Potter makes ‘complex’ Bissouma admission amid Villa links
Brighton & Hove Albion are braced for summer bids for their star player as Premier League giants and Aston Villa loom.
Brighton & Hove Albion boss Graham Potter was once again forced to address ongoing speculation with star midfielder Yves Bissouma.
The Mali international will have just 12 months remaining on his contract this summer and has been linked with moves to Aston Villa, Newcastle, Man United, Arsenal
and Liverpool of late.
Villa boss Steven Gerrard confirmed his club made a bid for Bissouma last January and strongly hinted they will return for the Albion man once again this summer.
Potter has played a key role in the development of the player who arrived from Lille in 2018 for £15m. Bissouma is the main man in Brighton’s midfield and has progressed into one of the best and most sought after players in the Premier
League.
Potter has previously said the £40m rated player has the potential to play at the highest level - including the Champions League and admits the club have a huge decision on his future.
“It depends how you look at the situation,” said Potter speaking ahead of last Saturday’s trip to Watford.
“Yves is really enjoying his football with us, there’s been lots of speculation over various windows and he is still here with us.
“But you also have to understand that the club and him face a decision that we have to make, if there’s Champions League interest as an example, as a club, how do you compete with that?
“To quote as ‘a team like Brighton’? How do you compete financially and and how can you convince a player? It’s very difficult, because it not only hampers the relationship you have with the player, it also damages your whole structure, we’re clearly not a Champions League structured team.
“So it’s quite complex, but we’re quite relaxed about it, there’s no stress, no problem. We’re enjoying Yves, he’s enjoying his football and I would suggest that our supporters are the same.”
Brighton are ninth in the league and Potter will hope Bissouma can continue to play a key role as they aim for their highest-ever top-flight finish.