Brighton & Hove Albion are heading into the summer window with a clear issue in attack, and that context is now shaping their early moves in the market.
Danny Welbeck remains their leading scorer this season, with 13 goals across all competitions. However, at 35, he is not a long-term solution. Beyond him, the numbers from the team’s forwards drop sharply. Diego Gómez, Yasin Ayari, Jan Paul van Hecke and Brajan Gruda complete their goal scoring top five.
Stefanos Tzimas has just three goals. Charalampos Kostoulas has two. Both youngsters are still searching for consistency and regular minutes.
So that lack of reliable output has become increasingly visible. Brighton continue to create chances, but the conversion rate has not kept pace. As a result, the club are expected to prioritise a striker who can deliver immediately while still offering room for development.
And Žan Vipotnik fits that description almost perfectly.
The Swansea City forward has scored 21 goals in 40 Championship matches this season. He also has 23 goal involvements in total, averaging 0.76 per 90 minutes. His scoring rate stands at 0.69 goals per 90, placing him among the most efficient forwards in the league.
The underlying data reinforces that consistency. His non-penalty xG sits at 0.56 per 90, with a total of 17.04. That ranks him among the very top performers in the division. He has taken 84 shots, 35 on target, with a 41.67% accuracy rate, scoring once every four attempts.
In short, Brighton are looking for a reliable source of goals for the foreseeable future – and Vipotnik might be it.
Brighton make contact as race begins
Against that backdrop, reports from journalist Christian Vaquero state that Brighton have already made an enquiry to Swansea City regarding Žan Vipotnik.
As we have covered earlier, Portuguese side Benfica is onto him as well. Sporting CP are also said to have made contact.
The suggestion that the Slovenian “will take a step up” this summer aligns with what his numbers indicate. He is becoming one of the most attractive options in his market bracket.
For Brighton, the logic is clear. They need a forward who can bridge the gap between potential and output. Welbeck still contributes, but time is a factor. Meanwhile, younger attackers have yet to establish themselves at Premier League level.
What happens next
Žan Vipotnik’s situation is now moving into a more competitive phase. Interest from Portugal adds visibility, but Premier League clubs often hold an edge in these situations.
Brighton’s early enquiry suggests they are trying to move ahead of that curve. If they decide to follow up with a formal offer, they could quickly become one of the leading contenders.
We recently covered that he confirmed previous talks from other English sides, but none of them came to pass.
So much will depend on Swansea’s valuation and how the market develops. However, one thing is already clear – Brighton’s need is real, and Vipotnik’s profile fits it closely.