Brighton bid for Yankuba Minteh accepted, Dewsbury-Hall swap deal collapses, other Brighton news from the last 7 days (Brighton news roundup June 23-29)
Silly season has officially started.
The European transfer window doesn’t officially open until Monday, but the rumor mill is already up and running. Here’s all the players Brighton have been linked to in the past week and other news stories you should know.
Transfer News
Incoming Transfers
Yankuba Minteh - Brighton to break transfer record on Newcastle winger
Newcastle’s current FFP/PSR situation means they need to raise as much cash as possible before the financial calendar resets on July 1. Selling young players like Yankuba Minteh is one way they can do that.
David Ornstein has reported that Brighton have had a £33m bid accepted by Newcastle for Minteh. The club still needs to agree with personal terms for the Gambian. If signed, Minteh would be the new most expensive signing in Brighton history, breaking last year’s record set when the Seagulls signed João Pedro from Watford.
Minteh, 19, spent last season on loan at Feyenoord after being bought by Newcastle from Danish club OB in the summer. He scored 10 goals and dished 7 assists in the league for Feyenoord last season.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - Swap deal for Leicester City star collapses after Chelsea bid
Fabrizio Romano revealed on Thursday that Brighton and Leicester City had agreed to a swap deal for long-term Seagulls target Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Jakub Moder and £25m would be going the other way.
Following this news, Chelsea reportedly made a bid for Dewsbury-Hall on the same day. Both The Athletic’s David Ornstein and Romano reported on Friday that Brighton’s swap deal had collapsed due to Chelsea’s bid.
Dewsbury-Hall is set to either stay at Leicester or move to Chelsea, should a bid be accepted for him.
Diego Gómez - Seagulls make $8.5m (£6.7m) bid for Inter Miami midfielder
Leading MLS reporters César Merlo and Tom Bogert have reported that Brighton are chasing Inter Miami midfielder Diego Gómez. The Seagulls have reportedly bid $8.5m (£6.7m) for Julio Enciso’s Paraguay teammate.
Gómez, 21, is one of the best young midfielders in MLS. Inter Miami only paid $3m (£2.4m) for Gómez, so $8.5m would be a nice profit for the Herons. However, they are expected to request at least $18m (£14.2m) for Gómez.
Mats Wieffer - Brighton make “concrete offer” for AC Milan target
Brighton have reportedly submitted an offer for Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer. Dutch reports claim that the Seagulls have been tracking him for more than a season and a half.
AC Milan looked like the most likely destination for Wieffer before Brighton’s bid. Whoever signs him, most reports from the Netherlands say it will take at least £30m to secure his signature.
Barış Alper Yılmaz - Brighton bid €20m (£16.9m) for Galatasaray winger
Turkey star Barış Alper Yılmaz is reportedly a top target for Brighton this transfer window. Multiple outlets have reported that the Seagulls offered €20m (£16.9m) to Galatasaray for him. Initially, reports claimed that Gala were going to hold out for at least €25m (£21.2m), but now it could cost much more than that.
Yılmaz has been a key player for Turkey during their impressive Euro 2024 run. Manchester United, Tottenham, and many other big clubs are now also monitoring his situation at Galatasaray.
Andrei Rațiu - Breakout Romania star linked to Brighton
Romanian right back Andrei Rațiu is on Brighton’s radar, according to Diario AS reporter Mirko Calemme. Genoa are also reportedly interested in signing the defender for around €8.5m (£7.2m).
The 26-year-old has been a breakout star of this summer’s Euros, but it’s unclear how he would fit in at Brighton. Rațiu does even start for his current club, Rayo Vallecano, who nearly avoided relegation from La Liga this season.
Brian Aguirre - Newell’s Old Boys reject Brighton bid for young forward
Leading Argentine outlet TyC Sports claims that Newell’s Old Boys have rejected a $6m (£4.7m) bid for their 21-year-old forward Brian Aguirre. Like with many Brighton transfer targets, the Seagulls also bid for Aguirre last summer.
Newell’s Old Boys are reportedly holding out for a bigger offer or a deal involving a larger sell-on percentage. Boca Juniors and Leicester City are also interested.
Malick Yalcouyé - Brighton bid for young, Ivorian midfielder
Swedish outlet Expressen have reported that Brighton have bid €7m (£5.9m) for IFK Göteborg midfielder Malick Yalcouyé. The 18-year-old has impressed in his one season of Allsvenskan action so far and is now looking for a move out of the league.
IFK Göteborg director Ola Larsson confirmed that a bid has been made for Yalcouyé, but would not confirm the club or reveal the amount offered. Southampton, Ajax, PSV, and Gent are tracking the Ivorian.
