Brighton & Hove Albion

Saffie Yates
BBC Sport journalist

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Hurzeler feels "ready" for the new season: "The main thing is self-belief, focusing on our ability and quality."

• He is "very happy" with Brighton's transfer window "Most players are fit. If the transfer window [were to] close tomorrow, I would be happy."

• On new signing 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas: "We need to be patient. Just because we spent £30 million doesn't mean he'll start immediately."

• The Greek striker "needs time to adapt to the intensity" so may not be involved against Fulham.

• On the future of in-demand midfielder Carlos Baleba: "I'm very, very confident he will be a Brighton player. He seems to be in a good place and enjoying it with his team-mates. He's an option to start."

• He praised 39-year-old midfielder James Milner, who extended his stay at Brighton in the summer : "It's incredible how hard he works, how ready he seems to be, how ambitious he is. You can still feel his desire and hunger to achieve something."

• On injuries in his squad: "It's a big change from last season. Only Adam Webster and Solly March are long-term injuries. All other players are available."

• He is not concerned about how to fill in for Joao Pedro, who scored 30 goals in 70 games for Brighton before joining Chelsea in the summer: "We can't replace him one to one, but we can replace him as a group. We have many players who can score goals."

• On team strategy: "We can't challenge other teams with financial resources, but we can challenge them with togetherness, work ethic, playing intensely, and being fearless."

• On whether it feels different going into his second season: "Everything feels a bit more familiar, but the Premier League is still the best league in the world with many challenges we have to face."

• He says Fulham will be "a big challenge" for Brighton: "They are a very mature team. Their biggest strength is their compactness. They do everything together and are very well-organised."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked three Brighton players who will be worth watching out for in the next few months.

Diego Coppola

Age: 21 Position: Centre-back Country: Italy

James Fielden: I saw Coppola play twice at the European Under-21 Championship in the summer, and it was against Spain and Germany, so good games to judge him against top teams.

Brighton had clearly done their homework previous to the Euros, with the deal announced mid-competition, and you can see why they're ready to drop him into their evolving backline.

Strong and commanding in the middle, Coppola was also keen to play out over short and long distances, and that, along with other metrics, clearly impressed the Seagulls.

Harry Howell

Age: 17 Position: Midfield Country: England

Guy Mowbray: I must confess to never having seen him play... but he's a name that's been mentioned to me by quite a few people this summer - some of whom I consider to be VERY good judges!

As was once said about another teenager, external, who made his mark on the Premier League - "remember the name".

Jonathan Pearce: Brighton fans will be praying that Carlos Baleba stays put and that Yankuba Minteh continues his dramatic improvement. But there's another youngster ready to leap off the Amex talent conveyor belt.

I was mightily impressed by Howell's cameo debut in the penultimate game of last season. He helped win the game with his front-foot, fearless, direct running at the opposition.

His cousin Jack Hinshelwood had a big breakthrough season last time around - 2025-26 could be the year for Harry.

Charalampos Kostoulas

Age: 18 Position: Forward Country: Greece

Mark Scott: Brighton's track history of buying low and selling high is the envy of city traders, but their £30m outlay on Charalampos Kostoulas is the second most they've ever spent on a player.

The Seagulls rarely get it wrong, though and haven't blinked at splashing that much on an 18-year-old with just a season of senior football behind him.

He's shown versatility, having impressed as a number nine at academy level, before switching successfully to a second striker role once he made the first team at Olympiakos.

His physicality has also caught the eye, with one of his former coaches saying the strength he has for his age is "extraordinary". Maybe he'll turn out to be yet another Brighton bargain.

Read the full piece

Borussia Dortmund have joined Bayer Leverkusen in showing an interest in taking Brighton and Argentina winger Facundo Buonanotte, 20, on loan this season. (Mail, external)

Meanwhile, Manchester United are lining up a £50m deal for Sporting and Denmark midfielder Morten Hjulmand, 26, if they miss out on Brighton's 21-year-old Cameroon international Carlos Baleba. (Sun, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has offered up his annual predictions:

11) Brighton

Last season: Eighth

This superbly run club continue to be a presence in the upper reaches of the Premier League, although the loss of Joao Pedro to Chelsea will leave a big hole.

Fabian Hurzeler enjoyed a very good first season at the Amex, and Brighton have been working the markets in their usual fashion, with smart acquisitions of young, developing players.

