‘Open to joining’ – Fabrizio Romano drops transfer bombshell as Brighton brace for ‘new formal bid’ for £12m star
The Serie A outfit made a surprise £8m offer for the 23-year-old as former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte looks to bolster his midfield options.
The bid was rejected by the Seagulls, who are now bracing themselves for an increased offer expected to be in the region of £12m.
Romano tweeted: “Napoli are preparing new formal bid to send to Brighton for Billy Gilmour.
“Gilmour, open to joining Napoli. #BHAFC already rejected opening official bid from Napoli last week, revealed by @MatteMoretto.
“Napoli will return for Gilmour and also plan to sign [Marco] Brescianini [from Italian club Frosinone].”
Gilmour signed for Albion from Chelsea for £7.5m in 2022 and has two years remaining on his contract.
The Scotland international is currently in Japan with the Seagulls as part of a two-match tour.
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Brighton ready new Georginio Rutter move after Leeds bid rejected – sources
Brighton are still keen to agree a deal with Leeds United to sign Georginio Rutter after failing with a £30million bid earlier this summer.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that Brighton remain at the negotiating table as they are aiming to sign the Frenchman before the window closes.
It is believed the Premier League outfit are readying a new bid for the Leeds player as they work on getting a deal over the finish line.
Former Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson previously told Football Insider that Brighton were expected to return with an increased offer for the forward.
New Brighton boss Fabian Herzeler is keen to improve his attacking options at the AMEX despite having signed Yankuba Minteh and Ibrahim Osman this summer.
Rutter’s ability to play across the front line and as a number ten is an important factor in Brighton’s interest, with versatility key.
Brighton interested in signing Georginio Rutter from Leeds United
Rutter joined Leeds from Hoffenheim in January 2023 in a deal worth a club-record fee of £36million, and has since gone on to make 64 appearances for the club.
In his first full season at Elland Road, the Frenchman scored eight goals and provided 16 assists as he helped the club reach the playoff final before suffering defeat against Southampton.
Rutter is not the only player to be linked with a move away from Elland Road as clubs are also circling Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto.
After failing to gain promotion from the Championship last season, Daniel Farke’s side are braced for interest in their best players, having already lost Archie Gray to Tottenham.
Farke and the board at Leeds remain confident of hanging on to their key players should no acceptable bids arrive, but they are set to be tested.
The last offer from the Seagulls was turned down as Leeds felt it didn’t match their valuation, but an improved bid could test their resolve.
Brighton, meanwhile, fell out of the top half of the Premier League last season as they were pipped by rivals Crystal Palace, but are looking to strengthen ahead of the new campaign.
Playing Europa League football last season on top of an injury crisis exposed the lack of depth in the side, with the recruitment team now looking to remedy the weakness.
