Brighton have reportedly shortlisted Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia as one of their top targets ahead of the January transfer window.
The forward looked set to play a significant role under Xabi Alonso following his performances at the Club World Cup, where he scored four goals and registered one assist in six appearances.
However, he has struggled for minutes since, starting just one match in all competitions and otherwise featuring as a late substitute.
Garcia’s situation has put him on the radar of several clubs around Europe as a result, with the Daily Mail reporting that Brighton have already made contact with Madrid to ‘sound out’ whether the forward will be made available in January.
The Seagulls are expected to push to sign the 21-year-old if Alonso’s side agree to loan him out in the winter window, though it is unclear whether his exit will be facilitated at this stage.
If Madrid decide that Garcia will be allowed to depart temporarily, a ‘number of English sides’ are said to be keen, though Brighton will be hoping that they may have stolen a march on rival suitors by making their interest clear already.
Garcia recently penned a contract extension with Madrid, which will keep him at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2030, and the forward is therefore hopeful of forging a career with his boyhood club.
Speaking to Marca, he said: “’My only option has always been to stay at Real Madrid. For me, it’s a dream to be part of the first team. And for now, I’m very happy and content with the decision I made.
‘We’re talking about the best club in the world, and the competition is going to be fierce, because the best in the world are always here. But for me, having spent so many years in the youth academy and having been a Real Madrid fan since I was a kid, it’s a true dream to be part of the first team, and I don’t regret a single thing.”