'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami teammate Diego Gomez is reportedly close to joining Brighton & Hove Albion. The Paraguayan midfielder is set to join the Seagulls in a deal that could see the MLS side make the biggest sale in their short history.
GiveMeSport's Tom Bogert reports that Brighton are close to reaching an agreement with the Herons. The 21-year-old is set to depart DRV PNK for a club-record $17 million (€15.6 million), although he's likely to see out the year with David Beckham's co-owned franchise.
Gomez joined Inter Miami from Paraguayan outfit Libertad for €2.7 million ($2.9 million) last summer. The Paraguay U23 international impressed alongside Lionel Messi and others under Gerardo Martino, appearing 28 times across competitions. He's posted five goals and four assists and is tipped for a bright future.
The exciting central midfielder spoke about Brighton's interest and confirmed his intentions to join the Seagulls. He said (via GOAL):
"My agent is speaking to Inter Miami and Brighton & Hove Albion, I came here to make the jump to Europe. I hope it happens and whatever God wants."
Brighton has a habit of snapping up glistening gems from around the globe and developing them into top talent. Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo are two examples, and they have since moved to Liverpool and Chelsea.
For Premier League fans who have yet to get a glimpse of Gomez, he will be in action at the Olympic Games in Paris. He's been selected in Paraguay's squad for the Olympics and he'll be looking to impress amid links to Brighton.
Diego Gomez calls his Inter Miami teammate Lionel Messi the 'best in the world'
Gomez has had the opportunity to play alongside Lionel Messi, a player he feels is the best in the world. The Brighton target took a snap with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner shortly after joining Inter Miami. He captioned it:
"With the best in the world."
Messi, 37, joined Inter Miami just five days before Gomez and the duo have linked up at DRV PNK. The Paraguayan showed nimble feet to get past defenders and find the Argentina captain, who struck home in a 3-1 win against Nashville (March 14).
The Barcelona legend has rolled back the years at DRV PNK with 25 goals and 16 assists in 29 games across competitions. He arrived from Paris Saint-Germain after his contract expired.
