Kim Hellberg drops Jeremy Sarmiento claim amid fresh twist in Middlesbrough, Birmingham City transfer battle | OneFootball

The Brighton playmaker has been involved in an intriguing transfer saga involving Championship sides

Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has responded to reports that Middlesbrough are back in the driving seat for the potential signing of Brighton and Hove Albion playmaker, Jeremy Sarmiento.

The Seagulls ace has spent the first half of the season in Serie A with Cremonese following their promotion at the end of last season, but has been heavily linked with a fourth spell in the Championship on either a loan or permanent basis since the beginning of the current winter transfer window.

Middlesbrough had emerged as a clear potential suitor for the 24-time Ecuadorian international just days into the window amid suggestions that Hellberg was initially going to part ways with Dutch winger, Delano Burgzorg, who was linked with a switch to divisional rivals, Bristol City.

It had then been suggested that the North East club had cooled their interest in a move for Sarmiento - which initially had been hinted as another loan switch away from the AMEX Stadium for the versatile winger - and that Birmingham City, who have enjoyed an extremely busy window thus far, had emerged as front-runners to sign the 23-year-old on a permanent deal after recently loaning in his Brighton colleague, Ibrahim Osman.

However, just hours before the Reds came from behind to earn a vital 2-1 victory against Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium on Wednesday night in their quest for automatic promotion to the Premier League, the latest twist in this long-standing transfer saga came to the fore, with the Teesside outfit now seemingly back in pole position.

Indeed, it was claimed at the start of the week that Birmingham had overtaken both Middlesbrough and Wrexham in the race to acquire Sarmiento's services after talks between the Madrid-born man and Hellberg's side had hit a stumbling block.

Due to the fact Blues have already signed both Osman and England Under-21 international goalkeeper, James Beadle, on loan from the Premier League side, it was suggested that their move for the two-time Championship promotion winner would be on a permanent basis.

It had been reported in the early hours of Wednesday morning that a deal had been agreed between Birmingham and Brighton, although personal terms and the formalities of the negotiations still needed to be finalised.

However, later in the day, it was claimed by Luca Bendoni that Middlesbrough were back in for Sarmiento, as they looked to hijack Blues' pursuit of the playmaker, before the player reportedly gave the green light over a move to the Riverside Stadium on a long-term basis.

The aforementioned Bendoni has stated that a deal worth £3.4m had been agreed between the two clubs, with Ben Jacobs subsequently reporting that the saga could be put to bed later in the week if the deal is approved and Sarmiento successfully completes his obligatory medical checks.

As well as his side coming from behind in North Staffordshire through goals from Alan Browne and Tommy Conway, Hellberg was quizzed about the latest twist involving Sarmiento, admitting that he had previously cast eyes on his talent.

“I actually don't know (about the new rumours). We are trying to look at what is best for the club. We are trying to look for how we can strengthen the club," he said.

“It's having two thoughts in your head, like we talked about previously, is it for now or is it for later? I think it was good to see Leo (Castledine) today, he did good for 45 minutes - that was good for him to get those minutes.

“Now we're looking at if we can strengthen the squad. Specific names are always difficult in this type of time because it goes back and forth sometimes, so I will not say too much.

On Sarmiento, Hellberg added: “I know him. He's played in Brighton, of course, and I told you before I watched them play some Premier League games when I watched De Zerbi. So I've seen him. Good player.”

Middlesbrough will hope for Ipswich Town-esque Jeremy Sarmiento impact if Brighton transfer can be finalised

It will be a major boost for the Reds and, equally, a major blow for Birmingham if Sarmiento is to finalise a move to Teesside, where, in the short-term, Hellberg will hope he can replicate his impact at Ipswich Town, who he helped achieve automatic promotion with five crucial goals in the latter stages of the 2023/24 season.

Having only made 15 previous Premier League appearances, the appeal of potentially proving himself in the top flight in a different environment could also strongly appeal to the forward, who also won promotion with Burnley last season.

However, it remains to be seen if any further twists take place in this saga, which perhaps wouldn't come as the greatest of surprises.