Aston Villa youngster Lamare Bogarde is reportedly attracting interest from Brighton ahead of the January transfer window.
The 21-year-old joined the club in 2020 and after impressing at youth level, he has made a breakthrough in the senior squad under Unai Emery and is continuing to become an increasingly important part of his plans having made 15 appearances so far this season.
However, Villa may face a difficult decision next year, as The Telegraph report that Brighton could set their sights on the talented Dutch youngster as they identify a possible replacement for Carlos Baleba, if he leaves the club amid ongoing speculation over his future.
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With his versatility and tactical flexibility, Bogarde has become an important utility option for Emery, while he has continued to show signs of improvement, development and maturity in his performances so far this season when called upon.
In turn, with a bright future ahead of him, it remains to be seen if Villa would even entertain the idea of allowing him to leave having opted against loaning him out in the last two seasons and keeping him in house instead, but naturally, a lot will likely depend on the offer Brighton submit, should they step up their reported interest either in January or next summer.
Competition for places means that Bogarde will continue to struggle for regular playing time at Villa, as he has to displace senior players in various positions in defence or midfield to get a more prominent role, and so perhaps that could be a factor in his thinking on his future, while Villa might be open to green lighting an exit in order to reinvest and strengthen the squad as a whole.
Time will tell how the situation develops in January, but as Bogarde continues to deliver on the potential that he has shown in his young career and grows into a key player for us as we look to compete across multiple fronts and need depth to rest and rotate, Emery may well rebuff any interest shown and keep him at Villa for the long-term future.