Brighton & Hove Albion have had a difficult time in the Premier League since they gained promotion for the first time in their club history. Chris Hughton’s side were on an exceptional run in the Championship, having sealed an automatic qualification to the second tier.
It seems the Seagulls are currently in a transition as they are still in that initial phase of adaptation. Brighton have been goal shy in this season as despite creating chances, the absence of a prolific scorer in the side has created problems for them and Hughton is likely to dig deep in the transfer market to find a solution to this problem.
According to reports, the Seagulls are planning to make an offer for Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Hooper. The Owls’ striker has been in devastating form, having already netted seven goals in 11 outings for his club this season.
Brighton could do better with the addition of a goal poacher and a player like Hooper would be perfectly suitable for them. Games in Championship are often very rigid and tiring and Hooper is currently having a gala time there. The English striker could soon follow the path of Chris Wood who recently took a step up by switching his allegiance to Burnley.
Wood had a great start to his Premier League season and Hooper might be able to emulate his form. The 29-year-old had a brief stint in the Premier League with Norwich City and had scored six goals in the top tier.
So he shouldn’t have any problem in acclimatizing to the conditions of the League. He would command a fee of £6m and a club like Brighton have the necessary financial setup to afford it.
Brighton showed their intent this season but having a player like Hooper on the side could change the entire team’s body language. A host of Premier League clubs are also believed to be in the race for him.
Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion are among the interested parties. Roy Hodgson’s side is currently struggling miserably and has been searching a striker to end their current woes. Similarly, Pulis has gone frustrated over the lack of activity from his strikers and wants a new face in January.
Hooper joined the Owls from Norwich in 2016 and has been quite consistent with his goal-scoring prowess. Hughton is likely to launch a bid in January and would be hoping to crack a deal very soon. Is Brighton Hooper’s best destination?
