debut at right-back, and he performed so well in front of the Sky Sports cameras that he picked up the Man of the Match award.

Since then, he has displayed his versatile ability even more by filling in on the left side of the defence in Kieran Gibbs’ absence, a position where he picked up his maiden goal in the Baggies’ 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers.

Ferguson has done so well in the role that he’s still kept the former Arsenal man out of the starting line up.

Although, all of this has attracted the interest from the Premier League and even on Europe’s elite stage.

At first, it was only Crystal Palace looking to fill their Aaron Wan-Bissaka shaped void at right-back, but now Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid have been mooted with moves for the starlet.

West Brom are certainly trying to learn from previous mistakes, namely letting Louie Barry and Morgan Rogers depart in the summer, as they have reportedly offered Ferguson a new five-year deal.

But most crucially, what they must ensure is that a situation like the one with Saido Berahino doesn’t take over.

That will come down on whether the player truly wants to move to any of the aforementioned clubs, and of course, if the links hold any truth.

Across a two-season time period, Albion rejected bids for Berahino from Tottenham, Newcastle, and Crystal Palace, and to say that caused his downfall would be a major understatement as he’s now plying his trade in Belgium for Zulte Waregem.

Speaking about his wellbeing at the time, the 26-year-old (yes, he’s only 26) said via Birmingham Live:

Now it is quite extreme to suggest that Ferguson would follow down the same pathway as Berahino, but it only puts an emphasis on the power a club can hold on one’s career.

Sporting and technical director Luke Dowling and his manager must ensure that a similar situation does not occur.

If the 19-year-old wants to test his ability at the highest level, then don’t hold him back, if he wants to repay Bilic’s faith, then that’s even better. Signing a new deal would only emphasise that his mind is in the right place.

Either way, they have options in wait if he does make a switch in January – though keeping him would undoubtedly aid their promotion hopes substantially.

Let’s hope he stays and helps guide the side towards the promised land, that way he’ll be mixing loyalty alongside his dreams.