Could Brighton and Hove Albion lose star man Pascal Gross to Premier League and South Coast rivals Southampton?
Brighton and Hove Albion would be loathe to lose key midfielder Pascal Gross in the January transfer window, least of all to local rivals Southampton.
But, according to The Express (12 December, page 49), The Saints’ new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has identified Gross as one of his key transfer targets as he aims to put his own stamp on the struggling side next month.
It is understood that Hasenhuttl, who was appointed to replace Mark Hughes in early December, will be given funds to spend in January. And, with a lack of creativity in Southampton’s midfield, The Express reports that Brighton star Gross is on the Austrian’s radar.
Gross moved to Brighton in 2017 and was a revelation in his first Premier League season, scoring seven goals and assisting eight more to help Chris Hughton’s side stay clear of the drop zone. Despite this, the report believes that the 27-year-old is valued at just £5 million.
And, worryingly for Brighton, Gross knows Hasenhuttl well having played under the 51-year-old in the Bundesliga for FC Ingolstadt. So it would perhaps be little surprise if the set-piece specialist was interested in reuniting with a coach who managed to get the best out of him in the past.
Southampton are not the only club who have been linked with Gross of late. The Mirror reported on Tuesday that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants to bring him to Anfield in January as a cheap alternative to the Lyon star Nabil Fekir.
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