After hiring new manager Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton are looking to bring reinforcements to one of the rarest positions in their squad. The Seagulls have been linked with several right-backs, including Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters.Â
The former England international has just one year left on his contract with the Saints. He is said to be very open to a move this summer. If he doesn’t sign a new deal soon, it’s highly likely that Southampton will try to offload him this summer rather than lose him for nothing next year.Â
Brighton, West Ham and his former club Tottenham have all been linked with Walker-Peters. Most reports claim that Southampton want £20m for him.
At 27, Walker-Peters is slightly older than most Brighton transfer targets. Spending £20m on a player with low resale potential is also very different from the Seagulls. However, Walker-Peters is an immediate upgrade on Brighton’s current options of Tariq Lamptey and Joel Veltman.Â
If Brighton are convinced that Walker-Peters is improving them, I can see them reversing their usual transfer strategy and signing him. The question is, does Kyle Walker-Peters make Brighton better? I think so.Â
The former England international was undoubtedly the best defender in the Championship last season. Southampton play very attacking under Russell Martin. In this system, Walker-Peters has shown that he is comfortable finding forwards, good in transition and a very capable passer. He is also comfortable playing as a right-back.Â
These things make Walker-Peters an ideal candidate to slot straight into Brighton’s current starting XI.Â
A £20m signing would make Walker-Peters the most expensive defender in Brighton’s history, alongside Adam Webster, who the Seagulls signed from Portsmouth for £20m ahead of the 2019/20 Premier League season.Â
In addition to Walker-Peters, Brighton have also been linked with Rayo Vallecano and Romania right-back Andrei Rațiu, as well as 20-year-old Flamengo full-back Wesley Franca.
🚨NEWS :In an effort to bolster their squad depth and address areas of need, Brighton & Hove Albion are reportedly scouting top talent from the Championship
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