Brighton Reject Rangers' £7.5m Bid for Amario Cozier-Duberry

Brighton & Hove Albion have rejected a £7.5 million offer from Scottish Premiership side Rangers for winger Amario Cozier-Duberry. The 21-year-old had a successful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers last season, contributing eight goals and 12 assists in 34 appearances and earning a spot in the League One Team of the Season.

Cozier-Duberry, with less than two years left on his contract at the Amex Stadium, has been a regular in pre-season under new manager Fabian Hurzeler. However, he remained an unused substitute in Brighton's recent 1-0 home victory against Bologna.

Interest from Championship clubs for a potential loan move persists for Cozier-Duberry. Meanwhile, Rangers are among several clubs reportedly interested in signing the winger permanently.

In related transfer news, Brighton are reportedly exploring other winger options, including Millwall's Femi Azeez, 25. Azeez is considered available at the right price and is expected to leave the Championship club before the transfer deadline on September 3rd.

Rangers' rejected bid would have been their second-highest transfer fee in over two decades, surpassed only by the £8 million paid for forward Youssef Chermiti last summer, and the significant fees for Michael Ball and Tore Andre Flo in the early 2000s.

After a winless start to the season over four games, Rangers secured a 5-1 victory against St Mirren in the Scottish Cup on Sunday. However, their European campaign ended with a loss to Polish club Jagiellonia Białystok in the Europa League, pushing them into the Conference League play-offs.

Following their European exit, new manager Derek McInnes, who joined from Hearts in the summer, acknowledged the need for squad reinforcements, with reported targets including full-backs and forwards.

McInnes stated: "Strengthening defensively, strengthening in wide areas was a priority. But obviously losing a player of Youssef's ability [to an ACL injury], we need to look at that one as well."