Graham Potter teases potential summer transfer plan for Brighton talents scouted by Barcelona

Graham Potter was delighted with how Carl Rushworth’s spell with Walsall has gone and hopes the young keeper can progress through the footballing pyramid if he is loaned out again next season.

The 20-year-old joined Ligue 2 side Albion on a season-long loan last summer and has made 46 appearances, kept 13 clean sheets and was named Players’ Player of the Season of the club and the fans. Young player of the season.

Within a year, Rushworth was called up to the England Under-21 squad, scouted by scouts at Barcelona and voted Seagulls Young Player of the Year for 2021. But his journey to the Sussex first-team squad will not be easy.

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Robert Sanchez is the first pick, Kjell Scherpen is second and Jason Steele is third. The former is 24 and Scherpen is two years his junior, so Rushworth may have to bide his time for a first-team chance. Ahead of Brighton’s trip to Leeds United on Sunday, Potter explained how the former Halifax Town stopper got along with the Saddlers and the plans for him going forward.

Like many of the club’s players, it looks like contract talks, signings in, out and some people’s futures will take place at the end of the 2021/22 campaign. Sanchez enjoyed a Ligue 2 loan spell with Forest Green Rovers before moving to the English third tier with Rochdale the following season. So maybe Rushworth will be on loan in Ligue 1 or even in the league next season.

“Yeah, he’s had a really good season, we’re happy with that. It’s important to go on loan and play and have a positive experience. To get those [player of the season] price says that and the fact that he played and had the experience of what they [Walsall] gone through is good for him,” Potter said. sussex live.

“He’s been training with us for the past few days and we’re going to sit down and find the right path for him, but obviously if he’s going to go out on loan it will be good to find a step forward because that’s how you are using the loan system well.”

Walsall finished the season in 16th position. The campaign involved the sacking of manager Matt Taylor in February after poor form before Michael Flynn arrived later that month after leaving Newport County.

Such is the excitement at Albion around Rushworth he has signed a new contract at the Sussex side until June 2025 in January. Brighton first-team goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts says his young protege has been a “breath of fresh air” since joining the south coast side in 2019 and he was a consummate professional.