Brighton & Hove Albion have fallen behind in the race to sign Ajax defender Calvin Bassey.
According to The Athletic, Fulham have tabled a £15 million bid for Ajax’s Calvin Bassey. Brighton have also shown an interest in signing the player this summer.
Brighton made Levi Colwill a top target this summer, after the young Chelsea centre-back impressed whilst on loan at the Amex Stadium last season. However, with the Blues reluctant to sell, the Seagulls have since made progress towards a deal for Igor.
Roberto De Zerbi may still want to bolster his rearguard yet further. If this is the case, then acting fast to sign Bassey makes sense.
Who is Calvin Bassey?
Having come through the academy at Leicester City, Bassey moved to Rangers in 2020, and established himself as a regular starter in his second season at Ibrox Stadium. He impressed for the Scottish club to such an extent that Ajax opted to sign him for £20 million last summer – a record fee for Rangers.
Ex-Rangers boss Steven Gerrard saw big things in Bassey, saying, “he’s a fantastic talent. He’s big, strong, quick and aggressive. He’s excellent in one v one situations,” as quoted by The Scottish Sun.
Bassey has continued to play a regular role in the Eredivisie and at just 23-years-old he has the potential to become a top class defender. His versatility makes him even more appealing, as he is able to play in the heart of the backline and at left-back.
Brighton seems like the perfect club for a player like Bassey. His progressive style of play and ability on the ball would be valued and encouraged by De Zerbi. The Seagulls also have a great reputation for nurturing and developing talent. The 10-cap Nigeria international would surely flourish at the Amex.