Brighton are one of the smartest teams in the world when it comes to the transfer market. This was on full display when they signed Marc Cucurella for just £15 million from Getafe in 2022. It now looks like the Seagulls are ready to buy another former Barcelona fullback on a bargain deal.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Brighton are on track to sign left back Juan Miranda. The 24-year-old’s contract with Real Betis in Spain expires at the end of this season, meaning the Seagulls could sign him for nothing this summer.
Miranda, a Barcelona academy graduate, has emerged as one of La Liga’s brightest young full-backs since joining Betis on loan back in 2020. He scored one goal and has two assists in 25 matches for Los Verdiblancos this season. Numerous top European clubs reportedly have the Spaniard on their radar. He nearly joined AC Milan last January.
TuttoMercatoWeb claims Milan were “one step away” from signing Miranda before I Rossoneri changed their transfer strategy suddenly after bringing legendary Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic into their transfer team. The big Swede is reportedly “increasingly central” in Milan’s transfer decisions. It’s unlikely the club will go for Miranda again.
With the Italian giants out of the picture, Brighton look like the top candidates to sign Miranda in the summer. However, Benfica and Ajax are also keeping tabs on the 24-year-old.
If Brighton do sign Miranda, they will be getting an attacking-minded left back and a much-needed back up to Pervis Estupiñán. If the 24-year-old blossoms on the South Coast like Cucurella did before him, Miranda could even compete with Estupiñán for Brighton’s starting left back spot.
