Transfer Centre

Medical booked: Brighton 'agree swap deal' for Enzo Maresca Chelsea target

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 27 June 2024

Chelsea transfer blow: Brighton 'agree swap deal' with Maresca target

Brighton & Hove Albion appear to have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign one of Enzo Maresca's top transfer targets this summer.

Brighton & Hove Albion have seemingly moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

The 25-year-old established himself as an integral player in Leicester's Championship title-winning campaign in 2023-24 under the tutelage of Enzo Maresca, who has since made the switch to Chelsea.

Multiple reports claim that Maresca is a huge admirer of Dewsbury-Hall after working with the midfielder during his solitary season at the King Power Stadium and would welcome the prospect of a reunion at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's interest in Dewsbury-Hall comes at a time when the future of academy graduate Conor Gallagher is believed to be uncertain, with the Blues allegedly open to selling the midfielder to generate pure profit and avoid the risk of breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules.

The West Londoners are not the only Premier League side keen to recruit Dewsbury-Hall, though, as both Brighton and Brentford have been credited with an interest, and the Seagulls - now coached by Fabian Hurzeler - appear to have made a significant move in a bid to win the race for his signature.

Harry Winks and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Leicester hold the trophy on June 26, 2024 © Imago

Dewsbury-Hall to undergo Brighton medical ahead of swap deal

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Brighton have agreed a player-plus-cash swap deal with Leicester, which would see the Seagulls pay in excess of £25m and hand over midfielder Jakub Moder in exchange for Dewsbury-Hall.

Romano adds that both players have since travelled in opposite directions for medical tests, with Moder - who has given the green light to join Leicester - having already completed the first part of his medical for the Foxes.

Moder is a 25-year-old Poland international who has spent the last four years at Brighton, although he was sidelined for almost 19 months with a serious knee injury before making his long-awaited return in November last year.

The box-to-box midfielder went on to make 19 appearances for Brighton last season, before featuring in all three of Poland's group-stage games at Euro 2024.

Dewsbury-Hall, meanwhile, is said to have made the trip to Brighton ahead of his scheduled medical, with the Seagulls edging closer to finalising his transfer.

Leicester City's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in action with Chelsea's Moises Caicedo on March 17, 2024 © Reuters

Chelsea remain in Dewsbury-Hall race despite Brighton agreement

All hope is not lost for Chelsea, though, as The Athletic journalist David Ornstein reports that the Blues have contacted Leicester to express their interest in signing Dewsbury-Hall.

It is understood that no formal bid has been made by Chelsea just yet, but Dewsbury-Hall would be keen on a move to Stamford Bridge if the opportunity arises.

The Leicestershire-born midfielder is said to be viewed as a 'perfect fit' for the style of football that Chelsea intend to play under Maresca.

Dewsbury-Hall - Player's and Supporters' Player of the Season for Leicester in 2023-24 - still has three years remaining on his contract, but the Foxes are being forced to sell some of their first-team players this summer due to Financial Fair Play regulations.

After joined Leicester at the age of eight and working his way through the club's youth ranks, Dewsbury-Hall has since made a total of 129 first-team appearances since and including his debut in 2020, scoring 17 goals and providing 20 assists.