Enock Mwepu in action for RB Salzburg. (imago Images)
The Daily Mail reports that Brighton and Hove Albion have completed the signing of RB Salzburg midfielder Enock Mwepu from RB Salzburg in a four-year deal. The Zambian international joins Graham Potter’s side in an £18million deal. He has 119 appearances for the Austrian side since he joined them from Leifering in 2018.
Brighton survived relegation last season comfortably but were still 16th in the table. While survival in English’s top-flight remains a goal for any team finishing in the bottom half of the table, the Seagulls wouldn’t mind cracking the top 10 next time around. Can Mwepu help them in that regard? Let’s find out.
Graham Potter’s Brighton don’t have a shortage of names in their squad, but midfield is one area where they needed to strengthen. Midfield Tudor Baluta’s place in Potter’s immediate plans remains in doubt as the Romanian has been loaned out thrice in his two-year-long stay at the Amex.
19-year-old Moises Caicedo was signed by the club this January in a much-hyped move. But the Colombian youngster is still very young and only managed to appear for the club’s reserve squad. Jakub Moder and Steven Alzate, both 22, have recently had a handful of starts for the team, but the main issue lies with their first-choice midfielders.
Yves Bissouma, 24, and Pascal Gross, 30, are undoubtedly the two names Potter trusts the most in midfield. But the long-term future of the duo is in doubt. The Mali international is linked to Liverpool or Arsenal in the summer, according to The Express, while Gross’ contract expires next summer.
They have also seen Davy Propper leave the Amex in order to join PSV Eindhoven, as per The Independent. The Dutchman failed to start regularly for them but his departure still left a hole in their midfield, something which will be filled by Mwepu. The 23-year-old, according to Potter, is a midfielder first.
“He’s primarily a central midfielder, although he is capable of playing in numerous positions, is open-minded, adaptable and very keen to learn and develop. He will add competition to our existing options in that area of the squad going into the new season.”
The manager said it best himself – he will provide good competition to other midfielders at Brighton. Moreover, the club can be a bit more relaxed about any other potential departures from the club in that position. Moreover, the versatility of the former Salzburg man makes him an exciting prospect.
He was widely used as a right-midfielder last season in Austria, a position where Brighton can also use some strengthening in. Right now, their natural option on the right-hand side of attack is Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
At 23, he is also at an age where he can develop and learn more to become a better player. All these aspects make Mwepu a class acquisition by the South-coast club.
