Arsenal and Liverpool are reportedly considering a transfer approach for Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma when the window reopens in January.
According to talkSPORT, Yves Bissouma is firmly on the radar of Premier League giants. The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool have gained an interest in the midfielder and are considering a move for the Brighton ace once the transfer move in the winter transfer window.
Yves Bissouma joined Brighton in the summer of 2018 and has gradually grown in terms of stature and importance within the first-team setup at the American Express Community Stadium. The 2020/21 season though, has seen him become a key player at Brighton, with the 24-year-old missing just one Premier League fixture this season.
Graham Potter seems to prefer a three-man backline and a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-1-2 setup since the return of Ben White and that has seen Bissouma be almost ever-present as one of the two sitting midfielders required to be deployed in the aforementioned tactic.
Yves Bissouma for Brighton vs. Villa:
◉ Most ball recoveries (10)
◉ Most clearances (9)
= Most tackles (4)An absolute rock. ? pic.twitter.com/KfOzBqJdvu
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 21, 2020
Bissouma has done so with aplomb, bossing the midfield in every way possible the latest evidence came in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa. His ability to dominate the midfield, pick up scraps and second balls while restricting the flow of passing for the opposition is something that seems to have been noticed by Arsenal and Liverpool.
Liverpool are scouring to line up replacements for Georginio Wijnaldum, whose contract expires in the summer of 2021. The Dutch international seems to be leaning towards a switch to Barcelona when his contract ends and while the defending Premier League champions will hope to convince him against doing so, they are looking at potential replacement options just in case.
As for Arsenal, their squad is crying out for impetus and creativity in the midfield. While Bissouma might not have shown as much of a creative side yet, his skill-set allows his team to retain and regain the ball in midfield, which can be a huge plus for a side struggling for creativity. There is also the case of Thomas Partey not having an ideal partner-in-crime in midfield.
For Bissouma, moving to either club would be a step up in his career but would also threaten his current status of a regular starter.
Brighton are currently 16th and in for another survival campaign this season, which will make it difficult for Arsenal or Liverpool to prise Bissouma away mid-season. The report does iterate that a January transfer is being considered by the two suitors, but Graham Potter would want to retain all his key men and shuffle the squad once the season ends, making the summer of 2021 a more realistic timeline.
