FC Cincinnati are in talks with Brighton and Hove Albion in an attempt to extend Jürgen Locadia’s loan deal at the club.
The Dutchman joined the MLS side on loan in the January transfer window in his second loan spell this season after spending the first half of the campaign at Hoffenheim.
His deal with the club is set to expire at the beginning of July, although the American side do have an option to make it permanent should they wish.
At the moment they are unwilling to do so, having had little time to assess Locadia since his arrival from the Amex as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
So far he’s made just two appearances in MLS and, according to Voetbal International, Cincinnati are now in contact with Brighton to discuss extending that stay.
Whether the Seagulls will be open to such a deal isn’t mentioned, although much will depend on what FIFA decide to do in regards to transfer windows around the world.
That could make negotiations with Brighton easier, with general manager Gerard Nijkamp hoping for a positive outcome.
“We want a win-win situation,” VI report him saying.
“But we first need to know more about what will happen with the transfer windows, the end of the European competitions and also the resumption of the MLS.
“He only played two games, and that was not even whole games. So we can’t say, ‘Okay, we’ve seen enough, and we’re going to lift the option and pay the transfer fee’.”
Whether Brighton will be open to extending his loan spell is up for debate, although it’s hard to imagine they would be too against it.
Locadia has been a bonafide flop since arriving from PSV Eindhoven in 2018 and any opportunity to get his wages off their books, and potentially secure a permanent exit, should be grasped with both hands.
Of course, much is likely to depend on the state of their finances once the COVID-19 suspension is over, with that likely to dictate many transfer strategies this summer.
