Brighton to raid Arsenal for Hale End graduate Reiss Nelson amid contract uncertainty

Brighton have been linked with a move for Arsenal academy graduate Reiss Nelson.

According to Mail Sport Brighton intend to make a formal offer to sign Nelson on a free transfer at the end of the season, with the player's Arsenal contract expiring in the summer.

While the Gunners have allegedly offered Nelson a new deal to remain at the Emirates, he has not yet committed his future to the table toppers.

Several Premier League clubs are thought to have expressed an interest in Nelson, though Mail Sport claimed Brighton will make an offer to the Gunners winger in the summer provided he does not put pen to paper to a new Arsenal deal before then.

Nelson has played just eight times in the Premier League this term but managed to net three goals in his limited minutes.

Notably, the 23-year-old scored a last-gasp winner against Bournemouth in March to keep Arsenal's title ambitions alive, while he bagged a brace in a 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest earlier in the campaign.

Nelson “level above” Saka and Smith Rowe?

While Bukayo Saka has rightfully become one of the darlings of English football, Nelson was reportedly a cut above everyone while at Arsenal’s academy.

Former Arsenal academy player Jaidon Anthony, who got to play alongside Emile Smith Rowe as well as David Beckham's son Brooklyn at Arsenal's academy, admitted that Nelson was the best of the bunch.

Speaking to Goal Anthony said: "Reiss Nelson was also a level above.

"We also went to tournaments with Joe Willock in our team. So there was so much talent in the academy at that time. Looking back, I definitely feel it was a special generation.”

At academy level, there was also much talk over who was better - Nelson or current Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho, with the pair having grown up little more than five minutes apart, in Walworth and Kennington respectively.

Nelson told the Guardian back in 2020: “It was always: ‘Reiss and Jadon, who’s better?’ or ‘Reiss and Jadon, play football’, and it was getting a bit annoying and boring for us.

“We’d be out, like in a nice place, and someone would just throw a ball and say: ‘These two, battle each other!’

“It got to a point where we were both just like: ‘Nah, we can’t just go messing around with each other all the time.’ It’s more of a proper brotherhood – he’s like my brother. It’s not a battle like some people say.”

Topics: Football, Arsenal, Brighton And Hove Albion, Premier League

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.