Brighton and Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton may have to rethink his summer transfer plans after a revelation from France.
Batista Mendy playing for France U16s (left)
Brighton had reportedly agreed a pre-contract agreement with highly-rated 18-year-old Nantes defender Batista Mendy, as reported by the likes of Foot Mercato.
It would have been quite the coup for the Seagulls and boss Hughton with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Real Madrid also believed to be interested.
But according to a report from RMC in France, the player – who is still on youth terms at Nantes – was pressured into signing a pre-contract agreement with Brighton and has changed his mind over the summer move.
RMC claims that Mendy would prefer to sign his first professional deal with Nantes, and, ‘after studying the legal implications of his agreement with Brighton, it appears as if Mendy will get his way’.
Nantes have reportedly agreed to match the salary offered by Brighton who RMC claim have ‘graciously agreed to annul the prior agreement to enable Mendy to sign for the club that he genuinely wants to begin his professional career at’.
So it looks like it is back to the drawing board for Hughton, who is confident of securing survival before a daunting final three games against Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
Do that and he will have the distinct advantage of an extra few weeks to plan and action any transfer activity before rivals whose future is less certain.
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