Aaron Connolly could be on the lookout for a new opportunity to kickstart his career.
The Ireland striker is currently on a season-long loan at Serie B side Venezia. However, their chairman has suggested that the move could be cut short this January.
Duncan Niederauer spoke of “adaptation difficulties” and the need to work out a solution with Brighton.
Connolly (22) has struggled to recapture the form that saw him burst onto the senior scene with a brace in his first Premier League start against Tottenham.
In the three years that followed, he went on loan to Luton and Middlesbrough and scored just twice in 20 appearances last season at the Riverside.
He played in Venezia’s first five games this season without scoring, before he picked up an injury.
The Galway native has not made a first-team appearance since his return to fitness.
And on Wednesday Niederauer addressed the Ireland international’s situation, saying: “Connolly? The player is not injured. He was, but he’s fine now.
“He has had some adaptation difficulties. We will talk to Brighton in January to find a solution. In January and June.”
Connolly has been capped eight times at senior international level. He dropped down to Jim Crawford’s Under-21s for their September Euro Championship play-offs against Israel.
Ireland missed out on a spot in next summer’s finals when they were beaten on penalties in the second-leg in Tel Aviv.
READ NEXT:
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
