Brighton & Hove Albion are at the centre of some surprising transfer talk, most notably a shock link with legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Our analysis of the past seven days shows the club has been tied to 7 possible arrivals and 5 potential exits. Here is the latest news on the most important of those transfer rumours.
Manuel Neuer
On Monday, it was reported that Manuel Neuer, a 40-year-old German goalkeeper, could leave Bayern Munich after a fifteen-year tenure, with Brighton showing interest in him. Other English media outlets have reported that Brighton confirmed their interest and that manager Fabian Hürzeler personally insisted on the transfer. Neuer's contract with Bayern expires in June, and the final decision will be made by the player himself, who may choose to retire if he does not reach an agreement with the club.
Noah Atubolu
Brighton & Hove Albion have a concrete interest in SC Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, according to a Monday report. Atubolu plans to leave this summer, and the Premier League club is considering him due to the potential departure of their current first-choice goalkeeper, Bart Verbruggen. However, Brighton's chances are not considered very high as Atubolu also has options with top-tier clubs in the Bundesliga, and an unnamed club from the top 5 is said to have already taken action.
Jeremy Monga
On Sunday, it was reported that Brighton & Hove Albion have registered an interest in Jeremy Monga, a 16-year-old English winger from Leicester City. A number of other Premier League clubs are also monitoring the player, with Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Brentford having also shown interest. Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City are preparing to make formal approaches for the attacker, who is unable to sign a professional contract until he turns 17 in July. The situation is also being watched by European clubs, including Real Madrid, Juventus, and Borussia Dortmund, while Leicester hope to retain the player by offering him a professional deal once he is eligible.
Yankuba Minteh
According to the Daily Mail on Sunday, Liverpool are interested in Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh and consider him a financially accessible option to replace Mohamed Salah, who will leave Anfield at the end of the season. Manager Arne Slot is familiar with the player from their time at Feyenoord. Also on Sunday, Footy-Africa reported that Liverpool have recently re-established contact with Minteh's entourage, following up on a long-standing interest. Discussions are currently at a preliminary stage with no official offer made, and the potential transfer fee of between 80 and 100 million euros could slow down negotiations.
Jan Paul van Hecke
Amid reported targeting by Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion have expressed interest in retaining Jan Paul van Hecke. Manager Fabian Hürzeler stated in a press conference on Saturday that he would love to continue working with the defender. The decision regarding his future will be made by van Hecke and may come before his probable departure to North America with the Netherlands for the 2026 World Cup.
Carl Rushworth
Leeds United and Newcastle United have made enquiries for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, who is currently on loan at Coventry City, it was reported on Saturday. Manchester United also assessed the 23-year-old last summer, while his current loan manager, Frank Lampard, is keen to sign him permanently. Despite this interest, Brighton views Rushworth as their long-term number one and is looking to sign him to a new contract. However, sources indicate that Rushworth has stated he will only commit to the club if he is guaranteed the starting role.
Bart Verbruggen
Bart Verbruggen is expected to leave Brighton during the summer as the club aims to sell him for a significant profit, according to a report from Saturday. While several elite European clubs are observing him, Inter Milan are also said to be interested in the player. Verbruggen joined Brighton in July 2023 and his current contract runs until 2028.
For the very latest on these and other stories, check our Brighton & Hove Albion page.
