Brighton owner Tony Bloom has already backed new manager Fabian Hürzeler in this transfer window, spending approximately seventy-eight million pounds on five players.
These new signings include the likes of Mats Wieffer, Yankuba Minteh, Ibrahim Osman, Malick Yalcouyé, and ex-Arsenal youngster Amario Cozier-Duberry.
The bulk of the money - £55 million - has been spent on ex-Feyenoord duo Wieffer and Minteh, strengthening Brighton's midfield and right wing.
Free signing Cozier-Duberry has also shown he is ready to take a place within the first team.
The remaining £23 million has been spent on stars for the future with both Osman and Yalcouyé being linked with loan moves away from the club, the former penning a loan deal with Feyenoord.
Despite the large fees splashed out already, it seems that Paul Barber and Bloom are ready to continue spending and these two outgoing loans could be an indication of that.
-
The right-back situation
From the opening of the summer transfer window, Albion fans have been very vocal across social media expressing their views on how the squad should be strengthened. There seems to be a collective agreement that the club should be prioritising the signing of a right-back.
This unanimous opinion is likely to be down to a few key factors. Lack of depth, injury records, and player attributes are foremost among these.
The current right-back options within the Brighton squad are Tariq Lamptey and Joël Veltman, who have had multiple injuries over the last few seasons and also do not necessarily fit the required profile needed for Hürzeler's 4-2-4 system.
A player who does fit this profile and has the required attributes is Fenerbahçe's 24-year-old star, Ferdi Kadıoğlu. The Turkish full-back seems to be the Seagulls' top target going into the final stages of the transfer window.
When looking at his profile it comes as no surprise that Kadıoğlu is being pursued by the Seagulls, and this is due to his versatility. The Turk is comfortably able to play as a full-back on either side and also as a central midfielder, along with various other positions if required.
Kadıoğlu played the majority of his games - 42 - for Sarı Kanaryalar as a left-back, scoring three goals and picking up five assists in the Turkish Süper Lig and UEFA Conference League. Over the course of the 2023/24 season, he also made nine appearances at right-back.
Of course, the Seagulls already have Pervis Estupiñán and Argentine wunderkind Valentín Barco as their left-back options, so it would be very unlikely to see Kadıoğlu brought in to play in that area. Türkiye's Euros star would slot straight into Hürzeler's side as the right-back, where he would be required to invert and also attack high and wide when appropriate.
This role would not be a problem for the Brighton target as he is used to playing in the midfield - making inverting feel somewhat natural - while also playing last season as a very attacking full-back, making him a perfect fit for the Seagulls.
However, a player of this quality and with these attributes comes at a price. According to various sources, Fenerbahçe are demanding a fee of around thirty to thirty-five million pounds for this transfer to happen.
It seems unlikely that these reported values would put off Brighton when you consider the huge profits made over the last year and also the desperate need for a right-back.
It is important to note that negotiations could have become a lot easier for the Sussex club due to Fenerbahçe's elimination from the Champions League last night.
If Kadıoğlu does not end up at the Albion, it has also been reported that Bloom could make a move for Benfica's Alexander Bah.
-
Celtic's sought-after star
Matt O'Riley has been a name that has come up multiple times across the transfer window, being linked with the likes of Southampton, Bournemouth, and Atalanta. The latter have even reported to have had five bids rejected for the Dane.
Brighton have also been reported to have made a £25 million + £4 million offer for the midfielder in recent days, but whether that is just a verbal offer to test the waters remains to be seen.
O'Riley looks to be open to making a move to the south coast but a move to the Nerazzurri could be more appealing due to the Italian outfit being able to offer Champions League football.
If the Seagulls do manage to pull off this transfer, the 23-year-old midfielder would probably be played alongside Wieffer in the double pivot, but be given the license to roam forward and find spaces in attacking areas. A role that would suit O'Riley perfectly after his fantastic nineteen goals and eighteen assists in forty-nine games last season in the Scottish Premier League.
The ex-Fulham and MK Dons man - while unlikely - could be asked to play as the second striker due to Danny Welbeck and João Pedro being the only fit and available strikers in the first team.
This idea of playing O'Riley as the second striker could have become even more unlikely with Brajan Gruda being close to completing a move from 1. FSV Mainz 05. The young German prospect could be the player Hürzeler looks to, to play in that forward role and compete with Welbeck and Pedro.
The twenty-five million pound signing could even be used in the central midfield role, ultimately ending the chase for O'Riley.
Gruda is much better suited to the second striker role, so the Seagulls could very much still be in the race for the Celtic maestro as they are still needing to add another midfielder to their squad.
-
Football friends
It would not be a Brighton transfer window without the infamous South American wunderkind signing.
This year's South American looks to be Inter Miami's 21-year-old Paraguayan midfielder, Diego Gómez; a close friend of Brighton's fan favourite, Julio Enciso.
Many reliable sources have confirmed that a deal with David Beckham's team is already done for ten million pounds, with the youngster staying in the MLS until January, but we are still waiting for official confirmation from both clubs.
Gómez burst onto the scene in 2024 making seventeen appearances and picking up five goals and four assists in various club and international competitions.
The Paraguayan U21 captain's performances caught the eye of Brighton scouts and prompted them to make a quick move before any rival clubs could pounce.
There are also natural leadership qualities and versatility featured in his profile with the young man being able to play anywhere in the midfield and out on the right wing.
With only a couple of weeks left in the window, it would be a huge statement from the Seagulls if they were able to complete all of these deals.
They are certainly a club to look out for in the coming days.
