Football is now entering its very silliest season, with transfer rumours in abundance. We read through all the nonsense and condense it down for you. Let’s get into it…
Jota Silva
Portugese outlet Record report that Brighton are amongst a group of top clubs looking at forward Jota Silva, going as far as to suggest that side Vitória de Guimarães are looking to hit the jackpot with his expected transfer.
Playing primarily as a winger, the 24-year-old Silva did not represent Portugal at any youth levels, but was called up for the senior squad this year, going on to earn two caps.
Albion reportedly scouted him recently and with just one year left on his current deal, a 12m Euro fee sounds like it may be a bit of a bargain.
There’s a discussion thread here.
Emin Bayram
Albion are said to be interested in Galatasaray central defender Emin Bayram according to Turkish newspaper Sabah.. The Turkish U-21 international has been on loan to Belgian Pro League side K.V.C. Westerlo, and Galatasaray are said to be keen to retain him.
We started a thread on NSC just to look clever if anything comes of it.
Philip Otele
Romanian media report that CFR Cluj have been contacted regarding Nigerian forward Philip Otele, and are asking £6m plus a 20% sell-on for the forward who has 13 goals and 7 assists in 38 appearances this season.
Billy Gilmour
In take-this-with-a-large-pinch-of-salt news, Albion’s Scottish midfielder is said to be on the radar of Newcastle, with Smug Eddie Howe wanting a ball-playing central midfielder.
Wee Billy has had a solid season in the blue-and-white stripes. It was never going to be an easy task to step into the void left by the departing Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo, arguably the best midfield in Brighton’s history.
Gilmour is currently half-way through the four-year deal he signed when he joined from Chelsea for a fee in the region of £9m.
Valentin Barco
If you listen carefully, you might be able to pick up whispers out of Argentina that Albion’s most recent signing, Valentin Barco, is going to be loaned out next season to get a good number of match minutes under his belt.
Some Albion fans have been disappointed at how little game time Colo has seen since his January switch from Boca Juniors, although it is well-known that it can take an extended period before Roberto De Zerbi trusts new arrivals to play his way in the cut-and-thrust of the Premier League.
It would feel surprising if a send-him-out decision had already been reached without having the benefit of a full pre-season to assess Barco’s readiness for Albion’s 2024/25 squad.
Lots and lots of discussion on Valentin Barco here
Abdallah Sima
Abdallah Sima returned to title-chasing Rangers at the weekend, coming off the bench to score a vital goal as Rangers saved a point from a 3-1 deficit. The Senegalese international has impressed on his loan spell at Ibrox, and it’s not surprising that the Glasgow club would like to make the move permanent.
It is reported that Albion have slapped a transfer in the range of £12-15m on the forward, which Rangers may struggle to meet, although qualifying for the Champions League may enable the purse strings to be loosened up.
Peter O’Rourke suggests that there are plenty of other admirers who are eyeing a move, and there currently seems little indication that the Albion plan to integrate him back into Roberto De Zerbi’s squad.
In today’s other Albion news: Leonard leaving?, Hoops up at Turf Moor and (some)Palace fans are OK!
Images courtesy of Reuters
