Calvin Bassey set to earn Rangers transfer windfall as Brighton aim to end his Ajax nightmare

Brighton are closing in a deal for Calvin Bassey just a year after losing out to Ajax for the former Rangers defender.

The 23-year-old left Ibrox for Amsterdam at the start of last season in a deal worth £18.7 million and he is now set to join the Seagulls for a similar fee after they had also been in the hunt for him 12 months ago. Rangers negotiated a 10 per cent sell-on of any future fee as part of the deal that saw him leave after just two years at the Light Blues so they can expect bank a cool couple of million.

Roberto De Zerbi is keen to beef up his defensive options after their historic qualification for the Europa League and Italian outlet Calcio Mercato say Bassey is the player in his sights. Bassey enjoyed a meteoric rise after breaking into the Rangers first team and was a key player on their march to the Europa League final.

However, he has struggled in Holland with frequent criticism over his displays and the Dutch side will be happy to let him leave for the English Premier League, especially as they will recoup the fee they paid for him.

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