Leeds United have reportedly rejected a £30m bid from Brighton & Hove Albion for attacker Georginio Rutter.
The Seagulls are beginning a new era under 31-year-old head coach Fabian Hurzeler, who has succeeded Roberto De Zerbi to become the youngest manager in Premier League history.
Brighton have already made a statement signing this summer, forking out a reported club-record fee of £33m to lure teenage attacker Yankuba Minteh to the Amex Stadium.
Fellow 19-year-old Ibrahim Osman has also joined up with the Seagulls this summer, after an agreement was reached with Danish side Nordsjaelland over a permanent transfer in January.
Hurzeler is now planning to bolster his squad further in preparation for the 2024-25 campaign and he appears to have identified a Championship star as one of his latest targets.
© Reuters
Brighton's Rutter bid rebuffed by Leeds
According to multiple reports, including one from LeedsLive, Brighton have seen a £30m bid for French attacker Rutter turned down by Leeds.
The Seagulls' proposal is said to have been knocked back over the past 48 hours by Leeds' hierarchy and it remains to be seen whether the Premier League club will return with an improved offer.
Leeds have recently been in the headlines after agreeing to sell highly-rated teenage prodigy Archie Gray to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £30m, with Joe Rodon returning to the club in exchange following a successful loan spell last season.
The West Yorkshire outfit lost in the Championship playoff final to Southampton last season and a number of their star players have since been linked with a summer exit amid their financial predicament.
Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville are two names who have been tipped to join Premier League clubs, with the latter being linked with a host of teams including Brighton, who now also hold an interest in Rutter.
© Reuters
Rutter a standout performer under Farke in 2023-24
Rutter joined Leeds in January 2023 for a club-record £35m at a time when Leeds were fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the Premier League table.
The 22-year-old, a versatile forward who can operate as a number 10 or as a central striker, was unable to live up to his hefty price-tag, failing to score in 11 top-flight appearances as Leeds suffered relegation to the Championship.
However, Rutter was transformed into an integral first-team player for Daniel Farke's side in the 2023-24 campaign and contributed with seven goals and 15 assists in 48 Championship matches as Leeds finished third in the table - only Ipswich Town's Leif Davis (21) registered more second-tier assists than Rutter.
The former Hoffenheim man remains a key part of Farke's plans heading into the new season and still has four years remaining on his contract at Elland Road.
Oliver Thomas
