English Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion have identified 25 year old Nigeria international winger Femi Azeez as their top pick in the event of the departure of Amario Cozier-Duberry, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
A bid of £7.5m from Scottish Premiership club Rangers for winger Cozier-Duberry was rejected, he spent last year on loan to Bolton Wanderers and had a fairly successful season, helping them to win the League One play-offs, scoring eight goals and providing 12 assists in 34 appearances and earning a place in the League One team of the season.
He has two years left on his deal and since his return from loan, he has featured heavily in pre-season under Fabian Hurzeler at Brighton but was an unused substitute for the 1-0 win at home to Bologna on Saturday.
He continues to have interest from Championship clubs over a potential loan move, while Rangers are among a number of teams believed to be interested in signing him permanently.
Brighton, meanwhile, are looking at alternative wingers including Millwall’s Femi Azeez, 25, who is deemed available at the right price and likely to leave the Championship club before the transfer deadline on 3 September.
The offer would have been Rangers’ second-highest transfer fee in more than 20 years. The Glasgow club paid £8m for forward Youssef Chermiti last summer, while Michael Ball and Tore Andre Flo were signed for larger fees in the early 2000s.
Capped by Nigeria at senior level in the summer, Azeez is keen on an exit to keep his spot in the Nigerian team. Last season he was named in the Championship team of the season and was nominated for the award of the Most Valuable Player in the division.
Daniel Martins
