Tony Bloom sent transfer message as Brighton problem position revealed.
Albion have been instructed to sign a creative central midfielder as a priority this summer.
That is according to former Albion defender Adam Virgo, who believes Fabian Hurzeler’s side lacks an inventive spark in the middle of the park. Last season, Albion scored 66 Premier League goals, with midfielders accounting for 15 of those.
Jack Hinshelwood, who typically played full-back, scored five goals, Carlos Baleba added three, while Yasin Ayari and Matt O’Riley each scored twice. If Sussex hopes to improve on their eighth-place finish in 2024/25, Virgo believes a goalscoring midfielder is essential.
When asked where Albion needed to improve the most, he told The Argus: “Maybe just a little more creativity in that central midfield area, and maybe a player who can give a few more goals there.
“Matt O’Riley may be the answer but it seems the club are listening to offers for him.” Indeed, if O’Riley is the solution, he will have to work his way into Hurzeler’s plans for next season after struggling for playing time last season.
The Danish international scored 19 goals in his final full season at Celtic, but he fell short of that total in 23 appearances last season.
In fact, despite Albion’s great transfer successes in recent years, Virgo, who spent two seasons with the club between 2000-05 and 2008-10, believes they have had less success signing strikers.
The ex-Celtic man believes that aside from Joao Pedro and Danny Welbeck, there hasn’t been much to write home about in terms of forward acquisitions.
“Out of all the players that Brighton have signed in this regime of how they scout players, probably the one area they haven’t quite hit it right is in the centre-forward position,” said the coach. “Looking at Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Florin Andone, and Jurgen Locadia, it hasn’t exactly worked. I still believe Danny Welbeck is crucial to the team.”
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