Newcastle outcast Aleksandar Mitrovic January target for Brighton boss Chris Hughton
Toon boss Rafa Benitez has lost patience with the Serbian striker for his disciplinary problems on the pitch and is willing to let him go
NEWCASTLE outcast Aleksandar Mitrovic is a January target for Brighton.
Seagulls boss Chris Hughton sent his scouts to watch Mitrovic in action during Serbia’s 3-2 defeat against Austria on Friday.
Toon boss Rafael Benitez has run out of patience with hot-headed Mitrovic after he was hit with a three-match ban for elbowing West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini.
Benitez left Mitrovic out of the squad for Newcastle’s 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool earlier this month.
As the incident happened off the ball, it was not spotted by the match officials but was picked up by TV cameras leading to the charges.
Brighton are desperate to bolster their front line when the transfer window reopens after failing to land any of their top deadline day targets.
Mitrovic, 22, has been fighting for his Newcastle future under boss Rafa Benitez.
His 18 minute cameo against West Ham was his first league minutes of the season and he only started 11 matches in the Championship last campaign.
The Serb looked to have fired himself into contention by socring the third goal to seal victory.
But the ban was the last straw for Benitiez who will now be open to offers for the striker.
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Brighton are also after Tottenham target Pau Lopez from Espanyol, according to reports.
The 22-year-old keeper is said to have impressed on loan at Spurs last season but Albion are now ready to swoop.
Spain Under-21s international Lopez currently has one year left on his contract at the La Liga club.
