Football
Exclusive: Brighton to Revive Pursuit of Sunderland Starlet Tommy Watson
Brighton are set to renew their interest in Sunderland's young talent Tommy Watson, despite a previous bid being rejected. Sunderland faces losing key players if they fail to earn promotion, with Watson and other young players attracting Premier League interest. Promotion is crucial to keep hold of their star players.
Sunderland AFC v Stoke City FC - Sky Bet Championship by Stu Forster | Getty Images
Brighton are ready to reignite their interest in Sunderland youngster Tommy Watson, SportsBoom sources have been told.
The Seagulls saw a £13 million bid rejected on deadline day, but he remains a top priority for the Premier League club.
Winger Watson, 18, has impressed during his breakthrough season for the Black Cats with Brighton set to test their resolve once again when the window reopens.
The talented teenager has frustratingly spent a portion of the campaign on the sidelines with knee and ankle issues with Regis Le Bris buoyed by his return for the run-in.
Sunderland are resigned to eventually losing one of their young stars and are willing to cash in on one of their assets if they fail to earn promotion to the Premier League this season.
Watson is contracted at the Stadium of Light until 2026 and the club are desperate to ensure he does not leave for nothing next summer.
It is understood the player wants to know where Sunderland are playing their football next season before starting talks over a contract extension in the North East.
BRACED FOR UNWANTED CLEAR OUT
Sunderland could become a victim of their own success and are braced for a mass exodus of the worst kind if they fail to get promoted this summer.
The philosophy of building a young squad for promotion could come back to haunt them with the Premier League vultures circling for a number of their best players.
Promotion is seemingly the only way of keeping them at the club, which would mean winning at Wembley — like they did in the League One play-off final two years ago.
They missed out in the semi-finals last season and are desperate to go up this time around.
Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg are both set to land big moves in the summer if Sunderland fail to go up.
And as well as Watson, Anthony Patterson and Dan Neil are also on the radar for Premier League suitors come the end of the season.
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