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Report: Brighton bid £18.5m for Leganes striker Youssuf En Nesyri

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Graham Potter’s Premier League outfit Brighton and Hove Albion desperately need a striker to take the pressure off Glenn Murray.

Youssef En Nesyri of Leganes during the La Liga Santander  match between Leganes v Real Betis Sevilla at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque on February 10, 2019 in Madrid Spain

Brighton and Hove Albion have failed with an £18.5 million bid for Leganes striker Youssef En Nesyri, according to AS, although they have not given up just yet.

The fact that Brighton need a new striker and fast is certainly common knowledge. The Seagulls found the net just 35 times in 38 Premier League games last season, a dreadful record that cost Chris Hughton his job and very nearly resulted in relegation.

New manager Graham Potter is far more attack-minded than his pragmatic predecessor but he is yet to bring in a new centre-forward to take the pressure off veteran Glenn Murray.

Yet that is not for a lack of trying. AS claims that Brighton have made a number of bids for En Nesyri but Leganes are standing firm, rejecting an offer of £18.5 million which was due to be paid in two instalments.

Brighton have now offered to pay the fee up front in one lump sum and the La Liga outfit are understood to be mulling over cashing in on their star striker.

Morocco's forward Youssef En-Nesyri (TOP) heads the ball to score a goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B football match between Spain and Morocco at the Kaliningrad Stadium in...

A 22-year-old Morocco international who scored a bullet header in the World Cup against Spain last summer, En Nesyri was a revelation in his debut season for Leganes, becoming their first player to score a La Liga hat-trick as part of an 11-goal haul.

He is quick, athletic and excellent when leading the line, making the former Malaga man a substantial upgrade on the erratic Jurgen Locadia and a far more mobile option than 35-year-old Murray.

CD Leganes's Youssef En-Nesyri celebrates goal during La Liga match between CD Leganes and Real Betis Balompie at Butarque Stadium in Madrid, Spain. February 10, 2019.