Roberto De Zerbi left Brighton earlier this year because of disagreements with club owner Tony Bloom about the club’s transfer strategy. New manager Fabian Hürzeler, meanwhile, is in full agreement with the club about one of Brighton’s biggest transfer targets.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Hürzeler has approved the club’s pursuit of young Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer.
Brighton have opened talks with Wieffer’s agents, and reportedly, the player is very keen to join Brighton. However, the Seagulls are not the only club in the running to sign the 24 year old.
Wieffer is a top target for AC Milan. Liverpool, Tottenham, and other top European clubs are also monitoring the Dutch international’s transfer situation. Feyenoord are asking for £30m or more for Wieffer.
If I were Hürzeler, I would push Bloom and club CEO Paul Barber to get the deal done for Wieffer. He has the potential to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. With Pascal Groß’s future up in the air, the club can’t afford to miss out on another top midfield prospect like they did with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Wieffer was one of the best passers in the Eredivisie and Europa League last season. His 6’2” frame and willingness to dive into a tackle also makes him a good fit to adapt to the Premier League right away, similar to how West Ham’s Edson Alvarez adapted after joining from Ajax last summer.
At Brighton though, it’s never as simple as a manager asking for a player and then getting him. Just ask De Zerbi.
At his introductory press conference, Hürzeler opened up about Brighton’s transfer strategy and his input in signings.
“It’s like a respectful togetherness. The club and Tony and his team will look at the data and then I will look more at the football in a specific way and see if he will fit with us and at the top is the character of the player, which is very important for us. If everything fits together, we decide he can be part of our squad,” Hürzeler said.
