Hurzeler Unfazed by Potential Brighton Player Departures

Hurzeler Confident Brighton Can Compete Despite Transfer Links

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler insists he does not fear losing star players to bigger clubs, despite fresh transfer speculation surrounding Carlos Baleba.

The 21-year-old Cameroon midfielder has been linked with a move to Manchester United, but Hurzeler says the Seagulls’ recruitment model and strong team chemistry ensure they remain competitive.

“No chance. I don’t feel fear,” Hurzeler told the BBC’s Monday Night Club.

“We can’t spend like the big teams, but one of our biggest values is togetherness. If we stay united, push our limits and raise our boundaries, I’m sure we can compete with the best.”

Brighton’s Proven Model

The south-coast club’s strategy of signing young talent, developing them, and selling at the right time has paid off in recent years.

• Joao Pedro joined Chelsea this summer for £60m.

• Moises Caicedo moved to Chelsea in 2023 for a British record £115m.

• Alexis Mac Allister left for Liverpool in 2023.

Despite these exits, Brighton finished eighth in Hurzeler’s first Premier League season in charge and went unbeaten in pre-season, ending with a 2-1 win over Wolfsburg.

New signing Maxim de Cuyper, a £17.5m Belgian defender, scored his first goal in that match.

Baleba Injury and Future

Baleba missed the Wolfsburg friendly as he recovers from a knee injury but is expected to be fit for Saturday’s Premier League opener against Fulham.

Brighton chairman Paul Barber told fans he hopes Baleba stays “for years to come” but admitted no promises can be made, given the club’s model and market interest.

Squad Resilience Key

Hurzeler avoided commenting directly on Baleba’s situation but stressed that Brighton’s success comes from replacing quality through collective strength, not individual signings.

“We can’t replace Joao Pedro with one player, but we can replace him as a team,” he said.

“We’re not only a selling club. We’ve rejected big offers for players like [Kaoru] Mitoma. With our togetherness and chemistry, we can compete with teams who might be individually stronger.”

Brighton host Fulham in their Premier League opener at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, 15:00 BST.