Brighton have watched 26-year-old French striker Esteban Lepaul as they consider potential new attacking players. The Seagulls are among several Premier League clubs tracking the forward, with Everton, Leeds United, and Aston Villa having monitored him during the summer, while Brentford have also observed him. Interest from England has reportedly grown following his strong start to the season and a call-up to the France squad, for which he now has 3 caps. In response to the interest during the summer, Rennes signed Lepaul to a new long-term contract to maintain his transfer value. However, a potential January transfer is still being monitored, though any transfer will depend on the French club's stance and the amount of interest that emerges in the months ahead. The forward joined Rennes from Angers in August 2025 for a fee reported to be €13.5 million plus bonuses. According to Transfermarkt, he has a current market value of €45.00m. In October 2026, reports suggested Rennes set an asking price between €50 million and €60 million.