Voetbal Nieuws claims that CFR Cluj player Philip Otele has drawn interest from Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, and other teams.
With 37 games played, the winger has been a standout performer for his team, tallying 13 goals and dishing out six assists.
The 24-year-old is in the target zone for Club Brugge, who will face competition from Brentford and Brighton.
The left wing is the Nigerian’s favored position, but he can also be deployed in other offensive positions. Due to his talents and profile, the Jupiler Pro League team has identified him as a potential replacement for either Antonio Nusa or Andreas Skov Olsen.
As well as Club Brugge, Brentford, Napoli, Bordeaux and Lorient have all shown interest in the player. However, the report states the Seagulls are the ‘biggest contender’ to sign him.
Adrian Mutu, who stepped down as Cluj manager on Wednesday, has backed him to make a switch to the Premier League.
“The interest in Otele does not surprise me, why should it? Otele is a modern striker who has the potential to make it in the Premier League,” he said.
“He possesses impressive physical strength, speed and technical skills. Although he can still work on his finishing, the interest doesn’t surprise me at all. He has the qualities to play at Brighton without any problems.”
Voetbal Nieuws state it’s no surprise both the Seagulls and Brentford have discovered one of the hidden gems in Europe, in Otele, and are showing interest in him.
It’s claimed Brighton have already come up with a plan for him, which would include an intermediate step [possibly a loan] at Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Cluj, for their part, have set a €6m asking price. This could be a bargain for Brighton and Brentford, considering Otele has a potential to be worth around €30-40m in the future.
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