Lots of eyes will be on 18-year-old Charalampos Kostoulas - the highly rated Greek striker signed from Olympiakos - while 21-year-old Italy defender Diego Coppola - signed from Hellas Verona - looks a typically smart Brighton signing.

Brighton are always pleasing on the eye and will not take a backwards step under Hurzeler. Another decent season awaits.

Read the full piece

Brighton will demand more than £100m for Carlos Baleba after Manchester United expressed an interest in the 21-year-old Cameroon midfielder. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup has been made.

The EFL Cup remains regionalised in the early rounds, with the draw split into Northern and Southern sections until round three.

Here are the ties involving Premier League clubs:

Northern section

Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United

Burnley v Derby County

Everton v Mansfield Town

Grimsby Town v Manchester United

Sunderland v Huddersfield Town

Southern section

Bournemouth v Brentford

Fulham v Bristol City

Oxford United v Brighton

Wolves v West Ham United

The 23 second-round ties will take place during the week beginning 25 August.

See the full draw over here

Have you got a question about Brighton or is there a topic you want more information on? Have you spotted an Albion theme or trend that needs further investigation?

Well, this season we're making it easier for you to get in touch and ask - and we will do our best to use our expertise here at BBC Sport to give you direct answers.

Our team can call upon a network of contacts - including our reporters, pundits and other experts - to find out everything you need to know.

No question is too big or too small, so fire away using the link below and we will answer the best of them throughout the campaign.

Ask about Brighton here

And find out more about BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything service here

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Former Brighton striker Warren Aspinall believes Danny Welbeck should start their opening Premier League game.

Albion face Fulham at home on the first day and Aspinall believes last season's top scorer Welbeck simply has to start up front alongside Georginio Rutter.

"I think it will be Welbeck and Rutter up top on Saturday, and I hope it is," he told BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast. "We haven't got anyone to stretch teams, and Welbeck's movement is excellent.

"Welbeck creates space - just his movement catches the eye of the centre-half. They have an eye on him, and if it's Matt O'Riley or Rutter playing in there, they can then get on the ball.

"O'Riley couldn't get on the ball in the first half against Wolfsburg - it was the same against Southampton while what Rutter was doing was coming towards the ball and cramping everything up.

"You have two midfielders wanting the ball in Diego Gomez and Yasin Ayari, and they were getting in each other's way."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Bayer Leverkusen are the latest side to express an interest in Brighton's Facundo Buonanotte, with the Seagulls willing to sell the winger for about £39m. (Kicker - in German), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

The latest episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited has dropped on BBC Sounds.

The team preview the upcoming Premier League season, and also chat to Brighton captain Lewis Dunk.

Listen to the full episode here

Scott McCarthy
Fan writer

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Brighton were so wildly inconsistent through the 2024-25 season that it is hard to know what to expect coming into the new campaign.

Play like they did in the final five matches or when winning six in a row through February and March and it could be Champions League qualification.

Repeat the dismal form of early 2025 that culminated in the 7-0 shambles at the City Ground or the terrible run of April results and it will be a bottom-half finish and lots of that dreaded word, frustration.

People at the club are openly talking about the top five. Tony Bloom has publicly stated it was disappointing to miss out on Europe. That tells you what the club is aiming for.

Whether that is achievable will depend on a couple of things. That (still) the youngest manager in the Premier League and his relatively youthful squad have learned lessons from last season, becoming better for the experience of moments like that shipping of seven goals against Nottingham Forest.

Brighton must also try to keep this group of players together unless someone offers an insane amount of money.

Carlos Baleba to Manchester United is the obvious example given recent rumours but holding on to the likes of Kaoru Mitoma, Jan Paul van Hecke and Bart Verbruggen between now and September will be equally important.

My hope is that the 'transition' season 2024-25 was billed as pays off and that in 12 months time, Albion fans are informing loved ones there will be no summer vacation because money and holiday leave needs to be saved for another Brighton European adventure.

My fear is that all the 'transitioning' done during the previous campaign ends up actually benefiting United and others when they snare more stars from the Albion, rather than helping push Brighton back into the top eight.

Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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I am not getting the impression Brighton's stance on midfielder Carlos Baleba is weakening.

Manchester United are prioritising their midfield now they have strengthened their striking ranks, which suggests no immediate move for Paris St-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has been left out of the squad for Wednesday's Super Cup final against Tottenham and seems certain to leave the French club.

