Fortuna Düsseldorf have ‘a good starting position’ for a permanent deal for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Michal Karbownik, but are wary of being priced out of the market for him.
That’s according to Rheinische Post, who cover the player today as he shines on loan with the German side.
He joined them in the summer to get regular playing time that wasn’t on offer at Brighton, something he has been enjoying and taking full advantage of.
A series of impressive performances have put Karbownik in the spotlight and several reports this week have been about whether Fortuna Düsseldorf will be able to keep him beyond the season.
It was explained yesterday that they have a purchase clause included in his loan deal from Brighton, which is worth less than €5.5m, but they’ll need to be promoted to the Bundesliga this season to have any chance of activating it.
The figure would be affordable if they were to be promoted this season but then the German club would have to work out a way to pay Karbownik a figure he’d be interested in when it comes to salary.
They also have to take the World Cup into account. If Karbownik was to go to Qatar with Poland and shine, then even promotion would not mean he is automatically staying.
Fortuna are in a ‘good starting position’ if a battle for his signature were to occur but if the market opened up there would be no way for them to compete properly.
In that scenario they may even activate their clause and then move him on for a quick and healthy profit at Brighton’s expense.
Either way, for the time being Karbownik is becoming ‘a great asset’ for the club and could end up part of a big transfer battle in the coming months.
