'Brighton interested in Otele' - CFR Cluj boss confirms De Zerbi wants to raid ex-club, names asking price 

Ioan Varga, the main financier of CFR Cluj, has confirmed that Brighton & Hove hold concrete interest in signing Nigerian forward Philip Otele. 

Manager of the Seagulls, Roberto De Zerbi wants to raid his former club CFR Cluj, for whom he made 30 appearances and scored eight goals during his playing days.

Otele has flourished this season, registering nineteen goal involvements in 36 matches across all competitions. 

Varga revealed that CFR Cluj have been approached by Brighton & Hove, who are keeping close tabs on the 24-year-old. 

Speaking to  Fanatik, Varga stated: "Indeed, Brighton are interested in Otele!

"There were some first contacts, especially since Brighton is a former player close to CFR Cluj. It is about the current coach, De Zerbi. De Zerbi knows Cluj very well, he knows the CFR very well.

"There are already first contacts. We didn't delve into things because we are in the middle of the championship.

"I didn't go into detail. I wouldn't say they're negotiable at the moment. They and we are in the middle of the championship. We are still fighting for the goals and we haven't gone deep into things, but there are already first contacts.

"I repeat, also taking into account the fact that De Zerbi knows in detail everything that means CFR Cluj."

Varga admitted that CFR Cluj are aiming to sell their Nigerian star to an English Premier League club for six million pounds but also expressed readiness to engage in negotiations.

Otele has roughly one year left on his contract with the Railwaymen and the deal includes the option of an additional season.

The CFR Cluj boss is confident that Otele can adapt seamlessly to the English Premier League, widely regarded as the world's best league. 

"Otele's price is £6m. Of course, anything can be negotiated, but this is the price at which we want to sell him in the Premier League, if the negotiations with Brighton go through.

"In my opinion, Otele copes without problems. He is a very strong player, a player who will certainly last in the Premier League.

"He is a physical player, an extraordinary technical player and I think he would be a very good investment for the future for Brighton, especially as high-value strikers cost from 30-40 million upwards. 

"We'll see in the coming weeks what happens. It is very important to play well and score. It is clear that then his price will increase."

Otele had stops at Wolviston FC, Kauno Žalgiris and UTA Arad before switching to CFR Cluj in 2023.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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