Football
RB Leipzig Push to Seal Permanent Deal for Brighton Loanee Brajan Gruda
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Eintracht Frankfurt vs RB Leipzig - 1.Bundesliga by NurPhoto | Getty Images
RB Leipzig will try and turn Brighton loanee Brajan Gruda’s temporary move into a permanent one this summer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The German Under 21 international, who is eligible for Albania due to his parents’ heritage, is due back at the Amex Stadium this summer after moving to the Bundesliga outfit in February.
The former Mainz’s playmaker made the switch to gain regular first team football after a promising start to his career on the South Coast.
The left-footed player had appeared in 39 Premier League games for Brighton before his loan move.
Indeed, he netted two big goals for Albion this term before leaving for Leipzig; scoring in the 2-1 wins over Manchester City in the Premier League and Manchester United in the FA Cup third round. He also netted against Oxford United in the Carabao Cup.
And Gruda has impressed at Leipzig who, placed third, are closing in on automatic Champions League qualification for next season.
Brighton are ninth in the Premier League and could be in the mix for a return to European competition. However, such is the competitiveness that the Seagulls could also miss out altogether.
Gruda, once coveted by Bayern Munich and understood to have been scouted by Liverpool as a teenager, joined Brighton in 2024 for a reported fee of £25 million.
Brighton are also expected to cash in on former Celtic star Matt O'Riley this summer, with Paris FC currently leading the race for his signature.
Gruda Keen On Move
The 21-year-old is contracted until 2028 and Albion are understood to want an increase on their investment.
It seems likely Gruda, who trained with Germany’s squad before the 2024 European Championships, won’t again be a regular starter under Fabian Hurzeler next season so the pull of staying with Leipzig is massive.
He scored the first double of his career in a 5-0 win over Champions League rivals Hoffenheim and is well liked by the Red Bulls’ supporters.
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