Prem rival expects to miss out on £14m target due to selling star to Everton

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Brighton & Hove Albion expect to miss out on a deadline day deal to sign Christian Kouame of Fiorentina due to selling Neal Maupay to Everton, and may no longer replace the striker.

Brighton now expect to miss out on Kouame after selling Maupay to Everton

According to The Athletic, Brighton & Hove Albion now expect Christian Kouame to stay at Fiorentina on deadline day. The Seagulls had been pursuing a move for the Ivory Coast star to replace Neal Maupay, but his Serie A side inflated their asking price after Everton’s deal.

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Fiorentina are keen to capitalise on the extra resources Graham Potter has available at the Amex after selling Maupay to Frank Lampard. The Toffees struck a £15m swoop for the 26-year-old to move to Merseyside last week, with the Frenchman penning a three-year deal.

Potter was open to putting his newfound resources to good use to replace Maupay but did not view it as a vital last-minute transfer. Instead, the Seagulls boss saw signing a striker as a late window bonus and may no longer target attacking options before tonight’s deadline.

Kouame’s representatives also expect he will now stay at Fiorentina until, at least, the mid-season market. Brighton may revive their interest in a deal with I Viola next January having accepted that their last-gasp raid on the Stadio Artemio Franchi is now out of the question.

Brighton faced having to better new Maupay funds to bring in new forward

Brighton had started exploring their interest in signing Kouame from Fiorentina before the Seagulls and Everton confirmed Maupay’s move to Merseyside. The Daily Mail claimed the Amex Stadium hierarchy contacted their Serie A counterparts last week to start early talks.

Augsburg in Germany’s Bundesliga were also keen, but Fiorentina informed any interested party that they would want to make a profit on the £14m they paid Genoa in 2018. I Viola believe the 24-year-old’s value increased after 13 goals on loan to Anderlecht last season.

The 14-cap Ivorian also laid on 10 assists over his 36 appearances in all competitions under now-Burnley boss Vincent Kompany. While Kouame returned to Tuscany and has offered a single assist in four appearances so far this season, with just two coming in the starting XI.