Brighton and Hove Albion are said to be targeting the Sheffield United defender after their pursuit of Reading’s Moore proved unsuccessful.
Brighton and Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton ‘is making a £6 million bid’ for Sheffield United’s Jack O’Connell after failing with offers for Reading’s Liam Moore, according to the Sun.
The report claims Hughton is seeking competition in central defence, but has been unsuccessful in his attempts to prise Moore away from Reading.
And O’Connell is said to be next on his list, with the Sheffield United man ready to ‘jump at the chance’ of Premier League football at this stage of his career – while the newspaper adds the Blades may have a fight to keep O’Connell from following David Brooks out of Bramall Lane.
Brighton have already added Leon Balogun to their options at centre-back, which already include last season’s formidable partnership of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy. However, O’Connell can also fill in at left-back if required.
O’Connell has impressed since joining Sheffield United from Blackburn Rovers two summers ago, helping Chris Wilder’s team to the League One title and a 10th-place finish in the Championship.
The 24-year-old signed a new five-year deal with the Blades in 2017, shortly after Moore did likewise at Reading.
Could Sheffield United lose O’Connell to Brighton?
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