Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly prepared to welcome another new face to the club, with the Seagulls closing in on the signing of Ansu Fati from Barcelona on loan.
The 20-year-old won La Liga with the Catalan giants in the 2022-23 season, making 36 league appearances and providing 10 goal contributions in the process.
Fati graduated from the club's academy in the summer of 2019 and has since featured 112 times for Xavi's men, scoring on 29 occasions from an attacking role.
The winger has also gained relative international pedigree, having made nine appearances for Spain since making his debut in the summer of 2020.
According to journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic, Brighton are closing in on the signing of Fati from Barcelona with just over a day remaining in this summer's transfer window.
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The report claims that the deal for the Spaniard would be a loan one for the 2023-24 campaign, meaning that the winger would help the Seagulls during their Europa League campaign.
Roberto De Zerbi helped the South-coast club to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League last term, resulting in European football for the first time in the team's history.
It is understood that Brighton would have no obligation or option to purchase Fati permanently at the end of the loan spell, with Barca still viewing the attacker as someone who has a part to play in the club's future.
A temporary switch to the Premier League is said to be close for the 20-year-old, with the player reportedly set to land in England on Thursday ahead of the transfer deadline at 11pm on Friday.
The report also adds that Brighton are not the only English club interested in the capture of Fati, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur also understood to be admirers of the nine-time international.
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It is believed that the two London giants are monitoring the winger's situation in the closing moments of the summer window, however De Zerbi's Seagulls are currently in pole position for his signature.
Brighton commenced their two Premier League term with back-to-back wins against Luton Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers, before suffering defeat at the London Stadium to West Ham United on Saturday.
With Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo leaving the club this summer for a combined fee of £147m, the Seagulls are once again looking to rebuild their side after high-profile departures.
Carlos Baleba arrived from Ligue 1 outfit Lille earlier this week, with De Zerbi hoping that the Cameroonian can be a direct replacement for the departed Caicedo.
Carter White
