One Player Brighton Must Sign This Summer | OneFootball

Summer Transfer Window Preparation: A Premier League Overview

Introduction to Transfer Planning

As we approach the summer break teams will be well into their planning for the upcoming transfer window and despite the fact that there are still five weeks until the final day of the 23/24 Premier League season moves will already be in motion.

Every team has needs they need to address in the transfer market, even treble winning Manchester City who are looking a good bet for a second consecutive treble. So I felt like now would be a good time to start looking at each team and pick one area they should look to sign a player for, and pick that player to save them the hassle.

Brighton’s Season Analysis

Let’s continue our alphabetical wander through the Premier League with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Brighton are having a strange season aren’t they?

They’re very much dividing opinion. Some claim this has been a poor season for the Seagulls. Others take a more logical approach and look at the bigger picture.

Brighton’s Transfer Challenges

Brighton lost Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and Levi Colwill in the summer. Three player who played a big role in their hugely impressive campaign last time around. Replacing one of them was going to be tough, replacing all of them a near impossibility.

Billy Gilmour replaced Alexis, having already had a year to sit and watch him play, and has put together a good season but he’s just not the same calibre of player as the Argentine.

Carlos Baleba was signed to replace Caicedo but hasn’t always had the managers trust and so he has been in and out of the team and his performances have been inconsistent.

Igor was signed to replace Colwill and was a very clear step down, and also hasn’t performed well consistently.

Defensive Struggles and Injury Woes

So that has been one issue.

Another issue has been that key defenders like Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster have had very poor seasons. Webster became the scapegoat while Dunk’s performances have been glossed over but the England international hasn’t been anywhere close to the level he showed in the past two seasons.

And then there’s been the injuries. Lots and lots of injuries. Julio Enciso missed most of the season, as has Solly March. Pervis Estupinan had two spells on the sidelines and Kaoru Mitoma is currently out for an extended period of time.

Estupinan and Mitoma were vital to Brighton last season, their partnership down the left flank was one of the keys to Brighton’s success and this season they have played only seven games together, with two of those games seeing the pair share the pitch for only one half of football.

Factoring all of that in, for Brighton to still be a top half team, topped their group in the Europa League and had a decent cup run this has been a successful season for the south-coast club.

Key Transfer Target for Brighton

Yes there have been some terrible results, but their flaws are more down to individuals than the system they operate in. They can be fixed with upgrades in the right places.

One position they must upgrade this summer is central midfield, particular defensive midfield. Baleba and Gilmour are very promising, Jacob Moder is a quality player but needs to be managed because of his injury issues and Pascal Gros is one of the better players at the club, but they need a more consistent partner for the German heading into next season so that the other three can be used more appropriately.

Ideal Addition: Mats Wieffer

Ideally Brighton will add a more physical defensive ball winning presence who can stymie opposition attacks while also fitting in with how Roberto De Zerbi wants his team to play in possession.

Mats Wieffer of Feyenoord would be ideal. The giant Dutchman towers above opponents and can physically bully them, while also offering plenty of quality in possession. He was part of the Feyenoord team that secured the Eredivisie title last season and looked more than at home against the highest level of competition in this years Champions League.

Wieffer is the type of player who would thrive at Brighton and potentially use them as a stepping stone to one of Europe’s top clubs. That would fit the Brighton model as it would allow them make a significant profit on him.