Brighton Opinion: Can Julio Furch replace Glenn Murray?

Brighton’s second season back in the Premier League didn’t go as well as their first season did when they had just got promoted. Last season, they finished 16th and notched up 40 points during the course of the campaign.

While they do have 30 points on the table this time as well, there is only a 5-point gap between themselves and 18th-placed Cardiff City, which means that within a single week, a lot of changes could happen. 

While they finished 15th last season as well, the fact that they were able to keep the distance between themselves and the relegation zone to 9 points was a massive achievement on the part of the players and the staff of the club. 

Currently though, Brighton haven’t been in good form over the last many weeks and despite beating Huddersfield by a narrow 1-0 margin at the weekend, their last few games haven’t been satisfying. 

Winless in 7 games prior to beating the bottom side, Brighton’s late-season fixtures don’t get easier either, considering that they are yet to face Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City. 

While there are various areas of concern that need to be addressed at the Amex stadium, one alarming issue is the lack of a youthful and dynamic centre-forward who can get around on the pitch and work hard for the team.

Glenn Murray has become the first-choice striker at Brighton and while he has delivered to a certain extent with 10 goals this season, the fact that he will turn 36 midway through next season makes him a massive risk. 

Florin Andone has failed to live up to expectations and Jurgen Locadia is being utilised as a winger, which means that Chris Hughton does have a striker spot to fill and he doesn’t have to consider anyone other than Argentine forward Julio Furch. 

Julio is a former Olimpo academy product who currently plies his trade for Santos Laguna in the Liga MX Clausara. Although he’s 29, his movement and sharpness have really improved over the last couple of years while he has become an excellent finisher as well. 

His numbers further prove this as he has scored 16 and assisted 6 from his 29 appearances for the club this season. He uses his height and strength extremely well and seems like a physical player who is custom-made for Premier League football. 

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Having joined Laguna on a free transfer in 2017, his development as a forward has been rapid and the rise in his market value has been meteoric.

This move is assured to deliver results as he is a proven goalscorer and with a manager like Chris Hughton to coach him, Brighton just can’t go wrong with this player.