Why Brighton must hold on to Davy Propper amidst Sevilla interest
When the final whistle blew on 5th May 2018, the Amex stadium was one of the noisiest places on the south coast of England. Brighton & Hove Albion had just defeated Manchester United 1-0 and with that victory, the Seagulls secured their Premier League status for another season.
It was a season to remember for Chris Hughton’s men. The likes of Pascal Gross, Glenn Murray, Matt Ryan and Shane Duffy were lauded for their consistent performances over the course of the season but one player who was their unsung hero was Davy Propper. However, a recent report from The Sun has claimed that Spanish giants Sevilla are interested in signing the Dutchman.
Propper arrived at the Amex from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2017. Last season, he started 40 games in all competitions and was one of the first names on the team sheet for Hughton. Playing alongside Dale Stephens, Propper provided cover to Brighton’defence and gave the likes of Pascal Gross, Anthony Knockaert and Jose Izquierdo the freedom to do their creative bits in the final third of the pitch.
In 35 Premier League games last season, he made 1387 passes with a 78% accuracy. He successfully completed 73 tackles, blocked 10 goal-bound shots, made 60 interceptions and racked up 68 clearances, which also included 27 headed clearances.
To put things into perspective, Propper wasn’t just a destroyer in the centre of the park. He made sure that he kept the ball ticking for Brighton and recycled possession brilliantly. He made 245 recoveries, played 19 key passes and assisted 4 goals.
It is understandable as to why Sevilla are looking to sign Propper. They have huge problems of their own as Maxime Gonalons, on loan from Roma, suffered a broken leg while fellow Frenchman Ibrahim Amadou has dislocated his elbow. Sevilla will try to lure the 27-year-old to the La Liga in January (h/t The Sun) but Brighton should ensure their star man goes nowhere.
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Propper has started this season just like he finished the previous campaign. A recent hamstring injury to Stephens has handed him greater responsibility when it comes to protecting Brighton’s back four. The Seagulls’ campaign and their quest to stay in the Premier League will depend a lot on the former Eredevise winner and he must remain at Amex Stadium at all costs.
