Brighton target experience for Prem assault – starting with Liverpool ace

Brighton & Hove Albion will play Premier League football for the first time next season, and the Seagulls face a busy summer in the transfer market.

And one man reportedly targeted by Chris Hughton is Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva.

The Brazilian is out of contract this summer, but is still only 30-years-old and can certainly do a job in the top-tier for another few years.

He’s certainly proved that this season, featuring 22 times for the Anfield outfit.

And after spending 10 seasons with the Reds, Leiva would bring a vital amount of experience to the Seagulls.

While fellow Championship side Newcastle United are ready to offer Rafael Benitez anything between £70m-£100m to prepare for next season, such figures are mere pipedreams for Brighton.

So the fact that Lucas is both experienced and available for free makes him an ideal candidate to join Hughton’s boys on the south coast.

Lucas joined Liverpool way back in 2007, after shining in his homeland for Gremio.

During a decade on Merseyside, Lucas has played over 335 times for the Reds, including more than 50 games in European competitions.

Brighton won’t be sighing him for his goalscoring ability though, with the midfielder netting just seven times for Liverpool in that spell.

Other potential freebies for Brighton include Manchester City duo Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing