Loanee Watch: Brighton and Hove Albion

I have looked at players who have spent a year away from Arsenal and Aston Villa, which you can check here. Now let’s have a look at some players who left Brighton in search of experience and game time.

Brighton had quite a few players on loan, as Graham Potter looked to give some players more game time, as Brighton finished 16th and they may look to one of these players for extra help next season.

Here is a look at three players who left the Amex on loan this season.

Bernardo – Red Bull Salzburg

The Brazilian moved to the Austrian club in the winter transfer window after only making three Premier League appearances for the Seagulls in the first half of the season.

Since joining Red Bull, Bernardo has made 14 appearances, only missing the others through injury. In those 14 games, he scored one goal, but also picked up 3 yellow cards.

He has played in a few positions since his loan move which include left back, center back and defensive midfield, and at Brighton, he played a few games at left midfield this season.

Brighton didn’t really have a regular left back playing this season, with Bernardo and highly rated Michal Karbownik also being on loan at Legia Warszawa.

Potter has tried both a three back with wing backs and a back four this season, and has mixed between the two a lot. When he used a back four, it’s normally Dan Burn who takes up the left back position.

Bernardo’s future at Brighton will most likely be down to if Potter feels a back four is more useful to him than a three back, as well as if he feels that Bernardo can out perform Karbownik next season.

However, an important attribute that Bernardo possesses is versatility. With him being able to play in multiple positions, both attacking and defensive, he might play his role for Brighton next season, whether that’s a starter or squad player.

Leo Ostigard – Coventry City

The Norwegian center back is expected to have a bright future and he spent a season at Championship club Coventry City.

Coventry were promoted from League One the season before, and would have to work hard to stay in the league, but Coventry finished the season in 16th, 12 points above the relegation.

Ostigard joined the Sky Blues in the summer transfer window, where he made 39 appearance. In the 39 games, he scored three goals and had two assists, but also picked up 10 yellow cards.

He also helped his team get 11 clean sheets in the appearances he made for Coventry.

A problem the 21-year-old could face is the amount of competition there is for his position at Brighton.

Brighton have Lewis Dunk, Ben White, Adam Webster and Dan Burn already in the squad, with Shane Duffy also returning from his loan spell at Celtic.

Ostigard had an average season in the Championship, with many of the Brighton fans likely to compare his spell to Ben White’s season at Leeds, which White outshines the Norwegian.

However, the defender still has plenty of time to grow into the player which people know he can become, and Potter will likely look for another loan next season to help him grow.

Tudor Baluta – Dynamo Kyiv

The 22-year-old signing for Brighton in 2019 from Romanian club FC Viitorul for a fee around £2.6 million.

Since arriving in England, Baluta has had many loans spells away from the Amex Stadium, including a loan back to Viitorul and to Dutch club ADO Den Haag.

In October, he joined the Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv, however, things haven’t really gone in Baluta’s favour.

He has missed games through Coronavirus and injury and only played for 9 minutes at Dynamo Kyiv this season.

It’s doubtful that Batula will be playing for Brighton this season, after so little playing time at Kyiv, and Potter will be looking for another loan move for the Romanian.

Potter will have to find a better loan move for him, as neither of the last two have been good to help the midfielder reach his potential, after only making 4 league appearances during his time in Holland.

Other Loans

Brighton had a number of loans this season, in a number of leagues. Matthew Ryan joined Arsenal on loan, Jurgen Locadia went to Cincinnati and Matt Clarke went to Derby.

A lot of these players will be looked at over the summer, but I think the decision that Potter will make with most of these players is either sending them back on loan, or selling them to boost their funds for other players.

Potter will want to see progress next season, and will be hoping to see his side further up the table. With that success, new faces will have to arrive at the Amex.

Potter has a big summer ahead of him, making sure more players grow through loans, who can help the team and sealing transfers which can help the team get a greater finish next season.

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