Previously linked with Sunderland, is Brentford midfielder Ryan Woods actually good enough for a Premier League move?
Bradley Johnson of Derby County chases down Ryan Woods of Brentford during the Sky Bet Championship match.
Having been linked with him over the summer, The Sunday People (printed edition; September 24 – p47) reported that Sunderland would return in January to sign Brentford midfielder Ryan Woods.
Signed from Shrewsbury Town in 2015, Woods is one of the latest testaments to a shrewd scouting system at Griffin Park that is able to unearth gems from the lower leagues at reasonable prices.
Ryan Woods of Brentford gestures towards the Derby County supporters following the Sky Bet Championship match.
At the time of the Black Cats being linked with the 23 year old they had just come down from the Premier League and had a bit more pulling power than they do currently sitting bottom of the Championship table.
Yet in truth, even if the Wearsiders were flying high in the second tier of English football Woods should still be aiming higher and clubs from the top tier should be considering the Bees star.
Brentford manager Dean Smith during the Sky Bet Championship match against Leeds United.
The midfield ace is still young enough to develop into a truly top-class talent and the way he has progressed under Dean Smith over the last two-and-a-half years should be a nod to that.
Initially signed as a utility player from the Shrews and making his debut at right-back, Woods has since become an impressive holding midfielder who is combative but also assured on the ball and just as the Greater London team took a chance bringing him up from League One, perhaps a top tier outfit should now consider doing the same.
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