Brighton CEO insists they ‘don’t need to sell players’ amid Karou Mitoma links with Man United

Brighton CEO Paul Barber has downplayed talk of winger Karou Mitoma leaving the club in the upcoming transfer window.

It comes after reports that Manchester United have sent scouts to watch the Japan star in recent weeks, possibly with a view to bringing him back during the summer.

Mitoma has been a key player for the Seagulls this season, scoring nine goals in all competitions, including dramatic late winners against Liverpool and Bournemouth.

For Barber, the key was to focus on the rest of the season, as he said The Beautiful Game Podcast: ‘Obviously he is [Mitoma] another player who will be in the spotlight in the next transfer window.

“We’re ready for it and we understand it, we just hope he can have a great second half of the season.”

He went on to suggest Brighton would not be forced to sell the winger, adding: “We’re very lucky financially that we’re not a club that has to sell players to survive.”

The chief executive felt that “no right back in the league” would enjoy playing Mitoma, and that even “high level” players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold have “had a hard time” against him.

If Brighton hang on to Mitoma, it will buck a trend that has seen the club sell off several key players in recent years.

Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma, Neal Maupay, have all left the club since the end of last season, and Moises Caicedo was also close to the gate in January.

Leandro Trossard was another big-name departure when he joined Arsenal for £20m, but Barber explained that his departure was the best move for all involved, and not one the Seagulls were forced into.

“In the case of Leandro, he did a fantastic job for our club over several seasons, he was our top scorer in the first half of the season,” he said.

“But he was also coming in at 27/28, his contract was starting to run out, he was looking forward to building on the success he’d had in England and also with the Belgian national team.”

Brighton CEO Paul Barber seemed confident the Seagulls could keep Mitoma despite interest from Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.

Barber named Leandro Trossard’s move to Arsenal the best for all parties

“If a bigger club came for him, as long as the price was right, as long as the contract was right for him, as long as the timing was right for us, then we would be open to doing the deal.”

While Trossard has gone on to play a significant role for Arsenal as they continue to fight for the title, his absence doesn’t seem to have been felt much at AmEx.

Brighton currently sit seventh in the league, but trail only Liverpool in sixth on goal difference and have one game to go.

They will then be in action against Brentford, another of their great achievements, after the international break on 1 April.