Percy Tau latest: Bafana star OUT of Brighton’s next EPL match as Al Ahly move looms

Brighton & Hove Albion fans – along with the whole of South Africa – are growing increasingly puzzled at Percy Tau’s continued absence from the Seagulls’ team.

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According to the Sussex Live website, Tau elected not to represent South Africa at the recent Tokyo Olympics as he wanted to “have a good pre-season” in England to prepare him for the 2021/22 English Premier League season.

Things started off well for the 27-year-old when he came off the bench to score in a 3-1 Brighton win against Championship side Luton Town in a pre-season friendly in late July.

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However, since then, Tau hasn’t featured for the club and wasn’t among Brighton’s starting XI nor substitutes for last weekend’s opening Premier League win over Burnley.

Furthermore, he was not spotted at training this week ahead of Saturday’s home match against Watford.

That could be because he is in fact back in South Africa – as reported by The South African website.

According to Brighton head coach Graham Potter, Tau missed the victory over Burnley due to “personal reasons”.

Tau has been linked to a move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly which would mean reuniting with his former Mamelodi Sundowns manager Pitso Mosimane who is in charge these days in Cairo.

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Tau is reportedly in South Africa at present finalising some paperwork – including a visa – to travel to Egypt to put pen to paper on his contract with the Red Devils.

Mosimane has made it clear that he wants to sign Tau, saying earlier this month: “I have a very good relationship with Percy and if he is available, why not? And also, does he want to come back to Africa?

“Can we afford the transfer fee Brighton would demand for him? And also, would we satisfy his personal terms? If all those boxes can be ticked, then I will have a huge interest in this one.”

New Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos further added fuel to the fire when on Thursday he urged Tau to make the move in order to gain more game time.

Tau signed for Brighton in 2018, but could not get a work permit.

He was loaned to no fewer than three Belgium teams before finally being recalled to England in January’s transfer window.

To date, Tau has made just six appearances for the club in all competitions, just one of which was a start in the Premier League.