Sunderland have turned down multiple offers from Brighton for young star Tommy Watson today, according to Craig Hope.
With players still coming in and out, Sunderland will be playing close to the wire on deadline day.
The Black Cats are hoping to add additional players before the window closes, having already signed five this summer.
Sunderland wants to improve and want to push for promotion this year after an outstanding start to the season. Many names have been mentioned, and as the deadline draws closer, supporters will be closely monitoring any new information.
Lately, though, a new name has been connected to a departure from the team.
Craig Hope reports that Brighton has made several bids on Tommy Watson, an 18-year-old winger, today, all of which have been rejected. Though bids exceeded £2 million, Southampton has remained steadfast.
Watson is highly esteemed within the Black Cats’ organisation and participated in their preseason trip in Spain.
Previous business with Brighton
Brighton has a history of stealing younger players from Sunderland. Prospect Josh Robertson was in a similar predicament just the previous summer.
The youth midfielder was available for signing with the Seagulls prior to his professional contract being signed by Sunderland. Although Watson had already signed a professional contract, Sunderland now retains total control over the situation even if they were unable to retain him on that time.
Watson may very well like to move to Brighton, but it would be extremely unexpected given that he is now a member of the first team and Southampton’s history of developing young players with the goal of developing elite teenagers.
Deals still to be done?
Sunderland has done a fantastic job of holding onto the majority of their talent. The Black Cats have rebuffed interest in Dan Ballard, Patrick Roberts, and Chris Rigg this summer, barring the sale of Jack Clarke to Iowa Town.
Ballard and Rigg have both inked new contracts with the team in two significant transactions.
But there’s still a lot of work to be done. It appears that the lights at the Academy of Light will remain on until the wee hours of the night, since many players are being connected to exits.
Forward movements are still quite feasible.The Black Cats still have Ahmed Abdullahi of Gent as a possibility, but because Wearside has not yet made any announcements, what was once looked to be a very exciting day may be ebbing away.
