Brighton

Brighton

Premier League • England

Brighton battle West Ham for ideal Cucurella replacement, as Angelino linked with Prem return

Angelino after an RB Leipzig match

Angelino could become a replacement for Marc Cucurella at Brighton if they can beat off competition from West Ham, according to reports.

Brighton bought Cucurella last summer and benefited from his services throughout the 2021-22 season. Despite being a newcomer to the Premier League, he held his own and earned plenty of admirers.

Manchester City were working on a transfer amid their hunt for a natural left-back. However, it is now Chelsea who are closing in on a deal for the Spaniard instead.

Chelsea look more likely to meet Brighton’s high asking price for Cucurella. As such, the South Coast club could be bracing themselves for the loss of a key player.

If Cucurella does depart, they will need to find a new left-back to replace him. In that regard, Sky Sport reporter Florian Plettenburg has now revealed that Brighton are interested in Angelino.

Cucurella’s compatriot left Manchester City in 2020 to sign for RB Leipzig. After two seasons in the Bundesliga, though, he is now attracting Premier League interest again.

According to Plettenburg, Angelino has been identified by Brighton as a possible successor to Cucurella.

However, Brighton are not the only suitors for Angelino in England. He is also supposedly of interest to West Ham.

The Hammers have been looking for a new left wing-back. Their focus has been towards Germany too, since they have been eyeing Eintracht Frankfurt’s Filip Kostic. But perhaps Angelino is an alternative idea – and he would be more comfortable as a full-back.

Elsewhere, in the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim are hoping to pull off an ambitious loan deal. Whether those are the terms RB Leipzig would be considering or not is unclear.

The German side have Angelino under contract until 2025. He started 26 Bundesliga matches for them last season.

But they have recently signed fellow left-back David Raum from Hoffenheim (which would explain their own interest in taking Angelino in return).

Due to that addition, Angelino is no longer guaranteed a regular starting role with RB Leipzig. Therefore, the 25-year-old could be on the move.

All exit routes make sense for Angelino

If it comes down to a choice between Brighton, West Ham and Hoffenheim, there might not be much in it for Angelino.

West Ham are the only ones with European football on offer; they will have to navigate a play-off against either Viborg or B36 Torshavn to reach the Europa Conference League group stage.

They may end up being the most appealing destination for a player who competed in the Champions League group stage and reached the Europa League semi-final last season.

However, if West Ham focus on Kostic instead, perhaps one of the other two would make more sense. The existing communication line between Leipzig and Hoffenheim could play a part.

But Brighton would be hopeful of reinvesting for Angelino if they do lose fellow Spaniard Cucurella. After finishing in the top half of the Premier League last season, he could be the kind of signing who would help them remain competitive.