How are Albion looking and what do they need as transfer window opens?

Brighton and Hove Albion FC Football Sport

Albion had 24 different starters in Premier League games last season.

That includes Stefanos Tzimas, whose only game in the XI was cut short by a serious knee injury, and Harry Howell’s surprise one-off inclusion against Crystal Palace.

It includes Matt O’Riley in the fist two games of the season.

But it does not include those who only came off the bench, such as Tommy Watson, Solly March and the fleeting Joe Knight and Miah Oriola.

So pretty much 21 different starting players in the league campaign.

By contrast, there were 29 different starters in their only European season, back in 2023-24.

Does that underline the extra demand of Thursday-Sunday football which will again be relevant in the coming campaign?

The fact they had 28 starters in 2024-25 maybe says no. But a closer look shows three of those – James Milner, Jason Steele and Billy Gilmour – only made starts in the first three games.

So, from game four onwards, they had 25 different names in their XI, which includes March’s lone start against West Ham late in the campaign and just two outings each for Julio Enciso and Evan Ferguson.

The figure for a Conference League season could increase again, although different head coaches have different methods.

Touch wood, Albion seem to keep their players fitter and on the field to greater effect these days.

So how are things looking as the summer window opens?

One of the hot topics of the summer and one which could develop depending on Bart Verbruggen’s performances at the World Cup (although there is an old adage about not buying players based on a tournament) and how much Coventry want Carl Rushworth.

The expectation for James Beadle might be another loan deal or maybe even a permanent.

And the idea that Fabian Hurzeler has goalkeepers he admires elsewhere cannot be dismissed.

One other thing to bear in mind. With Verbruggen and Jason Steele both at the World Cup, when will they return and be ready for pre-season and to play matches?

Another area of big interest with Spurs wanting Jan Paul van Hecke (apparently the feeling is mutual) and Albion after Niko Vuskovic (likewise) to add to their known interest in Charlie Cresswell.

It feels like Diego Coppola is a player who can be very useful for them in the coming season and one expects right-back Costinha to arrive from Olympiacos.

Jan Paul van Hecke is expected to move on (Image: Liz Finlayson)

Right-back has been a discussion point for some time but the position is not what it used to be and it will be interesting to see whether Hurzeler continues with Mats Wieffer in a version of that role.

Adam Webster has left the club and Igor Julio is expected to follow while Benfica are currently eyeing Olivier Boscagli, who does not feel like one they should be letting go.

There is a vacancy in the Albion side to play the role James Milner did at his best last season – but not often enough.

The transfer talk about Carlos Baleba is quieter this year, although the fact he spoke to Manchester United players has been seized upon. The job could be his if he really wants it.

It does not feel like Malick Yalcouye did enough on loan at Swansea to be demanding a place in or around the Prem XI but he has good experience of European football.

O’Riley is another who knows the European scene but evidence suggests he is not one at the forefront of Hurzeler’s plans. For whatever reason, he will be linked with a few clubs this summer.

Not an area where Albion seemingly need to buy but rather need to sort out the options they have.

There have already been suggestions of Facundo Buonanotte and Brajan Gruda returning to their homelands.

Of the two, Gruda would appear to have more chance of featuring for Hurzeler.

Howell operated as No.10 for the successful under-21s and will be looking for a breakthrough year.

Georginio Rutter is looking to bounce back from an in-and-out season and this also feels like a role where Charalampos Kostoulas is happier.

‘Babis’ has had his settling-in season and, just as importantly, his settling-in pre-season where he largely worked apart from the main group, playing catch-up physically.

Charalampos Kostoulas could benefit from a full and intense pre-season (Image: Liz Finlayson)

So this could be a big summer for him even before the fixtures begin.

There is plenty to ponder in a position Jack Hinshelwood made his own.

How quickly and effectively will Kaoru Mitoma return from his hamstring injury?

What part does Zadok Yohanna play? How do the club assess Tommy Watson’s progress?

What next for League One star Amario Cozier-Duberry?

Albion will continue to be linked with wingers such as Saed El Mala at Cologne and Hoffenheim’s Ivorian flyer Bazumana Toure.

And Diego Gomez has generally played a wide-of-centre position.

Can Danny Welbeck keep going, keep getting fitter and stronger and keep scoring goals?

The Mick McCarthy TikTok clip springs to mind - he can! But not forever.

Tzimas, like Mitoma, will be coming off an injury absence and, if fit, will, like Kostoulas, go into his first full Hurzeler pre-season with the main group.

Rutter and Kostoulas at No.9 or false nine sort of works and, if we look across the full nine months, there will still be Evan Ferguson on board at some stage.

The suggestion from fans will be that Albion need another centre-forward but isn’t that always the case?

And not just fans. Even in a piece on the Premier League's own website, writer Alex Heble told us: "Brighton underperformed their xG by 5.90 goals, the fourth-most in the division. Ruthlessness is, once again, all they are missing."

Yes, even the Prem's own website is suggesting Albion sign a striker.