Brighton & Hove Albion have signed Brentford striker Neal Maupay, according to a report on BBC.
Maupay was in a sublime form in the Championship last season and talkSPORT had claimed that the Seagulls were close to signing him for £20million.
Speculation regarding the striker’s future at the Griffin Park had gathered momentum after he was left out of Brentford’s squad for Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Birmingham City.
Brighton narrowly managed to escape from the clutches of the relegation zone last term as merely a couple of points separated them from getting evicted from the top flight.
With Graham Potter at the helm, the Seagulls have already broken their transfer record twice, having signed Leandro Trossard for £18million and Adam Webster for £19.71million.
And with Maupay’s signing for the reported fee of £20million, it is the third time they have done it.
Having proven his calibre in the Championship, a move to the top flight seemed like the natural progression for the player and his addition will considerably strengthen the attack of Albion.
PROS and CONS of signing Neal Maupay
Maupay is undoubtedly a lethal forward and his clinical goal-scoring prowess is his strongest suit. He plundered 25 goals in 43 Championship appearances last season, which is why his stocks were highly rated this summer.
With decent pace to burn, coupled with his excellent dribbling skills, the attacker can cause a lot of damage to the opposition backline. He is a poacher inside the box and also loves to take a shot at goal from a distance.
Besides, he sets up chances for his teammates on a regular basis and had mustered 8 assists in the league last season. He holds the ball well in the final third and is aware of the options available to him in the final third.
The Frenchman is versatile enough to operate as a striker, winger or as a central attacking midfielder, which could be handy for Potter’s camp in the upcoming season.
However, Maupay is still a player in the learning years of his career and is not a finished article. The 22-year-old lacks a strong or daunting physical presence and might struggle to adapt to the demanding nature of the Premier League.
He will need a settling-in period and has to be managed well by the support staff. He tends to lose his cool at times and has been involved in contentious decisions with regard to his tendency to go down easily. All of this needs to be factored in by Potter as he aims to make full use of the potential the Frenchman will bring to the side.
