Brighton Set to Break Club Transfer Record for Jahanbakhsh

English club Brighton is set to smash its transfer record to land AZ Alkmaar striker Alireza Jahanbakhsh, according to reports.

The forward starred for Iran in the World Cup Russia and despite not scoring, his performance in the group games impressed the Seagulls, the Sun reported on Tuesday.

Jurgen Locadia’s $18.4m switch from PSV Eindhoven in January is the club’s current record buy, but those numbers will be smashed if Jahanbakhsh’s potential $26.25m move to the Amex goes through.

Jahanbakhsh, 24, scored 21 goals in the Dutch league last season and also attracted interest from Leicester City.

His agent, Amir Hashemi, said, “We are actually discussing a transfer; I cannot say which team is involved, but it is not a Dutch club.”

Jahanbakhsh helped fire Alkmaar into third place and qualification for the Europa League last season.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton is keen to add more firepower to his squad this season after scoring just 34 Premier League goals on the return to the top flight.

Glenn Murray was the Seagulls’ leading marksman in the league last term with 12 followed by midfielder Pascal Gross with seven.

Hughton has already signed Bernardo from RB Leipzig, Leon Balogun from Mainz and Yves Bissouma from Lille.

The world cup stage has served well for the Iranian players as four of the national team members found their way to the foreign leagues in Belgium, Qatar and Turkey.

Just after the cup, Esteghlal defender Majid Hosseini and Persepolis midfielder Vahid Amiri completed their moves to Turkish club Trabzonspor. Winger Ali Qolizadeh of Saipa FC also made a contract with R. Charleroi S.C. in Belgian Pro League, top flight of Belgium football league.

Midfielder Omid Ebrahimi also bid farewell to his club Esteghlal and joined Qatari team Al-Ahli FC.