Guardian writers' predicted place: eighth (NB: this isn't essentially Ed Aarons' prediction however the common of our writers' ideas)
Final season's place: eighth
Prospects
Though Brighton missed out on qualifying for Europe once more, there was a way of optimism somewhat than disappointment on the finish of Fabian Hürzeler's first season on the helm. Had it not been for a pricey lack of kind within the spring that introduced one level from 4 league video games and a defeat by Nottingham Forest on penalties within the final eight of the FA Cup, the German head coach may even have matched his predecessor, Roberto De Zerbi's achievement of ending sixth.
After a raft of accidents to key gamers all season and with a number of signings from a summer time spending spree of just about £200m struggling to settle, it was to Hürzeler's credit score that his group ended just one level in need of Brighton's file factors tally from 2023 after three wins to spherical off the marketing campaign. Now, within the phrases of chair Tony Bloom, with the youngest everlasting Premier League supervisor having gained a 12 months's expertise, “we hope for extra subsequent season”.
Brighton scored 66 targets – the joint fifth-highest within the division – a lot will rely upon strengthening a defence that conceded 59, with the emphasis this summer time on discovering a long-term substitute for the veteran captain Lewis Dunk as he enters the final 12 months of his contract. Diego Coppola, an Italy Beneath-21 centre-back, and Olivier Boscagli, who arrived on a free switch from PSV, will likely be joined by the thrilling Belgium left-back Maxim De Cuyper as Hürzeler hopes to construct a extra settled unit.
The departure of João Pedro, who grew to become the most recent Brighton participant to affix Chelsea, has been offset by the signing of the extremely regarded 18-year-old striker Charalampos Kostoulas. His fellow Greece Beneath-21 worldwide Stefanos Tzimas and Sunderland's playoff hero Tommy Watson will present extra attacking choices for a squad that also consists of the excellent Kaoru Mitoma regardless of hypothesis he may depart and appears outfitted to take care of a sustained push for Europe.
The supervisor
Hürzeler is assured to put on his coronary heart on his sleeve and has proved successful with Brighton's supporters after the favored De Zerbi's departure. In an interview with British GQ in April, the 32-year-old revealed that he loves watches and Coldplay however by no means sits down in entrance of the tv as a result of there “are so many higher issues to do”. “I'm an enormous believer that the restrict for our physique is de facto excessive, and I feel we don't at all times attempt to push our limits,” he stated. Brighton's gamers must be nicely ready for the beginning of the season in that case.
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Off-field image
After a record-breaking 2022-23 that yielded income of £112m, Brighton introduced a £73.3m revenue in March – largely a results of receiving one other massive chunk from the British file sale of Moisés Caicedo to Chelsea. João Pedro's departure for £60m will assist to steadiness the books after final summer time's large outlay made them the most important web spenders in Europe. Bloom, who purchased 29% of the Scottish membership Hearts in June, is estimated to have invested greater than £400m at his home-town membership since turning into chair in 2009. In April, the long-serving chief govt, Paul Barber, dedicated his future till 2030.
Star signing
A lot is anticipated of Kostoulas after Brighton noticed off curiosity from a number of different golf equipment, together with Chelsea, to snap him up for an preliminary price of just about £30m that might rise by £2m to make him the costliest Greek participant in historical past. Represented by the identical agent who took Giannis Antetokounmpo to the NBA, he grew to become the youngest participant to make knowledgeable look for Olympiakos when he represented their B group at 15 years and 7 months, earlier than he was a part of the aspect that received the celebrated Uefa Youth League final 12 months. Kostoulas will be taught loads from the evergreen Danny Welbeck, who completed as final season's joint high scorer and turns 35 in November.
Stepping up
Bart Verbruggen, having surprisingly alternated with Jason Steele beneath De Zerbi, was most well-liked between the sticks by Hürzeler final season however the Dutchman made a number of pricey errors. Nonetheless, a latest survey by the Swiss analysis group CIES Soccer Observatory recognized the 22-year-old as probably the world's most beneficial goalkeeper with a projected price of £54m. Verbruggen, who joined Brighton in 2023 from Anderlecht for £16m, might want to present extra consistency to retain Hürzeler's religion, though the England Beneath-21 goalkeeper James Beadle was allowed to affix Birmingham on mortgage somewhat than present extra competitors for the Netherlands worldwide.
