Exclusive: Brighton Line Up Move for In-Demand Rennes Striker Kalimuendo

Brighton and Hove Albion are lining up an offer to try and sign sought-after Rennes striker Arnaud Kalimeundo in a deal worth £25million, SportsBoom can exclusively.

Kalimeundo has been linked with a host of clubs this summer, including Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.

But our sources have learnt the Seagulls have been watching the highly-rated 23-year-old Frenchman for some time and been playing a waiting game before getting ready to launch a bid.

Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler is believed to be a big fan of Kalimeundo, who bagged 18 goals in an inspired season last term in the French Ligue 1.

The former Paris Saint-Germain frontman, who is under contract at the Stade Rennais for two more years, is open to offers to play in the Premier League, especially as he aspirations to break into the France international senior side.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Kalimeundo represented his country 33 times at Under-21 level and also played for the France Under-17 team at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Brazil in 2019.

He was also part of the France Olympic team last year in Paris and has won plenty of honours already in his burgeoning career.

The ex-Lens ace won the Ligue 1 title with PSG in 2022 and also the Trophee des Champions in the same season.

He won a silver medal for France at last year’s summer Olympics has grown in confidence in his three years at Rennes.

Seven and 10 goal league goals were bettered by 17 goals last season in Ligue 1, his highest return of any season thus far.

And it’s those goalscoring exploits which drew the attention of the Seagulls, who are continuing to look to strengthen ahead of the new Premier League season next month.

The south coast club have already signed teenage Olympiacos hitman Charalampos Kostoulas for £29.8million in the transfer window, but German manager Hurzeler is keen to add more firepower to his squad of the club’s opening fixture at home to Fulham on Saturday 16th August.