Svoboda is currently part of the Austria squad at this summer's World Cup finals Christian Bruna/Getty ImagesJune 19, 2026 Updated 2:38 am EDTBrighton & Hove Albion are interested in Michael Svoboda of Venezia as they reassess their pool of central defenders.The south-coast club are prepared to meet a €5million (£4.3m) release clause in the 27-year-old’s contract with Italian side.Svoboda is currently part of the Austria squad at this summer’s World Cup finals.Brighton completed the £52m sale on Thursday of Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham. Adam Webster has been released and Brazilian Igor Julio is likely to leave during this summer’s transfer window.
The Athletic revealed last week that a £30m bid for 19-year-old Croatian international Luka Vuskovic has been rejected by Tottenham.Signing Svoboda, Venezia’s captain, would boost the numbers in central defence.Capped four times by his country, he was an unused substitute for Austria’s 3-1 win over Jordan on Wednesday in their opening group fixture at the World Cup. Ralf Rangnick’s side face reigning world champions Argentina in their next game on Monday.Svoboda earned a new contract after leading Venezia to the Serie B title last season. He has been with them for six years, including two seasons in Serie A which ended in relegation, after joining from WSG Tirol in the Austrian Bundesliga.
