Brighton are closing in on the signing of 17-year-old Paraguay international Julio Enciso from Libertad, 90min understands.
Enciso, who played for his country during the 2021 Copa America tournament, has been part of his club’s first team squad since making his debut as a 15-year-old in 2019.
The teenager is valued at around £8m by Libertad, who won the 2021 Apertura title, and Brighton have submitted a £4m bid for him. He scored four goals in 13 appearances during that league success.
Enciso was the youngest player at last year’s Copa America and made brief appearances against Bolivia and Peru as Paraguay were knocked out by the latter in the quarter finals.
Brighton made their first signing of the winter window earlier in the month, bringing in Kacper Kozlowski from Pogon Szczecin. Kozlowski, who became the youngest ever player to feature at a European Championship last summer, was immediately sent out on loan to Belgian outfit Union SG.
There has been speculation over both manager Graham Potter’s future as well as key stars like Tariq Lamptey and Yves Bissouma, though Potter recently asserted that Brighton will not be pressured into making any sales.
He said: “We’re not a selling club at all, we don’t have to sell anybody. But you never know in this world, so you have to be a little bit aware of that.
“I’d expect all of our players to be with us [at the end of the window]. There’s a lot of speculation out there but nothing to report.
“The fact that there is speculation out there means you are doing something quite well. And as a club you can be OK with that type of speculation.
“You never know what the window brings in terms of whether anything comes from the outside, which you have to factor in.”
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