Baleba linked to big clubs, Albion Women pair nominated for WSL awards, & other Brighton news from the last 7 days (Brighton news roundup Oct. 20-26)
A win versus Wolves could see the Albion move into the top three in the Premier League table. Before that though, let’s get caught up on all the Brighton news stories from the last seven days that you might’ve missed.
Transfer News
Incoming Transfers
Takumi Minamino - Liverpool flop linked to the Albion
Spanish outlet Fichajes claim Brighton are interested in Monaco striker Takumi Minamino. The Japanese international had the best season of his career last year, scoring nine goals and racking up six assists for Les Monégasques.
Minamino previously played in the Premier League for Liverpool and Southampton. He scored six goals in his four seasons in England.
Andrija Maksimovic - Brighton battling other big clubs for Red Star Belgrade star
BILD Sport journalist Christian Falk says Brighton are one of many interested in Red Star Belgrade wonderkid Andrija Maksimovic. The 17-year-old forward has two assists for the Serbian side in five SuperLiga matches. He has also started two games for Red Star in the Champions League.
Eintracht Frankfurt “lead” the race for Maksimovic’s signature. Liverpool and Manchester City are also reportedly interested. Falk estimates it will take £10m up front plus £2.5m in add-ons to sign Maksimovic.
Oliwier Zych - Seagulls tracking promising Aston Villa goalkeeper
According to The Telegraph, Brighton and Arsenal are keeping tabs on Aston Villa U21 goalkeeper Oliwier Zych. The 20-year-old Zagłębie Lubin academy graduate has already earned a call-up to Poland’s senior national team.
Zych has less than a year left on his Aston Villa contract. A number of clubs could be interested in the promising goalkeeper should he decide not to resign with the Villains. Brighton and Arsenal are the only currently weighing up a move for the Pole.
Dwight McNeil - Everton star a “top target” for Brighton next season
Fichajes have made the bold claim that Everton attacker Dwight McNeil is one of Brighton’s “top targets for next season.” The transfer blog claims the 24-year-old’s strong performances for the Toffees has piqued the Seagulls’ interest. Fichajes adds that Everton may be willing to let McNeil go for as little as £25m.
Outgoing Transfers
Carlos Baleba - Premier League’s “top clubs” tracking Seagulls star
According to TBR Football’s Graeme Bailey, “some of the Premier League’s top clubs are showing an interest in the progress of Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.”
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham are among the clubs Bailey claims are interested in the 20-year-old Cameroonian.
Facundo Buonanotte - Liverpool and Man City keeping tabs on Albion wonderkid
Our friends at Fichajes also reported this week that are prepared to fight for Facundo Buonanotte this summer. The 19-year-old is currently on loan at Leicester City, where he has looked like the Foxes’ best player. The report claims Brighton will not let Buonanotte go for less than £25m.
Jakub Moder - Stuttgart “monitoring” Polish midfielder
Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg says VfB Stuttgart are “monitoring” Jakub Moder. The 25-year-old’s Albion contract expires at the end of this season. Moder told Polish media after Poland’s match versus Croatia earlier this month that he was not happy with how little he was playing at Brighton.
Plettenberg did not say whether Stuttgart will make a move for Moder in January or whether they will wait for him to become a free agent in July. The German reporter claims “everything is still in the early stages.”
Other News
Dario Vidosic, Nikita Parris nominated for WSL MoTM and PoTM awards
Brighton Women manager Dario Vidosic has been nominated for the WSL Manager of the Month award for October. You can vote for Vidosic to win the award here.
Albion forward Nikita Parris has also been nominated for the WSL Player of the Month award for October. This is the second consecutive month a Brighton player has been nominated for this award. Kiko Seike won the WSL Player of the Month award for September. You can vote for Parris to win the October award here.
Brighton Women are currently fourth in the WSL table after five matches played.
Simon Adingra, Carlos Baleba, Yankuba Minteh nominated for CAF awards
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced it’s annual award nominees this week. Ivorian winger Simon Adingra has been shortlisted for the Men’s Player of the Year award. Midfielder Carlos Baleba and new signing Yankuba Minteh have both been nominated for CAF’s Men’s Young Player of the Year trophy.
Bobby Zamora joins Brighton coaching staff
He’s back. Club icon Bobby Zamora has joined Brighton’s backroom staff. According to the man himself, Zamora’s new job is to “to help the club and the strikers to achieve their goals, working on all the elements of football on and off the pitch.”
Buzz’s Boot Room Quiz returns
Speaking of back, head to Brighton’s YouTube page for the first episode of Season 3 of Buzz's Boot Room Quiz. It features Jan Paul Van Hecke vs. Danny Welbeck and it’s very fun.
Injury Updates (direct quotes or summaries of quotes from Hurzeler)
Joao Pedro “I think there will be a comeback soon. I can't say the exact date of the comeback.”
Danny Welbeck “It's too early to say if he can play or not…He got hit on a nerve…It can be very painful and it's still painful for him.”
Yankuba Minteh “ He has a small issue with his muscle after his international games with Gambia…we won't take any risk with the players because it's still early in the season.
Adam Webster “I think it takes two-three more weeks until he's back on the pitch.”
Simon Adingra “The risk was too high to give him game minutes [at Newcastle]…He has now trained for the whole week so hopefully he will be an option for the weekend.”
Matt O'Riley “Hopefully he will be posting videos of him back on the pitch soon…He is close and making good progress.”