Sunderland will only allow Tommy Watson's proposed £8million transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion go through if Simon Adingra moves in the opposite direction, it has been claimed.

Watson, 18, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Stadium of Light after coming through the club's academy. The winger, who has scored twice in 12 appearances this campaign, is currently out with an injury. However, Watson is expected to leave the Black Cats before tonight's impending 11pm deadline.

The teenager has been given permission to travel down to the south coast to complete his medical ahead of that proposed move to Brighton. A deal, reported to be around £8m, is edging closer - but Sunderland are not going to sanction his departure unless they get in a replacement in the next few hours.

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Now, according to reports from The Daily Mail, Sunderland have "demanded" Brighton to send talented forward Adingra in the opposite direction. Adingra's potential move to Wearside is said to be a loan with an obligation to buy if Sunderland are promoted back to the Premier League.

As Regis Le Bris' side remain in the process of finalising a deal with Brighton, for Watson, it could make a potential move much easier to be completed. Adingra, who joined Albion from Nordsjælland in summer 2022, has two goals and one assist in 16 top-flight appearances this season.

Adingra has started just six Premier League matches, however. He came on for the second half of Brighton's 7-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon and has fallen down the pecking order under Fabian Hurzeler. Georginio Rutter and Yankuba Minteh both appear to be above Adingra right now.

It means that a departure from Brighton could happen for Adingra, and Sunderland are hopeful of getting a deal done before the transfer window closes on Monday night.

In December, it was claimed that Adingra was not pleased with his lack of regular game-time at Brighton. It's no surprise considering the talent he has at his disposal, with Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae sending a message to Adringra last month as he tries to improve and get more minutes under his belt.

Fae told Flashscore: "He's a young player with a lot of talent. I just hope he continues to work hard because, at his age, consistent effort is crucial for improving day by day and year after year.

"At the moment, he is not a regular starter for Brighton, so he must work hard to earn that position and continue his efforts, particularly as he still has limited international caps. He's a young international player, so needs to stay focused and keep working hard to improve, aiming to build a career similar to Didier Drogba's."