Rafael Benitez continues to struggle for transfer funds at Newcastle United.
Brighton and Hove Albion completed another exciting signing on Tuesday evening, as they confirmed that Lille midfielder Yves Bissouma has joined the club for a potential club-record fee.
The Seagulls survived in the Premier League last season and now want to invest to build as a top-flight club, with Chris Hughton once again being trusted to guide the club forward.
Brighton’s summer signings have been hugely encouraging, and whilst many are claiming that West Ham United are having the best summer in the Premier League, the Seagulls do deserve more praise for their work.
Goalkeepers David Button and Jason Steele won’t set pulses racing and are merely cover for Mat Ryan, but other additions show that Brighton are prepared to back Hughton even more having signed Ryan, Davy Propper, Jose Izquierdo, Pascal Gross and Jurgen Locadia over the last year.
Left back Bernardo cost just £9million (BBC Sport) from RB Leipzig and is already a solid enough defender, but has huge potential at just 23, whilst Brighton have also pounced to land Romanian striker Florin Andone for only £5.25million, having activated a post-relegation release clause in his Deportivo La Coruna contract (The Sun), and Nigerian international defender Leon Balogun – who featured at the World Cup – has signed for free, giving a major boost to Hughton’s options.
The Mirror note that exciting box-to-box midfielder Bissouma may end up costing £17million, taking the club’s summer spending to more than £30million – and Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez will be looking at their business with envy.
Newcastle were promoted alongside Brighton in 2017, but Benitez has been limited to signing goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and midfielder Ki Sung-yueng for minimal outlay, whilst Kenedy has signed on loan from Chelsea, and sales are needed in order to afford new signings.
Former Magpies boss Hughton is being backed with a promising left back, an exciting midfielder destined for a huge future, and a striker who has hit 45 goals in the last four seasons, serving as a real bargain at £5.25million, which should have been in Newcastle’s budget.
Yet somehow, Newcastle may be left behind by Brighton, and Benitez would no doubt love to have £30million to spend on key new signings to boost his squad ahead of the new Premier League season.
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