Brighton and Hove Albion might be becoming the smartest Premier League club in the transfer market.
The Seagulls finished 15th in the Premier League, seven points clear of the relegation in their debut campaign in England’s top flight under its current guise.
Some clubs would take this as a success and believe their squad to be good enough to tackle the league the following season – which has come back to bite many in the past.
However, manager Chris Hughton has not allowed his club to rest on their laurels as they prepare for their second year in the Premier League.
Building on the recruitment genius that saw Pascal Groß join the club for just £2m last summer, Brighton have made eight first-team signings so far this time around – as well as two for their U23 squad in Hugo Keto and Joe Tomlinson.
Brighton have spread those signings across all areas of the pitch from goalkeeper to attack, from first-team players to those who will provide back up and competition to last season’s regulars.
But who are these players? Below are the eight players Hughton has brought in this summer, rated by the impact they could make for the Seagulls in 2018/19.
Leon Balogun
Age: 30
Position: Centre-back
Previous club: Mainz
Honours won: N/A
Price: Free
The Nigerian international will link up with the Brighton squad slightly late due to his involvement at the World Cup, but will provide adequate strength to the club’s defence.
At Mainz last season, the defender averaged 3.3 aerial duels won per 90 minutes and at 6′ 3″ will adapt well to the Premier League, either as part of a back three or challenging for a starting spot.
Key stat: Leon Balogun averaged 4.7 clearances per 90 minutes in the Bundesliga last season.
Rating: First-team ready – Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy were rocks for Brighton last season so Balogun may have to wait for his chance.
Florin Andone
Age: 25
Position: Striker
Previous club: Deportivo la Coruna
Honours won: N/A
Price: £5.25m
Last season was one of frustration for Andone, however, as just 16 starts from 29 appearances saw him score seven goals with Deportivo relegated at the end of the campaign.
But the striker is a proven goalscorer when the system fits him, having scored 27 goals in 58 games while at Cordoba. His effect at Brighton will be down to how well the Seagulls can cater to his strengths.
Key stat: Three of Florin Andone’s seven goals in La Liga last season were scored with his head.
Rating: First-team ready – Brighton do currently have a host of strikers at the club, who will all be fighting for a starting role.
Jason Steele
Age: 27
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous club: Sunderland
Honours won: N/A
Price: Free
After letting Tim Krul and Niki Maenpaa leave in the summer, Brighton were in serious need of goalkeeping options.
And in Jason Steele they will have a reliable second-choice, despite his poor last season with Sunderland – in which he played 15 games as the club were relegated.
Key stat: Jason Steele averaged 3.6 saves per 90 minutes in the Championship last season.
Rating: Able deputy – Given Mat Ryan’s performances last season, Steele will have to make do with being the Australian’s back-up.
Bernardo
Age: 23
Position: Left-back
Previous club: RB Leipzig
Honours won: Two-time Austrian champion and two-time Austrian cup winner with Red Bull Salzburg
Price: £9m
Bernardo did not manage to play too often for RB Leipzig last season but he brings an exciting prospect to the Amex Stadium.
The Brazilian is a left-back by trade but can also play on the other side of defence, as shown in his fleeting appearances for Leipzig.
Not the most attacking full-back, Bernardo instead brings a quality in defence with his reading of the game but especially in the air.
Key stat: Bernardo won 68% of his aerial duels in the Bundesliga last season (51 of 75).
Rating: Key player – Will surely be Chris Hughton’s starting left-back.
David Button
Age: 29
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous club: Fulham
Honours won: 2018 Championship Play-off final winner with Fulham
Price: £4m
Like Steele, David Button was brought in to provide back up for Brighton’s first-choice goalkeeper Ryan.
Button was Fulham’s first choice starter for the first half of last season in the Championship, but three clean sheets in 20 games saw him dropped for Marcus Bettinelli.
Key stat: David Button averaged 2.7 saves per game in the Championship last season.
Rating: A useful addition – He will be third choice goalkeeper behind Steele and Ryan but provides good enough cover if required to play.
Yves Bissouma
Age: 21
Position: Central midfielder
Previous club: Lille
Honours won: N/A
Price: £15m
Despite being just 21, Yves Bissouma already has good experience of top-flight football having played consistently for Lille over the past two seasons.
The midfielder is a big prospect too, being able to contribute in both defence, with his tackling ability, and attack – having completed 3.2 take-ons per 90 last season – for Brighton.
Bissouma also already has 13 caps for Mali under his belt.
Key stat: Yves Bissouma averaged 3.9 tackles won per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 last season, the fifth-highest in the league among players to play more than 1,000 minutes.
Rating: First-team ready – Commanding a big fee at his age, Bissouma will be thrust straight into the battle for a midfield place.
Percy Tau
Age: 24
Position: Striker
Previous club: Mamelodi Sundowns
Honours won: Two-time South African champion, 2015/16 CAF Champions League winner, 2016/17 CAF Super Cup winner with Mamelodi Sundowns
Price: £2.8m
Having played solely in the South African Premier League so far, Percy Tau may find himself to be an unknown quantity in Europe.
But the 24-year-old was key for Mamelodi Sundowns last season as they won the league in South Africa, both in front of goal and as a provider, recording 15 assists in 30 matches.
The striker also tested himself against some of the best in the world as his side took on Barcelona in an end-of-season friendly in May.
Key stat: Percy Tau finished the 2017/18 South African Premier League season as top scorer with 11 goals.
Rating: One for the future – Upon his signing, manager Hughton confirmed he will go out on loan this season.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Age: 24
Position: Winger
Previous club: AZ Alkmaar
Honours won: 2015 Dutch second tier champion with NEC Nijmegen
Price: £17m
Brighton’s record signing, Alireza Jahanbakhsh represents somewhat of a coup for the club as one of the most exciting wingers in Europe last season.
Playing on the right for AZ Alkmaar, the Iranian international directly contributed to 33 goals in the Eredivisie last season (21 goals, 12 assists) to help his side third – above defending champions Feyenoord.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh in the Eredivisie in 2017/18:
• Most goals (21)
• Second-most shots (143)
• Third-most assists (12)
• Fourth-most take-ons (111)
• Seventh-most chances created (78)— Squawka Football (@Squawka) July 22, 2018
This should be a massive help to a Brighton side who managed just 34 goals in the Premier League last season, with Glenn Murray their top scorer on 12.
Jahanbakhsh also represented Iran at the World Cup in Russia, though could not help steer his side in a tough group.
Key stat: Alireza Jahanbakhsh was top scorer of the Eredivisie in 2017/18 scoring 21 goals.
Rating: Key player – Will undoubtedly find himself in the starting line up when fully fit given his prowess in front of goal.
The post Every Brighton signing rated by potential impact next season as the Seagulls’ recruitment drive continues appeared first on Squawka News.
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