Why James Chester would be a good signing for Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton and Hove Albion have retained their spot in the Premier League and the club must aim to do better next season. It wasn’t the most joyous of returns but the Seagulls certainly had a lot of positives. Chris Hughton has done an exceptional job with the squad.
Despite being touted early relegation favourites, Brighton stayed afloat and now, the team should focus on securing a higher finish. In order to do so, Hughton must bolster his forces in certain areas.
The Seagulls conceded a ton of goals last season, meaning the defence is an area the manager should strengthen this summer. Brighton are reportedly interested in signing Aston Villa centre-back, James Chester. The 29-year-old narrowly missed out on making it to the Premier League with Aston Villa and he could be interested in a move.
Villa currently have problems of their own, as they must offload a few players to comply with Financial Fair Play rules. And selling Chester would certainly help them in that regard.
The defender has tons of experience playing in the Premier League. He represented Hull City as well as West Bromwich Albion for a number of years. Chester made a total of 49 appearances in the Championship last season, scoring 4 goals and providing 1 assist in the process.
In fact, he was a commanding presence for the Villans at the back. Alongside John Terry, Chester gained valuable experience and leadership skills, making him a great candidate for Brighton. The centre-back averaged 7.7 clearances and 1.4 tackles per game last season. He rarely makes any mistakes on the ball, and is often calm and composed on the field.
Brighton centre-back Lewis Dunk equalled an unwanted Premier League record last season. He scored 4 own goals in the top-flight, making it evident that Hughton must invest in a new central defender pronto.
Hence, a deal for Chester would certainly be an interesting prospect for the Seagulls. The experienced defender would add strength and stability to their defence.
Hughton should try and convince the player to join Brighton with the promise of playing in the Premier League. Furthermore, at 29 years of age, Chester must compete at the highest level before bowing out.
