MY ACCOUNT
Brighton lost Dan Burn to Newcastle last month but prized asset Adam Webster remains on the South Coast.
Eddie Howe’s side did not end up making a move for the star centre-back — though widespread interest in the club’s No4 is unlikely to go away any time soon.
After all, he is enjoying a standout season for Graham Potter’s team and an England call-up could potentially be on the cards.
As Brighton prepare for tonight’s trip to Tottenham in the FA Cup fourth round, we profile their man of the moment.
Climbing the ladder
Webster started his career with Portsmouth, making his senior debut in the Championship, but really establishing himself down in League Two following a loan spell with non-league Aldershot.
His performances earned a move back to the second tier with Ipswich, where he spent two years before signing for Bristol City.
The 6ft 3in central defender was only with the Robins for one season but he impressed to such an extent that Brighton paid a then club-record £20million to secure his services in the summer of 2019.
He has been a Premier League regular ever since, making 73 top-flight appearances.
Made for the modern game
When it comes to ball-playing ability, Webster is arguably one of the Premier League’s best in his position right now.
Often the starting point of Brighton’s attacks, the 27-year-old has attempted more passes per 90 minutes (77.61) than all but three centre-backs in the division — Chelsea’s Thiago Silva and Manchester City duo Aymeric Laporte and Ruben Dias.
He has also completed more passes ending in the final third per 90 (10.84) than all bar two — City’s Nathan Ake (who has only played 579 minutes this term) and Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah.
A progressive player who is highly assured in possession, Webster looks every bit the modern centre-back with the ball at his feet.
Doing the dirty work
He may excel when it comes to distribution but Webster does not neglect his defensive responsibilities.
Out of Premier League defenders who have contested 50 or more duels this term, he ranks seventh with a success rate of 67.35%.
Webster is a robust presence at the back and dominant in the air — no defender in the division to contest 10 or more aerial duels this season has won a higher proportion than Webster’s 76.74%.
The sky is the limit
Speaking after Brighton’s recent 1-1 draw with Chelsea, Potter heaped praise upon Webster.
He said: “In terms of his attributes, I don’t see anybody with the same level as Webster.
“If you want to build from the back and carry the ball and progress the game, he is fantastic and that is his quality.
“It is now a case of him enjoying his football with us, keep being on the pitch and being injury free and then anything is possible with him.”
International recognition
There has been talk of Webster earning a first England call-up — and that feels inevitable if he continues to perform to the same high standards.
Harry Maguire and John Stones are still the main men at the back for Gareth Southgate but Webster might just be the best of the rest on current form.
Only five Brighton players have ever represented the Three Lions — among them current Seagulls skipper Lewis Dunk — but with the next international break coming up at the end of March, that list could grow to six.
