West Brom's decision to snub Southampton and Everton was the right move: View | OneFootball

West Brom star Tom Fellows attracted plenty of interest in January, but the Baggies kept hold of him. Their decision looks like the right move and Fellows can become a top player if he continues his development.

After making just eight senior appearances prior to this season, the Albion academy product has broken into the first team this year, particularly in the second half of the campaign.

The 20-year-old’s original contract was due to expire this summer, but the Baggies managed to tie down their starlet for the long-term future, with Fellows signing a new three-and-a-half-year deal at The Hawthorns.

Fellows has become part of a West Brom side that have climbed to fifth in the Championship and are pushing hard to maintain a play-off place, with competition from the likes of Norwich City, Hull City and Preston.

Fellows' breakthrough at West Brom

Carlos Corberan has introduced Fellows into the first team this season and the attacker has featured 22 times in the Championship, starting five matches so far.

Fellows has repaid the faith shown by the Spaniard to throw him into the first-team picture this season, scoring three goals in all competitions and providing one assist this season.

The Englishman scored against Blackburn Rovers and fellow play-off hopefuls Ipswich Town, while registering an assist in West Brom's most recent victory over Cardiff City.

Premier League interest in Fellows

After cementing his place in the first team picture at the Black Country outfit, Fellows caught the eye of multiple outfits during the recent January transfer window.

Fabrizio Romano reported in January that Fellows was being monitored by Premier League outfit Everton and would be immediately loaned out if he was to sign for the Toffees.

According to the Daily Mail, Championship automatic promotion rivals Leicester City and Southampton have also been vying for the 20-year-old’s signature.

West Brom saw off interest from other teams and ensured Fellows stayed at the Hawthorns past the January window, signing him to that three-and-a-half-year deal.

West Brom right to retain Fellows

Fellows is still only 20-years-old and is still in his breakthrough Championship campaign. Leaving for a Premier League side like Everton, or Leicester or Southampton, with the latter pair having a very strong chance of being Premier League clubs next season, could be a mistake so early in his career.

Fellows would be limited in the amount of football he gets to play if he moves and could find himself sent out on loan to a side in a less competitive position than the Baggies. At West Brom, he is guaranteed first team football and is becoming a key player for the Baggies as they compete in the top-six. Fans have quickly warmed to him as an academy product, and he is at a club that can really help his development.

Fellows should remain with West Brom until at least the end of next season and really take advantage of first team football with a full year as a regular starter.

After that, he may attract further interest from Premier League sides, or even help West Brom back to the Premier League if they are not already there, with the 2024/25 standard promising to be far less demanding than the current Championship campaign.

It's the right decision for the player, and also the club itself, as they aim to bridge that gap between the Championship and the Premier League again, this time without parachute payments. The only way of doing that is by retaining top talent like Fellows and not folding at the first chance they get to cash-in.