Brighton have dismissed a £20 million approach from Nottingham Forest for Yasin Ayari, according to Sky Sports News. The bid, reported by Rob Dorsett and Elliot Cook, falls short of Brighton's valuation for a player they see as non-negotiable this window.
I get why Forest want him. Ayari turned 22 in October and he's already a Sweden international with 66 Brighton appearances under his belt. Six goals too, including that screamer against Fulham on Saturday. He cut inside from the left and rattled the crossbar on its way in. Bernd Leno got fingertips to it but the power was ridiculous.
The timing of this bid is not coincidental. Ayari has started 17 of Brighton's 23 league games this season. That's first-choice territory. Fabian Hurzeler clearly trusts him, and why wouldn't he? The kid went out on loan to Coventry and Blackburn in 2023-24 to get minutes. Came back stronger.
The numbers don't lie
Brighton paid somewhere between £3.5m and £5.2m to AIK Stockholm in January 2023, depending on which outlet you believe. What matters is this: they've developed a raw Swedish teenager into a starter who can score from distance and compete physically in the Premier League. Doubling that investment in three years is not going to cut it.
Forest, of course, are in a different kind of conversation. Sean Dyche is their third manager this season after Nuno Espirito Santo lasted three games and Ange Postecoglou survived just eight. The club sits uncomfortably close to the relegation zone, and Dyche needs bodies who can do the unglamorous work while occasionally producing magic.
Ayari fits that profile. He's 5'8" but surprisingly strong. He wins duels, tracks runners, and can spray passes when given time. The question is whether Forest can find the fee Brighton want, and whether Ayari himself sees Nottingham as a step forward or sideways.
What Brighton are saying
Hurzeler addressed his squad depth earlier this month. Speaking before Brighton's win over Burnley, he said he was "quite happy" with what he has. On the topic of January movement, he added: "A lot of things can happen, especially more towards the end. We have to be patient."
Patience, though, works both ways. Brighton currently sit 12th with 30 points from 23 games. Their form since early December has been patchy at best. They've drawn nine league matches this season already. The 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Saturday, despite Ayari's goal, left a sour taste.
Selling Ayari now would be unusual for Brighton, who tend to move players in the summer when bidding wars develop. And the window closes Monday night. That does not leave much time for Forest to improve their offer, and it leaves even less time for Brighton to find a replacement if they were inclined to accept.
What happens next
Forest are reportedly weighing whether to come back with an improved bid. They'd need to get significantly closer to Brighton's valuation, which multiple reports suggest sits well above £20m. FotMob currently lists Ayari's market value at €38.6m, though that feels aggressive.
The reality is simpler. Brighton have no reason to sell. Ayari is contracted until June 2027, Hurzeler rates him, and the transfer window is about to shut. If Forest return with £25m or more, perhaps the conversation changes. Otherwise, expect Ayari to stay on the south coast, at least until the summer when clubs with bigger budgets might come knocking.
