Brighton chief lays down gauntlet to Prem vultures amid more transfer rumours
Brighton owner Tony Bloom is ready for the vultures to circle around the club’s next wave of talent - and does not mind a bit.
The Seagulls have become one of the shrewdest operators in the transfer market after selling Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister for a combined £150m-plus in the summer. Brighton have got two more sought after stars in teenage striker Evan Ferguson and Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma who are already attracting big-money interest.
But Bloom says they take it as a compliment that clubs admire their players and is also confident they have found top class replacements and are ready for their first ever season in Europe.
Bloom told Sky Sports : “I prefer to be in the situation where lots of clubs and lots of the media are talking about our players which means we’re doing something right as a club and those players are performing well on the pitch.
“So I would prefer to have that problem but now we’re at the end of the transfer window, that’s all gone and we’ve got a squad competing in all four competitions and that’s going to be hugely challenging.
Arsenal put foot in it with Caicedo transfer with summer move in jeopardy
“Every transfer window has it’s difficulties and situations. It was not unexpected that Alexis and Moises have left the club in the summer. Two exceptional players for the football club.
“We accepted the fact that they’re going and we’ve been planning for many months for possibilities and I’m really happy with the squad we’ve got at the moment.
Evan Ferguson and Kaoru Mitoma are the latest Brighton players linked with big money moves (Steve Bardens/Getty Images)“The Premier League is by far and away the best league in the world and we’re in Europe for the first time, the Europa League is a very good European competition and with Ajax, Marseille and Athens we know we’ve got our work cut out.”
Premier League rivals now look on with jealousy at Brighton’s transfer dealings but they have also seen Roberto De Zerbi make a huge impact after he came in midway through last season.
The Italian manager led Brighton into Europe for the first time and Bloom says De Zerbi has raised expectation levels throughout the whole club. Bloom added: “He has been pretty amazing.
Bloom also hailed the job Roberto De Zerbi has done since replacing Graham Potter last season (Getty Images)“His track record, when we looked into it in a lot of detail, was exceptionally good. But I didn't quite realise the impact he would have when he came in. He has been hugely influential for so many players.
“He is so good at improving them. The quality of the play and the risk taking at the right times to create opportunities for the players to create chances and his tactical abilities are superb.
“He pushes everyone to go as far as they can. We are very fortunate to have him at the club. We love having him here. Long may that continue.”
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