Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly leading the race to sign Mats Wieffer amidst interest from Liverpool and Aston Villa.
According to a report from HITC, Brighton are now front-runners in the pursuit of Feyenoord midfield ace Mats Wieffer as they have opened talks to sign him. Aston Villa and Liverpool are keen on signing the Dutch defensive midfielder but they have fallen behind in the race.
Wieffer made the move from Excelsior to Feyenoord in the summer of 2022 and he has gone on to establish himself as an integral part of their first team. On the back of a sensational debut season, he was handed a new deal last summer which runs until 2027.
Liverpool and Aston Villa keen on Wieffer
But, it looks unlikely that he will continue at the Dutch club for long given the amount of interest in his services. Liverpool are one of the clubs interested in prising him away from Feyenoord. Their new boss Arne Slot is a big admirer of Wieffer having seen him develop under his tutelage.
With the Reds looking to bring in a top-quality defensive midfielder to further reinforce the midfield, the Dutch international could be an ideal fit. The Merseyside club’s interest precedes Slot’s arrival as they have been monitoring him for over 12 months. However, with him taking charge, there are high chances of Liverpool actually making a move.
Aston Villa are also keen on signing the 24-year-old who has made quite a name for himself. Unai Emery’s team have parted ways with Douglas Luiz and they are looking for someone who can help them cope with his absence.
While they have acquired the services of Enzo Barrenechea in a part exchange deal that saw Luiz join Juventus, Emery still wants more quality and Wieffer is one of the names on their wishlist.
Brighton leading the race
While he is exceptional in protecting the backline, Wieffer can feature in an advanced role as well as in the heart of the defence. His versatility is one of the reasons why multiple top clubs want him. Villa and Liverpool seem quite interested in his signature but Brighton have leapfrogged them in the race.
The Seagulls have opened talks with the player’s camp regarding a potential move to the Premier League. They have taken the first step towards securing his signature. While there is nothing concrete at this stage, Brighton seems to be willing to take on the competition for his signature.
They are looking to add more quality to their midfield and believe the Dutch international’s arrival could help them significantly. The player is reportedly valued at £22 million, a figure that should not be that big a problem for any of the three Premier League clubs.
