Ghana winger Ibrahim Osman was ready to make a permanent return to Birmingham City this summer, but the move fell through after Brighton decided against selling him, Footy-Africa can exclusively reveal.
Osman spent last season on loan at Birmingham and impressed manager Chris Davies, who was keen to bring the 21-year-old back to St Andrew’s on a permanent deal.
Footy-Africa understands Osman had also given the green light to the move and was interested in continuing his time with the Championship club, where he scored four goals in 18 matches.
Birmingham, however, faced a major obstacle in Brighton’s valuation of the Ghanaian, with the Seagulls initially demanding around £18 million.
That figure was considered unrealistic for Birmingham under the Championship’s Squad Cost Ratio rules, but the Blues remained hopeful that Brighton could soften their position before the end of the window.
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Instead, Osman impressed Fabian Hurzeler during pre-season and the Brighton manager decided to keep him.
The Ghanaian has since featured in Brighton’s Premier League campaign, making a January move possible if his playing opportunities become limited.
His situation could also depend on how he performs over the coming months.
Birmingham eventually turned their attention to another Ghanaian winger, Mohammed Fuseini, but that deal also collapsed on deadline day.
The Blues eventually signed Liam Millar, while Osman remains a player they could revisit if he becomes available in January.
