Sometimes the Premier League table does lie.
If you believe Brighton and Hove Albion really are the 16th worst team in England’s top flight you haven’t been paying attention. That or you’re a Crystal Palace supporter.
If you gave Brighton a Callum Wilson, Ollie Watkins or Danny Ings, Graham Potter’s side would be strutting their stuff in the cushy comforts of mid-table with six games remaining.
The XG table, which has Brighton in tenth, is perhaps a more accurate representation of the Seagulls’ season.
And there’s a reason why Brighton are barely out of the gossip columns these days. Their star players have plenty of admirers – and so they should.
Ben White, Yves Bissouma, Tariq Lamptey and Lewis Dunk have all been linked with major Premier League clubs in recent months.
Potter himself, meanwhile, has emerged as a potential successor to Jose Mourinho at Tottenham Hotspur – much to the concern of Spurs’ rival supporters, many of whom appear to agree with Pep Guardiola’s assessment of the former Swansea City and Ostersunds boss.
With Brendan Rodgers and Marcelino Garcia Toral removing their name from the frame and with Julian Nagelsmann Bayern-bound, the prospect of Potter bringing his unique brand of pretty passing football to north London appears to be growing exponentially (Daily Mail).
And Brighton fans won’t thank us for reminding them that, when a manager joins a new club, he rarely goes there alone. Bissouma, Dunk and the £50 million-rated White (Sky) have all been linked with moves to Tottenham in the recent past.
The much-coveted Lamptey, meanwhile, would be a major upgrade on the unpopular Serge Aurier and Matt Doherty if he continues to build on the huge progress he showed in the early weeks of the season.
White, however, is perhaps the Brighton man Tottenham need most. A versatile, ball-playing centre-half who hasn’t looked out of place at right-back or in defensive midfield, the former Leeds loanee has adapted to the Premier League impressively, albeit without the same fanfare that accompanied his stunning Elland Road spell.
Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United are also big admirers of the South Coast-born 23-year-old.
But, given one of Potter’s first tasks as Tottenham boss would be to shore up a defence that toiled under Jose Mourinho, don’t be surprised if this ends up being a traumatic month or so for Brighton fans.
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