Latest Brighton transfer news – Seagulls after U17 World Cup starlet

Football FanCast brings you the definitive Brighton & Hove Albion transfer round-up as we get ready for the excitement to start all over again in January.

The Seagulls had a pretty successful summer window this year, both in terms of incomings and outgoings, the latter of which found them in the middle of the biggest saga of the year.

Players Brighton signed this summer

The Seagulls outlaid £84m on transfer fees

Brighton enjoyed a simply spectacular campaign last year, as they qualified for the Europa League and made it to the semi-final of the FA Cup, only missing out on the final through a penalty shootout against Manchester United.

With Roberto De Zerbi firmly established as one of the best coaches in the country and Brighton riding the crest of a wave, the board sanctioned an impressive summer of spending that saw them bring in ten new players for the confirmed cost of £84m.

That club’s most expensive signing was Watford’s Joao Pedro, with the Brazilian’s arrival breaking the club’s transfer record, which was previously held by Adam Webster. After him, Carlos Baleba, Bart Verbruggen, and Igor Julio were the only signings to cost the club a transfer fee.

While the club’s spending was undoubtedly impressive, what might have been even more so was their free signings. De Zerbi welcomed James Milner, Mahmoud Dahoud, Noel Atom, Louis Flower and Jacob Slater to the club on free deals.

The final notable incoming was a loan deal, and it was a belter. In the closing days of the window, Brighton welcomed Barcelona wonderkid Ansu Fati to the Amex on a season-long loan.

The deal came as a shock as it had been reported that he was close to joining Tottenham before opting to join the Seagulls.

Players who Brighton sold this summer

16 players were offloaded

While Brighton were seriously busy bringing players into the club during the summer, it was the departures that grabbed most of the headlines.

Moises Caicedo was probably the biggest story of the window, as after months of negotiations with Chelsea, it looked like he would be heading to Liverpool, only for the player to turn the Reds down and the Blues to come back in with a record-breaking offer of £115m.

Not content with just one Brighton player, Chelsea also signed Robert Sanchez, who had been relegated to a substitute role under De Zerbi.

The final notable sale was that of World Cup-winning midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, who joined Liverpool for an initial fee of £35m, which could rise to £55m if certain conditions are met.

Another 13 players permanently left the side in the summer, with most leaving for free.

Latest Brighton transfer rumours

An under-17 World Cup gem is being eyed by the South Coast club

The rumour mill concerning potential incomings at Brighton & Hove Albion is slowly starting to spin up as the winter window approaches, and while there haven’t been loads of reports concerning the Seagulls just yet, there have been a few interesting ones.

Agustín Ruberto – River Plate: According to Marca, Brighton have enquired about the Argentina under-17 international, who is currently the leading goalscorer at the Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia.

Ruberto netted eight times in six outings, including a hat-trick against Germany in the semi-finals, but despite his best efforts, his side were knocked out via a penalty shootout.

The 2006-born forward is yet to make his senior debut for River Plate, but following his sensational World Cup exploits, he may well be fast-tracked into first-team action, and that could mean a winter exit.

The Seagulls will likely have to contest with a number of clubs across the continent, though, to land his signature.

Sacha Boey – Galatasaray: The Seagulls are being linked to Galatasaray’s exciting full-back, Sacha Boey. According to Turkish outlet Fotospor, Brighton have joined the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Burnley in holding a sincere interest in the right-back.

Carlos Soler – Paris Saint-Germain: French outlet La Parisien has revealed that the club are interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s Spanish midfielder, Carlos Soler. He might have only arrived at the capital club last year, but given his peripheral role and lack of game time, the publication indicates he could leave as soon as January.

Jack Clarke – Sunderland: Staying in the Championship for a minute, another exciting youngster who has been touted for a move to the Amex is Sunderland’s Jack Clarke. TEAMtalk has reported that alongside several other Premier League sides, Brighton are ‘looking to land’ the Black Cats’ next big prospect. However, it’ll cost them a pretty penny, with his price tag expected to be around £20m.

Adam Wharton – Blackburn Rovers: Another midfielder linked to the south coast side is Blackburn Rovers’ Adam Wharton, with journalist Alan Nixon (via TEAMtalk) revealing that alongside Everton and several other Premier League sides, Brighton are interested in the 19-year-old’s services.

Players who could leave Brighton in January

Ferguson is being mooted with a move away from the Amex

Evan Ferguson: The hugely promising young Irishman has been one of the Premier League’s breakout stars this season, scoring five goals in just seven league starts and looking like a threat every time he is on the pitch.

It is no surprise that he has been linked to some of the country’s biggest clubs over the last few weeks, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United all named as potential future destinations for the 19-year-old.

However, according to The Sun, it is United that have been handed a ‘massive boost’ in the last few days as, despite the player only recently agreeing to a new deal, the club’s CEO, Paul Barber, recently said: “At some point in the future, Evan’s gonna be playing at an even higher level if his trajectory continues as it is.”

The publication has suggested that Old Trafford is that higher level, but could the Seagulls keep hold of their young star for just one more transfer window?

How Brighton could line up in January

Could Ruberto partner Ferguson?

So, how would Brighton look if they were to successfully sign all five of their rumoured targets this January?

Well, for as good as Jack Clarke and Adam Wharton have looked this season and last, we aren’t sure they could come in and immediately command a place in De Zerbi’s starting XI.

However, with the form Sacha Boey has shown in Turkey and the Champions League, he would stand a good chance of starting. Finally, while Carlos Soler has a substantial body of work from his time in Spain, his lack of game time over the last year might mean he needs to spend some time on the bench to get up to speed.

The young Argentinian ace Ruberto would surely need time to adjust to his new surroundings. Perhaps cameo appearances, initially, could be his role until the end of the season.

Potential Brighton XI (4-2-3-1): Steele; Estupinan, Dunk, Julio, Boey; Dahoud, Groß; Mitoma, Gilmour, Ansu Fati, Ferguson