Real Madrid's scouting assignment for 20-year-old defender stalls amid interest from Brighton

Real Madrid he had discovered the defender of Seville Juanlu Sanchez this season as they keep an eye on potential long-term replacements for Lucas Vazquez and Dani Carvajal. However, his efforts to do so were thwarted.

Juanlu has enjoyed an excellent first half of the season, earning a starting place as Jesus Navas battles injuries, with Jose Luis Mendilibar and Diego Alonso showing faith in him. However, since Navas returned to fitness, Quique Sanchez Flores has returned to his 38-year-old captain.

Ace for AS Diary, Real Madrid's efforts to scout him have been halted by just 15 minutes of action in the past two months. His release clause was increased from €15 million to €25 million in January, with other scouts from the Premier League also in attendance at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, including Brighton and Hove Albion. Sevilla will allow him to leave this summer for a “good offer”, with another promising youngster in Dario Benavidez coming from the ranks at Nervion behind him.

Certainly, during his opening spell in La Liga, Juanlu showed enough potential to stand out in a positive way at such a young age. At such a young age, it's a small sample size to go by, but whoever takes the risk on him could get a bargain. With League sides unlikely to take such a risk, it would be no surprise to see him end up in England.