Sport
Brighton transfer news: 5 targets this summer
Last season, Brighton and Hove Albion played like a team who were in the hunt for European football. However, the league table told a completely different story with Graham Potter’s side finishing 16th. So, what went wrong? The main issue was scoring goals. Based on Expected Goals (xG), the Seagulls scored 14 less than they should have and on Expected Points, Brighton would have finished fifth based on their defensive stability and chance creation. The latest Brighton transfer news is predictably linking some attacking players with the club this summer.
So, who could the Seagulls sign to put away all of these chances? Here are five options.
Brighton transfer news: 5 targets this summer
Tammy Abraham (Chelsea)
It is easy for pundits to say that Brighton must sign a Premier League proven striker but the only a very small pool of players fit that criteria and are available for a transfer to a non-elite club. One player that is rumoured to be available, however, is Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham.
The forward fell out of favour at Stamford Bridge after the appointment of Thomas Tuchel, with the German boss leaving him out of the matchday squad for most of their important games last campaign. However, despite that, Abraham still finished the season on six goals in 22 appearances (10 from the bench) and registered an assist too. The 23-year-old is certainly proven and would provide height, power and a cutting edge in the final third which Brighton really need.
Signing Abraham would force Brighton to break their £17million transfer record because they would need to cough up between £35-50million to secure his signature. It would also mean that the South Coast side would need to sell some of their fringe players to cope with the striker’s £82,000-per-week wages. However, the towering talisman would provide them with a very talented centre forward to play up top alongside Neal Maupay for several years to come and the latest Brighton transfer news suggests that they’re interested.
Mergim Berisha (RB Salzburg)
Being tasked with replacing Erling Haaland is a sizeable task, but Mergim Berisha has certainly given it his best shot. The German hasn’t directly been linked with any clubs this transfer window or specifically mentioned in any Brighton transfer news. However, he does seem like the type of player that Potter would be interested in given his versatility across the frontline.
Berisha scored five and assisted three in ten appearances last season in the Austrian Bundesliga, also scoring once in the Europa League too. The 23-year-old is a more creative type of striker, willing to run into the channels and open up space for onrushing midfielders, which has also led to him being deployed on the wing at times too. Berisha is good with both feet, a strong runner with the ball and currently plays in a team that often creates chances from long passing moves – like Brighton.
The Seagulls wouldn’t have to break the bank for Berisha, an offer in the region of £15 million could prize the under-21 international away from Austria. The forward has good potential and the intensity of the Premier League could bring out the very best in him.
Paul Onuachu (Genk)
Genk only managed seventh-place in the Belgium Pro League last season, which hardly catches the eye. However, what did draw attention to the club is the consistent goalscoring of Paul Onuachu.
The Nigerian centre forward scored 33 in 38 appearances last season and what will be music to the ears of Seagulls supporters is that he outperformed his xG by nine goals. Standing tall at 6ft 7in, Onuachu is the ultimate target man and would provide another dimension to Brighton’s attack, with the ever-overlapping wingbacks Tariq Lamptey and Solly March potentially thriving from having a greater presence in the area to aim their crosses at. But despite his significant height, Onuachu isn’t incapable with the ball at his feet, often bringing the ball down and driving at defences or spraying the ball out wide so he can get himself into the box.
Commentators would have a field day if they saw 6ft 6in Dan Burn, the tallest fullback in Premier League history in case you hadn’t heard, and Onuachu lining up in the same team. But it isn’t too unlikely as the striker is on Brighton’s radar according to news outlets in Nigeria, with Brighton transfer news suggesting it’s a straight battle with West Ham, who are also keen to bring in the centre forward.
Noni Madueke (PSV)
If you told a Brighton fan they were signing another forward from the Eredivisie then you will get one of three responses: laughter, tears or just shock – maybe even all three. The Seagulls have had awful luck when bringing in attacking players from the Dutch league, with Jurgen Locadia and Alireza Jahanbakhsh both failing to live up to expectations since arriving for significant fees. But would it be third time lucky for owner Tony Bloom if he went shopping there again?
Noni Madueke has looked like a bright prospect since breaking into the PSV first-team set-up. The former Spurs academy product has made 24 appearances this season, 17 from off of the bench, scoring seven and assisting four. The 19-year-old is a pacey, direct right-winger with a willingness to take on his man and then drive into the box. Madueke is great with both feet and could be deployed on either flank if required, he also has made the odd appearance upfront too so would suit Potter’s ever-changing formations.
With Jadon Sancho seemingly Manchester United-bound, Borussia Dortmund are rumoured to be interested in Madueke. Their willingness to grow and improve young players would be a major pull, but if Brighton are willing to cough up the £15-20million fee soon then they wouldn’t be without a chance.
Ivan Toney (Brentford FC)
Many fans of bottom-half clubs were hoping Brentford failed to reach the Premier League via the Play-offs in May, purely because they were keen for their clubs to enter the race for striker Ivan Toney. The 25-year-old was nothing short of brilliant for The Bees all season long, scoring 31 goals in 45 appearances and breaking the record for most goals in a Championship season.
Toney is a very well-rounded forward, his presence and power in the box make him an aerial threat and he also has the knack of being in the right place at the right time for when a ball is pinballing around the penalty area. The former Newcastle man is also pacey and a good dribbler of the ball, which could suit the Albion when they hit high-pressing teams on the counter-attack.
Another positive of signing Toney would be how frequently he draws fouls in the opposition half, which would give the Seagulls plenty of opportunities to get the likes of Lewis Dunk and Adam Webster forward for long set-pieces.
With Brentford now a Premier League club, the forward will cost Brighton a fee upwards of £25million. He is crucial for their system and if they are to survive the season then they will need to attempt to keep their most important players That isn’t to say it won’t happen but currently there is no Brighton transfer news suggesting that it will happen.
You could earn up to £10 (or currency equivalent) in bonus funds by joining Colossus with our New Player Bonus. Click here to join the action.
