Yves Bissouma’s ‘best midfielder’ claim that will excite Liverpool and Man Utd

Yves Bissouma’s contract at Brighton and Hove Albion runs out in 2024 and he is yet to sign a contract extension with the club that signed him in 2018

Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma has claimed that he believes he is the best midfielder in the Premier League.

The Malian arrived on the South Coast in 2018 from Lille but struggled for minutes under then-manager Chris Hughton, starting just 17 games due to the strong partnership of Dale Stephens and Davy Propper.

However, since the arrival of Graham Potter in May 2019, the midfielder has improved massively and is now a fan’s favourite amongst Seagulls supporters.

The switch to a back-three means that there is a reliance on Bissouma to protect his backline but also drive the ball forward from deep and kickstart attacks, where he has been praised from all angles.

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But it isn’t just fans and pundits that have been impressed by the 25-year-old, Bissouma himself has said that he believes he is the best in his position in the league.

Speaking to Brighton club legend Glenn Murray on Football Focus, he was asked who he thought was the best midfielder in the league, to which he replied: “I don’t want to be arrogant, but it’s me because in my head I am working to be the best.

“So I cannot say another name, I know in the Premier League there are so many good midfielders, but for me, it’s me because that gives me the confidence and the energy to work hard to show people I am here and I am Bissouma.

“I just want to be focused on football, to play in every game, every week to be good, to help my team win and the rest we will see.”

Numerous clubs were linked with a move for the midfielder over the summer, though no official bid was ever submitted and Bissouma is thought to be happy at Brighton.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United are all thought to be interested in potentially signing the hardworking midfielder in January according to Metro reported Aden-Jay Wood, and the thought of bringing in a player with a winning mentality and willingness to do all it takes to be the best will be a very exciting prospect for their fans.

However, there may be a reluctance from Potter and owner Tony Bloom to do business in January depending on their league position.

It is well-known that Brighton are keen to establish themselves as a top-half team in the Premier League and therefore the departure of one of their best players could detail their plans.

In an interview, Bissouma revealed that he and his teammates believe they are capable of achieving such goals. He said: “We are working to be in the top ten, I think for me we can finish in the top ten or maybe a little bit higher.

“So we just have to work towards that and we are working for that.”

However, if one of the Big Six comes calling, as Arsenal did for Ben White with their £50m bid, with an offer that can’t be refused then Potter may have to rely on the likes of Jakub Moder and Steven Alzate to step up for the second half of the campaign.

Arsenal spent over £150m in the transfer window and may be slightly strapped for cash heading into January, whereas Liverpool only signed one player – Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig – so may be financially capable of making an offer.

United were also monitoring Bissouma through the summer, according to The Independent, but the incomings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho may have handed them a slight setback.