Leipzig waiting on Brighton after Gruda expresses desire to stay | OneFootball

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.