Brighton submit €34m bid for Atalanta’s Honest Ahanor

Brighton submit €34m bid for Atalanta’s Honest Ahanor

Brighton & Hove Albion have stepped up their pursuit of Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor by submitting a bid worth around €34 million (330 million) for the highly rated teenager.

According to transfer experts Ben Jacobs and Alex Crook, the Premier League side have formalised their interest after previously monitoring the Nigerian-born centre-back, who has emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young defenders.

Atalanta would make a significant profit should they accept the offer, having signed Ahanor from Genoa for €20 million last summer, making him the second-most expensive Italian 17-year-old in history.

The 18-year-old has already made 41 senior appearances, including nine in the Champions League, and recently earned his first senior Italy call-up under interim coach Silvio Baldini.

However, Atalanta’s strong financial position, boosted by expected major sales, means Brighton may need to increase their offer to secure the deal.