Fortuna Düsseldorf may have a ‘trump card’ in their desire to keep Michal Karbownik from Brighton & Hove Albion, as the player is keen to remain in Germany.
That’s according to Germany’s Express, who explain how the 22-year-old could end up back in the country this summer despite the finances being difficult for Fortuna.
Karbownik has spent the season on loan with the German side and established himself as a key player and the deal does include a €3m purchase clause, but that figure is ‘simply not affordable’.
They’ve been trying to work out a deal with Brighton but have been unable to get it over the line, with director Christian Weber recently explaining how much they had tried to work out a financial solution that suited all parties.
Thus, the player is set to return to Brighton this summer but Express explain how Fortuna ‘could still work out’ a deal for the 22-year-old.
They say the fact that Karbownik is not a part of Brighton’s plans moving forwards but has a deal expiring in 2024 works in Fortuna’s favour as the Seagulls may need to sell rather than lose him on a free.
That would require Karbownik sticking by that deal and seeing it out, but that is very much a possibility and could force Brighton to ‘rethink their transfer policy’.
Fortuna’s ‘trump card’ is that Karbownik ‘would very much like’ to continue playing at Fortuna, having enjoyed his time there this season and the development he’s undergone.
Whether that leads to Brighton opening up to the possibility of negotiating remains to be seen, but there are several factors currently working against them that Fortuna at least feel could give them a chance.
