Galatasaray supporters celebrate after the football club was crowned champion of Turkey's top division for a record 22nd time on May 19, 2019 in Istanbul. - Galatasaray sealed their 22nd Turkish league title with a dramatic 2-1 win over nearest challengers Istanbul Basaksehir in a capital-city derby marred by violence. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP) (Photo credit should read YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images)
Brighton & Hove Albion are actively seeking a summer transfer for Paraguayan international Julio Enciso, but their firm asking price of €30m-€35m (£25.6m-£29.9m / $35.1m-$41m) is proving to be a significant hurdle, TEAMtalk understands.
This valuation has emerged as a sticking point for a growing list of interested European clubs, including new suitors Galatasaray.
READ:Galatasaray Considers Chelsea Striker as Osimhen Alternative in Ambitious Transfer Strategy
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who spent last season on loan with Ipswich Town, does not feature in new manager Fabian Hurzeler’s plans at the Amex. Enciso’s loan spell at Ipswich was disrupted by injury, but despite limited impact (two goals and three assists in 13 appearances), it hasn’t deterred potential buyers.
Italian giants Inter Milan, who have been tracking Enciso since 2021, remain keen, as exclusively reported by TEAMtalk on June 10. They face stiff competition, however.
Sources indicate that Portuguese powerhouse Porto and two unnamed Spanish clubs are also in the mix, a development first reported on June 15.
Now, Turkish champions Galatasaray have reportedly “thundered” into the race, making initial contact to assess Enciso’s situation and potential transfer conditions. This adds another prominent club to the pursuing pack.
Despite Brighton’s clear intent to sell Enciso and the player’s contract expiring next summer, the Seagulls have shown no signs of budging on their substantial asking price.
This valuation is widely considered too high by many of the clubs monitoring the player. As a result, no official offers have been made yet, with interested parties seemingly waiting to see if Brighton will lower their demands in the coming weeks.
Enciso has made 57 appearances for Brighton since joining, contributing five goals and six assists. His future is expected to be a prominent storyline throughout the summer transfer window as Brighton actively searches for a buyer, though a resolution may take time to materialize given their current stance.