Seagulls tracking Eric Dier, Spurs linked to Buonanotte & other Brighton news from the last 7 days (Brighton news roundup Nov. 10-16)
It’s the international break, but the news cycle doesn’t stop. Let’s go over all the Brighton news stories from the last seven days that you might have missed.
Transfer News
Incoming Transfers
Eric Dier - Brighton, Brentford and Wolves keeping tabs on Bayern defender
According to Graeme Bailey of TBR Football, multiple English clubs are keeping track of former England international Eric Dier. The 30-year-old will be out of contract this summer, but has hopes of resigning with Bayern Munich before the end of the season.
If Dier does not sign a new deal with the German giants, Brighton, Brentford, and Wolves are keen to sign him on a free next summer. MLS clubs are also interested in him, says the report.
Omar El Hilali - Release clause attracts interest from Brighton and other PL clubs
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo has reported that Brighton, Manchester City, and Aston Villa are interested in signing Espanyol defender Omar El Hilali. The Moroccan right back has a €15m (£12.5m) release clause.
El Hilali’s contract runs through June 2027, and Espanyol are expected to ask for the full release clause price. The 21-year-old has also expressed a desire to stay at his boyhood club, but that could change if Espanyol are relegated from LaLiga this season.
Morten Frendrup - Brighton continue to monitor summer transfer target
Multiple reports over the summer linked Brighton to Genoa midfielder Morten Frendrup. A new story from Tuttomercatoweb claims the Seagulls are still tracking the Danish international and that Genoa could be forced to sell Frendrup due to financial problems with their owners, 777 Partners.
The report speculates it would cost upwards of €20m (£17.7m) to sign Frendrup. However, the club are set to submit their financial reports on November 30th. How those reports are received by regulators, could affect the 23-year-old’s price tag.
David Mella - Albion target explains transfer decision
Speaking to Spanish media this week, Deportivo La Coruña forward David Mella revealed that it was easy to reject Brighton’s offer last summer. “It took me no time. The same time it took me to answer this question, I told them that I wanted to continue here at Dépor,” he said.
To rub salt in the wound, the longtime transfer target also said “I don't even know where Brighton is.”
Outgoing Transfers
Facundo Buonanotte - Spurs, big European clubs linked to Brighton wonderkid
After impressing on loan with Leicester City this season, Brighton wonderkid Facundo Buonanotte has been linked to pretty much each of the PL’s “Big 6.” This week’s link comes from Graeme Bailey, who says Tottenham are interested in the Argentine as a potential replacement for James Maddison.
The report also revealed that Buonanotte has attracted attention from RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, and Inter Milan. However, Bailey also adds that there is currently no way Brighton would consider selling Buonanotte next summer.
Tariq Lamptey - Tottenham, West Ham exploring move for Albion RB
Following links to Everton last week, reports have linked Brighton right back Tariq Lamptey to Tottenham and West Ham.
Football Transfers say that Spurs view Lamptey as a good depth piece amid rumors that they could lose one or both of Sergio Reguilón and Pedro Porro in the next two windows. Reguilón, specifically, has been linked to Sevilla as a potential upgrade on Valentín Barco, who has struggled during his loan spell with the Rojiblancos.
The West Ham links come from a Football Insider report, which says that the Hammers are looking to pick up Lamptey for a cut-rate price in January.
Josh Duffus - Academy star linked to top clubs around Europe
A report from HITC claims that Marseille, Club Brugge, Valencia, RB Leipzig, and “a number of Premier League clubs” are interested in Brighton U21 star Josh Duffus. The 19-year-old’s contract with Brighton expires in June.
Duffus has five goals and two assists in 8 PL2 matches with the U21 side this season. He made his debut with the senior side last season in Brighton’s 1–0 Europa League win over AEK Athens.
Other News
Brighton Women win against West Ham
Dario Vidosic’s Brighton Women side bounced back from their 5-0 loss to Arsenal last week with a rollercoaster 3-2 win over West Ham. The Seagulls took an early lead in the 29th minute, before scoring a second in the 60th. They then allowed West Ham’s Katrina Gorry to score twice from outside the box in the 64th and 69th minutes to bring things level.
A Fran Kirby goal in the 82nd minute was the winner for Brighton. That goal ensured that the Albion would stay in the top four for at least another week.
Brighton slash recruitment staff
The Telegraph has reported this week that Brighton have decided to let go of the majority of its scouting staff. Three full-time members of the recruitment team have been sacked.
It’s unclear whether this is a part of a more comprehensive shake up of Brighton’s recruitment processes or if it is just the start of a rebuild after losing so many staff members to clubs like Chelsea.
Andrew Moran, Evan Ferguson win FAI awards
The 34th Football Association of Ireland (FAI) International Awards took place this week. Seagulls striker Evan Ferguson won the FAI Young Men's International Player of the Year Award for the second straight season. Brighton midfielder Andrew Moran, who is currently on loan with Stoke City, was honored with the Under-21 International Player of the Year Award.
Gary Dicker leaves Brighton academy for Charlotte FC role in MLS Next Pro
Former Brighton midfielder and U21 coach, Gary Dicker, has left the club to join the coaching staff of Charlotte FC in the US. He will coach CLTFC’s reserve side Crown Legacy FC in the MLS Next Pro.
St. Pauli reveal Fabian Hurzeler compensation package
A report from German newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt (via Sport Witness) has revealed that Brighton paid €6.5m (£5.4m) to St. Pauli to sign Fabian Hurzeler from the Kiezkicker last summer.
The report also claims that Brighton were unwilling to pay Hurzeler’s full release clause and that €6.5m was just an initial payment. Hurzeler’s fee could rise depending on if certain bonuses are met.
International Roundup
Simon Adingra started and played 45 minutes in the Ivory Coast’s 1-0 AFCON Qualifier loss to Zambia on Friday.
Julio Enciso played 82 minutes in Paraguay’s 2-1 win over Lionel Messi’s Argentina in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers on Thursday. Future signing Diego Gómez also played in that match. The Inter Miami midfielder assisted Paraguay’s winning goal.
Pervis Estupinán played all 90 minutes of Ecuador’s dominating 4-0 win over Bolivia on Thursday. He led the match in chances created and was not dribbled past once. Jeremy Sarmiento featured off the bench and played for 22 minutes as a left winger.
Evan Ferguson scored a cushioned headed goal to secure a 1-0 win for the Boys over Finland in the Nations League on Thursday.
Kaoru Mitoma played 62 minutes as a left wingback in Japan’s 4-0 win over Indonesia in AFC World Cup qualifiers on Friday. He assisted the Samurai Blue’s second goal with a nice out-the-boot pass into the box.
Yankuba Minteh played 45 minutes for The Gambia in their 2-1 loss to Comoros on Friday. This defeated eliminated the Scorpions from AFCON qualification. Minteh will not play in the 2025 AFCON tournament.
Ruairi McConville made his debut for Northern Ireland on Friday in a 2-0 loss to Belarus. The Brighton academy player played just four minutes.
You can find a full list of Brighton international players and their upcoming fixtures here.
Injury Update
Carlos Baleba was withdrawn from the Cameroon squad after suffering a minor setback to the knee injury that has plagued him in recent weeks.
Ferdi Kadioglu missed the Manchester City match with a toe injury. Reports from Turkey claim he could be out for up to two months.
Jack Hinshelwood’s knee injury is believed to be minor. However, he will have a scan sometime before the Bournemouth fixture to determine when exactly he will available.
Lewis Dunk should be available for selection against Bournemouth.
Solly March, Adam Webster, and James Milner are still out with no timetable for their returns given.