Brighton looking to give CJ Egan-Riley Premier League chance

Brighton and Hove Albion are ready to offer CJ Egan-Riley a route back to England, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

The defender rejected a contract extension at Burnley to pursue an opportunity to play at Marseille last summer.

But it has been far from a dream debut season for the 23-year-old, who has struggled for minutes at the Ligue 1 club. 

The former Manchester City youngster has made just 11 league appearances for the club since his summer move.

And our sources understand the player is desperate for more regular first-team football at this stage of his career.

It is understood the Seagulls have been following his progress since his move to France at the end of last season. 

Our sources have been told there is also interest from clubs in the Premier League relegation battle, including West Ham United. 

Not Panned Out

Roberto De Zerbi, the new Tottenham Hotspur boss, seemingly lost trust in Egan-Riley after just his third league appearance when he was sent off in the first half of their defeat at Lyon in August.

He did not make another league appearance for also two months after that incident.

Egan-Riley made his second start since new boss Habib Beye took over during Sunday’s defeat at Monaco, but hobbled off with a thigh injury in the closing stages of the contest.

Beye said: “We were really happy with CJ before the match. He played really well on the ball. I told him he would be under pressure from Balogun and I thought he dealt with it well all the time.”

Egan-Riley started his career at Manchester City, making a solitary Premier League appearance for the club.

He moved to Burnley for around £400,000 in 2022 and was loaned out to Hibernian and Jong PSV during his time at Turf Moor.

The England youth international made 41 appearances as the club got promoted from the Championship last term before he rejected a new deal at the Lancashire club.