Football Season Guide

A poor run of just one win in 13 games over December and January resulted in a fair bit of criticism surrounding coach Fabian Hurzeler, but Brighton bounced back in March and April to finish eighth and narrowly secure a place in the Conference League. Brighton have lost key starters Jan Paul van Hecke and Danny Welbeck, with highly rated defender Luka Vušković arriving to replace the former, while the club continue their search for a first-choice striker to fill the void left by the latter. Having offloaded several ageing players such as Joël Veltman, James Milner, Solly March and Adam Webster, they’ve opted for a squad rejuvenation by signing Costinha, Zadok Yohanna, Rodrigo Rêgo and Michael Svoboda – players who can bring greater energy and intensity to all areas of the pitch. Meanwhile, in Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh they boast two of the most talented wingers in the league – two players who might be one injury-free season away from securing a move to a top European club. In fact, Brighton’s hopes of taking the next step could hinge on keeping their squad fit, with injuries having hampered their progress last term and remaining a potential concern heading into the new season.