£50m price tag set on in-form Premier League star amid Liverpool interest

£50m price tag set on in-form Premier League star amid Liverpool interest Liverpool Monitor Maxim De Cuyper as Brighton Demand £50m for In-Form Wing-Back Liverpool are among the clubs keeping a close watch on Maxim De Cuyper, with Brighton moving quickly to protect their position over one of the Premier League’s standout left-sided performers. According to TeamTalk , the Seagulls have placed a valuation of around £50m on the Belgian and have no intention of sanctioning a January departure. That number matters. It tells the market that Brighton view De Cuyper as far more than a useful squad option or a player enjoying a short burst of form. It also underlines how strongly they intend to support Fabian Hurzeler while the club push at the top end of the table and look to make headway in Europe. The 25-year-old has made a significant impact since arriving from Club Brugge in the summer of 2025 for €20m, quoted in the original report as “€20m (£17m, $22.5m)”. Less than two years later, Brighton’s position is clear, “The club have set a high asking price, with figures in the region of €60m (£50m, $66m) mentioned.” Maxim De Cuyper Emerging as Liverpool Left-Back Option De Cuyper’s rise has not gone unnoticed. He is described as a player “excelling under Fabian Hurzeler this season” and his output helps explain why. Operating in a more advanced role than a conventional full-back, he already has “five G/A (two scored, three assists) to his name from 10 appearances in the Premier League this season”. For Liverpool, the profile is obvious. De Cuyper is naturally a left-back, though he appears comfortable higher up the pitch and in varied tactical structures. That versatility will appeal to Andoni Iraola, who is now shaping the squad in his own image and assessing where upgrades may be needed over the next two windows. Photo: IMAGO The report states Liverpool are “in desperate need of left-back reinforcements heading into 2027 amid doubts over Milos Kerkez’s form and with Kostas Tsimikas likely to leave as a free agent”. Even allowing for the strong language often attached to transfer stories, there is enough there to suggest genuine monitoring rather than loose admiration. Brighton know exactly what they have. De Cuyper is under contract until June 2030, which places them in a very strong negotiating position. There is no pressure to sell, and no obvious benefit in weakening a side currently chasing major objectives. Brighton Transfer Stance Makes January Deal Unlikely The most important detail in this developing situation is Brighton’s firmness. The report says the club “are understood to have no desire to sell De Cuyper during the January transfer window.” That aligns with Brighton’s current standing and with the broader shift in how they handle prized assets when there is no need to cash in. As the piece explains, “retaining key players is a clear priority for the club.” It adds that Brighton “do not want to lose key players with a place in the Champions League in their sights.” That is a powerful message to any suitor, Liverpool included. There is also no indication of immediate acceleration. Interest from Liverpool, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Roma “appears to be at an early stage, with no indications that formal interest is being declared, or that agent negotiations have begun at this point”. In practical terms, that leaves the situation in the watching brief category, serious enough to note, but not yet moving towards a transaction. European Interest Complicates Liverpool Plans Liverpool are far from alone. Milan’s interest is described as one to watch closely, especially given their prior pursuit. The report notes that “In the summer of 2025, the Rossoneri were strongly interested in De Cuyper as a potential long-term replacement for Theo Hernández.” That move never materialised, with “The Belgian ultimately chose to move to Brighton instead”. Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be monitoring, while Roma are following developments too. Such competition can quickly alter the landscape around any player, particularly one with Premier League experience, strong production and a long contract. For Liverpool, that means any eventual move would likely require conviction, timing and a willingness to pay at the top end of the market for a full-back. Brighton have set the tone early, and they have little reason to soften their position before the summer, let alone in January. The final line of the report sums up the current state of play neatly, “Interest is likely to build, but Brighton’s firm stance and the size of any potential fee mean a move in the January window will be difficult.” That feels accurate. Liverpool’s admiration may be real, but Brighton are holding the cards for now. Our View There is plenty to like here. De Cuyper sounds exactly the type of player Liverpool should be tracking, experienced enough to step in, flexible enough to suit different shapes, and productive enough to offer something extra in the final third. If Andoni Iraola wants energy, aggression and width from his full-backs, this profile makes sense. At the same time, £50m is a serious number. Brighton are perfectly entitled to ask for it, especially with a long contract in place and a strong season underway, but Liverpool have to be sure at that price. This is no longer a case of spotting value early, it is about deciding whether he is a genuine first-choice solution. The encouraging part is that Liverpool appear to be doing the groundwork. That is what well-run clubs do. They identify the market, monitor closely and prepare before a need becomes urgent. If Kerkez does not fully convince and Tsimikas moves on, left-back becomes one of the clearer areas to address. January always looked unlikely, and that is probably for the best. There is no sense overpaying in a difficult window. If the interest is real, the summer feels like the moment when this could become something much more concrete. For now, it is a name worth remembering, and one that fits the direction the squad may need to take.