[Albion] Diego Coppola [17/06/25 - sings a 5-year deal]

[Brian Munich]

Is there any possibility that we buy and loan back with Coppola?

I know i'm going to get the "But he's an Italian International ... blah blah blah". I guess he is, but that honour has been pretty devalued recently ... and the lad is still very young for a PL centre back

I just wonder though if the idea is for him to be ready to replace Van Hecke, who will have a year left on his deal next summer, for the season after next.

In my mind it looks like Boscagli and Dunk are fighting it out for the left CB slot ....... Van Hecke and Webster for the right CB .... and the likes of Baleba, and Veltman ready to come in at CB if we're in big trouble with injuries. That seems pretty good cover to me

I'm presuming we stay playing only 2 centre backs, also that Webby stays around and nobody comes in for JPVH now.

Also i'm assuming no Cashin or Igor

But if it gets to the end of the summer and we've got Dunk, JPVH, Webby and Boscagli all fit and ready to play, might we be better sending Coppola off, or back, at least until January?

I’m assuming you remember the game last season when we were down to a barely-match-fit Lewis Dunk and Baleba as the centre back pairing? I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that the last third of our season was derailed when Webster got injured v Forest and Dunk had to return early.

 

[Doonhamer7]

Seriously JPVH is good but he ain’t Virgil Van Dijk so won’t be breaking the transfer record for a centreback

Well I’ve just googled it and I didnt realise he was only 4th most expensive as Man Utd paid more for Maguire (£80m), De Ligt (£77m) and Man City £77m for Gvardiol

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I love JPVH. He had a very good season. But he’s by no means the finished article. Still has the odd moment of getting caught out of position or playing an overambitious pass. I reckon he’s at least a season away from any decent offers coming in, for a couple of reasons.

(1) Because we’re likely to sell several others for good money, and I just don’t see the club allowing themselves to be stripped bare. João Pedro, Enciso, Estupiñan, probably a few fringe ones like Sarmiento all going will mean we have no financial need to sell nor to allow ourselves to be left short on the pitch by selling too many (especially when Liverpool come begging us to sell them Igor).

(2) It’s not just about the player: it’s the timing: how many clubs need CHs and how many quality CHs are available who suit their style. Huijsen is off the market but Zabarnyi may still be open to an offer. Guehi is another: entering the last year of his contract. Bigger clubs will look at Romero of Spurs (don’t know why: he’s average and a thug). There’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Renato Veiga, even Harry Maguire. I honestly don’t see clubs queuing for JPVH ahead of all of those (some of them maybe but not all).

I say he stays, this summer at least.

 

[Stato]

Bournemouth are selling Kerkez, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Semenyo. Let's hope we don't sell that many.

Van Hecke is really really good. He's an obvious future captain of a title challenging club. For me the only question is whether it's a British transfer record for a defender. CBs that good don't come on the market often.

If he isn't sold this summer, I don't know what the Liverpools of this world are playing at

We at Brighton know he's really really good, but he's just finished a season in a defence that has conceded far more goals than it should have done, so won't come without aquestion or two. He's also contracted until June2027 at a club that is renowned for pulling the pants down of anyone who wants to buy when they're not ready/don't have to sell. Not many who could afford him are in immediate need this summer and those that are know that Guehi, with only a year left and showing no interest in extending, is an easier get this year. I don't think the circumstances suggest it's likely this summer, but we really need to agree an extension or he'll have plenty of suitors for next year.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Just for clarity - is this based on any insider info or just what you feel might/will/could happen?

Obviously the latter. Would love him to stay but for me it feels inevitable, and selling him now for a massive fee would be completely in keeping with how we do business.

We've signed three first-team ready centre-backs in the last couple of windows. And Dunk and Webster aren't going anywhere. Boscagli and Coppola aren't coming here to keep the bench warm.

Maybe his camp will think he can get a much better personal deal in a year's time, maybe that's what will keep him another year. Maybe van Dijk extending and Liverpool spending their money on Wirtz will delay that transfer another 12 months (JPVH to Liverpool feels so obvious.) But watching the way he has matured, listening to him speak at the awards dinner, settling into the Dutch national squad, there isn't a big club out there who wouldn't like to have him.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Is Van Hecke on the market? As in actively up for sale rather than will be sold if someone stumps up huge piles of cash?

Bournemouth have sold Huijsen, will probably sell Kerkez. We'll have to wait and see what they do with the other two. I think it's an act of madness to sell four of your top players in the same window, I'd be surprised if Bournemouth did it and I'd be incredulous if we did(as in all of Mitoma, Pedro, Baleba, Van Hecke).

