Aaron Connolly Wanted by Hoffenheim

[Dave]

Hoffenheim are tracking Brighton's promising young striker Aaron Connolly, Sky Sports News understands, as the German club continue their model of scouting Premier League prospects not currently getting first-team football.

Connolly - a Republic of Ireland U19 international - has scored nine goals in 10 league games for Brighton's U23s this season and five more for them in just three outings in the EFL Trophy.

The 18-year-old is understood to be stalling on the offer of a new contract, and the Seagulls are considering letting him out on loan in the January transfer window.

Connolly was on trial at Manchester United before joining the south coast club, and Sky Sports News understands United are still monitoring his development, along with Manchester City and other clubs from the Bundesliga.

Among them have been Hoffenheim, currently sixth in the table, and the temporary home of Arsenal starlet Reiss Nelson, who has followed the lead of players such as Jadon Sancho and Ademola Lookman in breaking into senior football in Germany.