Premier League strugglers Sunderland are keeping tabs on Town centre-half Adam Webster, according to various reports this morning.

The Black Cats are said to see the 21-year-old as a potential replacement for Lamine Koné if the Ivory Coast international moves on to West Ham during the January transfer window.

Sunderland assistant boss Paul Bracewell is reported to have watched Webster in action as Town lost 2-1 at Birmingham on Tuesday, a game in which the former England U18 and U19 international scored his first goal for the Blues.

The Wearsiders’ interest in Webster is said to date back to his time with Portsmouth.

Town boss Mick McCarthy believes the West Wittering-born defender has the potential to play in the top flight.

“I look at the Premier League and some of the defending in there and think, well, if I haven’t got a Premier League centre-half in the making then I’m a Dutchman,” he said last week.

“He’s a good player, whatever he cost he’s a good player. I’m not touting to sell him, we’ve got a very good player.

“And a young one who is still learning. I’m not suggesting he should be going off and playing anywhere else. I think he should be the foundation of what is a pretty good squad of [young] players.”

Webster joined the Blues from Pompey for £700,000 plus Matt Clarke, who joined his former loan club on a permanent basis, in the summer, signing a three-year deal with an option for a further season.

Photo: TWTD

Bluebell added 11:15 - Dec 18 I really hope Town are not tempted to let him go in January. He is one of our best players at the moment. I can't see him wanting to go to Sunderland. They are likely to be relegated. We must try to hang onto him as his value will increase.
21

12th_Man added 11:22 - Dec 18 We will let him go on the last day of the window and replace him with no one
3

ParisBlue added 11:23 - Dec 18 Really hope he doesn't end up there. For whatever reason promising young players rarely fulfil there potential when moving to the north east clubs. Would certainly like to keep him for another 18 months or so. If he then leaves hopefully more Cresswell/Bent than Wickham/Ambrose.
2

Gforce added 11:25 - Dec 18 With Berra probably returning to Scotland in the summer,we have to keep hold of Webster and build the team around him.A Webster/Smith partnership ,Emmanuel/Kenlock at fullback,along with Bishop,Dozzell in the centre plus hopefully a signing or two in January and the future could actually be quite bright.
21

planetblue_2011 added 11:33 - Dec 18 We would take 3 million for him, smith returns from injury it's a Berra, Smith cb pairing again. Good business for Evans, not for us fans.
8

Currie10 added 11:40 - Dec 18 If he was to go in January, what do people really feel he'd fetch? In this over inflated transfer market, surely we'd be talking over £6 mill I'd imagine. Not that I want him to go anywhere of course, he's been outstanding.
2

TractorBoy666 added 11:48 - Dec 18 Find it crazy how we are even thinking this could happen, we only bought him in the summer!! We will carry on hovering in the championship or nearer to relegation if we continue to sell the better players of our squad.
5

BobbyBell added 12:05 - Dec 18 A very quick large profit is not something that I think I club would turn down. I can also see offers coming in for Bart, Lawrence (a Leicester player) and maybe Didz as well. Then we'll sign a couple of out of contract players that no other club wants. I hate saying these things but it just seems to be how our club is run these days.
9

irishtim added 12:09 - Dec 18 Sunderland have no money so non starter.
2

MickMillsTash added 12:10 - Dec 18 Good on the ball- stating the obvious A lot to learn - Spends far too much time on his back side. positionally poor at times v Birmingham and hardly forming a watertight rearguard with Berra. Would not want to see him go for sure but Holden at Bolton went for 10 Million, Holden looked very good - If Smith was fit and we could sell Webster for 8 AND we spent the money on a new centre forward and footballing right back would think it decent business. Sunderland have no money though

