The Australia international goalkeeper is top of Brighton manager Chris Hughton’s wishlist after David Stockdale joined Birmingham City.
Valencia’s Mathew Ryan
Brighton and Hove Albion are still trying to sort out personal terms with Valencia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan having agreed a fee with the La Liga giants, as confirmed by Seagulls chief executive Paul Barber to the Argus.
The 25-year-old Australia international has made 23 appearances for the Spanish side in a season and a half, and spent the second half of last season on loan at Belgian side Genk – featuring in the Europa League for them in the process.
Valencia’s Mathew Ryan
Brighton have a bit of a goalkeeping issue on their hands at present after their first choice stopper last season, David Stockdale, somewhat bizarrely refused a new deal at the Amex and instead signed for Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham City, remaining in the Championship in the process.
The Premier League new boys have since targeted Ryan as their first choice replacement for Stockdale, with the Valencia stopper Australia’s number one on the international front since 2012, making 32 appearances for his country.
Mathew Ryan celebrates a goal for Australia
However, a deal with the goalkeeper is far from complete despite a fee being agreed with Valencia, but chief executive Barber is confident that a deal can be secured, and claimed that the club are “working as hard as we can” in order to get the move over the line, as reported by the Argus.
The Seagulls, managed by Chris Hughton, will partake in their first ever season in the Premier League after securing promotion from the Championship in the 2016/17 campaign, with Brighton finishing in second place after 46 games.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton
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