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Brighton & Hove Albion: Seagulls interested in Tosin Adarabioyo

By Liam Togher

Posted on 18 September 2020, 16:20

Brighton are reportedly among four Premier League clubs interested in signing wantaway Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

The Times journalist Paul Hirst tweeted (via @hirstclass) that the Seagulls are joined by Everton, Fulham and West Ham, along with multiple Championship clubs, in showing an interest in the 22-year-old, who wants to leave the Etihad Stadium.

Tosin Adarabioyo attracting interest from Fulham, West Ham, Brighton & Everton, as well as several Championship clubs. He has told City that he wants to leave.

— Paul Hirst (@hirstclass) September 16, 2020

According to respected West Ham-focused blog Claret and Hugh, a source close to the centre-back has indicated that he could be signed for a modest fee of £8m.

Adarabioyo, who turns 23 next Thursday, is a graduate of Manchester City’s academy but has played just eight times for their first team, most recently in a fleeting substitute appearance against Basel in the Champions League two-and-a-half years ago (as per TransferMarkt).

He has at least played regularly during loan spells at West Brom and Blackburn in the Championship over the past two seasons, playing 71 times between those two clubs and netting three goals for the latter last term.

A towering presence at 1.95m (6 ft 6), the former England under-19 international is unsurprisingly strong in the air, winning 3.2 headers per game for Rovers in 2019/20. He is also adept at breaking up play, with a match average of 1.9 interceptions during his time at Ewood Park, and he is tidy on the ball with a passing success rate of 80.3% (as per WhoScored).

One potential problem for Adarabioyo if he goes to Brighton is that the Seagulls are already very well-stocked for centre-backs, with six first team players in that position. However, the 22-year-old also has experience of playing at right-back, where Tariq Lamptey is the only bespoke option at the Amex Stadium, so Graham Potter could be seeking to utilise him in that role.

The Manchester City defender certainly seems like he would be a decent addition for Brighton if they get him – just two members of the current Seagulls squad won more headers per game than him last season, while only Lamptey had a better match average for interceptions (as per WhoScored).

The key hurdles that may need to be cleared are whether Albion can beat off the other clubs for his signature and whether Potter can promise him regular game-time, given the plethora of centre-back options already at the Amex.

Brighton fans, do you think Adarabioyo would enhance the Seagulls’ defence? Join in the discussion by commenting below!