Bayern Munich are reportedly keeping tabs on one of the Premier League's brightest young goalkeepers as the German giants look to line up a succession plan for club legend Manuel Neuer.
The English top-flight star missed the first couple of matches of the season through injury but since then has played every minute for their club in the Premier League.
It is no surprise then that some of Europe's biggest clubs have been monitoring the 22-year-old with Bayern the latest side to show interest, Sky Sport Germany's Florian Plettenberg reports.
Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton side have been leaky at the back but Bart Verbruggen is highly regarded on the south coast and is part of a side which has surged into sixth place.
The Dutchman is also rated by his national team, establishing himself as Ronald Koeman's first choice within months of his debut last October, and played every minute of their run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
Manager Vincent Kompany might fancy a reunion with Verbruggen, who he signed for Anderlecht in 2020, but the club are also believed to be keen on FC Koln's Jonas Urbig, who has less than two years left on his contract.
Bayern might end up looking closer to home to find Neuer's long-term replacement with Alexander Nubel having been brought in from Schalke four years ago as a potential option.
The 28-year-old is enjoying an impressive season on loan at Stuttgart having made 97 appearances in a fruitful spell at Monaco.
But Neuer's longevity continues to defy those who suggest the 38-year-old star is fading and Bayern are thought to be actively seeking to tie the German down to a new deal, with his current contract expiring next summer.
The goalkeeper moved to the Bavarian side from Schalke in 2011 and has been a stalwart ever since, making a whopping 529 appearances, in which time he has earned 247 clean sheets.
The club captain has won an eye-watering 11 Bundesliga trophies at the Allianz Arena, as well as two Champions League titles.
He has been Germany's number one between the posts for well over a decade, playing 124 matches for Die Mannschaft and taking his national team to a memorable World Cup triumph in 2014.
Despite his age-defying antics, Neuer will have to call it a day at some point and Verbruggen, whose contract at Brighton runs until 2028, looks a shrewd option with an eye to the future.
After swapping Anderlecht for the south coast last summer at a cost of £16.3million, the goalkeeper took some time to usurp Jason Steele as number one but now looks to have settled into Hurzeler's team.
Verbruggen recently spoke out about the disappointment of losing a Euro semi-final to England in an interview with The Argus, saying: 'When you get close to the main objective, if you then don't reach it, it feels a bit harsh and it is painful.
'After a holiday, I got the time to feel a little bit proud and happy and privileged to be able to do that.'