Edmund Baidoo - Brighton and Nottingham Forest monitoring Ghanaian youngster
Sogndal winger Edmund Baidoo has been linked to Brighton by Sky Sports this week. The 18-year-old has six goals and four assists in the OBOS-ligaen, Norway’s second tier, this season.
Baidoo is reportedly not pushing for a move, but would consider his options should an offer come in for him. Brighton and Nottingham Forest are the two clubs most strongly linked to him.
Wesley França - Flamengo reject Brighton bid for attacking fullback
RTI Esporte in Brazil have reported that Flamengo rejected a €4m (£3.4m) bid for Wesley França from Brighton. The report did not make clear when this bid was made, only saying that it was below Flamengo’s expectations.
Brighton have been interested in Wesley since at least the 2023 summer transfer window. They could in again for him this summer.
Outgoing Transfers
Deniz Undav - Stuttgart trigger buy-option, Brighton to decide on buy-back
VfB Stuttgart have triggered the buy-option in Deniz Undav’s loan contract with the club. According to Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg, the Reds will pay Brighton “around €20m (£16.9m).”
Another clause in the loan deal gives Brighton the right to buy-back Undav. If the Seagulls trigger this option, Stuttgart and Brighton will negotiate freely for Undav’s signature. However, the player does not want to come back to Brighton.
Pascal Groß - Dortmund very close to signing the Brighton legend
Brighton’s best ever player could be on his way back to Germany. Reports this week say Pascal Groß and Borussia Dortmund have opened discussions on personal terms. If they come to an agreement, Dortmund are ready to pay between £6m-£8.5m to bring the player in.
Groß has also been strongly linked to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Jakub Moder - Midfielder determined to make move happen
Polish international Jakub Moder was set to go to Leicester City in a swap deal for Kieran Dewsbury-Hall. While that move has collapsed, Moder is reportedly insistent on making a move away from Brighton happen.
Journalist Tomasz Wlodarczyk claims “Moder is determined and ready to move to Leicester.”
Carl Rushworth - Ipswich make goalie their “top target”
Newly-promoted Ipswich Town are looking to make Carl Rushworth one of their marquee signings ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Multiple reports, going as far back as late-May, have linked Rushworth to the Tractor Boys after his strong season at Swansea City last year.
Most reports do not make clear whether Ipswich are pursuing a loan or permanent transfer.
Abdallah Sima - Rangers more confident of finding a deal for Senegalese forward
Brighton winger/striker Abdallah Sima spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Rangers. The Scottish club have been working to make that loan a permanent transfer for months. Brighton’s £8m asking price was seen to be too high for the ‘Gers. New reports claim Brighton are ready to lower their price. Rangers could make a bid soon.
Marc Leonard - Young Scot linked to MLS move
After two years impressing on loan with Northampton Town, Marc Leonard looks to be on his way out from Brighton. The 22-year-old Scotsman has been strongly linked to MLS sides LAFC and Vancouver Whitecaps.
Other News
Brighton make Valentín Barco and Julio Enciso make Olympics decision
Reports from Argentina and Paraguay claim that Brighton have not given Valentín Barco and Julio Enciso permission to join their respective nations’ Olympics squads this July.
Brighton reportedly had given Barco the green light to go before changing their mind this week.
Five Brighton players nominated for Golden Boy Award
Carlos Baleba, Facundo Buonanotte, Evan Ferguson, Jack Hinshelwood, and incoming attacker Ibrahim Osman have been nominated for the European Golden Boy award. No club has more than Brighton’s five nominations.
While Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is a shoe-in to win the award, you can vote for Brighton’s young stars to win here.
Brighton celebrate 123-year anniversary
Brighton have gotten thousands of new fans since they entered the Premier League, including myself. A lot of us might not be aware of the club’s very long history. If you want to learn more (which you should), read this great profile posted by the club celebrating it’s 123rd birthday.
Roberto De Zerbi joins Marseille
Speaking of Brighton history, former manager Roberto De Zerbi has agreed to take over Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille. While they are definitely a huge club, this move is slightly underwhelming, considering who De Zerbi was linked with when he decided to leave Brighton in May.
Stories you might have missed
It’s been a very, very long time since my last roundup and the English transfer window has been open for two weeks already. Here are some other stories from beyond the last seven days that you might have missed:
James Milner and Danny Welbeck have signed new contracts, keeping them at the club until 2025 and 2026, respectively.
Adam Lallana has left Brighton to rejoin boyhood club Southampton.
Brighton reportedly have opened contract talks with Leeds United’s Crysencio Summerville.
Jeremy Sarmiento revealed to Ecuadorian media that his future with Brighton is uncertain.
Jason Steele has been strongly linked to Southampton.