The post-Crystal Palace interview from Roberto De Zerbi about the Albion’s “club policy” have put the spotlight firmly on Brighton recruitment, injury woes and what might happen in the January transfer window.
Everyone knows what the club policy De Zerbi was referring to means – Brighton give talented young players the opportunity to perform at he highest level, something they wouldn’t get at Arsenal, Manchester City and other clubs where multi-million pound signings compete for spaces on the bench.
Evan Ferguson, Julio Enciso and Jack Hinshelwood are just three great examples amongst many. But with raw talent comes inexperience and propensity to error.
That is not to say the old hands like Adam Lallana and James Milner are immune to the odd mistake. Just that younger players make more errors as part of their learning process.
The more young players you have, the more mistakes are likely to occur. De Zerbi also spoke about that in his club policy interview, and it came across as he felt this was no bad thing but a part of life. To err is human, to forgive is divine/De Zerbi.
Brighton have lost a number of experienced players to injury – Pervis Estupinan, Danny Welbeck and Solly March have been sorely missed.
Ansu Fati – himself not old but with a reasonable amount of experience having burst onto the scene at Barcelona so young – was brought in to replace Enciso, only to find himself injured too.
All of this has left the Albion unbalanced and stretched at times, explaining why De Zerbi has been forced into too greater a reliance on players at the start of their careers.
It should be said that other clubs have lost key players too, and several have at times had injury lists comparable to ours.
Just when you think the injury list is easing with players returning, others joint it. Having Jakub Moder and Danny Welbeck back is very welcome, particularly when Welbeck is scoring goals like his late equaliser at Selhurst Park.
But then Joel Veltman and Kaoru Mitoma are ruled out. This is only to be expected in football, especially with two high pressure games per week.
De Zerbi has said he wants three or four additions in January. Already potentially boosting the squad, Cameron Peupion has been recalled from his loan at Cheltenham Town and Romanian winger Adrian Mazilu arrives from Farul Constanța.
Hopefully, a much-needed left back in Valentin Barco from Boca Juniors will join them at some point during the transfer window.
All three are youngsters in keeping with Brighton club policy, who De Zerbi will develop over time – just as he has with Facundo Buonanotte, one of the few signings made in last season’s January transfer window.
Two accounts on X/Twitter – @BrightonBubble and @Owen_bhafc – have been keeping their eyes open for any media reports of players the Albion allegedly have an interest in.
Many, many caveats apply and as ever most are simply rumour and speculation, but here are some of the names mentioned.
- Maximilian Beier, forward, Hoffenheim
- Giacomo Raspadori, forward, Napoli
- Max Moerstedt, forward, Hoffenheim
- Adam Wharton, midfielder, Blackburn
- Andrea Colpani, midfielder, Monza
- Juanlu Sanchez, right back, Sevilla
- Roony Bhardbhji, midfielder, Copenhagen
- Piero Quispe, midfielder, Universitario
- Agustin Ruberto, forward, River Plate
- Valentin Barco, left back, Boca Juniors
There is a good smattering of South American prospects in that list, all of whom would be tempted by Brighton and following the paths of Enciso, Estupinan, Joao Pedro, Igor Julio and Alexis Mac Allister.
Valentin Barco seems to me the most likely. He has been a target since the summer, but the Albion would need to convince him to move to the Amex ahead of Man City and others.
Buonanotte says he has spoken to his compatriot and tried to persuade him to come here. Barco is highly rated and could potentially be worth paying Pedro, club-record fee level money.
Of course, any new addition could take months to be Premier League ready – or even if they are, could get injured at any point they come on the pitch.
I can’t think of anyone Brighton have signed since 2017 apart from Pedro who has arrived with some Premier League experience but who is still on the upward trajectory, mid-experience stage of their career with room to improve.
Our transfer budget and wage structure just doesn’t allow us to compete with the wealthy US and Middle East owned clubs in poaching proven talent.
So, what of the De Zerbi interview on club policy? Most seem to have taken from it that De Zerbi was complaining, expressing frustration that might indicate his departure from the Amex, or trying to put pressure on Tony Bloom and the recruitment team.
Reading De Zerbi’s comments back, I don’t think any of those reasons were the case. De Zerbi is just an honest guy and in a heat-of-the-moment interview following a game against our arch rivals in which only one team wanted to win, he was being honest in explaining where we are and who we are as a club.
And where we are is, despite all the injury problems and the threadbare squad, still within touching distance of the points and position we held at this stage last season. And having topped our Europa League group.
Still teams are forced to put 11 men behind the ball to deny Brighton, as Palace did at Selhurst. Frustrating draws
And that is still within touching distance of where we were at this stage last season in terms of points and position, as well as having topped our Europa League group.
Opponents are forced to put 11 men behind the ball to deny us. Frustrating draws and De Zerbi expressing his irritation at the tactics of other teams through comments which can be taken out of context are the price we have to pay for having one of the most entertaining and attacking teams in the best league in the world.
Warren Morgan @WarrenBHAFC
