Brighton’s signing of Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle for £30m is one of the biggest deals of the Premier League transfer window so far. Despite that massive deal, the Seagulls are not done spending. Reports claim Brighton have bid £30m for Leeds United forward Georginio Rutter.
The Whites reportedly rejected the bid, hoping to hold on to the 22-year-old for one more season. It is unclear how much Brighton would actually need to spend to pry him away from Leeds.
Rutter started 44 of Leeds’ 46 games in the Championship last season, primarily playing as a No. 10 or second striker behind a more natural goal-scorer up front. From that position, Rutter scored 6 goals and had 16 assists in the league. Ipswich Town’s Leif Davis was the only player in the Championship with more assists than Rutter last season.
While definitely a great playmaker with a lot of upside, on paper, this would be a bit of a strange signing for Brighton right now. New manager Fabian Hurzeler’s preferred 3-4-3 formation is not an ideal tactic for a No. 10 like Rutter.
Hurzeler has played a more narrow 3-4-2-1 with two playmakers behind a single striker. Rutter could thrive in one of these playmaking roles, but playing this formation means sacrificing winger like Kaoru Mitoma and Solly March out wide.
Unless Hurzeler plans on totally changing his tactics and preferred formation, Rutter could be a bit like a round peg in a square hole at Brighton.
Despite that being the case, the Seagulls are expected to make at least one more bid for the 22-year-old Frenchman.
Rutter is not the only Leeds player on Brighton’s transfer window shortlist. The Seagulls have been strongly linked to four Leeds United stars.
Earlier in the window, Brighton reportedly made a bid for goal-scoring forward Crysencio Summerville. They have now been linked to his right-wing counterpart Wilfried Gnonto. It is not just attackers though. Some reports claim Brighton are also chasing midfielder Glen Kamara.
The Summerville and Rutter rumors seem to be credible. We are less sure of the Kamara and Gnonto links. Who knows though, Brighton’s transfer strategy this summer might be just to raid Leeds United.
