Dahoud, Milner and Baleba? How Brighton will replace Mac Allister or Caicedo this summer
Few could doubt that Brighton were undoubtedly been one of the most impressive teams in the Premier League last season and while Roberto De Zerbi’s squad is packed full of exciting, young talents, two in particular stood out as the real galvanising forces that propelled the Seagulls up to sixth place in English top-flight table: Alexis Mac Allister and Moisés Caicedo.
Signed for just €8 million and €5 million respectively, both central midfielders went from strength to strength at the English club and boasted a combined market value of no less than €97m at the end of last season. Indeed, their remarkable performances for Brighton in that campaign were not only evident through the manner in which their market values skyrocketed in the past 12 months (+€26m for Mac Allister and +€49m for Caicedo) but also by the growing list of clubs that were desperate to sign either player in the summer window.
Indeed, as is the nature of football, there's always a bigger club with deeper pockets. And Brighton have been forced to start the 23/24 season without either midfielder after Mac Allister joined Liverpool for €42m at the start of the summer window and Caicedo now set to depart for €133m to Chelsea towards the end of it. So how well prepared are Brighton to replace either star midfielder and do they perhaps already have a long-term replacement in mind? Let’s take a look.
Do Brighton already have a Mac Allister or Caicedo replacement?
While it seems certain that Brighton will turn to the transfer window after earning the best part of €200m for both midfielders, it’s worth taking a look at the club’s current first team squad to see if De Zerbi may turn to other players to step in for Mac Allister or Caicedo next season.
In Kacper Kozlowski, Steven Alzate and Yasin Ayari, Brighton do have three young talents that could play a more significant role in the future. Kozlowski, in particular, was signed from Pogon Szczecin for €11m in 2021 after impressing as an attacking, box-to-box midfielder in the style of Mac Allister and could be an impressive talent one he returns on loan next season. And in Alzate, Brighton have a Colombian talent that seems perfectly comfortable playing as a holding midfielder with the quick feet and passing to slot into Caicedo’s role. However, both players have offered mixed results on loan at Vitesse and Standard Liège and would need to make a significant step up to be starting in the Premier League for Brighton after the summer.
More likely candidates for the midfield roles can likely be found in Jakub Moder and Billy Gilmour. Moder, signed for €11m from Lech Poznan in 2020, certainly showed what he could do last season, before a serious injury ruled him out for much of this campaign. But fans will be eager to see him back playing a more attacking, box-to-box role for the club next season and potentially in place of Mac Allister. Similarly, De Zerbi begun starting Gilmour more and more in the second half of the season as a holding midfielder in his team, following his €8.3m move from Chelsea last summer. The young Scotland international is exceptionally technically gifted and has a good eye for breaking down opposing moves and launching counter attacks for his team. Which may put him in good stead as a long-term replacement for Caicedo next season.
Have they signed new replacements this summer?
Brighton definitely have a number of talented midfielders that could step up to the role of replacing Mac Allister or Caicedo but have also turned to the transfer window to help them bolster their midfield positions. James Milner joined the club from Liverpool on a free transfer and will likely fill in when needed, while former Borussia Dortmund star Mahmoud Dahoud has also joined the club as a likely starter for De Zerbi's side.
Elsewhere, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Brighton will turn to Lille central midfielder Carlos Baleba as a potential replacement for Caicedo. Reports suggest that the 19-year-old talent could cost as little as €16m but it remains to be seen whether the Premier League side can get a deal over the line before the transfer window comes to a close.
- Date of birth/Age:
- Dec 24, 1998 (25)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Liverpool FC
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2028
- Position:
- Central Midfield
- Market Value:
- €75.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Nov 2, 2001 (22)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Chelsea FC
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2031
- Position:
- Defensive Midfield
- Market Value:
- €75.00m
- Date of Birth/Age:
- 06.06.1979 (45)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Current Position:
- Manager
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2026
- In charge since:
- Sep 18, 2022
- Total Market Value:
- €511.75m
- Competition:
- Premier League
- Position:
- 11.
- Manager:
- Roberto De Zerbi
- Squad size:
- 35
- Latest Transfer:
- Valentín Barco