Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly identified Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson as one of their priority transfer targets ahead of the summer.
A combination of loan spells, injuries and being kept down the pecking order have led to Nelson enduring a stop-start career at the Emirates Stadium.
That has remained the case during 2022-23, even with the 23-year-old scoring one of the club's most important strikes of the season versus Bournemouth at the beginning of March.
In total, Nelson has made five starts and six substitute outings this campaign, but he has only featured for 155 minutes since his dramatic effort versus the Cherries.
The former England Under-21 international remaining as backup under Mikel Arteta has come at a time when he is due to become a free agent in June.
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Arteta has suggested that he is keen to retain the services of the attacker in the long term, giving the former Hoffenheim and Feyenoord loanee a chance to break into the first-team setup on a regular basis.
However, the January arrival of Leandro Trossard has effectively weakened Nelson's chances of playing on a weekly basis, a scenario which is not being ignored by any admirers of his ability.
According to the Daily Mail, Brighton are giving serious consideration to trying to sign Nelson ahead of next season.
The report suggests that the Seagulls will look to tempt Nelson by a clearer route to game time, even though the team are producing the best quality football in their history.
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Under Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton possess the fourth-best attacking record in the Premier League, even though they have at least one game in hand on the teams around them.
Brighton currently occupy seventh position in the top flight, although they possess two matches in hand on sixth-placed Aston Villa who hold a point advantage.
Much may depend on whether the South Coast outfit can secure European football for the first time ever, something which would require Brighton to bolster their numbers.
As it stands, it is said that Nelson holds an interest in signing for Brighton ahead of more teams entering the race for his signature.
Darren Plant
