West Bromwich Albion Leading Brighton, Preston North And Derby County In Race To Complete Signing Of Ex-Sunderland Star\
It hasn’t been the debut campaign to remember so far for young Tommy Watson at Brighton and Hove Albion.
He arrived at The Amex Stadium with plenty of excitement, having cost the club £10 million and leaving Sunderland with the greatest parting gift of all – a last-minute winner in the play-off final over Sheffield United in May.
Despite excelling in EFL Cup action, picking up a goal and three assists in three games, it took him nine games to make his Premier League debut, being unused as a substitute in his first four squad appearances in the top flight.
Whilst Watson has made bench appearances in the Seagulls’ latest games against Manchester United and Leeds United, it’s arguable that the 19-year-old needs more regular minutes from the off, and Championship sides should be swirling for last season’s Wembley hero.
In late September, Alan Nixon reported that Derby County were interested in bringing the former Sunderland wideman to Pride Park this winter. The Rams will be hoping that they can face no competition for Watson’s signature, but the likelihood is that there will be a disorderly queue being formed for his short-term services.
Here are two other sides that should be fighting to be at the front of the line alongside Derby to bring Watson to their club in January.
West Bromwich Albion
West Brom were dealt a poor hand towards the back end of the summer transfer window, as they almost held on to star winger Tom Fellows until the deadline, before Southampton swooped in with a £10 million bid to take him to St Mary’s two days before the window slammed shut.
In a late attempt to replace him, the Baggies brought in Samuel Illing-Junior on loan from Aston Villa, who hasn’t provided the same amount of creative spark that Fellows did, and West Brom may be wise to look into the market in January to upgrade that position once more.
Albion are in the lower percentile of teams in the Championship in terms of big chances, expected goals, and goals scored, and Watson would be able to come in and help boost those.
The 19-year-old was a squad player at Sunderland last season, but the chances are that if he returned to the second tier, he’d have a bigger chip on his shoulder to perform and put himself in Fabian Hurzeler’s eyeline.
Perhaps he could be what Ryan Mason’s side needs to climb into the top six when things are all said and done.
Preston North End
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