Brighton and Hove Albion may be the ideal destination for highly-rated Krasnodar goalkeeper Matvei Safonov, former Premier League scout Pavel Kucherov told Soccer.Ru.
With Matt Ryan in line for a permanent switch to boyhood club Arsenal, Graham Potter’s Seagulls may be in the market for a new shot-stopper when the summer transfer window swings open.
According to reports on the continent, 22-year-old Safonov has admirers at the Amex.
Soccer.Ru claim that Brighton are mulling over a bid for the 6ft 4ins glovesman, although Safonovic’s sizeable price-tag – not to mention a recent injury – threatens to scupper a potential switch to the Premier League outfit.
Nonetheless, Kucherov, a former Everton and Arsenal scout, believes the Russian U21 international could do a lot worse than to join a club who can claim to have turned the likes of Yves Bissouma, Ben White and Tariq Lamptey into top-flight stars.
“I have always said that it is the right thing for a Russian footballer to move to a strong European league at an early age. Safonov may be of interest to a club from the Premier League of Brighton’s level, 100 per cent,” Kucherov said.
“This is not a top club and not a hopeless outsider. Matvey will be able to get practice there and develop further.
“Could Brighton be put off by Safonov’s recent injury? Now, it is the end of the season, which means there will be time to deal with everything. I believe that Krasnodar’s doctors are also qualified enough to control this moment and help the footballer.
“You need to understand that getting into the Premier League is a very big opportunity.”
Robert Sanchez is currently Graham Potter’s number one – and with good reason.
The one-time Rochdale loanee has been a revelation since ousting Ryan late last year, forcing his way into Luis Enrique’s Spain squad ahead of the upcoming European Championships.
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