Brighton are reportedly ‘not opposed’ to selling Joel Veltman in the January transfer window.
The defender has made seven appearances in all competitions so far this season, with injuries preventing the Dutchman from pushing fellow countryman Mats Wieffer for the right-back spot in the Seagulls’ back four.
Veltman put pen to paper on a one-year contract extension with Brighton earlier this year, but speculation is already circulating about whether an exit from the Sussex coast could be on the cards sooner rather than later.
Ajax have been firmly in the picture to re-sign the No. 34 over the past few seasons, and the Eredivisie outfit will certainly be encouraged by the recent claims about Brighton’s stance on a transfer ahead of the January window.
According to Voetbal Primeur, the Seagulls ‘aren’t averse’ to allowing Veltman to depart in the winter window as it is their final chance to cash in on the 33-year-old.
If Brighton opt against selling the versatile defender, he will become a free agent at the end of the season, unless Fabian Hurzeler’s side looks to agree on another short-term contract. Therefore, nothing is truly ‘out of the question’ at these early stages.
Veltman has previously spoken about how he held talks with Ajax about a potential return to the Johan Cruyff Arena over the summer, before he ultimately decided to stay put at Brighton.
Speaking about those preliminary conversations with Ajax, he said: “Yes, but the timing wasn’t right. I still had a current contract. That expires next summer. Then it’ll be a time for decisions.
“Do Brighton want to continue with me? Do I embark on another adventure abroad, or is that the time for a return to Ajax? I’ll think about it carefully. I still feel good here, but my contract expires next summer. I’d like to see it out. But after that? What do Brighton want, and what do I want?
“For now, I can’t complain about the amount of playing time under our manager Fabian Hürzeler – and in recent years, neither under Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi.”