Brighton ‘agree club record £25m fee for Stuttgart striker Nicolas Gonzalez’ as Graham Potter looks to solve the Seagulls’ goalscoring woes with first signing of the summer
- Brighton want to bolster their attack after scoring just 40 times last season
- They wanted to sign Nicolas Gonzalez last season but couldn’t agree on a price
- But now the Argentine is set to become Brighton’s most expensive signing
- Adam Webster holds that record when he signed for £20million in 2019
Brighton are set to smash their club-record transfer fee after they agreed a £25million move for Argentina and Stuttgart striker Nicolas Gonzalez.
The 23-year-old scored six goals in 15 appearances for the Bundesliga side last season in an injury-disrupted campaign, but he started up front alongside Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez in Argentina’s Copa America opener against Chile on Monday.
Sportsmail first revealed Brighton’s renewed interest in Gonzalez back in May, with Head Coach Graham Potter keen to bolster his attack options after a dry season in front of goal.
Nicolas Gonzalez scored six goals in 15 games in an injury-disrupted season for Stuttgart
Of the teams that finished above Brighton last season, only Wolves scored less, as Neal Maupay was their top scorer with just eight goals.
The Seagulls were interested in the Argentine last season after scoring 15 goals in 29 appearances for Stuttgart, and Brighton valued the striker at £10m but the Germans were holding out for £16m.
Brighton Head Coach Graham Potter is keen to bolster his attacking options up front
That was raised after Stuttgart extended his contract to 2024, and after several weeks of negotiations, Brighton and Stuttgart have agreed a £25m fee. Serie A side Fiorentina have had a similar bid accepted.
But Gonzalez is thought to be keen on a move to England, with Leeds and Tottenham also being linked to the forward.
The price would shatter the £20m paid to Bristol City for Adam Webster in 2019
Nicolas Gonzalez started in Argentina’s Copa America opener against Chile on Monday alongside Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez
