Brighton have turned down a £7.5m offer from Scottish Premiership club Rangers for wide player Amario Cozier-Duberry.
The 21-year-old impressed while on loan at Bolton last season, helping the team secure promotion through the League One play-offs. He recorded eight goals and 12 assists across 34 matches and was selected for the division’s team of the season.
Cozier-Duberry has fewer than two years left on his deal at Amex Stadium. Although he has been regularly involved in Brighton’s pre-season preparations under Fabian Hurzeler, he remained on the bench during Saturday’s 1-0 home victory against Bologna.
Several Championship sides remain interested in taking him on loan, while Rangers are understood to be one of multiple clubs considering a permanent transfer.
Had the bid been accepted, it would have represented Rangers’ second-largest transfer payment in more than two decades. The Glasgow side spent £8m on forward Youssef Chermiti last summer, with only the earlier arrivals of Michael Ball and Tore Andre Flo commanding higher fees during that period.
Rangers brought their four-match winless start to the campaign to an end by defeating St Mirren 5-1 in the Scottish Cup on Sunday. However, a loss to Polish side Jagiellonia Białystok eliminated them from the Europa League and sent them into the Conference League play-offs.
Following the two-leg defeat, new manager Derek McInnes, who arrived from Hearts during the summer, acknowledged that his squad required reinforcements. The club are reportedly prioritising additions at full-back and in attacking positions.
He added: “Improving our defensive options and adding quality in wide positions were already key objectives. However, after losing a player with Youssef’s talent to an ACL injury, we must now address that area too.”
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