Brighton & Hove Albion

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Brighton technical director David Weir is hoping further major tournament success for the club's players will help showcase them as a destination for young players.

The Seagulls have been outstanding in their recruitment over the past few years.

Alexis Mac Allister's World Cup win with Argentina provided a major boost in showing Brighton could be a pathway to success for players all over the world, some of whom might not have heard of the Premier League club.

Mac Allister might have moved on but Brighton could still find itself with a major tournament winner among their squad this summer.

England's Lewis Dunk and Germany's Pascal Gross might not be pivotal figures, but they could be part of a winning team, while 21-year-old Bart Verbruggen has become the Netherlands goalkeeper just 12 months after joining Brighton from Anderlecht for £16.3m.

"Identifying players is relatively easy," said Weir. "The hard part is bringing them to your club.

"What we can offer - and what we have shown - is that we are a club that gives young players opportunities. For the right players and agents, that is really important and really powerful.

"Alexis (Mac Allister) was a loan player, who took his time to adapt to the club, rapidly progressed and moved on. Simon Adingra won Afcon [Africa Cup of Nations].

"Hopefully, we will have a player who wins the Euros – but I won’t say which country. That would be a great message for everyone."

Brighton have swooped to take advantage of Liverpool's delay in sealing a deal for Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer. (De Telegraaf), external

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Chairman Tony Bloom has said new head coach Fabian Hurzeler "embraces" Brighton's approach to using data as a valuable tool to try to improve all aspects of the Premier League club.

"We think data is really important in all high-level sport, so it is important to have somebody as a head coach who understands that," Bloom told BBC Radio Sussex. "We can work with Fabian on all sorts of data to improve everything; whether it's recruitment, tactics or medical data to reduce the chance of player injuries.

"It's becoming more and more important, and it's great that Fabian embraces that."

Asked about Brighton's targets for next season, Bloom added: "Our long-term vision is to be a regular top-10 men's Premier League club and that remains.

"Each season is different, we absolutely enjoyed our time in Europe last season and our goal is to replicate [it] this season and for many years to come.

"It won't be easy. With the clubs coming up, I think it will be the strongest ever Premier League season. The Premier League is going from strength to strength.

"We have high ambitions, we don't have a ceiling and we're really looking forward to the season ahead."

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It is evidence of the way football has changed that there was no mention of hairdryers in Fabian Hurzeler's Brighton unveiling news conference on Tuesday.

The only temper he referenced was to do with the number of yellow cards he has picked up in Germany after accepting he had developed a reputation as a 'hot-head'.

Hurzeler prefers to get under the skin of his players, to learn what makes them tick, rather than screaming at them to improve performance.

"In my experience, when you really value the player and give him the feeling you really want to improve him, then he follows," he said.

"It is important to see the person behind the player. It is important you give him time, talk to him, listen to him and see where he wants to improve.

"All these things make it easy for me. I don’t have to be artificial. I can be authentic with them.

"On top of that, it is about giving the team a vision for where we want to go so that we have a clear orientation, we know our targets for what we want to achieve, so every day they bring high standards onto the pitch.

"It is a lot of hard work in the beginning but the main point is if you can build a culture, it is easy for me as a coach."

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Brighton have appointed Jonas Scheuermann as assistant head coach to new boss Fabian Hurzeler, as well as two other backroom staff.

Schueuermann joins from Bundesliga side Augsburg, where he has been assistant manager since 2017.

Marco Knoop, who worked with Hurzeler at previous club St Pauli, will come in as goalkeeping coach.

Meanwhile, Max Lesser, a former chief analyst at Dutch giants Ajax, has been recruited as tactical analyst.

The appointments are subject to work permits being approved.

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Brighton chairman Tony Bloom believes new head coach Fabian Hurzeler is "a great fit" for the Premier League club.

Hurzeler left St Pauli to succeed Roberto de Zerbi as Seagulls boss and, aged 31, he is the youngest full-time manager in Premier League history.

Bloom told BBC Radio Sussex: "We had a meeting for about three or four hours and the conversation flowed. We were really impressed about how mature Fabian was, the way he talked about football and he spoke like a very experienced head coach.

"Even though he's a fairly young head coach, he's got five and a half years' experience.

"We think it's a great fit for Brighton. Our fans, our players and the whole city should be very excited about this appointment."

Asked if Hurzeler's appointment could be viewed as a "gamble", Bloom added: "I wouldn't talk about it as a gamble at all.

"We look at everything. We put a lot of effort into any head coach appointment, as other clubs do. We think Fabian is the best fit for the football club - the least risk option of all the options we had."

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New Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler gave a fascinating insight into his man management ethos at his unveiling press conference on Wednesday.

At the age of 31, Hurzeler will become the youngest permanent Premier League manager - and is younger than a number of players in his squad.

Given he will be going up against some of the biggest name managers in the game - including Pep Guardiola - next season, I wondered if he ever experienced imposter syndrome, when individuals doubt themselves and feel they do not belong in the environment they are in.

This was his answer.

"It is so important to have a mixture between courage and humility," he said.

"Of course, deep inside, I have a conviction that, together with my team, we can do this.

"It is not a one-man show. We can achieve something big together as a team. There is a togetherness. I am completely convinced we as a team can do it."

Brighton are interested in Feyenoord's 24-year-old Netherlands midfielder Mats Wieffer and Rayo Vallecano's Romania full-back Andrei Ratiu, 26. (Athletic - subscription required, external)

If Borussia Dortmund fail in their attempts to sign Germany midfielder Pascal Gross, 33, from Brighton, they will make a move for Tottenham's 28-year-old Denmark midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. (Sky Sports Germany, external)

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Leeds United have rejected a £30m offer from Brighton for striker Georginio Rutter.

