News

Opinion: Mark Warburton is the weapon that the club needs to defeat Premier League side

|

Brighton and Hove Albion have their eyes on signing one of QPR’s targets in Jamie Hamilton, but that should not rule the Championship side out of the race.

According to reports from the Scottish Sun, Hamilton Academical are preparing for a Brighton bid for their 18-year-old centre back Jamie Hamilton, who spent four days training with Brighton just a few weeks ago.

The report also claims that QPR had a bid for the defender rejected which would see him move to West London in the summer, but it was subsequently snubbed.

It is said that Graham Potter and his side were hugely impressed with his trial on the south coast, where he was training with the club’s first-team.

Brighton also have a boost in the fact that Potters’ number two is a former Accies manager in Billy Reid, and it’s said that he and chief scout Gordon Greer are keen in backing the club to go after the player.

Are you happy with the state of our defence?

Yes

No

The same report suggests clubs from the Bundesliga are interested with Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg knocking at the door, but even with some of these big top-flight teams wanting him, QPR shouldn’t write themselves off just yet.

Why? Because QPR don’t have the money that they did a few years ago, yet they do have opportunities and a manager that will back young players a long way.

Brighton, on the other hand, are in no position to be dishing out first-team appearances given their relegation battle, especially in the centre back position.

Potter, who would definitely not shy away from starting a youngster, already has four very capable centre backs in Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk, Shane Duffy and Dan Burn, and will also eagerly be awaiting the return of Ben White from Leeds, who has been instrumental in them topping the table at the moment. Nevertheless, he would simply be way down the pecking order, and with Brighton’s Premier League future in doubt once more, Warburton should do his best to convince him that Loftus Road would be better in the long run.

With QPR being held back financially due to FFP restrictions, they are now a side who revolves around young talent, and with a manager experienced in giving youth a chance with Mark Warburton, if you’re good enough, you’re good enough, regardless of age.

Examples of Eberechi Eze, Ryan Manning, Osayi Bright-Samuel, Ilias Chair, Conor Masterson and more should act as proof of the way in which he will get a chance. It’s just about getting that across to the youngster, who already has 16 games to his name despite his young age.

Share this article