JeffreyDiddum

I bet when you first heard about his loan, you said “who da hell is dat?!”

It’s possible, if you think it will happen you should get on with the bookies! We’re 25/1 to go down, and Leicester are 1/2, I’m sure you could get even better with a bet builder. Trust your gut I say!

Bit unnecessary, there’s no beef between our clubs and I wish you every success for this season. When you won the league I was delighted. Again, no offence meant, was just responding truthfully to someone asking why we let him go on loan. We’re all aware of your present financial difficulties, and the situation since the tragedy occurred with Vichai. Hi, thanks for asking! I like him personally. Similar to Buonanotte, he does have a tendency to have his head down and can dribble into blind alleys a lot, which can make him come off a little greedy. He had an excellent pre-season though, so I can see why he’s in and around the squad now. I think he’d be a candidate to be moved on if the price was right, but his versatility is really useful from the bench as he covers 3-4 positions. He can often look like he’s too eager to please and forgoes the simple things (taking on a man instead of a simple pass) but this can be a good trait when we’re playing too passively. Based on what I saw from your squad last night, he’d be another one who would get game time if he joined you and I think would be a good signing in the £12-£15m region.

Buonanotte was seen as a right winger by the club, where he’d be behind Minteh, March and Adingra and Gruda. Left wing he’d be behind Mitoma, Adingra and now Rutter. At number 10 he’d be behind Pedro, Ritter and Gruda. There is also Sarmiento who had an excellent preseason and can play any of the three positions. We also signed Cozier-Duberry (going on loan to the Championship) and Ibrahim Osman (on loan to Feyenoord), so he’s not the only young player we can’t make room for this season in our attacking midfield positions, where frankly we’re suddenly stacked. Under contract in the first team squad, including a few we’ve let out on loan, we would have Welbeck, Ferguson, Pedro, Rutter, Cozier-Duberry, Mitoma, March, Gruda, Adingra, Sarmiento, Osman, Sima, Minteh, Buonanotte - that’s fourteen players who are all vying for four positions per match. TLDR; In short, we currently have better options - that’s no disrespect to Facundo, but he’s in our long term plans hence the new contract to 2028. We’re all hoping he has an amazing season with you and comes back an even better player to assess next summer.

You make a compelling case, let me confer quickly with Mr Bloom and get back to you. edit: he said no

Cross posted from the old transfer thread; would love to know your thoughts now having seen him in the flesh tonight; Brighton & Hove Albion season ticket holder here - hi! First post in about 3-4 years I think, but wanted to give my opinion on Facundo after seeing a few posts asking for a Brighton perspective. First of all, and this can’t be overstated, but he’s 19 years old. Despite this, he has played over 50 times for us and has a couple of Argentina caps. So while he is “one of the future”, he is not a rookie fresh from our PL2 set up. He is a break-through season away from being a very desirable asset. Obviously all parties are hoping it happens with you, this season. Before Southampton and finally yourselves were linked, a deal looked all but done with Feyenoord for a loan with option to buy. Fans, including myself, were *not* happy about this as we pretty much all agree the lad has huge potential and couldn’t understand why we’d agree to sell such a prospect short of receiving a very large fee. We are far happier with a loan for the player to get further experience, and plenty more first team PL minutes. I’ve seen a few comments poo-pooing the idea of loaning a player from a perceived “lesser” club, which I feel I must address. In order to do that, I must talk a little about the player, his attributes and his role in the squad. He is considerably physically stronger than when he joined as a 17 year old, and is surprisingly dogged and robust in the tackle. He is a reasonably short player at 5’9, but isn’t lightning fast. I’d describe his pace as moderate by PL standards - he won’t skin anyone. He is however in the Messi mould (in style, if not ability!) and has excellent close control and dribbling skills. He is not afraid to take on long shots and has scored a couple of cracking goals for us. He did have a tendency to sometimes over play in our system under De Zerbi, and would regularly dribble into dead ends before chipping an ineffective cross, or losing possession. However, he is still learning and sometimes would be the player to at least try creative things - often unsuccessfully - to unlock a defence. He plays primarily as a right winger for us, and has filled in at right wing back. He can also play left wing and at number ten. He is not a pacy, traditional winger and is more of an inside forward. He consistently cuts in from the right wing onto his preferred left foot, crossing to the far post and attempting shots from range. Think a wide David Silva in style, constantly coming into the middle and not holding width. He has a very impressive workrate, and runs his socks off in the press and tracking back. As mentioned, he’s surprisingly good in the tackle and works hard not to be luxury player. He will serve you well with workrate and team ethic. After a strong summer of recruitment though, he would find his minutes limited here hence the move. Ahead of him are Minteh, March, Cozier-Duberry and Adingra (RW) and Mitoma, Adingra, and Cozier-Duberry (LW), and our new system doesn’t really feature a “ten” based on pre-season so far, so I think he would struggle to feature for us. This is more a reflection of a very positive summer of recruitment than anything else. If you have any questions please ask away, otherwise I wish you - and Facundo - good luck for the season.

