Brighton chairman Tony Bloom hints at key role for Leeds United loanee Ben White next season

Albion chairman Tony Bloom believes the academy and returning loan players can play a huge role ahead of a very uncertain summer transfer window.
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Brighton and many other Premier League clubs face huge financial challenges amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Bloom believes transfer activity will be greatly reduced for all clubs and feels players returning from successful loan spells - such as Ben White at Leeds and Jayson Molumby at Millwall -will help boost the first team squad.

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"The academy is key for us and it will not just be for this summer but for future ones," said Bloom. "We are delighted that Ben White has done so well at Leeds and Jayson Molumby at Millwall and obviously Steven Alzate and Aaron Connolly are in our first team.

Ben WhiteBen White
Ben White

"It could be that the academy becomes more important for next season for our first team. But in terms of our under-23 players, I'm not sure right now are ready to be playing Premier League football next season.

"We have had big successes with Aaron and Steven this season but it is such a huge gap. Although you can go straight from it, typically, the ones who went out on loan, that makes more sense.

"We may well bring back some of players that went on loan. That is a really good sign looking ahead to next season."

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Despite the obvious financial difficulties, Bloom insists Brighton are in good health and are not under any pressure to sell this summer.

"We don't have to cash in. It may not be the best window to sell players because we don't know how the market will look.

"I don't see us being as active as previous seasons. I don't think the market will be as active and total transfers will be a very small percentage of what it was for the last couple of summers."

Bloom also had words of encouragement for Graham Potter. The head coach started the season well following his arrival from Swansea but was without a win in 2020, before the suspension.

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"It was Graham's first season in the Premier League," Bloom added. "For sure he will have had experiences he has never had before. We don't want to look ahead too far and we have to make sure we do well enough in those last nine games.

"Assuming we are in the Premier League, Graham knows the players knows the club, and that is all very important for the manager.

"I'm really happy with Graham's first season. In the first part we played really good football and we were unlucky in a few situations and should have had more points.

"2020 has been challenging. I'm still confident we will stay up. I have no doubt Graham Potter will be our manager for many years to come."

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