Brighton are reportedly interested in Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, as they prepare for the potential departure of Bart Verbruggen.
The 23-year-old shot-stopper has been a standout in the Bundesliga this season, keeping six clean sheets and ranking fourth for number of shots saved with 98, which has put him in the frame for a World Cup call-up.
Atubolu also broke a league record in September for the most consecutive penalty saves.
According to Sky Sports Germany, the Seagulls are ‘seriously considering’ a move for the young goalkeeper and see him as a potential replacement for Verbruggen, should their current No. 1 leave in the coming months.
If you enjoy The Brighton Base’s content, click here to learn more about our new site.
Atubolu is likely to be on the move this summer, with his contract set to expire in 2027. This could present the Albion with the chance to secure the signature of the German for a bargain fee if Freiburg opt to cash in this summer, rather than risk losing him for free next year if they fail to convince him to sign a new deal.
However, Fabian Hurzeler’s side could face strong competition for his services, with an unnamed top-five Bundesliga club also registering an interest. Though the club is yet to be revealed, it has previously been reported that Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen are monitoring his situation.
It is still unclear what Brighton’s plans are for the summer transfer window, but their interest in Atubolu and other goalkeepers suggests they are exploring options to replace Verbruggen, who has been linked with PSG, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in recent weeks.
The Seagulls already have Carl Rushworth on their books, who has been the best goalkeeper in the Championship this season, but his future on the south coast is up in the air after he spoke about his desire to remain at Coventry permanently.