Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool are interested in Bazoumana Touré
Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool are interested in Bazoumana Touré
Brighton and Hove Albion appear to have moved on from the race for Said El-Mala, by making moves for an alternative in Hoffenheim’s Bazoumana Touré and getting ahead of Liverpool.
SportBILD report on the situation today and Brighton’s effort for the 20-year-old, who the newspaper labels as ‘technically superior’.
Brighton look elsewhere
The newspaper explains that the pair are the potential rising stars in the Bundesliga this season. While Said El Mala has managed 12 goals and five assists, Bazoumana Touré has four goals and 12 assists to his name.
Various clubs in Europe are interested in both, with Liverpool following Touré for a while. Now Brighton have ‘entered the race’.
They have already agreed contract details with El Mala, after chasing him for months. He could earn €4m a year in the Premier League.
But Brighton and Cologne are ‘far apart’ in their expectations. Cologne want €50m, while Brighton will go as high as €35m. That means, currently, the deal is off. And so Brighton are looking for alternatives.
Concrete inquiry for Bazoumana Touré
SportBILD have learned that’s led to a ‘concrete inquiry’ for Bazoumana Touré. This was made at the beginning of May. He is also a winger but of a different type. While El Mala is all about using his powerful physique and speed, Touré is ‘technically superior’ and more versatile.
He can also leave for €40m this summer. That’s already been agreed upon and, is closer to the €35m that Brighton want to spend. Liverpool are also in the mix and see the 20-year-old as a replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Any deal for Touré won’t be done until the end of the season. He is also expected to play in the World Cup, which could delay matters further. That would only change if a top club like Liverpool make a serious move before the tournament.
But the interest from Brighton is being seen as a warning sign to Cologne. The Seagulls won’t wait forever and are already looking elsewhere.