Brighton in talks to agree £25m player-plus-cash Femi Azeez deal - 'I've heard...'
Femi Azeez is set to join Brighton in a £25million deal that will see a young player join Millwall permanently in return.
That is according to former Premier League scout and Millwall goalkeeper, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
The Seagulls have reportedly had two bids rejected already for the 25-year-old but a deal now appears close to completion.
Azeez scored 11 goals and provided seven assists last season in the Championship, and is keen on a move to Brighton.
With just two years remaining on his contract, Millwall have identified that this summer would appear the perfect time to extract the maximum value out of the exciting forward and make a significant profit on the £1million they paid to Reading in 2024.
Azeez is currently injured after he was forced off in the opening game against Bristol City, but he is set to return imminently.
'Very good bit of business for Millwall'
Azeez first showed clear signs of his potential when he scored nine goals and provided nine assists in 52 appearances across all competitions for Reading in the 2023-24 season.
The forward was signed by Millwall and did not initially reach the same heights, before excelling in the Championship last season.
Azeez now looks set to move to Brighton in a deal worth £15m plus a young player said to be worth around £10m, although it remains unclear exactly who that player will be.
"I know what the deal is. It's £15m, and Brighton are going to put a young player in there who they rate very highly at £10m," King told Football Insider.
"The deal initially will be £25m. So it'll be £15m cash and a young player worth £10m. That's all part of the fee apparently. Maybe it could be on loan with an option to buy, but I thought it was part of the fee, [that's] what I heard anyway."
King added: "I think that deal will go through today, but it'll be interesting to see who this player is. It should be a very good bit of business for Millwall, because I think he cost about £1m."
Who could Millwall's new mystery youngster be?
There are several potential young Brighton talents who could be the mystery youngster in question.
The most obvious option would appear to be Amario Cozier-Duberry, who also plays on the right of the attack and was subject to a £7.5m bid from Rangers earlier this summer.
The 21-year-old scored 10 goals and provided 10 assists for League One side Bolton Wanderers last season and has been of significant interest to Championship sides.
Cozier-Duberry is not the only option, however, with Ibrahim Osman also potentially available after he spent the second half of last season with Birmingham City.