Should Brighton and Hove Albion move for Adnan Januzaj this summer?
Brighton must act quickly and effectively in the summer transfer window if they are to avoid the drop next season – and Chris Hughton knows it.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that owner Tony Bloom has to invest a silly sum of money ahead of the new campaign.
Source: Adnan Januzaj via Facebook
Instead, the Seagulls should try to bring a few players in on season-long loans, and Hughton should look no further than Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj. Once regarded as one of Europe’s hottest young prospects, Januzaj has struggled to make a positive impact at Old Trafford in recent years.
He enjoyed a successful spell during his breakthrough campaign under David Moyes but failed to shine during Louis van Gaal’s brief tenure. Last season, Januzaj linked up with Moyes at Sunderland but, despite making over 20 appearances for the Black Cats, he was unable to keep them in the Premier League.
According to various news outlets, Jose Mourinho is willing to take a chance on Januzaj but he would like the Belgium winger to go out on loan for another year. At just 22 years old, he is still a raw talent and somebody like Hughton could get the most out of the youngster.
If Brighton can secure a deal with Januzaj over his weekly wage, a move could materialise before the beginning of the new campaign. With Glenn Murray and Anthony Knockaert in attack, Brighton have a decent unit but they do lack creative talent in wider areas.
On his day, Januzaj can be a world beater but consistency has haunted his progress. Should he join Brighton, he would need to tone it down a bit. Nobody is bigger than the collective at the Amex Stadium and Hughton would potentially have to assess Januzaj’s attitude before committing to a season-long loan.
As of June 11th, Brighton are priced at 4/6 to avoid relegation in football betting odds with bet365 and Januzaj could give Hughton’s side a new dimension in attack. At the very least, the 22-year-old would bring some much needed Premier League knowledge to a squad in dire need of top-flight experience.
Source: Adnan Januzaj via Facebook
Brighton have benefited from loaning players off of United in recent times and that could tempt Hughton to take a punt on Januzaj. In November 2015, the Seagulls signed James Wilson on loan. In 14 league appearances on the south coast, he scored five goals and helped the Seagulls mount a promotion challenge.
If circumstances change and United decide to sell Januzaj (reports suggest that Marseille are interested) then Brighton will need to look elsewhere. Enquiring into whether the Belgium youngster is available or not is one thing but placing a concrete bid is another: Hughton will need to act quickly in order to attract top talent.
The Seagulls need some new blood as they look to secure their Premier League status and taking Januzaj on loan is worth the risk. He failed to set the world on fire at Sunderland but Hughton has the man-management skills to get the 22-year-old settled at the Amex. He isn’t the type of player who will single-handedly keep Brighton in the top flight but his arrival wouldn’t do their chances any harm at all.
