After exiting the Europa League, Brighton needs to upgrade three positions during the transfer window
One of the biggest storylines in global football the previous season was Brighton’s qualification for the Europa League. This season, a 4-1 overall defeat to Roma in the Europa Round of 16 and subpar Premier League results in 2024 have brought the South Coast team back to earth.
In the Premier League right now, the Seagulls are ranked eighth. Though it seems unlikely, there is yet hope for them to make it to the Europa League this year.
With some wise additions to their present team, Brighton can return to the summit the following season. If Brighton wants to compete for European football next season, they have to make the most progress in these three areas.
Returning now
The reasons Brighton should sign a right back
Joël Veltman and Tariq Lamptey were Brighton’s only real right backs heading into the 2023–24 Premier League season. The expectation among Seagulls supporters was that Brighton would make a significant summer transfer for a right back, given Lamptey’s injury history and the impression given by Roberto De Zerbi that Veltman cannot play in his system. Regretfully, the club did not move.
Right backs Veltman and Lamptey remain the only real ones on the team. Due to injuries, both have missed a major portion of the season, which is concerning for what they may contribute the next year.
This season, Pascal Groß, Jack Hinshelwood, an academy graduate, and even center back Adam Webster have filled in at right back. When it comes to upper sides, none of these choices are the best. Groß loses out when he plays defense since it takes away from his attacking abilities.
Next season, Brighton may want to play three at the back, with a midfielder or winger occupying the right wing back position. Brighton’s right back issue would be resolved by this, but they would likely require another center back.
The fact that the Seagulls have struggled this season when using a 3-4-2-1 strategy presents another issue with this strategy. You shouldn’t expect Brighton to use it again the following year.
Brighton needs to get a right back so that De Zerbi can resume making the most of his team by more often employing his preferred 4-2-3-1 configuration.
Brighton should sign the top right back in 2024.
Juanlu Sánchez of Sevilla is the most recent right back to be featured in Brighton transfer rumors. The 20-year-old is currently one of Europe’s top right back prospects after making his debut for Sevilla’s first squad this year.
Compared to Brighton’s usual starting fullbacks, Tariq Lamptey and Pervis Estupiñán, he is more of an all-around defender. In comparison to other fullbacks in the top five leagues in Europe, FBREF indicates that Juanlu is in the 99th percentile for tackles and the 96th percentile for blocks.
Juanlu is also in the 94th and 90th percentiles for advanced carries and assists, respectively. There’s no reason to doubt that he could play more offensively in De Zerbi’s attacking system because he was an attacking midfielder at the Sevilla academy.
Juanlu is a reasonably priced transfer target for the Seagulls, as he has a £20 million release clause.
