Me neither. Just putting two and two together, could easily be getting five.
That wouldn't be my assumption and I reckon Watson's situation is different.
Reportedly, Watson is on 600 quid a week. No reason to doubt that given he signed his professional contract in September 2023 and he was only in the squad 4 times that season. That salary would be in line with what a professional footballer signing his first contract, at a club like Sunderland, and not close to the first 11, could expect.
Watson's advisers will want a hefty pay rise at this stage. In all probability, the club will not be meeting that level of pay rise at this stage, they don't have to as the player is under contract and they'll have a way of dealing with all players that will have to be conformed to in order to keep the structure and everyone knows where they stand. When Watson becomes a first team regular, that's different. Reckon it's just a case that Watson hasn't signed because him and his advisers think he's worth more, they have 18 months to prove it so no rush to sign, and the club does not have to pander to what Watson's advisers think (at this stage, under contract for 18 months).
Seems clear to me that the club looked at this way: if we can get Brighton's lad in, then it's worth taking the risk that Watson will become a 40 million pound player at Brighton because Brighton's lad could well be the difference to get us out of this league this season (and the massive increase in revenue that comes wit that) but, if we can't get Brighton's lad then it's not a risk worth taking because Watson could be the difference in getting us out of this league.
Reckon it's a simply a case that the club's decision was based on what is the best for us to get us out of this league this season, and 12 million quid in money, presumably paid in installments, with no left-winger other than Mundle wasn't the best for us.