Brighton Exclusive: De Zerbi striker Steven Alzate bids to return to Belgium with Club Brugge

Steven Alzate, a Colombia international, has fallen out of favour under new Brighton manager Robert De Zerbi and has been linked with a potential return to Belgian club KV KV Brugge ahead of the transfer deadline on Wednesday September 6. Zalate, 24, has been dropped to the bottom of the pecking order in recent times, with Mahmoud Dahoud and James Milner joining alongside Carlos Baleba in the summer to further increase competition for places in the middle of the park. He has been on loan at Standard Liege for three games this season, scoring three goals and providing five assists in that time. According to TEAMtalk, Brugge have been made aware of Alzate’s performances in Belgium and are ready to listen to bids for his services.

Alzate, who has three goals and two assists in 51 games since making his Brighton debut in 2017, is in the final year of his contract on the South Coast and now seems set to move on.

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Evan Ferguson to miss Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifying matches against France and Netherlands

Evan Ferguson has been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against France and the Netherlands because of injury.

Ferguson, 18, scored a hat-trick in that game and was expected to spearhead the Irish attack in the next two games.

The Republic face the French in Paris on Thursday before hosting the Dutch in Dublin on Sunday.

“Ferguson reported for international duty on Sunday but after assessment from the Ireland medical team, Ferguson has been ruled out of both fixtures,” read the Football Association of Ireland’s statement.

The rest of the Republic squad will travel to Paris on Tuesday ahead of Thursday’s must-win game at the Parc des Princes.

Stephen Kenny’s side have picked up just three points from three games and sit three points behind Greece in second place in qualifying Group B, and nine adrift of France.

The Netherlands, who host Greece on Thursday, are level with the Republic on points but have played a game less.

Ferguson, who has scored 10 goals in 24 Premier League appearances for Brighton, has won six caps for the Republic and scored his first competitive goal in the win over Gibraltar in Dublin in June.

Without Ferguson, Kenny’s forward options consist of Norwich City’s Adam Idah, Preston’s Will Keane, Hull’s Aaron Connolly and Luton’s Chiedozie Ogbene.

Republic captain Seamus Coleman and forward Michael Obafemi were already ruled out of the trip to face the World Cup beaten finalists because of injury, while Wolves full-back Matt Doherty is suspended after his red card in the defeat by Greec