Let the rumours start: Who Brighton are being linked with in January
As we barrel towards a packed December fixture timetable with an injury list more at home in the Crimean War than the Premier League, thoughts turn as they always do to the transfer window.
It is quite likely that by the time the window opens on New Year’s Day, our league position will have seen a drop as precipitous as Boris Johnson’s poll ratings, and the clamour for a 20-goal-a-season striker will increase with renewed vigour.
Can we secure an out-and-out goal scorer who is affordable in terms of fee and wages, who wants to come here rather than another Premier League team, and who won’t be loaned out to a Dutch League Two side within seconds of inking his contract?
As sure as day follows a night of partying in Downing Street, the Albion have again been linked with Darwin Nunez of Benfica, this time by none other than Mr Gustavo Poyet, late of this parish, as reported on this site last month.
Who knows, persistence may pay off, but with each passing window it seems less likely. There has been widespread speculation in recent days that he is on Eddie Howe’s Christmas wish list for his money-no-object Newcastle side.
The hot favourite (at least at the time of writing) for that elusive striker signing seems to be Chilean Ben Brereton Diaz.
The 22-year-old has scored 17 in 21 games for Blackburn in the Championship, and would likely cost upwards of £20 million according to reports in The Mirror, The Argus and others.
To sign Brereton would involve fending off competition from The Leeds United, Southampton and again the world’s richest club, Newcastle. However, The Athletic’s Andy Naylor says there’s “no truth” in these reports.
The Argus has also linked us with Cyle Larin, who is a 26-year-old Canadian striker with Istanbul’s Besiktas. He only has five goals to his credit this season, though one was in the Champions League.
West Ham also are reported to be interested. Not to be confused with Kylo Ren, on his way to Tyneside for an undisclosed fee from FC Exegol.
A less serious suggestion from some quarters is Jesse Lingard. Wouldn’t it be great to see him back at the Amex? Of course, but it is not going to happen.
Returning to West Ham seems far more likely for Lingard, though now the Saudi chequebook at St James’s Park may be opened in his case if the Times, Express, Sun and regional press are to be believed.
Away from the sharp end, there are multiple media reports of interest in Polish midfielder Kacper Kozlowski, who at 18 has already earned himself six caps for the national side.
Kozlowski is said to be even better than compatriot Jakub Moder. There is a small matter of competition from Liverpool and AC Milan though, according to the Argus.
Another persistent rumour links us with defender Joe Rodon, previously out of favour at Spurs but not Wales. This seems based largely on the season he and Graham Potter spent at Swansea.
Whether he features in new Spurs boss Antonio Conté’s plans, and whether he’s needed when Dunk, Duffy, Webster, Roberts, Burn and Veltman are all fit and money is needed up front, is questionable.
Mentioned in social media dispatches is Sebastián Córdova, described as an attacking midfielder or winger who features in the Mexican national squad and is valued at £6.3 million.
A big leap from Liga MX to the pinnacle of European league football, but if we cannot outbid our competitors, then it is one of those gambles the Albion may need to take.
We are ninth in terms of net spend in the Premier League at £188 million over the past five seasons, compared to £480 million for the two Manchester clubs at the top.
Whether any of the Ben White money is there for the recruitment team to play with is unknown, given the club’s huge financial losses due to Covid.
We will know only at 11pm on January 31st, when the window closes and Newcastle have bought every striker bar DJ Jurgen Locadia.
Who knows what surprises the recruitment team have in store for us, sourced from the leagues of nations around the globe, or not.
In the meantime let us hope for more wonder strikes from Enoch Mwepu, and more “Maupay minutes” goals to scrape us a few points from the festive period.
