Brighton and Hove Albion are in talks to sign Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer despite interest from Arne Slot’s Liverpool and a number of other Premier League clubs.
HITC understands that the Dutch international, a key figure in the Feyenoord side who ended their six-year wait for an Eredivisie title under Liverpool’s new head coach, has no shortage of admirers across the continent.
Arne Slot’s new employers are one of those taking a close look at Mats Wieffer.
Interestingly, HITC have been told that Liverpool’s admiration for Wieffer precedes Slot’s arrival as Jurgen Klopp’s replacement. The former Excelsior giant has been watched by the Merseyside giants for over 12 months.
There is also interest from Brentford, Fulham and an Aston Villa outfit who recently sold Douglas Luiz to Juventus, albeit with Enzo Barrenechea arriving in the other direction to offset the loss of Unai Emery’s star midfielder.
But the club seemingly at the front of the queue as things stand are Brighton and Hove Albion.
Brighton lead Liverpool and Aston Villa in Mats Wieffer race
The Seagulls have opened talks with Wieffer’s camp, though there is an awareness of the considerable competition Brighton are likely to face should they step up their interest in a player reportedly valued at £22 million, via Sport.
In addition to the aforementioned Premier League trio, Wieffer is also a target for Napoli, AC Milan and Europa League winners Atalanta. Ditto a Marseille side who recently hired ex-Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi as their new head coach.
Wieffer, then, would be a sizeable coup for a Brighton side who are arguably yet to replace either Alexis Mac Allister or Moises Caicedo. Talismanic playmaker Pascal Gross could also depart with Borussia Dortmund interested.
The 6ft 2ins Wieffer would perhaps be more of a Caicedo successor than someone capable of taking Gross’ place.
The powerhouse 24-year-old, who only missed out on a place in the Netherlands Euro 2024 squad through injury, is a fearsome physical presence in the heart of the pitch. Wieffer averaged the third-best ball-winning statistics of any midfielder in the Eredivisie last term.
But he is certainly not lacking in the on-the-ball department either. He thrived in Slot’s high-possession Feyenoord side, and possesses a thumping strike from long distance.
“Mats Wieffer has made a mega leap in terms of development. I can really enjoy that,” Slot told Voetbal International recently, suggesting that the 2024 Dutch Cup winner could maybe become one of the game’s elite midfield talents.
“So big that, if he does that again, he will become the best player in the world. That is of course unrealistic, for any footballer. But Mats can get even better.”
Potential Moises Caicedo replacment
Former Celtic and Nottingham Forest striker Pierre van Hooijdonk, meanwhile, believes that Wieffer is still relatively under-appreciated back home. And while Eredivisie exports have a mixed track record in the Premier League, Van Hooijdonk thinks Wieffer can succeed abroad.
“I think he is better than we think in the Netherlands,” he told ESPN, highlighting the sheer pace of Wieffer’s progression into one of the league’s finest talents. “Because he is a player who has remained under the radar for a very long time.
“Then things go relatively quickly and we find it quite surprising that someone develops so quickly. That is why we cannot fully appreciate his qualities, when it comes to a possible transfer to a European top club.”
