Brighton are among three Premier League clubs reportedly showing an interest in signing Ryan Sessegnon on loan.
The Telegraph reported that the Seagulls, along with Burnley and Southampton, are keen on securing a loan move for the 20-year-old, who has drifted to the periphery of Jose Mourinho’s squad at Tottenham.
Spurs paid Fulham £25m for Sessegnon last year but the youngster has been unable to establish himself in north London, playing just 12 times for his current club and failing to make an appearance so far this season.
He showed his qualities in the attacking third of the pitch for the Cottagers in 2017/18, when he netted 16 times as they won promotion to the Premier League. However, he has often been deployed as a left-back during the formative years of his career, alternating between that and a left midfield role. [via TransferMarkt]
A winner of five individual awards at Fulham during that aforementioned 2017/18 season, the 20-year-old is also a Guinness World Records holder, albeit not for the most celebratory of reasons – he claimed the fastest-ever time to hit both goal posts and the crossbar, doing so in 7.75 seconds during England under-21 training in May 2019.
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Quirky records aside, Graham Potter may see Sessegnon as an option in an area where he is not particularly well-stocked. Bernardo is currently the only natural left-back in the Seagulls’ squad and, having struggled for game-time in recent months, the Brazilian has been linked with a potential loan exit to the likes of West Ham and Newcastle (as per Sky Sports).
Although the Brighton left-back made more tackles (1.9 to one) and took more shots per game (0.5 to 0.2) than Sessegnon in 2019/20, the Spurs youngster averaged more passes per game (26.5 to 23.6) and had a superior success rate in terms of his ball distribution (77.4% to 73.6%).
Whether or not Bernardo will leave the Amex Stadium in this transfer window is unclear – he has started both of Albion’s Carabao Cup matches this term – but even if he stays put, Sessegnon could provide some welcome competition for the left-back slot.
It should also bring an end to Potter’s preference for deploying centre-back Dan Burn on that flank, while the Tottenham youngster’s ability to play further forward would offer the Brighton manager tremendous choice if the 20-year-old makes the move to Sussex.
Brighton fans, where would you deploy Sessegnon in the team if he joins on loan? Have your say by commenting below!
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