Brighton & Hove Albion

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We asked for your views on the news that Brighton had rejected a bid from Al-Nassr for Kaoru Mitoma and what it would take for Albion to sell the winger.

Here are some of your comments:

Peter: He is far too valuable to us to sell him even for £90m which some are saying is the improved offer. We wouldn't be able to replace him so late in the window. I don't get the impression he's money-driven anyway (and his career has not ended yet anyway !)

James: If we want to compete at the top, then we need to ensure we keep hold of high-value players. Money can only go so far. Take Southampton for example. They sold Van Dijk for £75m - look at them now. I'd rather have the quality Mitoma provides than the money.

Jezz: If Brighton sell Mitoma, they're done. It will show a total lack of ambition. Unless he wants to leave - and he's given no indication he does - we should reject all offers. He's our best player, he's also the fans favourite and one of the most popular in the squad. We'd also lose all our support in Japan, which is worth quite a bit in merchandise sales. All in all, it would be worse than letting Yves Bissouma, Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister go! He's that important. We shouldn't be selling any of our core players to be honest, not if we want to progress.

Nicolas: Selling Mitoma for the right (high) price isn't something I'm completely adverse to. Although we'd all love to hold onto him, no player is bigger than the team. We have so much talent on the wing, and we've seen success without him. We've also seen the impact that large sums of money from transfers can have on the club's dynamic. I'd love him to stay though, great talent and a great guy.

David: Would be sorry to see Mitoma go but for the right price, and I mean in excess of £100 million, then I don't see why we shouldn't cash in. He isn't such an unknown quantity anymore and while we see him shine against tactically naive teams like Manchester United, we have seen him tamed by teams like Brentford and Everton who know to stick two players on him and mark him out of the game. As for going mid season, we have seen Simon Adingra, Yankuba Minteh, Brajan Gruda and Solly March all playing on the wing this season so we have options. He was never likely to end his career with Brighton so now is as good a time as any for him to leave.

Mark: It's not about how much Mitoma is worth - it's about how much Al-Nassr are prepared to pay for him. If they offer Brighton silly money (and 90 million euros is being talked about), the Seagulls will let him go, particularly with Minteh, Adingra and March already on the books and the need for defensive cover more of a priority.

Name this former Brighton manager from the following clues:

• I won the Champions League as a player.

• Brighton was the first, and so far only, English club that I managed.

• My spell in charge of the Seagulls lasted only six months.

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

Al-Nassr are planning to make a second and final offer, worth £90m, for 27-year-old Brighton and Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma. (CBS Sports), external

Everton are weighing up a late bid for 20-year-old Brighton and Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson. (i Sport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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After Brighton rejected Al-Nassr's bid for Kaoru Mitoma, we want you to tell us what figure it would take for Albion to sell the Japan winger.

How much is he worth? Can they afford to let him go?

Or would it be too late in the window to get a replacement?

Let us know here

Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Evan Ferguson "trained for the first time yesterday" and is "an option to play".

• On if he would be OK if Ferguson left, Hurzeler said: "I want to keep working with him but it's important to discuss what's important for development. We want to improve the players and help him. We need an exchange - we need to see what makes sense for the player and the next six months for the club - we'll make a decision together."

• On why the striker's career has stuttered: "It's difficult if you have small issues - you can't get in a rhythm, you need to get him stable and consistently on the pitch. He doesn't forget how to score goals. He's still a big danger for every team. He shows he has an unbelievable skill in every training session - it's for us to help him get this shape back - where he once was."

• He added he sees Ferguson's "long term future here", adding: "His profile is really rare, a clear number nine. Players have to show the potential, we talk about how good he was - we know he has the potential and he has to prove it and show it every day."

• He believes Brighton "have everything here" for player's development, stating: "The perfect infrastucutre, good staff, experts, good environment, good atmosphere, people who are very patient and I demand the players use these things and get back into their best shape."

• Hurzeler thinks Pervis Estupinan, Solly March and Mats Wieffer will all be unavailable for Saturday's game.

• He refused to comment on links to Derby's Eiran Cashin and said: "I don't talk about other players at other clubs."

• On Forest: "There is always one team that surprises everyone - this season it is Nottingham Forest. You see their individual quality, they have a lot, players who have played a long time in the Premier League. For some experts it's not surprising, but they're getting the results and are always finding a way to win games."

• On Tariq Lamptey: "Every time he plays, he does quite well - he's always a danger when he has his attacking patterns. It's about game time - he needs to adapt to this position. I'm very happy he can play on the left side."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Derby County boss Paul Warne expects Eiran Cashin to face Sheffield United on Saturday - unless a transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion materialises incredibly quickly.

The Rams said the defender was 'categorically not for sale' earlier in the window, but after the seemingly waved farewell to fans after the defeat at Cardiff on Saturday, rumours have grown that the Republic of Ireland under-21 international has his heart set on a move to the Premier League side.

Speaking ahead of third-bottom Derby's home game with Sheffield United on Saturday (15:00 GMT) Warne told BBC Radio Derby: "It's at board level. That's out of my paygrade. Cash is training with us – until I get told anything different I don't know.

