3 players who can shine for Brighton in 2020
Here’s hoping that 2020 proves to be a prosperous year for the Seagulls. 2019 ended with a victory over Bournemouth at the Amex Stadium.
With Graham Potter in charge, Brighton are in a good position to break away from the relegation zone and push for a top-half finish in the second half of the season.
Here are three players who could prove crucial for the Seagulls in 2020.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Brighton broke their record fee when they signed Alireza Jahanbakhsh from AZ Alkmaar in July 2018. The Iranian really struggled in his first season in England as he failed to score a single goal in the 2018/19 campaign.
Seagulls fans have recently seen the best of Jahanbakhsh though, with goals coming against Bournemouth and Chelsea, the latter being an excellent overhead bicycle kick.
Now that he is playing with confidence, Jahanbaksh should continue to excel for Brighton and he is likely to prove why the club spent in the region of £17 million to bring him to the Premier League.
The 26-year-old should start more games in the second half of the season under Potter, following his impressive performances over the last couple of weeks.
Aaron Mooy
Australian Aaron Mooy joined Brighton on loan from Huddersfield Town back in the summer and has been excellent for Albion in that period.
Mooy is with Brighton until the end of the season when the club will have to decide whether they want to make a move for the player.
His parent club, Huddersfield, are at current odds as high as 300/1 in the Championship betting to get promoted this season, so it is unlikely that he will return to the Premier League with the Terriers for the 2020/21 campaign.
Given how well he has played this season, there is likely to be no shortage of interest for Mooy’s services. Brighton should do all they can to complete a permanent deal and convince the Australian that his future should remain on the south coast.
Lewis Dunk
Only six teams have conceded less goals than Brighton in the Premier League this season, therefore, defensively, the Seagulls are very solid. One of the key reasons why Potter’s men are so strong at the back is the presence of Lewis Dunk.
Not only is Dunk an excellent centre-back, who could fit into any team in the league and improve their defence, his leadership skills on the pitch are also invaluable.
Dunk is approaching 300 games for the club now, and he continues to be a player they simply can’t afford to lose. The 28-year-old has established himself as a Seagull legend, and Brighton fans will be praying he stays fit and healthy in 2020 so he can continue to be a rock in the middle of the defensive line.
Although the above three men may prove crucial, football is a team game. Potter will, therefore, be keen to strengthen his squad in the current transfer window, while at the same time keeping hold of his best players.
