Brighton facing interesting decisions in defence this summer

Brighton have always been good at bringing defenders through their development system. The past 20 years have seen the likes of Adam Virgo, Dan Harding, Adam El-Abd, Tommy Elphick, Steve Cook and of course Lewis Dunk go onto enjoy long and successful professional careers, both with the Albion and elsewhere.

Ben White was sold for £50 million. Leo Ostigard has become a Serie A winner one year after leaving the Amex for Napoli. Jan Paul van Hecke is looking to establish himself and had a fine game recently in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

There are a huge number of talented players waiting in the wings behind the first team squad, both in the Under 21s and out on loan. This suggests that the Albion’s conveyor belt of defenders is not going to grind to a halt anytime soon.

Which of these individuals are best placed to challenge for a first team spot next? Much of that may depend on what Brighton do recruitment wise this summer, with at least six additional matches thanks to the Europa League to consider.

The tables below show Brighton’s current first team and development and loan options. Bold is used to indicate a player’s primary position, which can be debatable.

With Joel Veltman, Haydon Roberts and Odel Offiah for example, all have shown equal facility at full back and centre back.

 

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Recruitment wise, the rumour mill suggests Brighton may move for a number of defensive options in the upcoming transfer window.

The most strongly linked has been James Milner. Available on a free this summer following the expiration of his Liverpool contract, Milner can cover both full back positions alongside his midfield role.

Brighton have undoubted interest in extending Levi Colwill’s time at the Amex. The player himself seems happy here based on recent comments made, and so his future may well come down to whether Chelsea want to sell, if the Albion can meet their asking price and who else is interested. Colwill will undoubtedly have other suitors.

There is medium-strength interest in Mykola Matviyenko, who played under Roberto De Zerbi at Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Ukrainian was heavily linked with a move to the Albion in January, with the suggestion that Brighton were reluctant to meet the £30 million fee that De Zerbi’s former club wanted. Matviyenko subsequently agreed a new contract until 2027.

The Albion have also been linked to Ajax full back Devyne Rensch. The 20-year-old is a right back by preference but can play on the left.

Again there may or may not be any truth in this story, and its plausibility might depend on the future of Tariq Lamptey.

In terms of development squad signings, rumours suggest Brighton have an interest in Celtic’s 16-year-old centre back Ronan Ferns.

What does all this mean for 2023-24 and who might be lining up in De Zerbi’s back line? Here, we analyse the options in each position.

First Team Centre Back
The apparent lack of interest from ‘bigger’ clubs for Dunk remains a very welcome mystery. He should be joined by Adam Webster and Veltman, who will continue to cover both right back and central defence.

Veltman is out of contract this summer, but Brighton have the option of a one-year extension. The hope will be that they can convince the dependable Dutchman to stay for longer.

De Zerbi has made clear his wish to continue with Colwill: “I would like to work with him for another two, three, four years. It’s difficult to find another left centre-back, with his quality.”

“He’s a good guy, I think he’s improving a lot. This year his improvement has been fantastic. I hope he can stay with us.”

One can only hope that Chelsea having bought three centre backs and their requirement to sell players for financial fair play reasons might give Brighton a chance.

Interviewed by The Athletic after the Manchester City game, Colwill himself expressed potential interest in staying.

“Brighton have done a lot for me,” Colwill said. “They put their trust in me when others didn’t and I’m a person that loves to repay that.”

“We’ll see. Who knows, we’ll see what happens in the summer. I love the Brighton fans, I love everything about them. I’ll take that into consideration.”

Van Hecke looks to have significant potential culminating in an impressive man-to-man marking job on Erling Haaland, and could perhaps complete the squad.

One hopes that increased recent game time and the extra opportunities of European football might encourage him to sign a contract extension, rather than follow the equally talented Ostigard out of the club in the hope of more first team football.

If Brighton were to lose both Colwill and van Hecke then at least one new signing might be likely. As above, the Albion may re-pursue 27-year-old Matviyenko.

Such a signing would mark a change of transfer policy for Brighton. Aaron Mooy in the 2019-20 season was the last player over the age of 25 that the Albion paid a fee for, and that was only £3 million.

Development Squad Centre Backs
A few years ago and Roberts looked destined for progression to the first team by 2023. The fact he plays on the left might encourage the club to retain interest, but he has maybe has not progressed as quickly as hoped and a transfer looks more likely.

It maybe that Ed Turns (following a successful loan period at League Two champions Leyton Orient) and Odel Offiah (subject to a view on his best position) are seen as better long term options. A year on loan may be the most likely option for both players.

Antef Tsongui has recently been out in Belgium with Lommel. Reports have said that Feyenoord are interested in signing Tsongui, with a hope that they can get him on a free transfer as his contract is running down.

It remains to be seen what position Brighton will take. Now back from Belgium, Tsongui was seen in first team training this week.

If European qualification can encourage Van Hecke to stay as either third or fourth centre back choice, then possibly the club will see a covering role from whoever they view as the best option from Roberts, Offiah, Tsongui and Turns. Roberts and Offiah boast added versatility by being able to offer cover at full back.

In the longer term, Ruari McConville and Ed Jackson look the next potential prospects from the Under 21s. Both can expect to learn their trade out on loan soon.

First Team Full Backs
Veltman has been the most regular choice at right back this season, thanks largely to question marks over the fitness of Lamptey.

It has sadly been another injury hit season for the former Chelsea man, the latest problem being an undescribed knee issue keeping him out since March.

