News Focus
- Brajan Gruda has told RB Leipzig he wants to remain at the club after his temporary spell ends
- The Bundesliga outfit cannot afford the transfer fee Brighton & Hove Albion are demanding
- Leipzig hope to extend the loan deal with an option to buy the 22-year-old permanently next summer
- Brighton invested €31.5 million to sign the winger from Mainz only last year
RB Leipzig and Brajan Gruda share a mutual desire to continue their working relationship. The 22-year-old attacker, who arrived on a short-term arrangement from Brighton & Hove Albion, wishes to stay in Germany.
“Brajan has sent us definite messages showing he wishes to remain here,” explained Marcel Schäfer, the club’s sporting director, in remarks to Bild. “We feel the same way and rate him very highly. At this stage, we are awaiting communication from Brighton & Hove Albion.”
The primary stumbling block remains the asking price. The Seagulls reportedly demand significantly more than €20 million. Schäfer emphasised that the German club operates within rigid financial boundaries this summer.
Consequently, prolonging the current loan arrangement looks like the most feasible solution. This could involve a compulsory purchase clause activating next year.
The Premier League side invested approximately €31.5 million to acquire Gruda from Mainz during the 2024 transfer period. They now seek to protect that valuation.