Crunch time in Brighton's quest to sign Liverpool's Rhian Brewster and £18m Darwin Nunez

It's set to be a pivotal weekend in Brighton's quest to sign a striker before their Premier League opener against Chelsea on September 14.
Brighton are among six Premier League clubs tracking Liverpool's Rhian BrewsterBrighton are among six Premier League clubs tracking Liverpool's Rhian Brewster
Brighton are among six Premier League clubs tracking Liverpool's Rhian Brewster

Brighton have been closely tracking Uruguay international Darwin Nunez and the Seagulls are also among a clutch of Premier League clubs chasing Liverpool's exciting young forward Rhian Brewster.

Albion remain very keen on the 21-year-old Nunez, who scored 16 goals in the Spanish second-tier with Almeria last season.

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Brighton are said to have made an offer of £18m but Benfica are thought to be in pole-position with Southampton, Napoli, Roma and Fiorentina still maintaining an interest.

Brighton are closely monitoring the situation with Uruguay international Darwin NunezBrighton are closely monitoring the situation with Uruguay international Darwin Nunez
Brighton are closely monitoring the situation with Uruguay international Darwin Nunez

Nunez, who scored on his international debut against Peru last October, returns to pre-season training in Spain this Saturday where he is due to meet his agent and discuss future plans.

Despite being a second division player he has a hefty €20 million exit clause, which would represent a tidy profit for Almeria who signed the striker from Diego Forlán's Uruguayan Primera División outfit Penarol for €4 million last season.

"We will have a clearer idea of the situation," his agent said last week.

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Brighton's recent track record of signing strikers from overseas could however be reason for caution.

Florin Andone, Jurgen Locadia and Alireza Jahanbakhsh all arrived in the last few seasons on sizeable transfers and wages but failed to establish themselves in the Premier League.

Albion enjoyed more success with Neal Maupay, who impressed for two seasons in the Championship with Brentford, before making a successful step up with Brighton following his £16m switch.

Liverpool's Brewster netted 11 goals in 22 games while on loan to Swansea City in the Championship last campaign and has started pre-season in style for Jurgen Klopp's men.

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Brewster, 20, has scored three goals in Liverpool's two pre-season matches to date, including a brace from the bench against Red Bull Salzburg.

Brighton are among six Premier League clubs and four from the Championship who have all registered their interest in taking the speedy young striker on loan for the upcoming campaign.

Brewster looked certain to be out on loan once again this season but his recent displays have forced his way in Klopp's first team thoughts - especially if Red's striker Divock Origi departs Anfield in search of more regular football.

Liverpool are yet to make up their mind on Brewster and the England under-21 could even feature for them in the Charity Shield against Arsenal tomorrow.

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Brighton have enjoyed a decent transfer window so far. Adam Lallana arrived from Liverpool on a free, while Dutch international defender Joel Veltman is a sound acquisition.

Crucially they maintained the services of their skipper Lewis Dunk and Ben White appears to be on the brink of agreeing a new and vastly improved five-year contract.

Maupay however does need back-up and Albion will await the outcome Brewster's situation with keen interest, while also keeping a very close eye on developments in Almeria.

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