Leipzig waiting on Brighton after Gruda expresses desire to stay

Both RB Leipzig and Brajan Gruda are keen to keep working together following the end of the 22-year-old's loan spell from Brighton & Hove Albion.

>“We have received clear signals from Brajan that he wants to stay with us,” RB Leipzig managing director for sport Marcel Schäfer told Bild.

>“We also want that and value him highly. Now we're waiting for a signal from Brighton & Hove.”

>The biggest obstacle is the transfer fee Brighton would demand for Gruda, with a deal worth “well above €20 million” beyond Leipzig's reach this summer.

>“It's clear that we have strict financial limits,” Schäfer stressed.

>As a result, extending Gruda's loan appears to be the most realistic option, potentially with an obligation to buy included for the following season.

>Brighton paid a reported €31.5 million fee to sign Gruda from Mainz in 2024.