Roberto De Zerbi confirms Brighton are open to offers for £10m-rated Leeds United target

Leeds United have been strongly linked with a loan move for Brighton teenager Facundo Buonanotte

With speculation mounting that Leeds United are closing in on a move for Brighton playmaker Facundo Buonanotte, Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi has already set out his stance on the Argentine’s availability. Leeds have been strongly linked with the 18-year-old, who impressed at the back end of last season in the Premier League but has since dropped down the pecking order as players such as Adam Lallana and Solly March have returned from injury and new signings such as Joao Pedro and Simon Adingra have arrived over the summer.

Argentine journalist Bruno Gonzalez Garcia has tweeted that he expects Buonanotte to join Leeds on loan within a matter of days, as new Whites boss Daniel Farke looks to strengthen his squad after a less than stellar start to life in the Championship. For his part, De Zerbi has said that Buonanotte is one of a group of players who could be loaned out if the alternative is that they make only limited appearances for the South Coast club.

“I believe in Facundo a lot, and I think he can become important, but I can’t give him my word that he will play 50, 40, 30 games,” said De Zerbi. “Maybe he wants to play on loan, I don’t know!”

Buonanotte joined Brighton from Argentine club Rosario in a £10.6m deal from Rosario Central. He made his debut for the club in February in the Premier League, and his first start in the FA Cup later that month.

He ended the season having made 13 Premier League appearances and having scored one goal, which came in a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest in April. Buonanotte helped Brighton finish sixth – the club’s highest ever top flight finish – and qualify for the Europa League.

He had previously been capped by Argentina at U20 level but was called up to the senior squad over the summer and made his debut in a 2-0 win against Indonesia in June

 

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Brighton’s star man Kaoru Mitoma was likened to Ryan Giggs by Tony Cascarino and now another of football’s top pundits has had his say on the flying winger

Manchester United could benefit from the addition of Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, according to pundit Garth Crooks.

Crooks believes Mitoma is a better option out wide for United than Jadon Sancho and Antony. Mitoma burst onto the Premier League scene last season with seven goals and five assists and he has continued his fine form into the current campaign with two assists and a stunning solo goal in the opening matches.

Despite attracting interest from Arsenal and Manchester City, Brighton are expected to retain the 26-year-old Japan star beyond the summer transfer window. However, Crooks predicts that Mitoma’s exceptional performances may lead him to move on from the Seagulls in the near future.

Crooks praised Mitoma’s recent display against Wolves, describing his goal as “world-class” and highlighting the consistent form he is showing. Crooks wrote for the BBC : “What a goal. The run, control and quality of finish against Wolves were world-class. In fact Mitoma has been producing this type of form with such regularity that I can’t believe he’s still on the south coast.”

Comparing Mitoma to Erik ten Hag’s current options Sancho and Antony, Crooks expressed his disappointment with the duo’s recent performances – tipping the Brighton man to replace them. Crooks added: ” Manchester United have Jadon Sancho and Antony in their ranks and I haven’t seen anything like the quality or ability from either of those two players that I have seen from this lad.

“How do United get it so wrong? I accept that Old Trafford is a daunting stage and the stakes are much higher there, but Mitoma is a United player if ever I saw one.”

The praise for Mitoma extends beyond Crooks, with former Chelsea and Aston Villa forward Tony Cascarino also heaping praise on him this weekend, reports the Express. Cascarino said: “Mitoma is on another level. I said to you off-air that it is like watching Ryan Giggs at his very best.

“He is direct. I was lucky and very fortunate, Ryan Giggs at the start of his career, I was watching him and playing against him.

“He was frightening, Ryan Giggs. He would just run at you when he was a winger. Obviously, he changed his game. But Mitoma just goes at people for fun.”