Jurgen Locadia is heading to the Premier League from Eredivisie giants PSV but its Brighton rather than Crystal Palace who are willing to pay big money.
After a series of collapsed deals and failed medicals, Brighton and Hove Albion look to have finally signed that prolific centre-forward they have been after since the start of the summer.
That is quite the statement of intent. But the fact is that only Swansea have scored fewer Premier League goals than Brighton this season and the powerful Locadia, whose nine strikes in 15 Eredivisie starts fired PSV to the top of the table, could make the difference between survival and relegation.
The rather surprising aspect of the deal, however, is not the fee but the fact that Brighton appear to have wrapped it up with little competition.
There are many other Premier League sides in the market for a striker after all, including Brighton’s bitter rivals Crystal Palace.
Christian Benteke is the only senior centre-forward on Palace’s books and his struggles this season have been well documented, with just one goal and a series of missed chances to his name.
The Eagles have been linked with the likes of Oumar Niasse and Khouma Babacar but, as of yet, no deal looks close. They agreed a fee with West Ham to sign Diafra Sakho, according to Sky Sports, but the transfer appears to have stalled.
But the harsh reality is that Palace have really dropped the ball not challenging Brighton for Locadia, a quick and aggressive front man who boasts so many of the attributes the Eagles are lacking.
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