Brighton should take action on ex-Sunderland star in January - West Brom and Preston North End must try gazump Derby County | OneFootball

Tom Watson may be finding himself back in the Championship mere months after he helped fire Sunderland into the Premier League

It hasn't been the debut campaign to remember so far for young Tommy Watson at Brighton and Hove Albion.

He arrived at The Amex Stadium with plenty of excitement, having cost the club £10 million and leaving Sunderland with the greatest parting gift of all - a last-minute winner in the play-off final over Sheffield United in May.

Despite excelling in EFL Cup action, picking up a goal and three assists in three games, it took him nine games to make his Premier League debut, being unused as a substitute in his first four squad appearances in the top flight.

Whilst Watson has made bench appearances in the Seagulls' latest games against Manchester United and Leeds United, it's arguable that the 19-year-old needs more regular minutes from the off, and Championship sides should be swirling for last season's Wembley hero.

In late September, Alan Nixon reported that Derby County were interested in bringing the former Sunderland wideman to Pride Park this winter. The Rams will be hoping that they can face no competition for Watson's signature, but the likelihood is that there will be a disorderly queue being formed for his short-term services.

Here are two other sides that should be fighting to be at the front of the line alongside Derby to bring Watson to their club in January.

West Bromwich Albion

West Brom were dealt a poor hand towards the back end of the summer transfer window, as they almost held on to star winger Tom Fellows until the deadline, before Southampton swooped in with a £10 million bid to take him to St Mary's two days before the window slammed shut.

In a late attempt to replace him, the Baggies brought in Samuel Illing-Junior on loan from Aston Villa, who hasn't provided the same amount of creative spark that Fellows did, and West Brom may be wise to look into the market in January to upgrade that position once more.

Albion are in the lower percentile of teams in the Championship in terms of big chances, expected goals, and goals scored, and Watson would be able to come in and help boost those.

The 19-year-old was a squad player at Sunderland last season, but the chances are that if he returned to the second tier, he'd have a bigger chip on his shoulder to perform and put himself in Fabian Hurzeler's eyeline.

Perhaps he could be what Ryan Mason's side needs to climb into the top six when things are all said and done.

Preston North End

With West Brom, Watson would be providing a boost to help the Baggies perhaps make an outside push into the top six. For Preston North End, it's about maintaining their unlikely charge.

Not many expected Paul Heckingbottom's side to be where they are currently, and to ensure that Preston can have a different dynamic for when they face off against everyone for a second time, someone like Watson might be a useful player to bring in.

The right wing-back role at Preston has been chopped and changed over the season so far, with the likes of Pol Valentin, Thierry Small, and now Odel Offiah operating out there.

Other than Small, those are rather defensive-minded, and whilst so far this season Preston have prided themselves on solid defensive stats, bringing in a more attack-minded winger could be a good way to keep their opposition on their toes.

Sunderland's run to the play-off final last season was seen by many as an unlikely underdog story, and it was capped off by a piece of Watson brilliance. Perhaps he could do the same to deliver Premier League football to Deepdale for the first time.