Brighton look to sign Super Eagle Calvin Bassey during the summer transfer window

ENGLISH Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion are weighing up a move for Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey as a possible replacement for Levi Colwill who they may be unable to sign from Chelsea during the summer transfer window.

Brighton ended the season in a lofty sixth position, meaning that they now quality for the Europa League, so need to strengthen their squad. They are looking to sign centreback Colwill from Chelsea and have already submitted €35m but Chelsea are not willing to budge, so Brighton are pursuing Bassey as a back-up in case the deal falls through.

Bassey has struggled badly at Ajax since joining the club last summer. His transfer coincided with a transition period for the club as they had just lost coach Erik Ten Hag to Manchester United and key defender Lisandro Martinez left too, leaving them in turmoil, with Bassey struggling to find his feet in the side.

He was expected to hit the ground running but unfortunately, the former Rangers man has failed to adapt to the club’s style well. Bassey has gotten a lot of flak from former Ajax players this season and most of them have not held back, questioning the club’s decision to buy him.

Bassey started just one of Ajax’s final 10 games of the season with 17-year-old Jorrel Hato preferred over him in central defence. As things stand, Bassey would likely be a peripheral figure at the club next season if he does not adapt so a move to Brighton might just suit him perfectly.

Brighton would find Bassey a cheaper option to Colwill as Ajax may not demand more than €20m for the 23-year-old defender. If the move goes through, it would be a return to English football for him, as he started his career at the Leicester City academy before leaving for Rangers three seasons ago, from where he joined Ajax.