One thing Sunderland had to be wary of in this transfer window was their top players being targeted by Premier League clubs, but it appears Tommy Watson could end up leaving.
Sunderland have an abundance of exciting talent in their ranks, but while most expected the likes of Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg to attract attention this month, it is Tommy Watson who now looks closest to an exit.
The teenage star had a real breakthrough under Regis Le Bris earlier this season before suffering a frustrating injury. He’s on his way back to fitness now, but may not even player for the Black Cats again.
Sunderland have rejected a Brighton bid for Watson already, but more offers are thought to be coming. Still, it appears Watson will only be leaving Wearside if one thing happens.
Sunderland will only sell Tommy Watson if they get a replacement
If more offers do come — with talk of a £10m approach on the way — it will be very hard for Sunderland to ignore and we could well see Watson among the confirmed Sunderland transfers before the deadline slams shut on Monday night.
Now, according to Ed Aarons of The Guardian, two more top flight teams are circling the youngster, with Aston Villa and Crystal Palace now entering the race for Watson’s signature.
Aarons claims more bids are coming Sunderland’s way before deadline day, but there is only one way the Black Cats will sell — they need to find a replacement for Watson first.
After the departure of Adil Aouchiche on loan, it figures that Sunderland would want to get some cover in on the wings before letting another player leave.
On the matter, Le Bris said: “If Tommy did leave, we have to replace him. We need two wingers on each flank, this is a better balance. Enzo [Le Fee] can play here, but only because we don’t have others available at the moment.”
Sunderland should cash in on Tommy Watson
There is no doubting Tommy Watson is a top quality young player, with bags of potential, but that doesn’t mean Sunderland should cling onto him.
Just months ago, Watson was heralded by fans as Sunderland’s ‘star boy’ but it’s worth remembering he has only played a handful of games. Getting £10m for a player in his situation would be a shrewd bit of business for Sunderland.
| Statistics | Tommy Watson (2024/25) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 11 |
| Minutes | 440 |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 0 |
However, as Aarons says, Sunderland absolutely need to sign another winger if they are letting Watson go. A loan signing would make the most sense at this point, and Jack Clarke could well be the ideal solution there.
Sunderland fans are divided over the idea, but it’s hard to think of a better move for all parties: Clarke gets his career back on track, Sunderland get a proven talent without the financial commitment, leaving the club free to invest the £10m Watson fee in the summer, hopefully on building a Premier League-ready squad.