With Pedro Porro nearly gone, Sporting are now set to do some intense work in search for a right-back before the end of the January window.
Brighton & Hove Albion player Tariq Lamptey is currently reported as the Lions’ main target, and the Portuguese media features quite a few stories about that situation today.
The one sounding most optimistic about this move is newspaper A Bola. That’s because they managed to speak to Tobi Alabi, the player’s agent, who revealed the fullback’s wish for the move.
“Lamptey really wants to play for Sporting,” Alabi told A Bola.
Problem is that Sporting are facing a hard time to get that signing done. Following their offer for a loan with an option to buy, Brighton were not pleased with that, claiming they’d rather negotiate a permanent move. Now the talks are set to carry on, with Lyon also in the race.
Newspaper O Jogo says something similar, claiming the Seagulls demand €10m minimum for the move, while Record is the one bringing the bad news, claiming this possibility has actually collapsed.
The outlet writes that Brighton made an ‘impossible’ demand, as they’d only loan the player out if including an obligatory buying clause worth €25m. That’s said to be ‘out of Sporting’s reality’, and that’s why the talks are not moving on.
Now as we wait to see who’s right, only one thing sound certain, which is the player’s wish to make the move.
