Newcastle Utd & Sunderland transfer news must leave West Brom with regret | OneFootball

Newcastle United and Sunderland are both interested in signing a former West Brom defender

Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Sunderland's latest transfer news must leave Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion envious.

West Brom endured a difficult 2025/26 second-tier season, avoiding relegation to League One by four points, having been handed a two-point deduction by the EFL for breaching the governing body's financial rules.

The Baggies' turbulent campaign was underpinned by the fact that former bosses Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay were both sacked, meaning that James Morrison finished the term in interim charge.

Albion have subsequently given Morrison the permanent managerial role, and he is hoping to oversee a strong summer transfer window, so that his side can enjoy a more successful 2026/27 Championship season.

Newcastle and Sunderland among host of top-flight clubs interested in Michael Parker

Despite their poor campaign, West Brom still completed some strong business in the winter transfer window, such as the acquisition of former Bristol City goalkeeper Max O'Leary and the loan addition of Danny Imray from Crystal Palace.

O'Leary initially joined the Baggies from the Robins on a short-term deal, but he has now signed a new three-year contract, keeping him at The Hawthorns until 2029.

Meanwhile, the winter window also saw Albion allow defender Michael Parker to complete a permanent transfer to Swedish top-flight outfit Orgryte.

Parker never made a senior appearance for the Black Country outfit, instead enduring a loan stint with National League North side Hereford and playing for the Baggies Under-21s.

However, he has been handed more game time by Orgryte, already making 10 Allsvenskan appearances and a further three outings in the Svenska Cupen.

Now, according to journalist Rudy Galetti on X, Sunderland, Newcastle, Brentford, Copenhagen, Eintracht Frankfurt, Sturm Graz, Sporting CP and RB Salzburg are all interested in the 21-year-old, with bids expected soon.

Should Parker join one of those top-flight clubs, especially one of the Premier League trio, it would make West Brom regret the fact that they parted company with him.

The former Shrewsbury Town man, who never made a senior appearance for the Shropshire club, is clearly performing well in the top tier of Swedish football, showing that he could have produced the goods in Baggies colours, had the Black Country club given him the opportunity.

If the ex-Albion defender goes on to feature in the Premier League for Newcastle, Sunderland, or Brentford, Albion will be annoyed with themselves for not giving him game time in the Championship.

As per Swedish outlet Goteborgs-Posten (via West Brom News), the Baggies did include a sell-on clause in the deal that took Parker to Orgryte last winter.

That spells some good news amid the high-profile interest in the youngster's services, but it doesn't outweigh the feelings of regret Morrison's side will feel if their former player goes on to perform well in the Premier League, having never featured in the Championship.

Michael Parker transfer call is symptomatic of poor West Brom decisions in recent months

Parker's strong performances in the Swedish top flight have been endorsed by the interest in his services from the likes of Brentford, Newcastle, Sunderland, and Portuguese outfit Sporting.

Albion's decision to part company with the 21-year-old followed a series of poor executive decisions, including the appointments of failed bosses Mason and Ramsay.

Mason was sacked by West Brom in January following 10 consecutive away defeats, while Ramsay was dismissed in February, having failed to win any of his nine games in charge.

The Baggies' worst decision in recent months, though, could well prove to be the one that saw them part company with Parker, who may seal a Premier League move this summer.