Zabarnyi going to PSG. Lots of rumours about Semenyo, but Bournemouth will fight to keep him and Kluivert.

Can't see Baleba being sold just yet, and I'm sure selling Pedro was never a plan until the last couple of months.

There's no real difference between the two options in your first sentence Everyone is on the market if the price is right, and the market is always open.

 

[Bozza]

We are delighted to confirm the signing of Italy international Diego Coppola for an undisclosed fee, subject to the usual regulatory processes.

The 21-year-old, 6ft 4in central defender joins from Serie A club Hellas Verona on a five-year deal.

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler said, “Diego is an exciting addition for the club.

“Although he is still young, he is tall, strong and mobile and he will give us a real physical presence.

“He has made impressive progress in Serie A and deserved his call-up to the Italian national team. We look forward to helping him develop even more.”

Diego emerged through Verona’s academy and has since made over 80 appearances in the Italian top flight, scoring four goals.

His domestic performances earned him his first senior Italy cap in their World Cup qualifier against Norway in June. He played again for the Azzurri three days later when they beat Moldova 2-0, coming on as a second-half substitute.

He is currently representing Italy’s under-21s at the European Championship in Slovakia.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Another one in the hutch

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Zabarnyi going to PSG. Lots of rumours about Semenyo, but Bournemouth will fight to keep him and Kluivert.

Can't see Baleba being sold just yet, and I'm sure selling Pedro was never a plan until the last couple of months.

There's no real difference between the two options in your first sentence Everyone is on the market if the price is right, and the market is always open.

I just don't get the love for Zabarnyi, never have. He's always looked pretty average whenever I've seen him, although I'm prepared to believe that he must be good if big clubs all want him.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I just don't get the love for Zabarnyi, never have. He's always looked pretty average whenever I've seen him, although I'm prepared to believe that he must be good if big clubs all want him.

£60-£70 million it seems!

Bournemouth doing a Brighton.....

 

[lawros left foot]

Coppola, oh, oh ,ooha
Coppola, oh, oh, ooha
A Gentleman of Verona
We hope he’s not for a loaner,

 

[Stato]

Just when he thought he was out. We must have made him an offer he couldn't refuse. It's strictly business. Tottenham's chance of signing him sleeps with the fishes.

I love the smell of signings in the morning. Smells like Victory.

 

[Beach Hut]

Excellent singing

 

[Hotchilidog]

Excellent news! What a window this has been so far. Brilliant work by the recruiting team

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

Head coach Fabian Hurzeler said, “Diego is an exciting addition for the club.

“Although he is still young, he is tall, strong and MOBILE and he will give us a real physical presence.

“He has made impressive progress in Serie A and deserved his call-up to the Italian national team. We look forward to helping him develop even more.”

Diego emerged through Verona’s academy and has since made over 80 appearances in the Italian top flight, scoring four goals.

His domestic performances earned him his first senior Italy cap in their World Cup qualifier against Norway in June. He played again for the Azzurri three days later when they beat Moldova 2-0, coming on as a second-half substitute.

He is currently representing Italy’s under-21s at the European Championship in Slovakia.

One word from the press release jumped out at me!

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

One word from the press release jumped out at me!

Mobile? That's impossible.

The FIFA ratings are clear that he is as slow as a carthorse

 

[dwayne]

Obviously the latter. Would love him to stay but for me it feels inevitable, and selling him now for a massive fee would be completely in keeping with how we do business.

We've signed three first-team ready centre-backs in the last couple of windows. And Dunk and Webster aren't going anywhere. Boscagli and Coppola aren't coming here to keep the bench warm.

Maybe his camp will think he can get a much better personal deal in a year's time, maybe that's what will keep him another year. Maybe van Dijk extending and Liverpool spending their money on Wirtz will delay that transfer another 12 months (JPVH to Liverpool feels so obvious.) But watching the way he has matured, listening to him speak at the awards dinner, settling into the Dutch national squad, there isn't a big club out there who wouldn't like to have him.

Zero indication of JPVH being sold. He's being lined up as captain and then sold next season. He's really good and a decent leader. But he is a tad slow, we probably overrate him slightly. In fact webbo looked better than him at the end of the season.

 

[Hugo Rune]

If it wasn't for the incoming signing of Boscagli, this would be my signing of the summer. His defensive stats (duels, interceptions etc) are off the scale.

 

[dwayne]

Credit where credit is due for fab. Called it very early and made the announcement 2 days ago. He clearly is very in the know (sometimes)

 

[Giraffe]

That feels like a superb signing. A perfect partner for PVH allowing Dunk and Webster to be very able back ups.