As per reports by The Sun, Brighton & Hove Albion are keen to lure Batista Mendy from Nantes in the summer. However, the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are also keeping close tabs on the French prodigy. Interestingly, the report also underlines that the Seagulls are in the pole position to sign him despite interest from some of the top clubs of English football.
Mendy is one of the highly rated blossoming youngsters in French football and has been receiving rave reviews from the football fraternity owing to his calibre and potential. His displays for the Ligue 1 club’s youth sides have been the main reason as to why some of the big clubs of the continent have put him on their radar. Besides, the 18-year-old has played 3 times for France Under-18 side and has accumulated a total of 20 caps in all of his country’s junior teams.
Predominantly a centre-back, the French starlet is capable of plying his trade as a central midfielder as well as a central defensive midfielder. Despite his young age, he has shown immense maturity and calmness on the pitch and there is no denying that his development has seen an upward trajectory. He is well-built, reads the game well and by accumulating more experience under his belt in the coming months, it is anticipated that he would be able to become even better.
However, given that the animosity that English football offers, signing Mendy is quite a risk. There have been plenty of cases where youngsters with potential have simply withered away after giving their consent to play in English football and it would certainly take a great deal of work-ethic from Mendy to make his presence felt if he eventually moves to the Premier League.
Reportedly, he has refused to commit his future to Nantes and has refrained from accepting a professional deal from them. He would be free to move to a new club in the summer and to spice up the scenario further, reports have emerged stating that he has reached a pre-contract agreement with Brighton & Hove Albion as his chances of getting regular time on the pitch would be higher in the Brighton shirt.
