Reims ready to turn down Brighton’s offer for Munetsi

French side Stade Reims are ready to turn down Brighton and Hove Albion’s offer for Zimbabwean midfielder Marshall Munetsi unless the English Premier League makes an offer too good to turn down.

Brighton have reportedly made enquiries about the availability of the highly-rated 26-year-old Zimbabwe international as they have identified him as a potential replacement for Malian international Yves Bissouma, who recently joined Tottenham.

Munetsi has been impressing in the French league where his statistics have compared favourably with some of the best midfielders in the country.

His figures, notably on interceptions and defensive duels won in a game, put him ahead of the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni who joined Real Madrid from Monaco earlier this month and Boubacar Kamara who left Marseille for Aston Villa.

Brighton’s analysts are understood to have reported favourably along with scouts and he is under serious consideration as they look to fill the void left by Yves Bissouma’s departure to Tottenham.

But according to the latest reports in France, Reims have declared that the Warriors star will not leave the club in this transfer window after recently signing a new contract with the club.

The report added that Reims are reluctant to let go of Munetsi after recently sanctioning moves for the quarter of Hugo Ekitike, Pedrag Rajkovic, Nathanael Mbuku and Wout Faes during the current window.

French striker Hugo Ekitike is linked with a move to Newcastle while Wout Faes is also on the radar of Serie A side Lazio.

Goalkeeper Pedrag Rajkovic is linked to Sheffield United while French youth international winger Nathaniel Mbuku is wanted in Germany.

“He has just extended and is untransferable. He will therefore have to wait before having an exit voucher, which has only been granted to Hugo Ekitike, Pedrag Rajkovic, Nathanael Mbuku and Wout Faes this summer,” Stade de Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot the French football website MadeInFOOT.

Another report in England suggested that Brighton have been told Munetsi would command more than the £7 million price tag being reported.

A well-placed source close to Reims told The Argus that “they wouldn’t sell him at that price” and believes it would take closer to £15 million to prise away the 26-year-old, who recently signed a new contract.

Munetsi has 13 caps for Zimbabwe and made 20 Ligue 1 starts last term.