With European football achieved for the first time on the south coast at Brighton, Roberto De Zerbi’s sensational work at the AMEX remains under the microscope by devoted Seagulls supporters and neutral eyes alike after the club has quickly shot up the Premier League ladder.
The aforementioned De Zerbi and former boss Graham Potter deserve an immense amount of credit for guiding the club on the pitch to heights that fans could only have ever dreamed about, off the pitch, Brighton is expertly run at board level under owner Tony Bloom while boasting a backroom setup that directly rivals many clubs both at home and abroad.
Brighton has done incredibly well in recent seasons by tapping into foreign markets that led to the acquisitions of players the likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Moisés Caicedo, Julio Enciso, Facundo Buonanotte, Simon Adingra, Kacper Kozłowski, and Yasin Ayari. That trend looks set to continue this summer after reports from Brazil have linked the Seagulls with a possible move for young Brazilian center-back Lucas Beraldo.
The 19-year-old Beraldo has been a standout performer at domestic juggernaut São Paulo, becoming a vital piece of the puzzle at Estádio do Morumbi under manager Dorival Júnior while highlighting a combined player profile that could offer a roadmap into how the club intends to move forward this summer after losing highly-touted English youngster Levi Colwill upon his return to parent club Chelsea.
Though Brighton has tried to secure a full move for the defender, the Blues remain adamant that he is not for sale and will be vital to new boss Mauricio Pochettino moving forward, and given the fact that Beraldo is left-footed, it could be that the Seagulls have once again turned to their recruitment network to source an affordable solution for the first team.
Brighton reportedly made a first offer of £5m, but the Brazilian club value the youngster at €15m, so it remains to be seen whether the Seagulls will return with an improved offer to get their man.
Why David Brooks Is Choosing to Step Back from Politics-And What It Means