Derby County and West Brom must react with Crystal Palace star set for 2027 exit | OneFootball

The Rams and Baggies should be eyeing up a move for midfielder Will Hughes next summer on a free transfer.

While the 2026-27 Championship season is only in its early stages, the 2027-28 term will come around in the blink of an eye.

With that comes a fresh summer transfer window and new targets for clubs throughout the second tier to pursue.

Supporters of those sides will want to see the cash being splashed, but some of the shrewdest arrivals could come on free transfers, with some more experienced players available for next to nothing when becoming free agents.

That could be exactly what happens to Will Hughes, who is approaching the end of his time at Crystal Palace following a five-year stint.

The 31-year-old has played over 200 times in the Premier League and is just shy of that feat when it comes to games played in the Championship too, so he would definitely be a smart recruit to make for any team that is in the second tier next campaign.

Hughes is expected to depart Selhurst Park in 2027 when his contract runs down, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see that happen given he’s featured just twice off the bench in the top-flight since Pierre Sage entered the Eagles hotseat.

With a move back to the Championship a realistic one, we have listed two clubs who should make the central midfield part of their transfer plans next summer.

Derby County

If Will Hughes is to leave Crystal Palace in 2027, then you would have to make Derby County the firm favourites to land his signature.

Coming through the youth ranks at Pride Park, Hughes made 187 appearances for the Rams over six seasons, helping them to feature twice in the play-offs.

More recently, back in March, Hughes was spotted taking in Derby’s 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Pride Park, while boss John Eustace fired over a tongue-and-cheek response after the game about wanting to sign him up for next season when speaking to Rams TV.

At the time, Eustace said: “I had a good half an hour trying to sign him for next season. No, it was great to see Hughesy and listen, I know he’s a huge Derby fan and I obviously had the pleasure and privilege to play with him when he was coming through.

“He’s a top performer, and I’m delighted he came, brought his family to watch the game, and we could get a victory for him.”

So many connected with Derby will be hoping a move materialises in 2027, with Hughes able to add so much experience and composure in the middle of the park, while it would create such a feel-good factor among the fanbase if such a quality player was to pull the Derby shirt back on.

That kind of deal would be dependent on which division Derby are playing in next season, but if they remain in the second tier for yet another year, then it would be hard to look past anyone but the Rams bringing him back to where it all began.

West Brom

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If a club is to rival Derby County’s efforts to sign Will Hughes, then it could well be West Brom, who may be in need of an older head in the heart of midfield after a recent transfer window that has focused on bringing in more youthful prospects.

In a revamp for the Baggies, much of their summer spending was focused on the midfield department, with the likes of Rabby Nzingoula, Toby Collyer and Felix Horn Myhre all walking into the building, with this trio fairly new to life in the second tier.

The Baggies recently lost a key figure in Alex Mowatt too, incidentally to Derby, so they will be eager to replace such a loss of Championship knowhow when the opportunity presents itself.

Meanwhile, heading into 2027, Jayson Molumby could be a player who wants a new challenge after a five-year association with the club, leaving Albion with little choice but to bolster the midfield ranks once again should he wave goodbye to B71.

And someone like Hughes could be so valuable, holding such experience at Championship level to help the younger players out who will still need so much guidance after playing just one year at that level.

Even if the Baggies did end up getting promoted to the Premier League, Hughes could still prove to be an asset given his extensive playing time in the top-flight too, so it’s a signing that would prove to be appealing at whichever level Albion are playing at next term.

You would think for West Brom to beat Derby to this signing, they would have to be in the Premier League though, with the Rams holding a special place in Hughes’ heart and surely the only place he would want to go back to if given Championship-only options.