According to latest reports, Brighton And Hove Albion have taken an interest in Northern Ireland winger, Jordan Jones. The 23-year-old impressed scouts in the international friendly against South Korea by helping his side to a 2-1 win and the Seagulls are looking to make the pounce.
Jones currently plays for Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership and has 79 total appearances for the club. He featured in 36 games in this season alone while also scoring 4 and assisting 7.
He is best suited to the left-wing with a dominant right foot and wonderful dribbling ability. However, he has been fielded in more central locations and on the other side of the pitch as well.
The Redcar-born player started his professional career with Middlesbrough after progressing through their youth ranks. He was a key figure for the U23 side with 60 appearances and 5 goals under his belt.
However, he made just one senior team appearance with Boro before being loaned out to Hartlepool United. Jones developed his game with the Monkey Hangers and later was signed up by Cambridge United as well.
Unfortunately, Boro saw no value in him and released him after the 2015/16 season. Kilmarnock caught up on the scent and won the two-way battle over Rangers FC for the shifty winger.
Killie paid about £350,000 for the player’s services and ever since has been reaping the rewards.
It would be a massive boost in Brighton’s future plans to bring in such a talented youngster into the squad but questions need to be raised about the certainty of the investment. Even at a young age, Jones could not make the cut for lower division sides.
The Scottish division might be one of the top leagues in European football but it is still no match for the English Premier League. The adjustment period for young players is significant in majority of the cases, which eventually ends up hurting the clubs in the long-run.
The Seagulls are fighting relegation from the English top-flight and are currently in the 12th spot of the points table. Chris Hughton has done a marvellous job of accumulating a young but at the same time experienced squad.
Albion looks well drilled on both ends of the pitch and have on the best qualities that football teams yearn for – grittiness in the face of obstruction. They have squeezed out impressive wins over Arsenal and West Ham United in the last 5 league games and even dealt out a 4-goal thrashing to Swansea City on the 24th of February.
While survival is one challenge, securing a future in the Premier League can only be done by quality additions. Jones could turn out to be an able body alongside the likes of Jose Izquierdo and Anthony Knockaert.
