Sky Sports pundit reveals concern at £10m Sunderland AFC transfer
Lee Hendrie has weighed in on Brighton’s move for Sunderland youngster Tommy Watson, with the 18-year-old set to join the Premier League outfit in the summer.
The two clubs agreed on a £10m fee for the teenager on April 1, with the Black Cats set to lose one of their attacking talents to the Seagulls once the transfer window opens.
2024/25 has been a breakout year for the winger, having made his debut in the Championship in April 2023, before making his second appearance last season. However, this year, Watson’s importance has increased, and he has become a solid rotation option for Regis Le Bris.
An injury over the winter saw him miss the majority of the campaign, but he has returned to the side in recent weeks as Sunderland look to win promotion back to the top flight through the play-offs, following eight years away from the division.
However, there are questions about whether this move has come too early in his career, with just a handful of games to his name in senior football.
Hendrie concerned about Watson’s move to Brighton
Brighton have shown an interest in Watson for a number of months, and it seems as though discussions have taken place behind the scenes throughout this time with the move pre-planned for the summer.
But with his inexperience, there will be fears that the winger will find it tough to find a place in the team under Fabian Hurzeler and he is leaving the Stadium of Light at an exciting point in the club’s history.
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Lee Hendrie has voiced his concerns over the move and believes that Sunderland should have held on to him for longer.
