Millwall frontrunners for late Premier League loan deal in Bristol City and Stoke City blow

Millwall have emerged as frontrunners to sign Brighton midfielder Tommy Watson with the 19-year-old expected to make a Championship return for the rest of the season.

Alex Neil has hauled the Lions to fifth in the division after 29 matches but has been without a long list of midfield players for much of the campaign. That has made that area a key recruitment priority in January.

Millwall have already signed the experienced Barry Bannan from Sheffield Wednesday, whose fitness record and EFL knowhow could be vital for a promotion push. The London outfit are also known to have seen a bid for Svante Ingelsson rejected by the Owls.

Millwall ‘live option’ for Premier League loan deal

It now appears that the Lions will turn their attention to Watson. The former Sunderland man completed a move to Brighton last summer but has struggled for minutes at the Premier League side.

Watson netted a goal on his Seagulls debut against Oxford United in the Carabao Cup but has been limited to just 56 minutes in the top flight, spread across six cameos. Various fitness issues have not helped his cause but a move back to the Championship on loan is now expected.

The winger made 20 appearances for Sunderland last season, missing a chunk of the campaign with a knee injury, and famously bagged the play-off final winner from the bench against Sheffield United. Providing an update on the player’s future on Friday, talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook wrote: “Tommy Watson set to leave #BHAFC on loan between now and Monday's transfer deadline. A Championship return likely with #Millwall a live option.”

Bristol City and Stoke City battle Lions for deal

Football League World have also named Stoke City, Preston North End and Bristol City as potential suitors for Watson. The teenager is an England under-21 international, having made his debut for the side in September.

Speaking about the player earlier in the window, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler had said: “Yes, also for him a loan is a possibility. But I think regarding him, the most important thing is that he gets back into his rhythm regarding his availability, because again, last week he couldn't train regularly.

“He missed some sessions, and I think that's the worst thing that can happen to a young player to not get into a rhythm, to not be on the training pitch, to not train with the boys, to not have the opportunity to improve himself and to show himself. So therefore I think the main thing for him is getting into rhythm, and then, like I just mentioned, we have to make the right decision for the club and the player.”

In other news, Millwall join Portsmouth and Stoke City in bidding war for 'tremendous' Championship midfielder.