The January transfer window is fast approaching. It is a time where Brighton and Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom has usually been reluctant to do lots of business, as it is not the easiest month to do deals, both in and out.
Let’s take a look at what could happen for the Seagulls in the January window, starting with incomings.
Facundo Buonanotte joining
Albion have already agreed to bring in 17-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder Facundo Buonanotte from Argentinian outfit Rosario Central for around £10 million as head coach Roberto De Zerbi’s first signing. He turns 18 on 23rd December, which makes him eligible to link up with De Zerbi on January 1.
Buonanotte has already made 32 senior appearances for Rosario as well as three appearances for Argentina’s U20 side. He has contributed four goals and two assists for Rosario, rounding off their season with one of those assists against Colon in a 1-1 draw in October.
His playing style has already been compared to the great Lionel Messi and at just 17, with the amount of senior experience Buonanotte already has, Brighton are getting a gem of a player. The Argentine also joins an already strong South American contingent at the club, with World Cup finalist Alexis Mac Allister, Paraguayan prospect Julio Enciso & Ecuadorians Moises Caicedo, Pervis Estupinan & Jeremy Sarmiento already on the south coast.
David Datro Fofana WON’T be joining
It had been reported by journalist Fabrizio Romano that Brighton had opened talks with Molde to sign their talented Ivorian striker David Datro Fofana, already with 15 goals this season, for around £10m.
However, Romano is now reporting today that Chelsea and Graham Potter (Brighton’s former head coach) have now agreed a deal with the Norwegian outfit for Fofana’s signature.
Fans will be wondering what De Zerbi and co. will be doing in January to sign a striker, with Danny Welbeck on zero goals & German Deniz Undav with one in the EFL Cup against Forest Green.
De Zerbi has already told the Athletic that he doesn’t want to sign a striker but Albion’s reported interest in Fofana states otherwise.
Other links
Albion were linked with a move for Mykola Matvienko, who plies his trade in Ukraine for De Zerbi’s former club Shahktar Donetsk.
Matvienko, 26, is a left-footed central defender who can also operate as a left-back. It’s hard to see this one happening, as Brighton already have depth in that position with Joel Veltman, Adam Webster, Levi Colwill, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Estupinan & Solly March able to play in the positions he plays in.
The absence of talented midfielder Enock Mwepu, who unfortunately had to retire due to a heart condition hasn’t been felt too much with Caicedo & Mac Allister performing well as a double pivot and Adam Lallana & Pascal Gross performing as attacking midfielders.
Billy Gilmour has had limited game time due to the performances of Caicedo & Mac Allister and is waiting in the wings if an injury or suspension occurs. If Roberto De Zerbi wanted a bit more depth in that area, he could look to bring in a central midfielder or recall 24-year-old Steven Alzate, who is on loan at Belgian Pro League outfit Standard Liege. However, game time would be difficult to come by back in the Premier League, so Alzate is more likely to remain in Belgium for the season.
Poland international Jakub Moder is back around the squad following his long knee injury lay off but is not close to a return to first-team action.
Outgoings
Not many players are expected to leave Brighton in January, apart from some potential loan moves for youngsters such as Antef Tsoungui, Evan Ferguson & Cameron Peupion, who have all impressed when we have seen them play for the first team.
Undav has been linked with a loan move to Europe or the Championship but as it stands he’s also expected to stay & the German also netted in Albion’s 2-2 friendly draw against Aston Villa last week as they step up preparations for the season resuming after the World Cup.
Apart from that, from what we have heard, things aren’t going to change too much as we enter the new year.
JG Writes 