TWO Championship Sides Chasing the Same Premier League Star - Transfer Hijack Planned

Championship Sides Braced for War as Signing of Brighton Star Hijacked

Brighton winger Jeremey Sarmiento was set to make a move to Championship side Birmingham City this winter, but fellow second-tier promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough are attempting to hijack the deal in the closing moments of the January window.

Let's understand The REAL Reason Middlesbrough Signed Jeremy Sarmiento 🌟

From bravery and versatility to the dynamic threat that Kim Hellberg will adore - we discuss the lot!

🖇️https://t.co/6dxjTShZ2f#UTB #Boro🔴 pic.twitter.com/8DDaV0ijsj

— Jack Ward (@jackwardpodcast) January 22, 2026

The 23-year-old winger has spent the first half of the season on loan with Serie A side Cremonese, but he has failed to start a single league game nor created a single league goal contribution in his stint in the Italian top-flight, prompting a potential return to the EFL.

After Middlesbrough's move to sign the Ecuadorian was seemingly hijacked by Birmingham City, the Teesside club have fired back with a hijack of their own and now seem to be the club in pole position to bring in Sarmiento.

A Hijack of a Hijack - Sarmiento Closes Back in on Boro Switch

All whilst Jeremy Sarmiento has been enjoying an inactive holiday in the North of Italy with Cremonese, two EFL Championship sides have been fighting tooth and nail for the rights to sign him from Brighton after his loan eventually gets cut short.

Middlesbrough had been chasing the Ecuadorian's signature for the majority of the transfer window so far, but negotiations hitting a crossroads allowed Birmingham City to swoop in with negotiations of their own, despite Sarmiento's preference being a move to Boro, according to Teesside Live.

🚨 | BREAKING: Reports of a bid from Wrexham for Jeremy Sarmiento are not true.

Sarmiento is set to become a Middlesbrough player soon.

[@lorenzooleporee]#Boro | #UTB | #BHAFC

— Boropolis (@Boropolis) January 22, 2026

Now, though, it seems Middlesbrough have come to terms for a deal in the region of £3.2m to secure the permanent arrival of Sarmiento, who will follow Leo Castledine and Finley Munroe through the entrance at Riverside Stadium this month with only contract negotiations still to come.

The South American winger has won promotion from the Championship in each of his last two seasons - he spent the second half of the 23/24 campaign on loan with Ipswich Town as they reached the Premier League, and was also part of the promoted Burnley squad of the 24/25 campaign for the entire season.

He has chops, then, as an EFL man, and a permanent end to his time in Brighton should be just around the corner after a mistifying transfer saga.