"Money will talk" - Pundit issues Tom Fellows claim as Southampton eye West Brom ace | OneFootball

Southampton are interested in signing Tom Fellows from West Bromwich Albion.

Pundit Carlton Palmer believes that Tom Fellows could leave West Bromwich Albion before the transfer deadline on Friday, despite the Baggies stating they have no intention of selling him.

According to Daily Mail journalist Sami Mokbel, Premier League side Southampton are considering making a £10 million bid for Fellows, who still has three years left on his contract at The Hawthorns.

The 21-year-old has also reportedly attracted interest from Leicester City and Everton this summer, after his performances last season helped West Brom reach the play-offs in the Championship.

Express & Star have revealed that while West Brom are expecting to receive an offer for Fellows, they have no plans to sell the promising winger during the current transfer window.

Fellows signed a new deal in January this year, and has made an excellent start to the 2024/25 campaign with three assists in the Baggies' first three league games, so it is no surprise that they want to keep hold of their academy graduate.

However, considering West Brom's current financial situation and the fact that Southampton can give Fellows the opportunity to play in the top flight, a deal may yet be completed before the deadline on Friday night.

Pundit gives verdict on Southampton's interest in Tom Fellows

Pundit Carlton Palmer, who also started his career at West Brom, has shared his thoughts on Southampton's pursuit of Tom Fellows. He feels that West Brom will stand firm if they receive a bid of £10 million, but thinks a deal could be completed if the Saints improve their offer.

"West Brom have come out and made a statement that they won't be selling their young sensation, 21-year-old winger Tom Fellows," said Palmer.

"Tom set up both goals in their exhilarating win against Stoke City at the weekend.

"Given the situation that West Brom are in, although they're coming out and saying they won't sell Tom Fellows, it is believed that Southampton are readying a bid for £10 million to come in before the transfer deadline.

"Should an offer come in of £15 million, plus £5 million in add-ons, so going to £20 million, I think we will see Tom Fellows leaving the football club, given the situation and their financial predicament. "It would be disappointing for West Brom because, as I said, the manager has done fantastic things at the football club, and it has been very difficult given the financial situation that West Brom are in. "At the end of the day, if they keep Tom, and he keeps playing the way that he is, his value is only going to go up, but I am expecting that Southampton will come back with an improved offer for Tom Fellows, and if it's in the region of £15 million with £5 million add-ons, you will see him leave the club to go to Southampton. "It's right that they sit on him at the moment at 21 years of age and get the money for him because he is a talented player, and it is hard for clubs, because selling your crown jewels like Fellows with so little time left in the transfer window to replace him would not go down well with the Hawthorns faithful. "At the end of the day, money will talk. They have come out and said they will not accept £10 million, but like I said, if they come back with a new, improved offer of £15 million, going onto £20 million, I can see a deal being done.

"As I say, it won't go down well with the faithful, but at the end of the day, it's the right call if they get that type of money."

Carlos Corberan will be frustrated if he loses Tom Fellows

West Brom boss Carlos Corberan has started Fellows in each of the Baggies' first three league games, and the winger has assisted three goals as West Brom have picked up seven points from the nine available to them so far.

Corberan has already lost a few important players during the summer transfer window in Conor Townsend, Okay Yokuslu and Brandon Thomas-Asante, so the Spaniard will surely be hoping that he can keep hold of Fellows, especially considering his value is protected as he is tied down until at least 2027.

Mikey Johnston impressed for the Baggies during his loan spell from Celtic last season, and he could potentially have been the ideal replacement for Fellows if the youngster had been sold earlier this summer, but he is now set to join Sheffield United for £2.5 million.

It will be interesting to see if West Brom stick to their guns and keep hold of Fellows or if Southampton improve their impending bid and complete a deal to sign him, as Palmer has predicted could happen.