With the summer transfer window closing on Thursday, Brighton & Hove Albion are still hoping to strengthen in a few areas. The areas in question are a third choice goalkeeper, right-back and one or two strikers. Below, I look at players that Brighton are being linked with in these positions or I think could be available and would be a great addition to the squad.
Goalkeeper:
The Seagulls are looking for a backup keeper as they released veteran keeper Casper Ankergren and lost first choice David Stockdale on a free to Birmingham.
Albion have signed Matthew Ryan from Valencia this summer who appears to be the first choice as well as retaining last year’s backup keeper Nikki Maenpaa. The Seagulls have loaned out their only other senior keeper Christian Walton to Wigan to help give him further first-team opportunities and help the young keeper to reach his full potential. This means that Brighton only have the two goalkeepers and are looking for a third choice keeper to rotate if anything happened to either Ryan or Maenpaa.
A keeper who I’ve heard could be available and may do a job for Brighton is Joel Robles from Everton.
The keeper seems to not be in Ronald Koeman’s plans for Everton after he signed Jordan Pickford and also has Dutch keeper Martin Stekelenburg as a backup so it appears game time will be extremely limited. Robles has made 42 appearances in the Premier League for Everton since joining in 2013.
Robles would be an ideal signing for Brighton as he has plenty of Premier League experience and would be a safe pair of hands to call on as a third choice goalkeeper.
Right-back:
The Seagulls are hoping to add a right-back as with their first choice, Bruno being 36-years-old, Brighton want a fullback to come and rotate as well as Liam Rosenior. The right- back that Brighton have been linked with is Mathieu Debuchy from Arsenal.
The Daily Mirror reported yesterday that Arsenal have offered Brighton the chance to sign him on a free. For me, Debuchy would be a good addition as he has Premier League experience with Arsenal having made 13 appearances since joining in 2014 and also has international experience with France having made 27 appearances since making his debut in 2011.
Striker:
Brighton are also looking to add to their striking department as with last season’s top goalscorer Glenn Murray and fellow striker Sam Baldock both injured, it means Brighton only have one fit striker in Tomer Hemed. The Seagulls want to add a striker or two so if anything was to happen to Hemed they have someone to replace him and a striker on the bench.
Brighton last week had a move collapsed for a striker with Raphael Dwamena from FC Zurich due to Brighton spotting he had a heart condition when taking a medical at the club ahead of a £10 million pound move.
The Seagulls have also been linked with Kenneth Zohore over the last couple of weeks, with Chris Hughton having been to watch the striker play for Cardiff. It was reported yesterday that The Seagulls face competition for the Danish striker from Everton.
The BBC reported that Cardiff have turned down an inquiry from Everton. Brighton may struggle to get the Cardiff striker due to the competition and the fact that Cardiff do not want Zohore to leave. Another option of somebody that could be available is ex-Brighton striker Ashley Barnes from Burnley.
The Austrian striker has struggled to get into the first team squad due to the competition up front with Burnley adding Chris Wood and Jon Walters to their attacking options, meaning he is now the fourth choice behind Sam Vokes, Wood and Walters.
For me, Barnes would be perfect for Brighton if available as he has pace and Premier League experience having made 93 appearances for Burnley and scoring 14 goals since joining them in 2014.
