West Bromwich Albion are in the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion winger Tommy Watson on loan, hoping he can replicate the impact Harvey Barnes made during his loan spell in 2018. The Baggies finished 21st in the Championship last season with 51 points, 13 wins, 14 draws, and 19 losses, and are looking to strengthen their squad under manager James Morrison.
Why West Brom need another Harvey Barnes
After scoring just 48 goals while conceding 58 in the 2025/26 campaign, West Brom are desperate for more firepower. Their wide players struggled last season, with Mikey Johnston and Jed Wallace managing only two goals each. Barnes, on loan from Leicester in 2018, scored nine goals and provided six assists in 26 games before being recalled. Morrison is now looking for a similar impact player to boost his side’s attacking options.
Who is Tommy Watson?
The 20-year-old winger, once hailed as "immense" by journalist Josh Bunting, has shown promise despite inconsistent first-team opportunities. He scored the winner in Sunderland’s 2025 play-off final and impressed in the League Cup for Brighton last season, netting once and providing three assists in three games. Though he failed to score in 12 loan appearances at Millwall, his youth record-18 goals in 40 U18 games and 14 goals and 11 assists in 32 U21 matches-suggests untapped potential.
Competition for Watson’s signature
West Brom face stiff competition from West Ham, Derby County, and Leicester City. However, with Watson likely to join a Championship side, the Baggies may only need to fend off Derby and West Ham. Brighton’s willingness to loan him out could give Morrison’s side an edge, especially if they can offer more playing time than their rivals.
With just over a month until their season opener at Norwich City, West Brom are pushing hard to secure Watson’s services. A successful loan could be the spark they need to climb the Championship table after a disappointing 2025/26 campaign.
