Brighton in talks to sign £20m-rated Shakhtar defender Mykola Matviyenko as De Zerbi raids former club for transfer

BRIGHTON have opened talks to sign Shakhtar Donetsk defender Mykola Matviyenko.

The Ukraine international is a top target for Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi as he looks to build on an impressive start to life as a Premier League manager.

Matviyenko, 26, made 23 appearances under De Zerbi during the Italian's time in charge of Shakhtar, scoring once.

The star who is capable of playing at both centre-back and left-back, has spent the weekend in London with his family while talks between the two clubs continue.

Shakthar recently held out for a £97million fee to allow Mykhailo Mudryk to join Chelsea, value Matviyenko at £20million. 

The clubs are currently apart in their valuation of the man with 54 caps for his country.

He has also won the Ukrainian Premier League twice and was linked with a transfer to Arsenal in 2020.

Matviyenko was expected to rejoin his teammates in Turkey at their training camp yesterday.

Brighton are in the market for a new defender after Chelsea loanee Levi Colwill picked up a quadriceps injury that will rule him out for up to six weeks.

The club could do with new recruits after letting Leandro Trossard join Arsenal for £27million.

They also face a battle to keep hold of talented midfielder Moises Caicedo with Chelsea and Liverpool monitoring his progress, according to reports.

There has also been interest in star man Alexis Mac Allister, although it appears he will stay.