Arsenal and Liverpool have been told to pay at least £40m if they wish to sign Yves Bissouma from Brighton and Hove Albion in the summer transfer window.
The midfielder has become one of the hottest and most talked-about players in the Premier League after his displays this season but the Seagulls are determined to get top money if they have to sell the Mali international.
Liverpool have tracked the 24-year-old all season as they search for a replacement for Gini Wijnaldum who is expected to leave when his contract expires this summer.
Boss Jurgen Klopp is understood to have gone as far as checking out his personality and professionalism after being convinced by his on-field abilities to dictate games.
However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is also desperate to capture the services of the Mali international as he looks to overhaul his squad at the Emirates.
The Gunners want to pair Bissouma with Thomas Partey to produce a midfield capable of competing against the best teams in the Premier League from next year.
Brighton boss Graham Potter claimed this week that he believes staying at the club for another season would be the best for Bissouma’s development as a player.
But the club knows there is little they could do to stop him from looking to move on should two of the ‘Big Six’ English clubs come calling for his signature.
Like all clubs in England, the Seagulls have felt the pinch caused by Covid-19 in terms of financing so the best option would be to try and get as much value as possible in terms of transfer fees for the Malian.
£40m is one that the South Coast club would find hard to reject, as it brings in some much-needed money and also provides enough to reinvest in finding replacements. Brighton have already started looking at possible targets to fill in the void that would be left by Bissouma leaving, with Reading Player of the Year – Josh Laurent – being one of the options to replace the young central midfielder.
Liverpool legend John Barnes has urged the club to go out and sign Seagulls star Bissouma.
The former England star said: “Yves Bissouma has the ability to play at a team like Liverpool.
“He could fill what Jurgen Klopp wants from the three midfield players.
“He is strong defensively, he works hard, he plays the ball quickly and every now and then when he needs to dribble, as much as we don’t speak about Brighton, you know he can do it.”
Bissouma is one of five players Arsenal are apparently keen to recruit this summer in a huge overhaul of the team at The Emirates after a shoddy season.
