Charlton Athletic reject shock £3.5m Brighton transfer offer - he's only made 7 league appearances | OneFootball

Premier League Brighton have had two bids rejected by Charlton Athletic for 19-year-old Micah Mbick

Premier League outfit Brighton and Hove Albion are launching a shock transfer raid on Charlton Athletic, who could see one of their prised assets lured away in the remainder of this month's transfer window as Nathan Jones bids to keep the Addicks in the Championship after promotion last season.

Survival will be the immediate priority for Charlton, with the South London outfit's form deterioriating at an alarming rate following a surprisingly-strong start to life back in the second-tier.

Further additions may be required before February 2 in order to continue to bolster their own survival ambitions, having already snapped up Lyndon Dykes and Harry Clarke.

However, they won't be looking to sell anybody who could be important to the club's immediate or long-term plans either, which is providing a stumbling block for Brighton.

Brighton will continue to push Charlton Athletic for the signing of Micah Mbick this month

As per The Athletic's David Ornstein, Premier League side Brighton are preparing a third bid for Charlton's young striker Micah Mbick, who is currently plying his trade on loan with League Two Colchester United.

The 19-year-old is currently thriving with Colchester in League Two, leading Brighton to pursue a move. An England youth international, Mbick has scored six goals and grabbed two assists in the fourth tier for Colchester this season, and has attracted interest from the south coast side.

The Seagulls' second bid for Mbick was worth a reported £3.5 million (including a fixed fee in the region of £2.5 million), but Charlton's valuation of the striker is said to be higher than that.

It is expected that Brighton will return with a third bid for Mbick later this month, as Charlton's resolve will be heavily tested for the forward.

With Charlton so far standing firm on their stance on Mbick, it may only be a matter of time before they are forced to accept a deal.

The 19-year-old has made 11 first-team appearances for the Addicks, just seven in league action, but was sent out on loan this summer to continue his development, in what is his first full season of men's professional football.

Mbick has not looked out of place at all in League Two, with his ability to hold up play, composure on the ball, and ability to control the ball on display for everyone to see.

Brighton have garnered a reputation for signing young, undervalued talent across the years before then selling them for lucrative fees, and they clearly believe Mbick has the potential to be another one on the Seagulls' conveyor belt.

Whether the Addicks will be able to continue to resist bids from Brighton remains to be seen, as Nathan Jones' side will have been hoping that he continued to thrive in League Two for the remainder of the year before becoming a part of their first team.

Indeed, with Charlie Kelman, Miles Leaburn, and Isaac Olaofe all struggling in front of goal this season, the last thing Charlton will want to do is to sell one of their brightest strikers, but if Brighton keeps pushing, they may not have a choice.

Charlton have produced some excellent players through the years, with the likes of Ademola Lookman, Ezri Konsa, and Joe Gomez all coming through the ranks at The Valley before shining elsewhere.

The consensus that Mbick could be the next in line to explode onto the scene is a strong one, and understandably, Charlton will be reluctant to see him leave too early in his career.

Whilst not an immediate part of their first-team plans, if Mbick carries on a similar trajectory, he could well be involved in the club's first-team plans as early as next season.

With Brighton's ability to identify young talent among the very best in the world, Charlton faces an enormous task in trying to keep the youngster at the club.

Under contract until the summer of 2028, the Addicks are in a relatively strong negotiating stance, and if they are to sell, they will hope to maximise the fee they receive, as well as likely include a significant sell-on clause.

Whether a deal will get across the line this month remains to be seen, but Brighton doesn't look like giving up just yet.