Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly closing in on the signing of Romanian starlet Adrian Mazilu.
The Seagulls have built a reputation for recruiting hidden gems from across the globe and helping them to develop into first-team stars.
Seventeen-year-old Mazilu is the latest name to attract Brighton's interest after enjoying a successful spell with boyhood club SSC Farul towards the backend of last season.
Managed by Romanian icon Gheorghe Hagi, Mazilu scored seven goals in 14 starts for SSC Farul in all competitions since the turn of the year to help the Marinarii win their first-ever top flight title last season.
According to Romanian journalist Emanuel Rosu, via transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Brighton have reached an agreement to sign the 6ft 1in winger in January 2024, and the deal will be signed and sealed at some stage this week.
Meanwhile Romanian news outlet ProSport claims Mazilu's move to Brighton is essentially a done deal, with the Premier League club set to pay around €4m (£3.4m) plus bonuses for the teenager.
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Despite reported interest from Serie A clubs Roma, Fiorentina and Bologna, Mazilu recently acknowledged that he is keen to play in the Premier League.
Speaking at a press conference, the winger said: "I want to reach the Premier League. I did my job here, my colleagues also helped me and it showed. The academy produces a lot of players, they are always there and that's a good thing."
Meanwhile, Romanian legend Gheorghe Popescu, formerly of Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur, believes Mazilu has the "necessary ingredients to become a top player."
"I would like his path to be an upward one, to continue the good path, he also has incredible physical qualities, an incredible sense of goal! He has what it takes to be a great striker," Popescu told reporters via ProSport.
"It is the profile of a big team player, an attacking team. He has speed, he has physicality, he has a sense of goal, he has the necessary ingredients to become a top player."
Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi has already completed four signings so far this summer, with forward Joao Pedro and goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen joining for a combined fee in excess of £45m, while midfield duo James Milner and Mahmoud Dahoud have signed on a free transfer.
Oliver Thomas
