Report: £16m Brighton target doesn’t fancy joining Manchester United

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Brighton and Hove Albion are now favourites to snap up Manchester United target Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht.

That is according to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, who reports that Verbruggen now looks set for the South Coast.

It’s claimed that Brighton are ‘set to win the race’ to sign Verbruggen this week with a £16million move edging closer.

Burnley put £13million on the table with Vincent Kompany keen to re-sign the Dutchman having worked with him at Anderlecht.

However, Anderlecht rejected that offer and Brighton now seem primed to swoop in.

The report adds that Verbruggen has received interest from Manchester United.

However, Verbruggen isn’t interested in a move to Old Trafford because he wants first-team football.

The 20-year-old seemingly doesn’t believe that he will receiving that kind of playing time at United – even with questions about David De Gea’s future.

Verbruggen may feel that he has better immediate prospects at Brighton, where Robert Sanchez could be available this summer.

Manchester United’s goalkeeping situation needs clarity amid Bart Verbruggen interest

We’re seeing plenty of rumours linking United with goalkeepers this summer.

David Raya and Jordan Pickford have been popular names but Verbruggen is a completely different profile as a young stopper with a big future.

There just isn’t enough clarity right now for a prospect like Verbruggen to commit to United.

De Gea might stay at United, but in what role? Will he start the season as United’s first choice, be relegated to a bench role or be expected to compete with a new stopper?

Nobody really knows the situation between the sticks for United and that means talents like Verbruggen aren’t willing to commit.

This situation isn’t helping anybody and United need to figure out De Gea’s future sooner or later – or risk missing out on more promising stoppers like Verbruggen.