Brighton Reject £7.5m Rangers Offer for Amario Cozier-Duberry as Winger Attracts Growing Interest
Brighton & Hove Albion have rejected a £7.5 million offer from Scottish Premiership giants Rangers for highly rated winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, despite the Glasgow club’s strong interest in securing his permanent services.
The 21-year-old has emerged as an attractive target following an impressive loan spell with Bolton Wanderers last season. Cozier-Duberry played a significant role in Bolton’s successful League One play-off campaign, registering eight goals and 12 assists across 34 appearances. His performances were recognised with a place in the League One Team of the Season.
Cozier-Duberry joined Brighton after coming through Arsenal’s academy and has continued to attract attention since moving to the Amex Stadium. With fewer than two years remaining on his current Brighton contract, his future is becoming an increasingly interesting situation, particularly with several clubs monitoring his availability.
The winger has been given plenty of opportunities during Brighton’s pre-season preparations under manager Fabian Hurzeler. However, despite featuring regularly during the summer, he was left as an unused substitute during Brighton’s 1-0 home victory over Bologna on Saturday.
While Rangers have shown an interest in signing Cozier-Duberry permanently, a number of Championship clubs are also understood to be exploring the possibility of taking him on loan. Brighton will therefore have to weigh up whether keeping him at the club, sending him out temporarily or allowing him to leave permanently represents the best option for his development and the club’s long-term plans.
Rangers’ £7.5 million proposal would have represented one of the biggest transfer fees paid by the Scottish club in more than two decades. Only Youssef Chermiti’s £8 million move last summer would have been more expensive during that period, while the club’s previous record-level investments included the signings of Michael Ball and Tore Andre Flo in the early 2000s.
Despite Brighton turning down the initial proposal, Rangers remain among several clubs believed to be interested in Cozier-Duberry. Their need for attacking reinforcements has become more pressing following a difficult start to the new campaign.
Rangers ended a four-match winless run by recording a convincing 5-1 victory over St Mirren in the Scottish Cup on Sunday. However, their European campaign has taken a blow after they were eliminated from the Europa League by Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok over two legs. As a result, Rangers have dropped into the Conference League play-off round.
Following the European disappointment, new Rangers manager Derek McInnes admitted that his squad requires additional reinforcements. McInnes, who arrived from Hearts during the summer, has identified strengthening the defence and wide attacking areas as important priorities before the transfer deadline.
The Rangers boss also acknowledged that the club’s plans have been affected by the serious injury suffered by forward Youssef Chermiti, who has been ruled out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
“Strengthening defensively, strengthening in wide areas was a priority,” McInnes said. “But obviously losing a player of Youssef’s ability [to an ACL injury], we need to look at that one as well.”
Brighton are also exploring their own options in the transfer market and have identified Millwall winger Femi Azeez as one potential alternative. The 25-year-old is believed to be available for the right price and could leave the Championship club before the transfer window closes on September 3.
With several clubs monitoring Cozier-Duberry and Brighton considering their own attacking reinforcements, the winger’s situation could develop further before the transfer deadline. Rangers may need to return with an improved offer if they are to convince Brighton to part ways with the talented youngster permanently.