It is understood Albion made the bid for the 22-year-old Frenchman after signing winger Yankuba Minteh from fellow Premier League side Newcastle United for £30m on Monday.

They have also previously shown interest in Elland Road forward Crysencio Summerville.

Rutter has four years left on his contract with the Championship side after being signed from Hoffenheim in January 2023 in a club record deal which could rise to £35m.

He has scored eight goals in 64 appearances for Leeds.

Confident, composed and focused. Fabian Hurzeler may be 31, and the Premier League's youngest head coach, but he comes across as an old hand.

He never missed a beat in his first news conference and looked at home in front of the expectant media.

The German was keen to stress he has five years of experience, and although the headlines will quote him as "the grounded one" or "a friendly authority", there were also early clues about his personality.

There is no doubt he is passionate but a steely resolve seemed to lurk behind his youthful face.

The former St Pauli coach also showed a sense of humour which may endear him to the media more than his predecessor. His grasp of English is superior to Roberto de Zerbi, who was often misinterpreted by those not in the room with him.

As he conceded himself, Hurzeler will be judged by results, but flanked by one of the best owners and one of the most dextrous chief executives, he has a supportive team around him.

To achieve promotion with St Pauli on the budget he had was incredible - and a key reason for his appointment - but he knows he faces a very different challenge in the Premier League.

He has already spoken to some of his players and he wants "bravery" and "humility".

There is no doubt he has a good foundation on which to build, but his first home game is against Manchester United, sandwiched between tough trips to Arsenal and first up Everton.

Moulding his squad and imparting his own style will need to be quick but, based on his performance on Tuesday, he has all the attributes to be a success.

Listen to a BBC Radio Sussex interview with Hurzeler on BBC Sounds

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Fabian Hurzeler says he wants his Brighton side to play with "courage and intensity" and continue the style of former Seagulls boss Roberto de Zerbi.

"Brighton play football with a lot of courage and that's something I want to continue with my team," he told BBC Radio Sussex's Johnny Cantor. "That is part of Brighton.

"I am really looking forward to continuing that style.

"We want to play football with intensity and be a team that nobody wants to play against. It is also important to have a plan with and without the ball.

"The main part will be to play with courage and intensity. They are two values that will be important to us as Brighton's philosophy.

"The analytical and data-based approach to the game is something very special and when you look at the past achievements [of the club] it has been massive.

"I really like looking at and working with data, so it is an approach I like."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

New Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media for the first time since his appointment as Roberto de Zerbi's successor.

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• On becoming the youngest permanent head coach in Premier League history: "My age is a big topic. I am a young man but I am not a young coach. I call myself the friendly authority. Football is my passion. I try to convince my players using the power of ideas."

• On why he quit as a player at the age of 22: "I was honest with myself about being a player. I wouldn't get to the level of Brighton, for example. I thought why not start to become a coach."

• On joining Brighton: "I really like the DNA - it is a very analytical, data-based approach. I like the style, playing with courage. I know they have achieved big things. It is an honour to be part of it."

• More on working with the Albion squad: "I am really excited. We have young players with big potential, and older ones who have achieved a lot of things."

• On not copying De Zerbi: "Roberto de Zerbi had a huge impact on the whole football world. But I have my own philosophy. Roberto's team played with a lot of courage in ball possession, but you can't copy anyone."

• On German role models: "All the German coaches are role models for the young coaches. There are ideas from [Thomas] Tuchel on ball possession, [Jurgen] Klopp on intensity. It is a mixture. Against the ball and with the ball you have a plan. These coaches help the young coaches a lot. We hope to be like that one day."

Brighton, Brentford, Everton and Southampton are interested in Millwall's 18-year-old English midfielder Josh Stephenson. (Football Insider), external

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We asked for your views on Brighton signing Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle. The forward spent last season on loan at Feyenoord.

Here are some of your answers:

Daniel: A good long-term investment. Premier League is more difficult than Eredevisie so I don’t expect the same return from him as last season. I expect him to continuously and gradually improve yearly, score and create goals, and help us get back in Europe. If we want to compete for the top seven again this is the kind of money we need to spend on this kind of young talent.

Gez: I have a fear that we are paying too much, but we shall see.

Ali: He can be one of the best signings of the season. I've watched him play.

Glenn: Can't see why they are spending £30 million on a 19 year old when they have good academy players in the u21s.

Yankuba Minteh says Brighton's treatment of young players was key in him making the move from Newcastle.

The 19-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Dutch club Feyenoord, has signed a deal with the Seagulls until 2029.

“I'm feeling really happy about the move,” he said. “Feyenoord was a great experience for me. Everybody loved me, the coaching staff, players - it was like a family. But Brighton is a club which I have watched in the Premier League. It's a good club for young players and the way the young players have progressed here is important for me.

“I think it's a great thing to move to [another] Premier League club. Although I didn't play any games for Newcastle look where I am now! I have the chance at Brighton in the Premier League.”

Minteh contributed 10 goals and six assists on loan at Feyenoord in the 2023-24 season.

So what do you expect from him? Is this a good bit of business? Tell us here., external

Brighton have been left frustrated after Chelsea agreed a deal to sign 25-year-old midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City even though the player had undergone a medical with the Seagulls and a fee was agreed between the two clubs. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

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Leicester City midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has turned down the chance to move to Brighton.

The Seagulls had been keen to sign Dewsbury-Hall in a cash-plus-player swap deal involving Poland midfielder Jakub Moder.

However, it is understood that Chelsea have entered talks with the Foxes for the 25-year-old and since put in an initial offer that has been turned down.

Dewsbury-Hall remains open to either moving to Stamford Bridge or staying at this boyhood club.