BRIGHTON are planning to reward Tariq Lamptey for his excellent start to his Albion career with a bumper new contract.
The England Under-21 star has set the Premier League alight since joining from Chelsea in January.
England youth international Tariq Lamptey has enjoyed a fine start to the season with Brighton
His stellar performances have caught the eye on the continent with Bayern Munich enquiring about him this summer.
Meanwhile Spanish side Sevilla have recently shown an interest in bringing him to LaLiga.
SunSport understands negotiations are expected to start soon to upgrade substantially his current Seagulls terms of £14,000-a-week plus bonuses.
Lamptey, who turned 20 last month, still has three years to run on his existing deal.
But Albion are keen to show financial recognition for how integral he has become to Graham Potter’s side.
The whizkid has arguably been Brighton’s best player since arriving at the club with his bravery, delivery and electric pace.
He has already grabbed two assists in his 14 Premier League appearances for the South Coast club and played a significant role in forcing Jake Livermore’s own goal during Monday’s 1-1 draw with West Brom.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney urged his former employers earlier this month to make a move for Lamptey.
Writing in his Sunday Times column, Rooney said: “Personally, if I were doing their recruiting, as well as that No 9 I’d go for another centre-half to partner Harry Maguire and try for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Tariq Lamptey, who looks a brilliant attacking right back.
“While Aaron Wan-Bissaka has done OK defensively, you want United full backs to put the opposition on the back foot when the team have the ball and I don’t think he does that.
“Luke Shaw can at times but you always worry from a fitness point of view whether he can do it for 90 minutes so I think full back is an area where United could really improve.
“The game has changed and where before your full backs didn’t have to be attacking players, they just had to provide overlaps and be an option, nowadays they have to play a full part going forward — flooding the gaps when wide strikers such as Rashford come in from the sides.”
Watch as WSL referee Lucy Oliver books a Brighton player TWICE without sending them off
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
