Karl Toko Ekambi is attracting the attention of a number of Premier League sides and Brighton & Hove Albion might go all in for the Ligue 1 striker. The Paris-born forward’s contract runs until the summer of 2020 and is valued highly by his parent club, Angers SCO.
Ekambi has been firing on all cylinders this season with 9 goals netted along with 3 assists in 18 appearances already. His impressive run of form, however, has not reflected on Angers who are struggling in the relegation zone of the league table.
The 25-year-old arrived at Les Scoistes in the summer of 2016 from Ligue 2 side, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. Developing his game in the lower division, Ekambi is as strong as he is fast. He has already overtaken his previous season goal tally and has brought a fresh bout of energy for the French outfit this season.
Ekambi rejected a move to Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer due to unknown reasons but now has a second chance to play in top-flight English football. However, that chance might have gone bust with club president declaring that the striker is not up for sale.
President Said Chabane has rejected a £12.5m bid from Brighton already has stated explicitly that the side needs to strengthen the defence but not weaken the attacking lineup in the process.
From a distance, it might look like Brighton are cruising in the 12th spot of top-flight English football in their first season but they are just 3 points ahead of the bottom three. Just one slip and they can fall into the danger zone now that the second half of the season already is upon us.
The side has struggled to find the back of the net with just 17 goals scored in 22 games. That formula might not cut it for the rest of the season, and a proven striker should be on their shopping list for January.
Standing at 6 feet tall, Ekambi is athletically gifted to appear from multiple positions in the final third. Even if he is not placed in the lone striker role, the Cameroon international can provide some threat from the wide areas and bring a different dynamic to Chris Hughton’s style of play.
The side can no longer depend on an ageing Glenn Murray to put in consistent shifts day in day out, especially when the going gets really tough towards the end of the season. Even after facing initial rejections, the Seagulls should revert with an even bigger bid for Ekambi, if he is their best and final choice.
