West Ham, Derby and Leicester among clubs eyeing loan for Sunderland play-off hero Tommy Watson | OneFootball

Sunderland Echo understands that former Sunderland play-off hero Tommy Watson is attracting interest from several clubs ahead of a significant loan decision this summer, with Brighton weighing up his next step.

West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City, Hull City, West Ham United and Derby County have registered interest in the 20-year-old. Preston North End could yet re-enter the picture after tracking him before his February move to Millwall. Potential options span League One, the Championship and the Premier League, though a Championship switch is currently viewed as the likeliest outcome.

Brighton remain firm admirers after signing Watson from Sunderland in a deal worth around £10 million last year and handing him a long-term contract. The feeling around the player is that the next phase must bring regular football. Competition at Brighton is fierce and could intensify before the window closes.

He made 10 appearances in the first half of 2025-26 and scored on debut in a 6-0 EFL Cup win over Oxford United. With Premier League minutes limited, he joined Millwall on loan in February, reuniting with former Sunderland head coach Alex Neil. He featured 12 times for Millwall, and at 20 his next step carries added significance.

His breakthrough arrived in 2024-25, when he scored his first league goals in a 2-1 win over Stoke City. Brighton moved in April 2025, the transfer confirmed before he linked up that June, and he then scored the stoppage-time winner in the play-off final against Sheffield United at Wembley to seal Sunderland’s first Premier League return since 2017.

Source: Sunderland Echo