Why Brighton should consider going back in the market for Francis Amuzu
According to a report from Belgian outlet Het Laaste Nieuws, Premier League outfits Brighton and Southampton were interested in completing a move for Belgian starlet Francis Amuzu from Anderlecht.
However, a deal failed to materialize and with former Man City star Vincent Kompany taking charge of Anderlecht as a player-manager, Amuzu signed a new contract with the Belgian heavyweights until the summer of 2022.
Born in Ghana, Amuzu migrated to Belgium at a very young age and rose through the youth ranks at Anderlecht before making his senior professional bow in the 2017-18 season. The 20-year-old is yet to establish himself as an undisputed starter but his promise and potential have caught the eye, nevertheless.
Amuzu impressed for Belgium at the U-21 UEFA European Championship in Italy and San Marino earlier in the summer and though he is yet to score for Anderlecht in seven league outings this term, the youngster has continued to enhance his reputation as one of the brightest emerging prospects in his adopted country.
The talented starlet has largely been used as an impact player off the bench at Anderlecht and a tally of 2 goals and 3 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions isn’t a lot to write home about but he has been tipped by many as a player with the potential to push on and make a big impact at the highest level.
To that end, Brighton should consider reigniting their interest in the Anderlecht prodigy in the near future and bringing him to the club would certainly be a smart long-term investment, particularly with Graham Potter now at the helm of affairs at the Amex Stadium.
Despite splashing the cash on Neal Maupay and Leandro Trossard, the Seagulls have endured a lacklustre start to the campaign, with Potter’s side currently sitting 16th in the standings.
They looked set for a resurgence under their new manager after a victory over Watford on the opening day but those early signs of promise seem to have faded away, with the Seagulls failing to win any of their following six league fixtures thereafter.
Despite that, though, Potter’s proficiency in nurturing young talents has been one of the bright sparks of Brighton’s otherwise lacklustre start to the season, with starlets like Aaron Connolly and Steven Alzate enjoying a lot of involvement.
A young manager noted for his holistic training methods and the ability to extract the best out of burgeoning young talents, Potter certainly has what it takes to propel Brighton to greater heights in the Premier League in the years to come and Francis Amuzu would be another exciting addition to the club’s existing pool of academy starlets.
Potter has already showcased his proficiency in working wonders with young players during his managerial stints at Swansea City and Ostersunds FK in Sweden and Brighton supplementing him with a top-quality talent like Amuzu would be a step in the right direction.
The Belgian market has proven to be a reliable source of emerging talents over the past decade, with several players earning moves to the Premier League, and Amuzu could be the next in the queue to make a name for himself in English football.
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The 20-year-old attacker, who is capable of playing on either flank and through the middle as an attacking midfielder, has the pace to burn and if Potter manages to add something more to his repertoire of skills, Amuzu might well evolve into a player capable of tormenting defences in the Premier League.
That said, Brighton should continue to keep tabs on his progress and decide their stance accordingly.