Brighton & Hove Albion have gone about their transfer business with their usual sense of conviction of what they want and who they want despite a change in manager. Fabian Hurzeler has made some promising moves so far which would excite Seagulls fans.
The Seagulls have signed Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer, and Ibrahim Osman this summer. Two of the three are teenagers and one is 24-years-old, continuing with the tradition of Brighton signing young players with a high ceiling and developing them.
Keeping in line with tradition, as per reliable Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Brighton have reached an agreement with Mainz for around £25m to sign 20-year-old German midfielder Brajan Gruda who was personally wanted by Zurzeler.
A product of the Mainz Academy, Gruda has been described as a dream target for the Seagulls. It says a massive amount about what this transfer means when one considers that Brighton have pipped Bayern Munich to his signature.
Transfermarkt values the 20-year-old at around €20m. Brighton have managed to snap him up at a slightly higher price than his market valuation but considering his potential, it’ll be safe to say that they have landed a bargain.
The Seagulls have been a great training ground for young midfielders in the past. Moises Caicedo, Carlos Baleba, Yves Bissouma, and Billy Gilmour have all done well for the club at different stages and it could be Gruda’s turn.
The 20-year-old is also no stranger to playing on the right wing. Being left-footed in nature, he has the ability to play as an inside winger operating in the half spaces which Hurzeler could end up utilizing in his system.
Brighton have pulled off one of the coups of the summer with this signing of Gruda. Seagulls fans will be excited to see him play at the Amex and let’s hope he lives up to the reputation his predecessors have set for him.