Brighton have been keen to stress they have no desire to or interest in selling Baleba, who has made 77 appearances for Albion since arriving from Lille for £23.2m in 2023 and has a contract that runs to 2028. They are sticking to their mantra.

Whether the 21-year-old accepts that fact is another matter.

United believe their signing of striker Benjamin Sesko was done on favourable terms, which felt like an indication they could do more business before the transfer window closes on 1 September.

However, they do need to sell players.

Pre-season has changed over the years as more clubs are travelling around the world to play friendlies on international soil in front of large capacity crowds.

But Brighton's approach this summer is a stark contrast as six of their eight friendlies have been behind closed doors.

"I use pre-season to build team chemistry and the social bond between them, which is hard to do if you know you are always being observed by the media and supporters," boss Fabian Hurzeler told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"When you have new players coming in, you need to integrate them in a trusting environment. That is what I want to give to my players.

"There are no secrets behind the things we are doing.

"I just think you can build the team chemistry better behind closed doors as players can behave more in their natural way if they know there is nothing they get picked up on by the media or others."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your views on whether Brighton are ready for the new season after the Seagulls ended their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over Bundesliga side Wolfsburg at Amex Stadium.

Here are some of your comments:

Fran: Was at the Wolfsburg game and we looked good. I still think we are a little too slow in our build-up play. Wolfsburg did not press and we then just played it around hoping they would come at us, which of course they didn't. Teams will do this next season so we need to be quicker in our play. Still think we need another centre forward to cover Welbeck. It was a shame we didn't get to see our new forwards in action, even a small run out would have been nice. Still, plenty to look forward to. Can't wait.

Alfie: I think my club, Brighton, are ready for this season. In many previous seasons, we have seen many players leave (thank you Chelsea) and us get better. They already have replacements for the players who have left and this season is no different with someone like Georginio replacing Joao Pedro! The only exception this season is the left-back position where we signed Maxim De Cuyper to replace Estupinan! Brighton will be absolutely fine this season!

Chris: Offensively looking strong, inventive and full of goals. Defensively, looking weak, out of position, and leaky. There could be some very high scoring games to come.

Matthew: The summer business has been good and Albion are again laying strong foundations for the future. Maxim De Cuyper looks a ready made replacement for Estupinan and we have good strength in depth in most areas of the pitch, except perhaps at left-back. I hope Baleba stays another year and helps push us into Europe again. Who knows, maybe even the Champions League if others struggle to cope with the demands of European football.

Mike: For me the team look almost ready but I still have defensive concerns. Attacking-wise things look tasty but a back three? Large gaps appeared in all friendly games and Premier League sides will exploit this. Another rollercoaster season ahead.

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Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler says his team's improvement is an "ongoing process" but their final pre-season test was "very positive".

The Seagulls rounded off their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over Wolfsburg at the Amex Stadium on Saturday after a 2-0 win over the same opponents in a behind-closed-doors friendly earlier in the day.

"Both teams played very intense," Hurzeler told BBC Radio Sussex.

"We have to improve but overall very positive. No injuries so far from what I've heard and now we can prepare for Fulham.

"We shouldn't emphasise in an artificial way this week before the start [of the season]. It's an ongoing process - you always have to develop and always have to improve.

"That's what we did last season and that is what we'll do this season.

"We were improving in pre-season, we will improve this week.

"We will focus on ourselves, try and be better in the details, try and be sharp for Fulham, and then its an ongoing process to develop as a group and as individual players."

Summer signing Maxim de Cuyper scored Brighton's second goal at the Amex on Saturday and has caught his manager's eye with his impact since his £17.5m move from Club Brugge.

"I'm impressed because he integrated as a person quite quick and that is something I don't often see in the football business," Hurzeler added.

"He does in a very natural way and therefore you can see he immediately integrated with the team on the pitch by having good performances. I'm quite happy for him."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Pre-season is completed and the countdown to the 2025-26 season is on.

It's been a busy summer at Brighton with six arrivals and six departures.

The Seagulls start the season at home to Fulham on Saturday - but are they ready?

Get in touch

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Brighton finished pre-season with a 2-1 win over Bundesliga side Wolfsburg at Amex Stadium.

Georginio Rutter opened the scoring for the Seagulls in the first half before summer signing Maxim de Cuyper doubled their lead after the break.

Rogerio pulled one back for the visitors late on but Brighton hung on to finish pre-season unbeaten before the return of Premier League football next weekend.