"As I speak to you (on Thursday morning) I expect him to be available (for Saturday) although I am mature enough to realise in football things can change all the time.

"As I've been told today, when preparing the team, Cash will be a part of it. That is all I know."

Warne insisted he was out of the loop in terms of the speculation but added: "I am led to believe an offer has been in for Cash - whether it's going to be accepted, not accepted, negotiated or not, that's a board-level thing, my concentration is just to prepare the team for the weekend.

"I have spoken to him about it. What me and him talk about is obviously private."

Warne also revealed he was "pretty close" to adding some new signings, but insisted they were not dependant on Cashin leaving Pride Park before Monday's transfer deadline (23:00 GMT).

"We've always had money to invest in the squad so I don't think we're waiting (to see) if Cash goes or doesn't go," Warne said.

"We need to reinforce this squad. We need more goals in the team. I feel like the signings we made in the summer have helped the group and we need to keep trying to make better signings to make the team even better."

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Argus journalist Charlotte Ikonen believes the atmosphere in the home crowd does not seem the same at Brighton - but she expects it to improve when they host Chelsea twice in a week next month.

Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler said it was their "responsibility" to make Amex Stadium their "castle," but his side have not won at home since 9 November - six games ago.

Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Ikonen said: "At the weekend, I noticed players were trying to get the crowd going, putting their arms up. There was a response to that.

"It's a strange one. I thought the whole game on Saturday [against Everton] was quite flat. Maybe that was reflected in the crowd's atmosphere, but it was quiet."

Brighton's next home game is against Chelsea in the FA Cup, before Enzo Maresca's side return just six days later in the league.

"Everyone's definitely excited going into those games," she added.

"There's a lot of history, a lot of former players coming back to the Amex. It will be interesting to see the reception.

"Hopefully, it will be a good two games for Albion at home."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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News that Brighton would be willing to sell Evan Ferguson rather than just loan him out during the current transfer window hints at a big decision from Fabian Hurzeler.

Even a couple of weeks ago, there was debate around Ferguson, partly because of the injury records of strikers Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro, but also because of the Irishman's age and the knowledge that, at 20, he is nowhere near his prime.

Evidently, if Brighton sell Ferguson, it will mean his prime will be reached elsewhere, even if I would expect experienced operators like Tony Bloom and Paul Barber to be negotiating a pretty huge sell-on clause.

By definition, that means Hurzeler does not feel he has any use for the forward.

That is a bit of a surprise. And while no-one has said there is a breakdown in the pair's relationship, clearly Brighton's young boss is not prepared to wait for Ferguson to rediscover his best form.

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Former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall believes it is best for Evan Ferguson to move in this transfer window to "get his confidence back".

The striker has struggled with injury this season and only made two starts in the Premier League.

Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast, Aspinall said: "Evan needs to go and play football somewhere - whether it's a loan or a transfer.

"He has had a horrible six or seven months with injuries. Last season we saw how good he could be. This season - nothing. And towards the end of last season - nothing.

"He needs to go out and play to get his confidence back.

"He's a wonderful talent. Do we cash in or do we persevere? It's up to the club to deal with that, but he needs some game time and he's not going to get that with Brighton.

"I presume it will be get him out on loan, get him some game time, get him scoring and his confidence back - and then see where it takes him."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Brighton are open to selling Evan Ferguson, 20, before the transfer window closes next week. (Athletic - subscription required, external)

Bayer Leverkusen are in talks with Albion to sign the Republic of Ireland striker. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

This week's episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast has landed.

The team discuss fans' reactions to the season so far, look at the latest on Brighton's transfer window and bring you the lowdown on high-flying Nottingham Forest as the Seagulls prepare for Saturday's trip to The City Ground.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

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You are a professional footballer. Your team are losing 1-0 at home to an opponent 17th in the table and are yet to have a single shot on target with an hour played. You have just seen your left-back take an effort from distance which has nearly flown out for a throw.

What do you do? If your name is Joao Pedro, the answer is wave your arms at the crowd and demand they offer more support.

This is not the first time Pedro has done it this season. Nor the second, third, fourth or fifth. It seems to have happened at every home game. And it is starting to annoy a lot of fans.

Pedro is paid in the region of £90,000 to put the ball in the back of the net. Brighton supporters who attended the defeat by Everton forked out hard-earned money to do so at a time when incomes are squeezed, the cost of everything is going up and many people are still awaiting their first pay cheque after Christmas.

In what other industry does the service provider demand support and encouragement from the customer to do their job?

Or as a bloke in the West Stand Upper put it when Pedro started waving at the crowd during the 0-0 draw with Brentford last month: "You do your job and have a shot, Pedro, and I'll do mine and cheer."

The reaction when Pedro again gestured on Saturday was even better. Within five minutes, he mis-controlled the ball in a good position on the edge of the Everton box to surrender possession.

Cue loads of supporters in the West Upper jumping to their feet, waving their arms around and shouting: "Come on, Joao!" Two can play at that game...

Pedro is admittedly not the only one to have undertaken such antics this season. Julio Enciso and Bart Verbruggen are also serial offenders.

