Pouraliganji impressed as Iran stood their own at the World Cup in Russia – now he could be on his way to the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion.
New Brighton defender Leon Balogun has told the club’s official website that he is welcoming competition for a place in Chris Hughton’s starting XI, which is just as well.
Because reports from The Mail are claiming that The Seagulls are hoping to sign another World Cup centre-back after landing the Nigerian international Balogun from Mainz earlier in the window.
It is reported that Brighton are in talks to sign Morteza Pouraliganji who, interestingly, played alongside their new £17 million record signing Alireza Jahanbakhsh for Iran over in Russia.
The 26-year-old centre-back is available on a free transfer after his contract with Qatari outfit Al-Sadd expired at the start of last month.
Pouraliganji has spent his entire career in the Middle East so far and has made 30 appearances for the Iranian national team. The tough-tackling defender didn’t miss a minute of his country’s World Cup campaign either, impressing against Morocco, Spain and Portugal as Carlos Quieroz’s side very nearly caused a major shock in the so-called ‘Group of Death’.
If Pouraliganji does sign, he will join Balogun, Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy as the central defensive options available to Hughton.
And considering that Dunk and Duffy failed to start just one Premier League game between them in 2017/18, more strength in depth would be well received.
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