Rumours persist that Sporting Lisbon want Lamptey following Pedro Porro’s January move to Spurs. How his unfortunate run of injuries affect the view of both Brighton and possible purchasers on his future is unclear.

The last two frustrating years may have impacted Lamptey’s enthusiasm to stay at Brighton; he might feel a fresh start somewhere new is what is needed to get his career back on track.

It is sad situation for a brilliant young player. In the week when Jofra Archer is ruled out of the Ashes, one wonders likewise when fitness will allow Lamptey to rediscover the form that terrorised a succession of opponents when he first joined the club.

Lamptey’s absence coupled with a few injuries to Veltman at various points has seen De Zerbi redeploy Pascal Gross at right back semi-regularly since October.

A positive with this option is that the Gross and Solly March combination down the flank has perhaps shown stronger chemistry than either Veltman and March or Lamptey and March.

Gross at right back does come with two weaknesses, however. On occasions, his lack of pace is exploited. Brighton also miss his creativity and calmness in possession from midfield when he is part of the defensive line.

Hence the recent effective use of Moises Caicedo at right back against Manchester United and Arsenal – and less successfully at Newcastle United.

The expectation that Caicedo is likely to leave and his phenomenal value in midfield makes this look ‘for emergency use only’. The main positional attraction of Brighton’s pursuit of Milner maybe his ability to cover both full back positions.

On the left, the form and lack of any sign of injury or fatigue has made Pervis Estupinan one of the biggest success stories of the season.

Given Estupinan’s performance levels, there will surely be interest from other clubs. De Zerbi has had his say on this, stating after the 3-0 win at Arsenal: “For players like Mitoma, Estupinan, I think for them the best solution is to stay with us.”

“I don’t know if they are ready to play in the big teams. You have to arrive ready in the head. We can offer them the possibility to progress and to improve.”

This would indicate Brighton would rebuff any interest until at least next summer. The sorry experience of Marc Cucurella at Chelsea is a reminder of what can happen when a player leaves too early.

Colwill has provided cover at left back and Lamptey has impressed swapping sides, especially when Brighton eliminated Arsenal from the League Cup in November.

Most commentators highlight having cover to Estupinan as the biggest issue across the Brighton squad. The imagination used to cover right back has thankfully yet to be needed on the left.

There do look to be possible options, if and when it is required, including using the current wingers. March dropped in at left back when Estupinan was substituted away at Nottingham Forest and Mitoma has the ability to do a job.

A justifiable argument against those two scenarios is that March or Mitoma covering for Estupinan is a waste of their talents on the wing.

However, new signing Joao Pedro, Julio Enciso, Simon Adringa, Jeremy Sarmiento and Facundo Buonanotte can all play on the left and so De Zerbi may feel he has enough attacking power to make March or Mitoma at full back a realistic use of resources.

Both have played in wing back roles before, March for Brighton under Graham Potter and Mitoma for Japan. Interestingly, so too has Adringa on occasions this season at Union Saint-Gilloise.

Development Squad Full Backs
Offiah has increasingly been used as a right back rather than a centre back in the Under 21s this season. Whether this is by preference, out of necessity or to do with team balance is unclear.

With the recent injuries, De Zerbi stated: “Without Sarmiento, without Lallana, without March, the young players can be important. Cam Peupion, Andrew Moran and Odell Offiah. I am lucky because the academy of Brighton is top.”

Offiah is yet to be loaned out, so first team football elsewhere next season would appear to be one option. His versatility as a right back, centre back and plausible defensive midfielder make him an attractive cover option. 19-year-old Swede Caspar Nilsson is another to watch. on the right.

On the left, it will be interesting to watch the rapid development of 19-year-old Imari Samuels. He was named on the first team bench at Newcastle United and is currently away with England at the Under 20 World Cup.

One intriguing possibility is the return of Michal Karbownik for 2023-24. The Polish international can cover both let and right back and was signed amid much fanfare for around £5 million in the autumn of 2020, hailed as one of the best young players in Europe.

Aside from a couple of brief cameos, he struggled to break into the first team under Potter. There was then a strange interlude where it was reported Karbownik was only willing to play in midfield.

Following an unsuccessful loan at Olympiacos in the 2021-22 season, Karbownik joined Fortuna Dusseldorf for the current campaign. Fortuna were rumoured to have an option to buy, and it appeared as though Karbownik’s Albion career was at an end.

His form has picked up suitably in Germany to earn a recall to the Poland international squad and he has seemingly accepted his future is as a full back.

Despite those rumours of a permanent move to Dusseldorf, Fortuna sporting director Christian Weber recently indicated that his club have failed to reach agreement with Brighton over a price for the 22-year-old.

Talking to Kicker, Weber said: “As of today, there is no option to come to an amicable agreement between the two clubs, because the financial conditions are not there.”

“We tried to give Brighton creative options, but they are not prepared to make any financial concessions. We have to assume that Micky will leave us.”

With his improved form, his return to full back and a clean slate under De Zerbi, Karobownik may yet have a future with Brighton.

Also out on loan is James Furlong, who joined Motherwell in January and he has made 11 appearances in the Scottish Premier League.

Furlong received a call up to the Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad for their recent game against Iceland, but did not get to make his debut.

Brighton face a decision on Furlong, whose contract expires soon. So too does Roberts deal, and he has been used more at left back than centre back during his year in League One with Derby County.

Peter Finn