Brighton mix youth and experience to cover Van Hecke and refresh defence

Brighton had the Premier League’s third-best defence last season and have moved quickly after Jan Paul van Hecke’s £52m move to Tottenham. Fabian Hurzeler now has depth and rotation at centre-back.

An emphatic 4-0 win over Aston Villa showcased the refit, with 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic, a £46m July buy from Tottenham, debuting alongside captain Lewis Dunk on his 300th Premier League appearance. Olivier Boscagli covered at left-back for Ferdi Kadioglu. “Oli had a really good pre-season,” Hurzeler said. He told The Athletic after the victory over Villa. “Left-back is not his favourite position, but he was sharp and he was there for his team-mates.”

Pascal Struijk and Michael Svoboda were on the bench, underlining the options now available.

Vuskovic, who never played competitively for Tottenham, was praised for personality and mentality, though Hurzeler said he must find better solutions in moments, with Dunk an obvious guide.

Promise David has joined on loan with an obligation to buy from Union Saint-Gilloise and was an unused substitute against Villa after Danny Welbeck left for Chelsea. Attention turns to midfield, with Carlos Baleba about to complete a £70m move to Manchester United, and possibly the right wing if Liverpool raise rejected £50m and £60m bids for Yankuba Minteh.

Hurzeler’s rotation will be tested by Thursday’s Tromso second leg at the Amex and Sunday’s trip to Chelsea. If Brighton progress to Friday’s Conference League group phase draw in Monaco, six extra matches would follow between October and December.

Source: NY Times

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