All the latest team and transfer news for Brighton and Hove Albion
It's little wonder Fabian Hurzeler is not worried about his goalkeeping situation.
Brighton currently have the excellent Bart Verbruggen as their first choice No 1, with Jason Steele providing reliable and experienced back-up.
Aside from that, Brighton also have two top-rated goalkeepers on loan with Carl Rushworth performing well at Coventry and England under-21 James Beadle at Birmingham City.
Either one of those makes a very strong case for being Albion's next No 1, if Verbruggen exits this summer.
Albion's Dutch international keeper has impressed this season and Hurzeler believes he has improved in "every aspect" this term. His form has attracted the attention of of leading clubs around Europe, including Bayern Munich and of course Chelsea.
Verbruggen, who joined Brighton for around £15m from Anderlecht in 2023 will also be in the shop window this summer at the World Cup finals. He will feature for the Netherlands, who compete in Group F alongside Kaoru Mitoma’s Japan, Tunisia and a play-off winner to be confirmed later this month.
Hurzeler though does not fear losing his 23-year-old stopper. The German's only concern is that Verbruggen performs to the best of ability between now and the World Cup.
"I am not worried," said the Brighton boss last week. "Because that's part of this game, it is also part of this club.
"If young players develop faster than we do as a club, then there will always be bigger clubs who go for this player.
"In the end it's also a positive thing if big clubs try to get our players, because it shows a lot of good things regarding recruitment and the good work my coaches do with him.
"The World Cup is in three or four months, so that's a long time to go to perform at the World Cup. Now it's about him performing."
Verbruggen is contracted with Brighton until June 2028. He has made 97 appearances for Albion and kept 22 clean sheets. He has a guide price of £50m.
Continue Reading