Jakub Moder and Moises Caicedo: Brighton already prepared for '£50m' Yves Bissouma exit

The Mali international midfielder has been excellent for Albion this season and is widely tipped to leave the Amex Stadium this month or during the summer.

Bissouma's agent Michael N'Cho increased speculation recently by stating there is "considerable interest" in his client with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Monaco and Real Madrid all poised.

A summer transfer seems more likely though as lowly Brighton continue their battle to maintain their Premier League status, and Bissouma, who is contracted until June 2023, will be expected to play a key role in that scrap.

Brighton signed the Ivory Coast born midfielder from Lille for £15m in 2018 and if they do sell, the club will hope to more than double their money on the 24-year-old.

Arsenal remain favourites to land him as he could team up with former Lille players Gabriel Magalhaes and Nicolas Pepe.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is also said to be a huge admirer and believes Bissouma could form a successful midfield partnership with Thomas Partey.

Arsenal paid Atletico Madrid £45m last October to land Ghanaian international Party and Brighton will hope to fetch a similar fee – perhaps slightly higher as Bissouma is a few years younger. Some believe up to £50m.

Albion fans will be disappointed to lose their key man but in many ways he represents a perfect signing for the club.

Brighton's preferred strategy is to recruit and develop the finest young talents, such as Tariq Lamptey and Alexis Mac Allisiter, and give them the opportunity to perform in the top flight.

If all goes to plan, Brighton get one, two or three good seasons and then sell for a healthy profit. Southampton have been doing this for years.

The key to this is of course is succession planning and in Jakub Moder, 21, and the soon to arrive Moises Caicedo, 19, Brighton appear to have done just that.

Poland international Moder was signed for £10m last summer and recalled from his loan at Lech Poznan earlier this month. The athletic 6ft 3in box to box midfielder is already impressing the management and is likely to make his debut in the coming weeks.

Caicedo, after lengthy and complex transfer negotiations with Independiente del Valle and numerous agents, is expected to be confirmed this week and loaned to Tony's Bloom Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

The Ecuador international was wanted by Manchester United, West Ham and AC Milan and is one of South America's most promising midfielders. The £4.5m signing could well be ready for Graham Potter's first team next season.

Bissouma's stunning strike against Blackpool certainly highlighted his class and value to this Brighton team but Potter was relaxed about his future.

Potter also feels he is a Champions League level player and will get even better with greater consistency.

“He’s got that quality (to play in the Champions League), he’s got those attributes that you need at that level,” said Potter.

“It’s about him being consistent enough to do that. I think he’s made steps with that but there’s still more to do and more to come.

“It’s just nice that our players have taken a step forward, it’s nice for Yves that he’s taken a step forward. You never know anything in football these days.

“But from his perspective, I think he’s happy here, he wants to help the team, so we are quite relaxed about everything.”

In the short-term Bissouma still has a vital role to play on the south coast, especially with relegation rivals Fulham visiting the Amex this Wednesday.

But, should he depart this summer, it will represent a good deal for all parties and give the next ones of Moder, Caicedo and academy graduate Steven Alzate, their chance to do the same.

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