0

Eireannach_gorm added 12:12 - Dec 18 Micks attitude is a bit concerning. I expected a " He's going nowhere " approach.
1

jpring89 added 12:14 - Dec 18 How can john stones be worth 50 million and webster only according to some between 3-6. I know hes played prem football but i dont think there is that much of a gap between them. If we had any sence we would keep him unless stupid money comes in like over 10 million or so. Plus im sure portsmouth would have a percentage of whatever profit we make.
4

hampstead_blue added 12:31 - Dec 18 Problem with cashing in is that our league position has hardly reflected the increase in budget. If we do cash in, Tommy Smith is a more than capable Champ defender, in fact I think he could play Prem as could Berra, so we'll be fine there. My worry is the poor return on the investment.
1

jas0999 added 12:32 - Dec 18 I imagine Evans is getting excited, an early Christmas present. Sell him and then tell the fans you 'tried' to sign a replacement, but prices were above market value. Then bring in a has been cheap freebie before claiming the money was spent on wages.
10

cornishblu added 12:45 - Dec 18 Hampstead_blue ....Berra in the premiership??...have you watched him recently (12months) ....all he does is foul the player he is marking by either shirt pulling or holding him down..a point made when the way he got his "goal" on Tuesdays was to climb all over the oppositions player!! .....he would've be found out in the premiership and is now at best an average championship defender Berra is another of micks undropables .....smith/Webster or chambers /Webster in at CD ....a proper work horse in the mould of David wright for our right back position (the ball playing can be done by ward) and a young hungry striker ....it's all copy and paste but this is what we need COYB

3

muccletonjoe added 12:51 - Dec 18 Not as good as smith at either end of the field. But a good prospect none the less. He wont be going to sunderland
1

ShropshireBluenago09 added 13:48 - Dec 18 Berra certainly needs replacing, was our best defender for a few years, but age seems to be hindering him.
3

Mark added 13:50 - Dec 18 It goes to show how spending a few hundred thousand on the right youngster can potentially result in income of millions if we sell them on. More signings like Webster in January please, how about a young tall strong striker and a creative central midfielder? Not quite sure who...scouts?
4

GeoffSentence added 13:55 - Dec 18 Dear Sunderland. He's rubbish, you could do a lot better. Honest.
2

heathen66 added 14:01 - Dec 18 No, No, No !!! Webster is the future of this Club, even if Mick isn't However this would be attractive to Mick as then Chambers can play at RCB and there will be less pressure to drop him. I would also be worried about losing Bialkowski. Mick keeps telling us the Gerken is just as good, but unlucky to be dropped. Bart is by far our stand out player and will not have gone un-noticed, except by Mick !!!

6

TrumptonBlue added 15:26 - Dec 18 Hopefully they watched him get done for the second goal yesterday and have decided not to bother.
1

BlueandTruesince82 added 15:39 - Dec 18 They can't afford him. He's on what? A 3 year deal that he's 6 months into, he would cost at lest 4 mil even now for that reason alone. Their CEO is on record as saying they basically have no money to spend and will be doing little in the transfer market. Even if they are watching him they are in no position to do anything about it . Paper talk.
2

Penguinblue added 15:43 - Dec 18 McCarthy has a knack of talking up players, for sale e.g. Cresswell and Mings, long before they are ready to go. He must think it is clever. There is no need to, it's just another of his moronic traits. More laughable is when he goes on about his proper bloke favourites being different class. Those of you who think Chambers ( the worst right back in the league) can do a job at centre back are also deluded. He should not be anywhere near the team. If he was an inspirational leader as the moron says he would drop himself for the sake of the team McCARTHY OUT

0

Seasider added 15:44 - Dec 18 Could come out and say he is not for sale. This has been done for McGoldrick and also Murphy previously I believe. If Evans does sell any of our best players like he has previously ie-Jordan Rhodes,Jon Walters,Connor Wickham,Aaron Cresswell and Tyrone Mings;then it simply confirms that he has no ambition for Ipswich to get into the Premiership,where he would recoup his investment.

2

iaintaylorx added 15:45 - Dec 18 MICK OUT!
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