Brighton accepted an offer from Nottingham Forest for Lewis Dunk – but the captain refused to entertain a move, Daily Mail Sport understands.
The struggling Seagulls were booed off following Sunday’s derby defeat to Crystal Palace with fans seething after a run of just one victory in 12 Premier League matches and chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ ringing around the Amex aimed at manager Fabian Hurzeler.
And, in a shock revelation that may raise eyebrows, sources have disclosed that club officials were willing to wave goodbye to the club legend, who made his debut in 2010.
It was widely reported that Sean Dyche’s Forest made an approach for Dunk last month, which was swiftly rebuffed by Brighton.
However, sources have disclosed that was not the case, and that the player was actually given permission to make the switch, should he wish to do so.
While Brighton declined to comment, it is thought that the offer from Forest, who may well end up in a relegation battle, included a ‘significant pay rise’ and a contract to 2028 for the 34-year-old, whose deal on the South Coast expires next summer after he triggered a one-year extension.
Lewis Dunk refused to entertain a move to Nottingham Forest – despite Brighton accepting a bid from their Premier League rivals
The Brighton captain has made more than 500 appearances for the club and has a young family settled on the south coast
The thinking was, given the service he had given to the club, Dunk deserved to be presented with the opportunity to move elsewhere.
However, those close to the situation say the centre half, who made his 500th appearance for the club in December, informed officials he had no intention of making the switch and was left ‘surprised’ by the situation.
Dunk, who is from Brighton and has six England caps, has a young family and is settled in Sussex. He has been with the club throughout their rise from League One and the Withdean Stadium to the Premier League, their new home and European football.
Dunk has also appeared in two FA Cup semi-finals and was a mainstay in the side that delivered a record-breaking sixth-place in 2022-23.
The logic behind accepting the offer may spark some debate among an increasingly frustrated fanbase. Despite the arrival of two new centre backs in the summer, he has played in all but one of Brighton’s Premier League fixtures this season.
Criticism has been aimed at Hurzeler following a £300million summer spend that has so far failed to deliver for a side which sits in 14th place having finished in the top 10 in three out of the last four seasons.
Forest boss Sean Dyche was keen to add Dunk’s leadership skills and experience to the dressing room amid their relegation scrap
Popular sporting director David Weir was effectively sacked in September last year and was swiftly replaced by Jason Ayto, who had served as assistant sporting director during more than a decade with Arsenal.
Following the Palace defeat, Dunk said that the club’s players had to shoulder the blame for their poor run.
‘I don’t think as a group of players at the moment we are doing enough,’ he said. ‘We are not good enough.
‘The gaffer has taken responsibility but we have to take responsibility as a group.
‘As a group of players, we haven’t done enough today for the manager.
‘I understand managers take the flak but we have to look at ourselves as a group that we didn’t do enough for him today.’
