Aleksandar Mitrovic and Scott Arfield to sign for Brighton – Chris Hughton’s ideal transfer window explored
Brighton and Hove Albion currently sit 12th in the Premier League table just now and that tends to give an air of security. The truth is that they are bang in the relegation scrap, being one of the eight or so teams who look weaker than normal for this division and their goal difference of -10 hardly inspires too much confidence.
Chris Hughton has done a fine job but knows full well that he cannot be complacent, so any quality additions he can bring in would be greatly appreciated.
A few have been rumoured to be leaving, as is always the case at this time of year, but I’m not sure there are any players currently in this set-up I would encourage Albion to lose as they need all the help they can get in order to beat the drop.
In terms of incomings, their targets appear to be Moussa Dembele (Celtic), Scott Arfield (Burnley), Bobby Reid (Bristol City), Josh Vela (Bolton), Lamine Kone (Sunderland) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle).
Goals are always absolutely crucial for relegation-threatened teams, even more so than a solid defence, contrary to most fans’ views. So a move for Newcastle’s unwanted Aleksandar Mitrovic could work for Hughton.
Mitro has fallen down the pecking order at Newcastle who themselves could do with goals, however, there seems to be something of a clash or falling out to blame for this and it doesn’t detract from the fact that Mitro has goals in him.
With the right supply line (more old-fashioned perhaps), Mitro can still score 5+ goals in the league between now and May, which would be incredibly valuable to the Seagulls. So perhaps a deal could be done there.
Not wishing to let up, if Brighton can indeed stump up the cash to sign Moussa Dembele then they should go for it, though for me he is overrated at £20million let alone the £30m+ which was quoted this time last year for him. Like Mitro though, he would add goals so signing him could pay for itself if the club survives the drop.
Bobby Reid for me is unlikely to leave Bristol City at this stage, especially between now and May when in theory, he could be promoted and Brighton could be relegated. Josh Vela is also likely to stay in the Championship and is probably no better than Dale Stephens anyway.
Kone is good, but is he better than Duffy or Dunk? I doubt it. So that leaves Scott Arfield as perhaps the last quality player they could bring in given that he has not agreed to a new deal at Burnley yet.
Mitrovic, Dembele and Arfield would represent great business for the south coast side.