Brighton striker Florin Andone has joined Turkish champions Galatasaray on a season-long loan for an undisclosed fee, but Wilfried Bony will not replace him. The 26-year-old came off the bench to score in the opening-day win at Watford but was sent off on his first start of the season in the home defeat to Southampton, and boss Graham Potter has decided to move him on for now.
The Romanian will struggle for regular first-team football with the Seagulls this season and the switch to the Turkish giants could turn out to be a very shrewd move. Albion also have an option to recall the striker in January as part of the agreement and Potter says that is something he will weigh up when the time comes.
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Potter told the club website: “We feel this loan to Galatasaray gives Florin the opportunity to go and play regularly, which he’s found difficult here. “He also has the prospect of Champions League football. We wish Florin well for the season ahead, we have the option of a recall in January and we will closely monitor his progress.”
Andone, capped 26 times by Romania, is due to link up with his national squad for qualifiers against Spain and Malta this week. He joined Premier League Albion from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna in July 2018 and scored six times in 30 appearances in all competitions, but was restricted to just nine top-flight starts.
Meanwhile, reports have been rife suggesting that Brighton could move to sign former Swansea striker Bony as his replacement. The Ivory Coast striker, who is currently without a club and has been training with Newport County to keep up his fitness, would be able to sign on a free transfer outside of the window. Potter knows the player well having worked with him at Swansea briefly last season, and that appears to have kicked off all the rumours.
With Jurgen Locadia also moving on, it has been suggested a deal could happen, however, such a move is not an option for Brighton.
Potter is said to be happy with the players that he has available and is hoping youngster Aaron Connolly, who impressed in the Carabao Cup last week, can step up to the plate this season.
The Seagulls also have Neal Maupay, Leandro Trossard and Glenn Murray, so there is no need for Bony or anyone else to be brought in.
