Brighton opinion: Should the Seagulls make a move for Portu?
Brighton have a long road ahead of them but with Graham Potter at the helm, the Seagulls have a genuine chance of getting their club back on track. However, the former Swansea City boss has inherited a rather bottom heavy squad.
Their defence is top class but the same cannot be said about either the midfield or the attack. Glenn Murray might be the lone exception alongside Pascal Gross but barring that, only a few others have made even the slightest impression.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh has been a shadow of himself and a waste of money, Jose Izquierdo has struggled, so have both Florian Andone and Jurgen Locadia.
It leaves Brighton with a big problem and it’s one of the reasons why the club fell from their perch.
They were sitting pretty in 12th place somewhere in February before a downfall saw them emerge as the top candidates to get relegated. But Cardiff City’s troubles were far too much for the club to overcome and thus, Brighton were saved.
Yet, it doesn’t mean that the Seagulls are out of the danger zone as things will get worse next season unless a few changes are made. One of the first things that manager Graham Potter has to do is add another reliable striker to help out Glenn Murray.
The 35-year-old was the club’s best player last season and he needs help, otherwise, things will get worse. The second thing that Potter has to do is add another attacking midfielder and one man who fits the job is Portu.
The Burnley Express has reported that Brighton are keen on a move for the La Liga star before the summer window ends.
Currently at Girona, the 27-year old enjoyed a rather productive season, finishing with 10 goals and 3 assists in all competitions. However, the fact that he netted 9 and assisted a further 3 will help his cause as it means that no Brighton player barring Murray scored more.
But despite his prolific nature, Brighton need Portu to help out in various other areas. A number 10 by trade, the Spaniard has often played as a central midfielder or rather as a roaming central midfielder, which will be a key part of his future at Brighton.
The Seagulls need a reliable creator in the midfield alongside Pascal Gross, and Portu fits that bill perfectly.
His creativity and ability to find the net has been on show but so have his defensive contributions. The 27-year-old’s work ethic has been excellent, often running himself to the ground for Girona over the course of the season.
That’s what Brighton need, someone who is willing to give everything for their cause and it’s what will help them survive.
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Conclusion
Portu has slowly grown into a very underrated player and it’s that kind of talent that Brighton need in their squad. The Spaniard will work hard to help the Seagulls survive the next few seasons and his presence will reduce the burden on Pascal Gross.