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Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen is ‘close to an agreement’ with Austrian side Sturm Graz to join them on loan next season.

That’s according to journalist Niels Dijkhuizen, who says the goalkeeper will be swapping the Netherlands for Austria for his next loan deal.

Scherpen spent last season on loan at Vitesse from Brighton and made 26 appearances for them in all competitions, conceding 31 goals and keeping eight clean sheets.

That was his second loan deal since joining Brighton from Ajax in a €5m deal back in July 2021, having spent the second half of 2022 at Belgian club KV Oostende.

It appears he is now set for a new destination, with Dijkhuizen reporting he is close to an agreement with Sturm Graz in Austria.

They’re looking for a new number one after Arsenal loanee Arthur Okonkwo returned to the Emirates at the end of his loan spell this summer and can offer Champions League football, as long as they get beyond the third round qualifying stage.

That would mean a potential step up for Scherpen and it seems a deal is now progressing well, with the player close to signing and heading out from Brighton for a third time.