After hiring new manager Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton are looking to bring in reinforcements at one of the thinnest positions in their squad. The Seagulls have been linked to multiple right backs, including Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters.
The former England international has just one year left on his Saints contract. He is reportedly very open to a move this summer. If he does not sign a new contract soon, it is very likely Southampton will look to offload him this summer instead of losing him for nothing next year.
Brighton, West Ham, and his former club Tottenham have all been linked to Walker-Peters. Most reports claim Southampton want £20m for him.
At 27-years-old, Walker-Peters is slightly older than most Brighton transfer targets. Spending £20m on a player with low resale potential is also very much unlike the Seagulls. However, Walker-Peters is an immediate upgrade over Brighton’s current options of Tariq Lamptey and Joel Veltman.
If Brighton are confident that Walker-Peters makes them better, I can see them bucking their normal transfer strategy to sign him. The question is, does Kyle Walker-Peters make Brighton better? I think so.
The former England international was arguably the best fullback in the Championship last season. Under Russell Martin, Southampton play a possession-heavy attacking style. In this system, Walker-Peters showed that he is comfortable going forward, good in transition, and a very capable passer. He’s also comfortable playing as right wingback.
These things make Walker-Peters an ideal candidate to step right into Brighton’s current starting lineup.
If signed for £20m, Walker-Peters would be the most expensive defender in Brighton history, tied with Adam Webster, who the Seagulls signed from Portsmouth for £20m ahead of the 2019/20 Premier League season.
In addition to Walker-Peters, Brighton have also been linked to Rayo Vallecano and Romania right back Andrei Rațiu and 20-year-old Flamengo defender Wesley França.
