No, but equally there's no guarantee that we turn that £5m into anything super impactful either. The club wants to keep him because they believe in his talent. It's all hypotheticals, but he's the best we've got coming through after Rigg and I don't think we should be cutting bait with him now unless its absolutely irrevocable. And certainly not to 'push us over the line' for this season - as those options don't exist IMO.
Yeh I made £5m up just to illustrate the point he's not THAT likely to increase in value between now and summer, so its a difficult choice if we know he's not going to sign a new one.
Luton are offering 7 m for a 21 year old a division below. Watson is an exceptional talent. I honestly wouldn’t start the conversation at less than 8m plus add ons going upto around 12-15m and a sell on.
It Brighton are refusing £90m for Mitoma I’d play them at their own game, clearly got more money than sense because I’d say he’s probably worth half of that. £15m for Watson and he’s yours
They're not that comparable mind. That's a player who's done a lot more at senior level and its a manager who knows him well. Comparing transfer fees is a bit pointless as there are way too many variables.
If they want to give us an Andy Carroll offer once they sell Mitoma then I'm up for considering it. Piecemeal offers for the best talent in our academy isn't so appealing to me
TBF We have done well by Watson. There is no sniff of not having a pathway for him or preventing any form of development. He is in and around the first team and just had a significant injury. We have just sold the star player who plays in his position. The club owe nothing to Watson. It's the other way round for me.
One thing we can be pretty comfortable with is the club know what they are doing under this leadership.
While I do agree, I think loaning a Jack Clarke for the rest of the season does nothing to help him make the 'right' decision. And ultimately any player will concentrate on the path forward. We have done well by Watson. To keep him we need to continue to do so.
I definitely trust the club these days. However, they don't get everything right. And I do have a little worry that they are going to 'chase' promotion a little harder than I think they should. Hopefully they have contingencies.
That is the player they want i know that. in terms of a deal etc no idea but would come down to wages as he is on a wedge at Fulham
I genuinely can't understand why he'd want to leave unless he is unhappy at the club. He's a local lad, knows the people, knows he'll get a chance and develop in an environment that it us really good for young players. Brighton are a top.flight club but they aren't a better club than us. They might have a good owner and more money but I'd play for Sunderland over them every day of the week
