The maverick Manchester United and Brighton transfer swap deal that could see both clubs prosper

Manchester United will want to bring in some more quality this summer. It has been a disappointing season for the Red Devils and they are still in the bottom half of the table. Ruben Amorim has the chance to bring in some new faces when the next window opens.

The Portuguese boss was picked as their manager following Erik ten Hag’s sacking. It has since been a mixed start for him at Old Trafford. He will want to see a bit more consistency from his team next term.

As for Brighton and Hove Albion, it has been a solid first year for Fabian Hürzeler. They are positioned in 10th place and have six more fixtures left to play. They appointed their manager last year after he caught their eye over in Germany at FC. St Pauli.

Hürzeler, 32, has adapted well to life in England. He is a promising young coach and he has won 43.5% of matches in charge of the Sussex outfit to date. The Seagulls drew 2-2 at home to Leicester City last time out and face Brentford up next as they look to return to winning ways.

Manchester United should eye Bart Verbruggen deal

United have a big decision to make regarding their goalkeeping department this summer. Andre Onana was dropped for their last match against Newcastle United and his future may well be up in the air now. His replacement Altay Bayindir struggled as he took his place and can’t really be trusted as a number one, whilst Tom Heaton is mainly a back-up and is ageing.

Therefore, the Red Devils may need to bring in a new option between the sticks. Brighton stopper Bart Verbruggen would be ideal for Amorim’s side and has proved himself in the Premier League over the past couple of years. At the age of 22, he is still young and has bags of potential to get better in the future.

Verbruggen, who is a Holland international with 20 caps under his belt so far in his career, was snapped up by the Seagulls in 2023 and has became their first choice. He has made 60 appearances in all competitions, 33 of which have come this term, and has been a reliable operator. His contract at the AMEX Stadium expires in June 2028 meaning his current club are under no pressure to sell him just yet and can wait for the right offer to come in for his signature if they are to consider cashing in.

According to i News, he has emerged as a potential option for United. If the reports are true, he would be perfect for the North West giants. He is a player who is comfortable with the ball at his feet and suits the modern style of play. The Zwolle-born man has also proved to be a strong shot stopper and may be ready to test himself with a change of scene in the near future.

Manchester United could include Toby Collyer as part of swap deal

United should try and use a player as part of a swap deal with Brighton for Verbruggen. That would help soften the blow of losing a key asset for the Seagulls. It would also mean that they get something in return which would be a boost.

Toby Collyer is a bright young talent but he may struggle to get into the starting XI on a regular basis with the Red Devils. There is no doubt that he has ability but with the likes of Bruno Fernandes ahead of him in the pecking order, he will have to be patient for his opportunity. If he played for another top flight team he would get more game time. United must consider letting him join Brighton in some capacity. It remains to be seen whether they would want to sell him permanently to receive some money or let him go on loan. His deal runs until 2027.

Collyer would give Brighton more competition and depth in the middle of the park. The 21-year-old is someone they know all about already following his spell in their academy. He rose up through their youth ranks and was a regular for them at various different levels. In fact, the Worthing-born man played for their Under-18’s at the age of just 15 before moving up north when United came calling. He has since continued his development and has gone on to play 13 matches for the first-team of the Red Devils.

They need to weigh up what to do next with him though. Amorim will want to sign some new talent over the coming months and if someone comes in who plays in his position, Collyer may fall out of favour. If that is the case, joining someone like Brighton would be the most sensible move for him as opposed to sitting on the bench.