Brighton Back Succession Plan as Hurzeler and Stars Draw Interest
Brighton are preparing for the attention that follows a strong start to the season, with the club’s hierarchy confident that its recruitment and succession planning can protect the project should leading players or staff attract interest.
The Seagulls sit third in the league after an emphatic sequence that included a 3-0 win over reigning champions Arsenal. They also reached the EFL Cup last 16 by narrowly overcoming Manchester United.
Quick facts
- Brighton are third in the league table.
- The club beat Arsenal 3-0 and progressed past Manchester United in the EFL Cup.
- They have scored a league-leading 16 goals.
- Brighton will compete for the Conference League alongside their domestic commitments.
- Maxim De Cuyper, Charalampos Kostoulas, Malick Yalcouye and Pascal Gross have been highlighted as key contributors.
Chief executive Paul Barber said the prospect of established European clubs pursuing Brighton personnel is an accepted consequence of performing well. He said the club has encountered that cycle repeatedly and has plans ready both within the squad and across the coaching structure.
“When players and coaches are succeeding, other clubs will notice them,” Barber said. “That is part of our model. We do not fear it because we have succession plans on and off the pitch.”
Brighton are also targeting a deep Conference League run. English clubs have won the competition in each of the past two seasons, with Chelsea lifting the trophy in 2025 and Crystal Palace following in 2026.
Barber stopped short of presenting silverware as an entitlement, despite the expectations attached to Premier League resources. He said the club’s staff are working towards a trophy but stressed that stronger finances and squads do not decide European ties.
“There is no divine right for us to win anything,” he said. “A Premier League club may have more resources and, arguably, better players, but results still have to be earned.”
When domestic action resumes after the international break, Brighton will look to maintain the attacking return that has produced 16 league goals. De Cuyper, Kostoulas and Yalcouye will be important to that effort, while Pascal Gross arrives after being named September Player of the Month.
The club’s planning will be tested by an increasingly crowded calendar, combining league matches, cup fixtures and European travel. The approach will face further scrutiny when the January transfer window opens and interest in Brighton’s in-form personnel is expected to grow.
