- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Brighton and Hove Albion are now in pole position to sign Aston Villa, Liverpool and Fulham target Mats Wieffer after the Premier League outfit submitted a bid worth up to £30 million for the Feyenoord midfielder.
HITC understands that, after entering an advanced stage of discussions with the 2023 Eredivisie champions, Brighton are hoping to tie up a deal for the highly-rated Mats Wieffer as soon as possible.
The Seagulls know that there is no shortage of interest.
Aston Villa, Brentford and Fulham are also among Wieffer’s admirers. Liverpool are also big fans.
Their interest, meanwhile, precedes the appointment of the Dutch international’s former Feyenoord coach Arne Slot’s boss at Anfield. HITC has learned that Liverpool have been watching Wieffer for around 12 months, long before it became apparent that Jurgen Klopp wanted a break from top-level management.
The club in pole position to secure Wieffer’s signature are, at this stage, Brighton and Hove Albion.
Brighton close in on Feyenoord star Mats Wieffer
Sources speaking on behalf of Fabian Hurzeler’s side have confirmed that a bid has been lodged. One that, if accepted, could see Feyenoord rake in up to £30 million with add-ons and bonuses included.
Wieffer wants to leave the Eredivisie for the Premier League, and Brighton are now in the final stages of discussions. The South Coast outfit are expected to try and get Wieffer’s pen on paper sooner rather than later in order to reduce the chance of an eleventh hour hi-jack from a rival suitor.
Only 24 years of age, Wieffer’s progress in the Netherlands has been nothing short of staggering.
Feyenoord plucked a little-known midfielder from second-tier Excelsior n 2022 and Wieffer almost immediately made himself indispensable to Slot’s system. He was a major reason why Feyenoord ended their six-year wait for domestic glory last year, only an ill-timed injury denying him a potential starting role for Ronald Koeman’s Oranje side at this summer’s European Championships.
At Brighton, Wieffer could be the Moises Caicedo replacement the club were crying out for during a difficult campaign under Roberto de Zerbi.
Aston Villa and Liverpool also keen
Only two midfielders in the Eredivisie managed more than his 2.9 successful tackles per game in 2023/24. Wieffer, like Caicedo, is also an excellent passer of the ball, often breaking the lines with his piercing distribution. He’s got a fierce shot on him too from outside the penalty area.
“I think he is better than we think in the Netherlands,” former Celtic, Nottingham Forest and Holland striker Pierre van Hooijdonk tells ESPN. “Because he is a player who has remained under the radar for a very long time.
“Then, things go relatively quickly and we find it quite surprising that someone develops so quickly. That is why we cannot fully appreciate his qualities, when it comes to a possible transfer to a European top club.”
Aston Villa, another club who have watched Wieffer, recently offset the loss of Douglas Luiz by signing a deep-lying, ball-winning midfielder of their own.
Enzo Barrenachea has joined as part of the deal that took Douglas Luiz to Juventus.
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