Here is a radical thought. Maybe if the players stopped concerning themselves about fans cheering and concentrated on winning a first home game since November, support would increase and the atmosphere improve?

Just an idea.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

Republic of Ireland international striker Evan Ferguson, 20, is expected to leave Brighton on loan before the end of the transfer window. (Fabrizio Romano, external)

Ferguson is the top target of former Seagulls boss Graham Potter, who wants to bring the striker to West Ham, but Everton, Bournemouth and Arsenal are also in the running. (Talksport, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Brighton and Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

SE: Every year Everton and Jordan Pickford come to the Amex and time-waste. The officials are oblivious to it and they need training. How we lost is beyond me but we were toothless up top again.

Chris: We were half the team that we had been against Man Utd. We deserved nothing. Little energy, little desire. Creativity almost non-existent. A real anti-climax to a great month.

Colin: We could have played all night and not scored. It was vital to get the first goal and apart from a couple of early occasions we never got behind the Everton full-backs and completely ran out of ideas of how to break down a strong defence guarding a one-goal lead. Joel Veltman knew what he was doing for the handball and didn't have his best game. Another frustrating watch.

Neil: Absolutely rubbish - no attacking ideas, stale. Buy someone quickly.

Everton fans

Paul: Sometimes, particularly away from home, you just have to win ugly. So, obviously very poor going forward and in possession but a hard-working midfield and solid defence should guarantee we are in the Premier League in the new stadium. At this stage, that's all that matters for Everton.

Jason: The Moyesiah has come back to keep us in the Premier League and lead us into the new stadium as a top flight side. I am utterly delighted he's come back, and at this stage care only about results, not necessarily performances. They will come in time.

Dave: Bit disjointed at the back largely but still dug in and defended as a pack. A more pacy outlet is needed to ease the pressure at the back. The players' reactions on the field and the dugout at full-time speaks volumes. This is down to the change of manager who values every individual.

Mark: A superb away win showing team spirit, commitment and resolve. Our depleted ranks held firm but we might have suffered some vital injury losses. If ever we needed reinforcement, it's certainly now.

Dominic Dietrich
Senior Sports Journalist, BBC Radio Derby

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After defender Eiran Cashin seemingly waved goodbye to supporters on Saturday at Cardiff, Derby County are faced with a big decision in the transfer window.

The Rams have been firm in their stance not to sell their star man - with one source high up at the club previously saying he was "categorically" not up for sale in January - but Premier League Brighton have been persistent in their approach and it seems their efforts have turned the head of Cashin who aspires to join a top-flight club.

No valuation has been met, no deal has been agreed, so this is likely to go on - but puts the Rams in a stick-or-twist scenario. Take the money and further invest in the squad with a short time left of the transfer window, or play hardball and keep the defender.

Whatever happens in the coming days will be interesting, and could see Derby - if Brighton raise their bid - with money to spend on permanent deals that get them Championship safety.

You can listen to move from Dominic Dietrich on BBC Radio Derby's Rams Daily podcast.

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Brighton defender Jack Hinshelwood speaking to BBC Radio Sussex after defeat against Everton: "We can take positives from how we played, I think we just a lacked a bit of cutting edge.

"When you go down a goal early in the first half, you know their plan, they are probably gong to sit in. It makes things really tough. We have to do a bit more in the final third to make solutions.

"All you can ask from us boys off the bench is we give our all. I think the whole team did that. You can't fault our commitment to the game, we lacked a bit of quality. You have these days at home, we will look to put things right next weekend.

"First half we could have done more to get the crowd on our side, we were a bit flat. The crowd here can make the difference and we probably didn't utilise that."

On playing for the first time since 9 November: "Being injured is a lonely place, the worst part of the job. As much as you are disappointed, you have to use that time to work on different areas. I have been working in the gym. It's been a useful time but something I don't want to get again."

Listen to the interview here

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures are now available to watch.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Wolves 0-1 Arsenal

• Man City 3-1 Chelsea

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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler to BBC Match of the Day: "We played against a very solid team. We were not clean enough in the first half. We don't have good box positioning and obviously there is an opponent who try to break the rhythm all the time and then it's very difficult.

"We are honest with each other, critical. We have to keep working. We will analyse what went wrong, where we have to improve, and then we keep going."

On perceived timewasting from Everton: "When the referee says we won't send a player off for time wasting it says it all. I don't understand."

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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Brighton had begun 2025 with a spring in their step, but their unbeaten start to the new year came to an end in limp fashion against Everton.

Fabian Hurzeler's side, who had beaten Ipswich and Manchester United in their last two games, managed just one shot on target at Amex Stadium on Saturday - a blocked Joao Pedro effort in the first half.

The hosts were furious at referee Tim Robinson's decision to award a penalty against Joel Veltman, who appeared to deliberately shepherd the ball out of play with his hand while under pressure from Beto inside the area.

But it was a clumsy, unnecessary intervention from the Dutchman which ultimately cost his team dearly.

A second-half improvement was not enough to spark a revival as Brighton's winless Premier League home run stretched to five matches.