Brighton’s lack of attacking depth at the American Express Community Stadium is linked with targeted reinforcement during the January transfer window after football insider Fabrizio Romano reported that the Seagulls are hot on the tail of Molde FK’s David Datro Fofana.
Excl: Brighton have opened talks with Molde to sign Ivorian talented striker David Datro Fofana. Negotiations are ongoing, deal not easy as many clubs are tracking him 🚨🔵🇨🇮 #BHAFC
Understand Molde want more than €10m to sell Fofana, who has 21 total goals this year – he’s 19. pic.twitter.com/Y7lq8ZBxsR
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 28, 2022
The 19-year-old Ivorian striker has been a revelation for the Eliteserien giants since his arrival in February of 2021 from Ivorian side Abidjan City FC and is coming off an excellent 2022 campaign in Norway that saw him hit 15 goals and add 5 assists in just 24 league appearances.
A full Ivorian international, Datro Fofana has also featured in Europe for Molde this season across 10 appearances in both the qualifying rounds of the Champions League as well as the group stage of the Conference League, where he bagged 4 goals across both competitions.
Brighton is said to have opened talks with Molde for a deal that would set the club back €10m (£8.5m) but will face stiff competition for the Ouragahio native after multiple unnamed clubs across the continent are said to also be keen to add him on their books.
The Seagulls remain thin in the number 9 role this season, first under Graham Potter and now Roberto De Zerbi, with the Italian tactician only capable of calling upon 32-year-old Danny Welbeck and an underwhelming Deniz Undav who has yet to hit the same heights that saw him lead the line for Belgian outfit Union St. Gilloise during their storyboard season in 2021-22.
With Datro Fofana offering a long-term puzzle piece in line with the recruitment remit on the south coast that has seen the club bring in multiple highly-touted youngsters in the last few summer windows, Brighton’s extended plans appear to show no signs of letting up despite the unexpected managerial change.
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