Anthony Onifade

Tue 2 January 2024 9:10, UK

West Brom may not get a clearer message to extend Tom Fellows’ contract at The Hawthorns after his coming-of-age display in their 1-0 defeat to Swansea City.

Managerless Swansea City claimed a morale-boosting victory at the Swansea.com Stadium on New Year’s Day thanks to Liam Cullen’s second-half goal to dampen West Brom’s play-off push.

The Baggies suffered only their second defeat in six Championship games and remain in sixth place in the table but while the overall defeat will leave a sour taste for manager Carlos Corberan, Fellows’ individual performance will certainly give great solace to the Spaniard.

With Jed Wallace out injured and Jeremy Sarmiento returning to his parent club Brighton after their New Year’s Day announcement, the Baggies academy product was given the chance to impress and he duly delivered despite the defeat.

Aston Villa Women star Rachel Corsie was left wowed live on Sky Sports Gillette Soccer Special (1 January, 3:39 pm) after his tremendous skill and pass for a crucial Brandon Thomas-Asante chance in the first half of their loss.

She said: “Tom Fellows is by far the best player on the pitch, and I think it’s his first start in a long time.

“But just moments ago, he just drifted into the midfield, took the ball under pressure but spun brilliantly, fed in Thomas-Asante and he spurned the chance.

“Every time Fellows gets the ball, it looks like something could happen.”

Indeed, the 20-year-old looked head and shoulders over his more experienced teammates and added life and energy to a team that looked bereft of them in Wales.

Fellows’ individual stats certainly proved as much, registering two key passes, creating one big chance for Thomas-Asante, completing 66 per cent of his dribbles, winning four of his six ground duels, completing 95 per cent of his passes and completing 2 crosses [SofaScore].

With Corberan left with an attacking dilemma right now given the club’s injury issues continuing, Fellows certainly staked his claim for a regular berth.

However, it’s his long-term future that should be high on the agenda behind the scenes at West Brom, even despite their growing financial issues.

The 20-year-old talent’s contract is up this summer which means he can speak to clubs over a pre-contract agreement or even an immediate transfer this month given the club’s need to free up space on the wage bill.

Sunday Mirror journalist Darren Witcoop reported on 31 December that interest is growing in Fellows.

Indeed, Daily Mail reported on 11 November that Leicester and Southampton are both interested in signing the young winger, but the club’s prospective new owners are determined not to lose their star academy product and want to tie him down to a new contract.

West Brom are currently in a situation of financial limbo as the Baggies wait to see when and if a potential takeover occurs before signing their players up to new contracts or adding to their squad in the January transfer window.

But they are certainly now left dealing with the repercussions of their financial position with top clubs now circling for one of their most prized academy assets.

The reported interest from two of the Championship’s biggest sides should ensure that West Brom move to tie Fellows down sooner rather than later, as both clubs are financially equipped to test Albion’s resolve and tempt the 20-year-old away from The Hawthorns which would be disastrous.

With his first-team career now up and running and the reaction to his latest display for West Brom, the club’s board may not get a clearer message to tie him down as soon as possible. It’s a no-brainer.

In other West Brom news, two senior players could be set for an exit from The Hawthorns in January, one other youth product attracting plenty of interest already.