Brighton to spend some of the White money on Leeds target

Jason Soutar
Omar Colley
Omar Colley

Brighton and Hove Albion are interested in Leeds United target Omar Colley and have opened talks with Sampdoria over a deal for the Gambian centre-back.

Fresh off of selling Ben White to Arsenal for a reported £50million fee, Brighton will look to sort out a replacement before the start of the season, and Colley could be their man.

Also linked with Newcastle United, West Ham United and Leeds, Colley has impressed for Sampdoria in Serie A since joining from Belgian side Genk in 2018.


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The 28-year-old featured 29 times in the league last season as his side finished ninth in the Italian top flight.

Italian outlet SampNews24 (as cited by Sport Witness) reported last month that the Premier League trio are “monitoring” the defender.

They suggest that his future is “uncertain”, but Sampdoria “won’t make discounts” for him. The Italians are unwilling to accept an offer less than €10m.

However, the Seagulls have now joined the race to sign Colley according to The Sunday Mirror.

According to the report, their first offer is short of the asking price, and Sampdoria will know that they have just received a big cash injection from the White sale so will not sell to the south coast club on the cheap.

Graham Potter was managing Ostersunds in Sweden whilst Colley was playing for domestic rivals Djurgardens.

This suggests that the Gambian might have stuck around in Potter’s head and could have impressed the ex-Swansea City boss a long time ago.

Elsewhere, Kevin Campell has said that Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma would be the “ideal partner” for Arsenal star Thomas Partey in their midfield.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has already secured the signings of Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga, Benfica left-back Nuno Tavares and White for a combined total of £77m this summer.

“Bissouma, for me, he is the ideal partner in there for Thomas Partey,” Campbell told Highbury Squad.

“He is combative, he is a lot better on the ball than people give him credit for, the kid can play.

“He is young, he knows the Premier League, he is tough, he tracks back, he puts the tackles in, he is box-to-box. If you need him to, he can hold. That’s my guy.”