Why Brighton should offload Alireza Jahanbakhsh

According to Voetbal International (h/t The Shields Gazette), Dutch giants PSV are interested in signing Iranian winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Jahanbakhsh signed for Brighton from Diutch outfit AZ Alkmaar for what was a then-club record £17m in 2018. The Iranian is primarily a winger and can operate on both flanks and has all the attributes required to develop into a fine attacker.

Just before the move to Brighton, the 26-year-old was on a goal scoring spree in Netherlands. In the 2017/18 campaign, the winger had scored 22 goals and provided 14 assists in 39 matches for AZ Alkmaar.

Should Brighton keep or sell him?

However, at Brighton things didn’t fall in place for the Iranian international. Jahanbakhsh hasn’t had a very successful time in the Premier League. He has managed only two goals in the two years he has been at the club.

Jahanbakhsh has made only eight Premier League appearances this season and has two more appearances in cup competitions. And although, he has scored two goals so far, he hasn’t been a part of the team’s playing XI since the Premier League returned. In fact, he has been named in the matchday squad just once in five games since the return of football in England.

This can be taken as an indicator that he is not seen as a long-term member in the squad. And hence, if any club comes knocking, Brighton should sell immediately offload the 44-time capped Iranian international.

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Verdict

Jahanbakhsh had been in excellent touch during his time in Netherlands prior to joining Brighton. He also has shown sense of calm and poise in front of goal while appearing for the Iranian national team. However, he has been unable to replicate that in the Premier League.

Considering that he has made it to the matchday squad only 17 times in 34 league games this term, and featured just eight times, it is clear that the player isn’t a part of manager Graham Potter’s plans In two years at the club, he hasn’t been able to make a significant impact in the Premier League. Hence, Brighton would be better off selling him should an offer come in.