Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton are both reportedly interested in Espanyol centre-forward Léo Baptistão.
The information comes from the Italian press, as Calcio Mercato has a story today saying AS Roma are keeping an eye on the player as well.
Currently with three goals and two assists this season, the striker would be considered a solution for the Italian side, who are looking for a fix in the January market.
But Roma are still to make an approach for him, which would make both Brighton and Southampton equal competitors in this race.
Calcio Mercato claims that Baptistão has a €27m release clause in his contract, which runs until 2021. But the real price for him, what a club could expect to pay after negotiation, isn’t mentioned.
Living in Spain since 2008, the 25 year old Brazilian has already acquired an EU passport, and would have no problem joining a Premier League side.
Now as Espanyol paid €3.5m to take him from Atletico Madrid in 2016, their asking price may be reasonable. But would Brighton and Southampton have the budget to fight Roma in January? All the clubs may be better waiting until the summer.
