Exclusive: Brighton set to beat Leeds to 22-yr-old signing after agreeing £3.9m fee

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Published on:

18 Jun 2019, 10:30 am

EXCLUSIVE By Pete O'Rourke

Brighton are in advanced talks to sign Portsmouth defender Matt Clarke for £3.9million, Football Insider understands.

The likes of Leeds United and Stoke City have taken an interest in recruiting Clarke, but the Premier League club are set to win the race for the 22-year-old this summer.

A Brighton source has told Football Insider that the club are close to agreeing a fee of £3.9million with League One outfit Portsmouth for the English centre-back.

Portsmouth are reluctant to lose Clarke, but with the player entering the final year of his contract and failing to agree a new deal they have decided to cash-in on the defender.

New Brighton boss Graham Potter has made Clarke one of his top targets since taking over from Chris Hughton down on the South Coast.

The Seagulls have set their sights on the central defender to provide cover and competition for current first-choice partnership Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk.

Clarke has impressed at Portsmouth since from Ipswich Town in 2016 and is regarded as one of the best defenders outside the top two leagues.

In other Brighton news, Danny Mills tips Brighton to make big-money move to sign Leeds star after major development.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Portsmouth