Brighton can cope with short term departures for long term benefits
The loan arrangers are saddling up for the January window, and people are starting to go a bit Tonto over who might be galloping away as 2025 arrives.
Last week saw The Daily Telegraph break the news that Brighton are considering making Evan Ferguson available for loan. Julio Enciso playing for the Under 21s against Anderlecht has led to speculation that he might follow suit.
Facundo Buonanotte is already making waves at Leicester, while Valentin Barco has been rumoured to be on his way back from Sevilla having barely caused a ripple there.
Is our squad too big, preventing many keen young players from getting game time? Is there a risk that by shining elsewhere, players become even more of a target for clubs with bigger bank accounts?
Or are loan spells a key part of player development, as we have seen with people like Yasin Ayari on his improved return this season?
What if we have a good run in the FA Cup, possibly even reaching Wembley for the third time in six years? Can we afford to send Ferguson and Enciso away for six months?
And what if, like last season, the second half of the campaign is blighted by injuries and we again drop out of contention for Europe due to a paucity of options available to the manager?
These are all questions the club will be considering when looking at which – if any – of our talented and extended squad are loaned out in January.
One of the key reasons for Roberto De Zerbi leaving the Amex was the lack of depth in the squad available to him to cope with Europe, domestic cups, international duty, the busy Premier League schedule and ultimately, injuries.
With the club spending more than just about anyone else in the summer transfer window and a development squad brimming with talent, those issues appear to have been addressed.
Albeit to the benefit of his Fabian Hurzeler. Another £200 million spending spree is pretty unlikely, at least in the near future.
The difference the spending spree has made is evidenced by the long queue outside the treatment room since August having little impact on the Albion’s campaign so far.
Injured players have been adequately replaced, particularly Joao Pedro whose absence was massively felt between February and April last season. The arrival of Diego Gomez from Inter Miami next month will give further depth and cover in midfield.
It is pretty incredible to have a situation where a player is making his international debut before his first team debut with the club, as was the case with Ruairi McConville for Northern Ireland. But it again shows our strength in depth.
Watching that Under 21s game against Anderlecht in which Enciso featured was a reminder there are skilled players in the development squad already with first team experience, such as Cameron Peupion. The Under 21s also highly talented future prospects, including Harry Howell.
There are undoubtedly a lot of young players who have not played the amount of minutes they would expect this season. Ferguson and Enciso chief amongst them.
These individuals will want and need more game time to develop and showcase their skills. As well as gain the experience the Premier League demands.
Giving players loan opportunities for the benefit of their careers whilst ensuring the squad continues to have the depth needed as the season takes its toll is a difficult balancing act.
There has to be a longer term succession strategy too. Danny Welbeck is in the form of his life and has extended his contract, but all good things have to come to an end at some point.
Hopefully not soon but a couple of seasons down the line it will be time to pass on the baton. Brighton need to ensure Ferguson is as ready as possible for that moment.
Pedro is setting the Premier League on fire. But can we hold on to him if one of the financially big clubs makes him an enticing offer? If we cannot, it will fall to Enciso and Buonanotte to fill the gap.
In that context, loan spells for Ferguson, Enciso and Buonanotte look a good idea in terms of having ready-made attacking replacements with plenty of Premier League minutes under their belts lined up.
There is no guarantee a player shines out on loan, of course. Viktor Gyokeres hardly set the world alight at Swansea City or Coventry City before making a permanent move to the Sky Blues for £1 million.
A couple of years later and Gyokeres is now known as the emerging talent Brighton let slip through their fingers, as he scores for fun with Sporting Portugal and the Swedish national side.
Ultimately, it is a question for the Albion of keeping many plates spinning. With the short-term demands of injuries, the mid-term demands of game time and the long-term requirements of squad development all in mind.
Each player is going to be different in terms of being happy to feature off the bench, wanting some time out on loan, or like Gyokeres finding a new permanent home where their skills and abilities flourish.
Inevitably there will be times where despite best efforts, injuries and suspensions mean there are gaps where players out on loan are needed. Hindsight is a wonderful thing of course.
What we have seen though in many of the signings made last summer is there are now an increasing number of players in the squad with the versatility to play in a number of different positions. I would cite Ferdi Kadioglu as the most obvious.
Even if Welbeck and Pedro were ruled out at the same time and Ferguson and Enciso loaned out, we have so many wide options who could also play as false nines or number 10s that it barely matters.
Georgino Rutter, Kaoru Mitoma, Simon Adingra, Yankubu Minteh, Kadioglu, Yasin Ayari, Matt O’Riley and hopefully before the end of the campaign, Solly March.
What will make a difference in the minds of the club management, players and their agents will be qualification for Europe. It is surely the Albion’s aim to bring European football back to the Amex for 2025-26.
A place in the Champions League would bring with it more money, more exposure and more prestige beyond that of the Europa League last year.
It would focus the minds of players considering whether to seek game time elsewhere or compete for places at home. Six extra games in Europe means more playing opportunities for Ferguson and Enciso, enticing them not to seek turning any January loan moves into permanent departures.
Whoever leaves for a new but temporary stable, I would say there is no need for Albion fans to panic. In the short term we can cope, in the long term it may be best for all concerned.
Keep calm, and keep your eyes on the European prize.
Warren Morgan @WarrenBHAFC