I’d say so, yes. I also like that he’s willing to try things when we have lacked imagination. It might be a trick, or a cross - just something to move a deep block a little. He’s a real little terrier off the ball which I love about him. It’s definitely a big plus.

Brighton & Hove Albion season ticket holder here - hi! First post in about 3-4 years I think, but wanted to give my opinion on Facundo after seeing a few posts asking for a Brighton perspective. First of all, and this can’t be overstated, but he’s 19 years old. Despite this, he has played over 50 times for us and has a couple of Argentina caps. So while he is “one of the future”, he is not a rookie fresh from our PL2 set up. He is a break-through season away from being a very desirable asset. Obviously all parties are hoping it happens with you, this season. Before Southampton and finally yourselves were linked, a deal looked all but done with Feyenoord for a loan with option to buy. Fans, including myself, were *not* happy about this as we pretty much all agree the lad has huge potential and couldn’t understand why we’d agree to sell such a prospect short of receiving a very large fee. We are far happier with a loan for the player to get further experience, and plenty more first team PL minutes. I’ve seen a few comments poo-pooing the idea of loaning a player from a perceived “lesser” club, which I feel I must address. In order to do that, I must talk a little about the player, his attributes and his role in the squad. He is considerably physically stronger than when he joined as a 17 year old, and is surprisingly dogged and robust in the tackle. He is a reasonably short player at 5’9, but isn’t lightning fast. I’d describe his pace as moderate by PL standards - he won’t skin anyone. He is however in the Messi mould (in style, if not ability!) and has excellent close control and dribbling skills. He is not afraid to take on long shots and has scored a couple of cracking goals for us. He did have a tendency to sometimes over play in our system under De Zerbi, and would regularly dribble into dead ends before chipping an ineffective cross, or losing possession. However, he is still learning and sometimes would be the player to at least try creative things - often unsuccessfully - to unlock a defence. He plays primarily as a right winger for us, and has filled in at right wing back. He can also play left wing and at number ten. He is not a pacy, traditional winger and is more of an inside forward. He consistently cuts in from the right wing onto his preferred left foot, crossing to the far post and attempting shots from range. Think a wide David Silva in style, constantly coming into the middle and not holding width. He has a very impressive workrate, and runs his socks off in the press and tracking back. As mentioned, he’s surprisingly good in the tackle and works hard not to be luxury player. He will serve you well with workrate and team ethic. After a strong summer of recruitment though, he would find his minutes limited here hence the move. Ahead of him are Minteh, March, Cozier-Duberry and Adingra (RW) and Mitoma, Adingra, and Cozier-Duberry (LW), and our new system doesn’t really feature a “ten” based on pre-season so far, so I think he would struggle to feature for us. This is more a reflection of a very positive summer of recruitment than anything else. If you have any questions please ask away, otherwise I wish you - and Facundo - good luck for the season.