West Brom youngster Tom Fellows has been linked with a clutch of clubs in recent weeks, with his current Baggies deal set to expire next summer.
Last week, Daily Mail claimed that Championship duo Leicester City and Southampton were battling to sign West Brom youngster Fellows, 20, and that the Baggies were keen on securing fresh terms ahead of his contract expiry next summer.
Soon after, Football Insider claimed that German duo Augsburg and Werder Bremen were both keen.
The right-sided attacker, who can also operate at wing-back, made his league debut for West Brom in the 2021/22 season and has made six substitute appearances under Carlos Corberan so far this season.
Lepkowski plays down Fellows rumours…
Speaking on the most recent episode of The Liquidator podcast, journalist Chris Lepkowski had his say on the Fellows rumours, and he seemed to play them down.
He said:
“I’m always very wary when there’s a story linking a player with two or more clubs. It generally smacks of an agent playing up.
“What I mean by that is an agent floating a name around, which is a good story for journalists and also a way of nudging the club into action. It’s very common. Linking them with two or more teams makes it look like there’s a bit of a race for that player.”
West Brom are no strangers to losing talented youth players.
They’ve seen a number of players leave in recent seasons and often to neighbours Aston Villa, so fans may be wary of Fellows being the next Baggies product of move on before he has a chance to fulfil his potential at the club.
Lepkowski continued:
“I dare say we are vulnerable to Fellows leaving – there’s no doubt about that because of his contract – but sometimes you just have to look at a story, look at the way it’s written, the clubs linked. From a journalistic point of view, I smelt a rat as soon as I read that.”
Fellows going nowhere?
Fellows isn’t playing a huge role for West Brom right now, and given that the Baggies are doing well in the Championship, there’s no real reason for Corberan to change things up.
The club continues to wade through troubles financial waters and so whether or not a new deal can be agreed, and one that suits Fellows who might think he can get a better deal elsewhere, remains to be seen.
This emerging interest might push Corberan to give Fellows more game time or even a run of starts in the line up, but again, it would mean dropping an in form player and so it’s a difficult one to weigh up.
If Fellows is to move on then expect West Brom to push for a sale in the New Year given his contract situation.
West Brom return to action vs Ipswich Town after the break.