Brighton have had a £30million bid for Leeds star Georginio Rutter rejected, talkSPORT understands.
The Seagulls are looking to strengthen their attacking options this summer ahead of the new Premier League season.
They will now consider whether to improve their offer for the French forward – who joined Leeds for £36million just 18 months ago – or pursue other targets.
Rutter isn’t the first Leeds player that Brighton have targeted with the Seagulls opening talks over a move for Crysencio Summerville.
After progressing into professional football with Rennes, Rutter join Hoffenheim in January 2021 before spending two years with the German side.
With 11 goals and eight assists in that time, the forward completed a £36million move to Elland Road in January 2023 -a club-record fee for the Whites.
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While failing to score in 11 Premier League matches as Leeds suffered relegation, Rutter showed what he was capable of last term.
In 51 games for Leeds, Rutter scored eight goals and provided 16 assists to help Leeds to third place in the Championship.
Losing to Southampton in the play-off final, Rutter will have a big role to play for Daniel Farke’s side as they target promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.
Brighton will have a new man in charge with Fabian Hurzeler taking the head coach’s role at the AMEX Stadium.
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The 31-year-old German boss revealed how Jurgen Klopp offered him advice on the Premier League before taking the job, telling talkSPORT: “Yeah, so I had a few calls with Germans who have worked before in the Premier League.
“One of them was Jurgen Klopp and he gave me very, very important advice. He was one of the most successful coaches in the Premier League.
“I asked him for the differences between the football in Germany and the football in England, about the culture, about the people, the media.
“All of the areas that are important for the coaches, so. He was very, very helpful.”