Brighton and Hove Albion have entered the race to sign £33 million Milot Rashica as Liverpool cool their interest in the Werder Bremen star, according to Sky Sports.
With the Bundesliga set to make a triumphant and long-awaited return to action this weekend, the fleet-footed Kosovan international will never have a better chance to prove himself to the watching world.
And to say there is plenty of pressure on his sloping shoulders would be an understatement. Werder Bremen are staring relegation in the face and, if the 2004 champions are to pull off a great escape of Houdini-esque proportions, they will need Rashica to be at his explosive best.
Regardless of whether Bremen avoid the drop, a jet-heeled winger who has been compared to Bayern Munich great Franck Ribery will surely be on his way. However, if Sky is to be believed, his destination will not be Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are big fans of Rashica but it seems that they are set to put their faith in January addition Takumi Minamino rather than spend big on another rough diamond.
That, as you might expect, will be music to the ears of Wolves, Aston Villa and West Ham – all of whom are casting admiring glances at a man who has contributed 15 goals and assists in 24 matches for a struggling side this season.
Graham Potter’s Brighton are the latest name in the frame. A neat and tidy passing side they may be, but the Seagulls are crying out for some extra quality and cutting edge in the final third.
It remains to be seen, in these strange times, whether a club-record £33 million deal for Rashica is at all possible.
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