West Brom have easy opportunity to sign perfect Tom Fellows replacement amid transfer update
Tom Fellows’ departure in the latter stages of the summer transfer window was a major loss for West Brom.
The Baggies’ academy graduate has developed into one of the Championship’s brightest young talents since breaking into the first team in B71, and the timing of his exit was certainly unexpected.
West Brom fans were frustrated by the sale of Fellows, given that the season was already underway, and he was ultimately sold to a divisional rival in Southampton.
The 22-year-old would have added an extra element of quality to Ryan Mason’s squad, but Albion may now be presented with an easy opportunity to sign a perfect replacement for their former star.
West Brom should chase Tom Watson loan deal
West Brom’s sale of Fellows handed them a significant boost to their PSR standing, but the frustration from supporters is completely understandable, given that there had been previous interest from the Premier League which was knocked back.
The decision to show the homegrown starlet the door still rankles with the Albion faithful, and the club may get an ideal opportunity to put that aggravation to bed in the January transfer window.
The Baggies should try to make a move for Brighton wideman Tom Watson, who could potentially be in line for a loan return to the Championship this winter, according to Alan Nixon via his Patreon account.
Watson netted the dramatic stoppage-time winner for his boyhood club Sunderland in last season’s play-off final, but has found regular minutes hard to come by since his move to the South Coast this summer.
Derby County, Hull City and Preston North End have all watched the youngster in recent weeks, and it surely makes sense for Albion to join the race for his signature.
| Fellows | Stats (per 90) | Watson |
| 0.56 | Goal Contributions | 0.2 |
| 1.5 | Progressive Passes | 2.73 |
| 4.89 | Progressive Carries | 5.05 |
| 1.25 | Successful Take-Ons | 1.31 |
| 3.20 | Shot Creating Actions | 3.64 |
The 19-year-old produced comparable underlying numbers to Fellows last season, relative to the amount of football that he played, and would be a perfectly capable replacement.
If West Brom did show an interest in the youngster, they would surely be the most favourable candidate for a deal in Brighton’s eyes, given the likelihood that they will be competing at the top end of the table.
Albion have to add more creativity in January
Samuel Iling-Junior netted his first West Brom goal in emphatic fashion in Friday night’s draw with Leicester, but their main issue was once again clear to see.
The Black Country outfit lack the creativity in the final third that will be necessary for them to sustain a genuine promotion push, and that simply has to be addressed in January.
Mikey Johnston and Isaac Price have both been excellent so far this season, but beyond that duo and Iling-Junior, the Baggies are perhaps a little more industrious than they would like.
It simply isn’t enough to rely on two or three players in terms of creativity if you want to get promoted from the second tier, so bringing in a player of Watson’s quality would be a big help in that regard.
There are no guarantees that he will be available in January, but Albion should be making their interest known at the very least, as their presence could easily help to sway Brighton’s decision.
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