Brighton reporters have shot down a rumour linking the club with a player-plus-cash swap involving Eddie Nketiah and Yves Bissouma almost as soon as it sprung up.

Aden-Jay Wood reported on Tuesday that Brighton are among the clubs interested in a move for Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah this summer. Wood claimed Nketiah was on Brighton’s attacking shortlist and could be used in a part-swap deal with Yves Bissouma.

It didn’t take long for those hopes to be dashed, however. The Athletic’s Brighton correspondent Andy Naylor claims that when he followed up on the latest links to Nketiah he was told again that it’s not true.

The Athletic reported earlier this week on the fact that Arsenal are one of the clubs linked with the midfielder, adding that he’s valued at more than £40m by Brighton.

It would certainly make sense for Nketiah to go the other way, as he needs games and he provides goals, something Brighton have lacked this season. But perhaps it’s one of those rumours that only started up in the first place because fans think it’s a logical swap.

The reality appears to be that there’s nothing in the story. We’ll keep an eye out, just in case.