Brighton youngster Zak Sturge, 17, rejects new contract amid transfer interest from Leverkusen and Wolfsburg
BRIGHTON youngster Zak Sturge has turned down a contract extension from the club.
Sources have told SunSport that Sturge, who is considered as a highly-rated talent, decided against putting pen to paper on a new deal with the Seagulls.
The left-back has shown immense ability within the team's youth ranks and has attracted interest from the Bundesliga.
Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg are among a few clubs keeping tabs on the 17-year-old ahead of the January transfer window.
And the England Under-18 international is "open" to a move abroad.
Sturge has yet to register a senior appearance for Brighton but has amassed seven league games for the Under-18s this season.
He has also played twice for the Under-23s before and has displayed plenty of promise for the future.
Bundesliga teams have turned their attention to young English talent in recent years and appear willing to invest.
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Jadon Sancho prospered during his four-year stint at Borussia Dortmund after leaving Manchester City in 2017.
That led to a massive Premier League return as he signed for Manchester United following a staggering £73million move last summer.
Jude Bellingham linked up with Sancho at Dortmund last year following his transfer from Birmingham and has since been a standout performer at the Westfalenstadion.
Bayern Munich were previously keen on bringing Chelsea ace Callum Hudson-Odoi over to replace club legend Arjen Robben.
Hudson-Odoi stayed at Stamford Bridge but Bayern discovered another youngster with an English background in Jamal Musiala.
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