SUNDERLAND have rejected Brighton’s latest bid for Tommy Watson, with Regis Le Bris conceding the winger would “have to be replaced” if he left before Monday’s transfer deadline.
Brighton made an initial offer for Watson near the conclusion of the summer transfer season, but the Sunderland management rejected it outright because it fell short of matching their assessment of the teenager.
The same thing has happened again, with Brighton officials renewing contact with Watson in the last 48 hours.
Again, the proposed sums fell far short of Sunderland’s assessment of the 18-year-old winger, which has risen dramatically since the summer due to his rapid improvement in the first half of the season.
Watson, who is presently sidelined due to knee and ankle difficulties, made six starts in seven games before being injured, scoring his first Championship goals in a 2-1 home win over Stoke City.
Sunderland do not want to lose the academy product, but considering that he is in the final 18 months of his current contract, there is an understanding that a large proposal would be tough to reject, especially if it came from a Premier League team and Watson was interested in the transfer.
As things stand, Brighton’s valuation is nowhere close to reaching a point where the Sunderland administration would be forced to consider their choices. If that happens, and Watson leaves before the transfer window closes on Monday night, Le Bris insists that a direct replacement is essential.
The Black Cats’ head coach stated that if Tommy leaves, they must find a replacement. The team will face Middlesbrough in the Tees-Wear derby on Monday night at the Riverside. “We need two wingers on each flank; this provides a better balance. Enzo (Le Fee) can play here, but only because we don’t have any other options at the time.”
When Sunderland rejected down Brighton’s original bid in the summer, Watson was an unknown quantity due to his lack of first-team experience.
That is no longer the case, and while Watson’s injury stopped him from establishing himself as a regular in the senior ranks, Le Bris remains confident in his abilities.
“Tommy started a few games before his injury, so he was a new player in our team and he did well,” according to him. “However, it is usually the case that when a new player joins, it presents a fresh difficulty.
“Playing 10 or fifteen games presents a distinct dynamic and difficulty. He’s off to a great start, but being a starter for an extended length of time is different.
“We weren’t able to completely evaluate this due to the injuries. However, there is no doubt that he has great potential and is an excellent player. And he fits in well with our style of play.
“We feed our wingers and encourage them to take risks in one-on-one situations.” If they fail, we say, ‘Try again’. His profile is ideal for this, but he’s only played a few games.”
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