Brighton Lead Premier League Chase for In-Form RB Leipzig Playmaker Christoph Baumgartner

Brighton and Hove Albion and Everton have joined the chase for Christoph Baumgartner this summer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

The RB Leipzig playmaker is in the form of his life in the Bundesliga and is understood to be attracting major interest ahead of the transfer window reopening. 

It is understood that Brighton have made the first move in the race and have sent scouts to Germany to see the Austrian international in action. 

Everton, who have some moving parts themselves this summer themselves with the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye in demand, are also closely monitoring his progress. 

But there is major interest from across the continent with Italian duo Inter Milan and AC Milan also keen on making a move for the 26-year-old. 

Flying Form

Baumgartner struggled during his first two seasons at Leipzig, but he is showing the form which earned him a five-year deal when he left TSG Hoffenheim in 2023.

He has bagged 14 goals in all competitions so far this season and his ten Bundesliga strikes are only bettered by Harry Kane (30), Deniz Undav (14), Luis Díaz (13), Haris Tabaković and Serhou Guirassy (both ten) this term. 

And that has attracted the attention of potential suitors as clubs nail down their targets for next season. 

Baumgartner will have two years left on his Leipzig contract come the end of the season with Italian duo Inter and AC Milan ready to strike fast. 

Baumgartner, capped 56 times for Austria since making his debut in 2020, plays alongside the likes of national captain Marcel Sabitzer, a former Manchester United loanee, and former Stoke and West Ham hitman Marko Arnautović and fancies a shot at the Premier League. 

The attacking midfielder made his Hoffenheim debut in 2019 and netted 31 goals in 138 appearances in all competitions before being snapped up by Leipzig.