All the latest transfer news and gossip for Brighton and Hove Albion and across the Premier League
Chelsea are preparing to pick Brighton’s pocket once again.
This time they are trying to prise away their veteran striker Danny Welbeck as Xabi Alonso looks to add much needed experience to his youthful squad.
Welbeck, 35, has been excellent for Brighton since his free transfer arrival in 2020 after an injury-hit spell at Watford.
The former Manchester United and Arsenal man netted a career high 13 times in the Premier League for Brighton last term and has been Albion’s best and most reliable striker for some time now.
Welbeck is more than that though. He is an absolute leader in the Brighton dressing room and the perfect influence on Brighton’s array of talented youngsters who jet in from all across the globe.
To have someone like Welbeck in the squad for these young players to relate to and respect has been priceless for Brighton and a key reason why Chelsea’s new boss Xabi Alonso wants him at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea copy Brighton
Todd Boehly has plundered Brighton on numerous occasionsplaceholder image
Todd Boehly has plundered Brighton on numerous occasions | Getty Images
It’s now secret that Todd Boehly’s Chelsea have tried to copy Brighton’s style for sometime now. More than £300m has gone from west London to the south coast in recent seasons as numerous players, managers, coaches and backroom staff have all made the move.
It has though suited Brighton too. The £300m has been reinvested back into the squad and kept them competitive in the Premier League. It has also covered the cost of the Amex Stadium, the Lancing training ground and probably the new women’s stadium too, which will be underway shortly.
Welbeck to Chelsea will sting
Danny Welbeck is wanted by Chelseaplaceholder image
Danny Welbeck is wanted by Chelsea | AFP via Getty Images
The Welbeck one will sting though. The striker is such a fan favourite and while some Brighton supporters put up with the Chelsea situation, seeing Welbeck leave will be tough to take. And for some it could tarnish Welbeck’s legacy. Man United? Fair enough, but Chelsea... please, anyone but Chelsea!
But there could be way out of this for Brighton and despite the exits of Marc Cucurella, Moises Caicedo, Robert Sanchez and Joao Pedro it does not have to be one-way traffic.
The Seagulls made a decent signing when they took Billy Gilmour on the cheap and they also enjoyed the talents of centre back Levi Colwill when he arrived on a season loan... so how about another Chelsea player this summer who could now be surplus to requirements?
Liam Delap to Brighton
Liam Delap struggled last season at Stamford Bridge but he has Premier League experience from his time at Ipswich and he also developed through the youth system at Manchester City.
Before his injury issues last term, he was being touted a potential England striker of the future. Delap is just 23-years-old and has plenty of time to develop and increase his transfer value further. And what better club to do that than Brighton?
Even a season loan could work well because if Welbeck leaves, Brighton will be short of attacking options. Georginio was poor last term and Charalampos Kostoulas is largely untested in the Premier League. Stefanos Tzimas (knee) and Evan Ferguson (ankle) are also both recovering from injuries and Ferguson’s Brighton future looks far from certain at this stage.
Brighton need a striker
The Seagulls have to juggle the demands of Conference League and Premier League next term and Delap could prove a very useful addition for both fronts.
He will be hungry and keen to get his career back up and running after a disappointing season at the Bridge.
Brighton chief Paul Barber recently said that Chelsea are Albion’s “best customers” perhaps, for a change, it can work both ways this summer.