Brighton and Hove Albion are preparing a fresh offer for Millwall winger Femi Azeez as they push to complete a deal for the Super Eagles forward before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
The Premier League club have already seen two formal bids rejected by the Championship side, however their determination to land the 25 year old shows no sign of waning as the window edges toward its close.
Brighton’s interest in Azeez has grown steadily throughout the summer, and the club returned with an improved offer worth more than 10 million pounds after their initial approach was turned down.
Nevertheless, reports on Sunday indicated that a third bid, understood to be worth around 12 million pounds, was also rejected by Millwall, who continue to hold out for a fee closer to their own valuation of the player. As a result, the Seagulls now find themselves needing a fourth attempt if they are to convince Millwall to sanction the sale before the deadline passes.
Millwall’s resistance stems from the outstanding campaign Azeez produced in the Championship last season, where he scored 11 goals and provided seven assists to help fire the club’s promotion push. Consequently, his performances earned him a place in the PFA Championship Team of the Season, a recognition that has only strengthened Millwall’s resolve to secure a substantial fee for one of their most influential players.
Furthermore, Brighton are not the only club keeping tabs on the winger, with Hull City having previously entered the race, while Ipswich Town and Aston Villa were also credited with earlier interest.
Azeez’s rise has not been confined to club level alone, as his form for Millwall also earned him his first call up to the Super Eagles this year. Following his debut, the winger wasted little time making an impression, scoring twice in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Zimbabwe in the semi-final of the Unity Cup before playing a key role as the Super Eagles went on to beat Jamaica in the final.
Therefore, his rapid emergence on the international stage has added further weight to Brighton’s pursuit, given that a move to the Amex Stadium would place him in regular Premier League action and further raise his profile.
Should the transfer go through, Azeez would reportedly become the seventh Nigerian player in Brighton’s history, underlining the club’s long-standing willingness to invest in talent from the country. Meanwhile, the winger himself is said to have made his desire to join Brighton clear, as he looks to secure a platform in the Premier League after helping drive Millwall’s push up the Championship table.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has reportedly been closely monitoring Azeez since his impressive Unity Cup debut, and a move to the Premier League would place the winger under greater scrutiny at the highest level of English football.
In addition, Nigerian football followers view Azeez as a rising figure alongside established stars such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi, and regular top-flight minutes would only strengthen his case for a consistent place in the national team going forward. As a result, the outcome of Brighton’s pursuit carries significance well beyond club level, with the Super Eagles set to benefit from any step up in the level of competition Azeez faces on a weekly basis.
Brighton are expected to return with an improved bid before Tuesday’s 11pm deadline as they look to finally get a deal over the line, though Millwall’s firm stance on valuation means an agreement is far from guaranteed. Should the move collapse, however, Azeez could still be pursued in future transfer windows given the consistent interest already shown by Brighton and other Premier League and Championship clubs.
For now, all eyes remain on whether the Seagulls can meet Millwall’s asking price before the window shuts, with the winger’s next destination set to have significant implications for both club and country.
