Brighton have completed their first signing of the summer and sprayed a rumored club record fee of £ 22 million to bring in Zambian midfielder Enock Mwepu from Red Bull Salzburg.
The 23-year-old has been tracked by some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Liverpool, thanks to his performances in an all-conquering Salzburg side, as well as shining on the biggest stage in the Champions League.
However, it is the seagulls that have struggled to strengthen their alternatives in the middle of the park, where Graham Potter has no shortage of quality at his disposal such as Yves Bissouma, Pascal Gross, Adam Lallana, Jakub Moder, Steve Alzate and Moises Caicedo.
So, what can the Premier League expect from the second Zambia international to come to English beaches this summer after Patson Daka in Leicester City? Here are seven facts about Mwepu.
Salzburg manager Jesse March used Mwepu in several positions / Markus Tobisch / Getty Images
The most striking thing about Mwepu is how versatile he is. During his time with Red Bull Salzburg and their feeder club FC Liefering, he recorded – deep breaths – attacking midfield, midfield, with midfield, left, right, right back and center back.
Even more impressive than the large number of roles Mwepu can fill is his ability to adapt his game to play each one. He has scored 14 goals and made nine assists from 37 passes to the right, a return that most true wingers we would be happy with.
When Mwepu is used through the middle, he shifts focus to delivering rather than netting himself. 11 assists from central positions show that he has the eye for a killer pass and a goal.
Mwepu is known as ‘The Computer’ / Markus Tobisch / Getty Images
On the surface, “The Computer” may just be the most ridiculous nickname for any player in world football, let alone the Premier League. Mwepu, however, wears the moniker that his Zambians gave him with pride.
It refers to his aforementioned ability to calculate what is needed in the many positions he is in, his intelligence in cramped spaces and how he can see a pass and do it far ahead of anyone else.
Zambia celebrates points at the World Cup in 20 years 2017 where Mwepu first made a name for himself / JUNG YEON-JE / Getty Images
Mwepu first broke out on stage with his performances on the Zambia side, which aroused so much excitement for the World Cup in 20 in 2017 held in South Korea.
Zambia qualified by winning the corresponding Africa Cup of Nations tournament and they soon showed that they were not at the main event simply to make up the numbers.
After winning Group C ahead of Portugal, Costa Rica and Iran, Zambia probably pulled the biggest shock in the tournament by eliminating Germany in the second round. Mwepu was on target in the famous victory.
Zambia eventually fell to Italy in the quarterfinals. On a personal level, Mwepu came away from South Korea with two goals, two assists and a move to Austria in the bag.
Mwepu and his second Zambian Patson Daka with their Red Bull Salzburg Trophy Collection 2020/21 / KRUGPOTO / Getty Images
Mwepu got his first call up to Red Bull Salzburg from Liefering within a year of his arrival in Austria and made his full debut for the parent club in April 2018. It only took him three minutes to get an assist and there has been no looking back because .
After his debut, Mwepu played a small role in helping Salzburg win the Austrian Bundesliga title 2017/18, making eight appearances towards the end of the campaign where he did once and made further assists.
Over the next three seasons, Mwepu became one of the most important players as Salzburg won the Bundesliga and OFB-Cup doubles 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21.
The recent Austrian Cup triumph led Mwepu to score in the first round, the second round, twice in the semi-finals and in the final when Salzburg blew past LASK 3-0. With four assists in the cup run, Mwepu did more than anyone else to help his side to its eighth triumph in the competition.
? Most successful pressure in the UEFA Champions League 20-21 season
The stars of the Red Bull empire make a very strong impression this year.? Followed closely by Midtjyllands midfield star ??????? Manchester United midfielder maestro completes list pic.twitter.com/w5q5T0twRf
– First Time Finish (@firsttimefinish) March 2, 2021
How impressive Mwepu’s performances in Austria have been, it’s in Europe where he’s really caught his eye.
He made such an impression against Liverpool when Salzburg were paired with the Reds in the Champions League group stage 2019/20 that the Anfield hierarchy considered his references to be Georginio Wijnaldum’s successor in their midfield engine room.
During the 2020/21 season, no player made more successful pressure than Mwepu in Europe’s elite competition. He has also shown that he can mix pressure with creativity with good effect and collect four assists in 11 Champions League career appearances.
Mwepu has received messages of support from the two most important presidential candidates in Zambia in the general election / Soccrates Images / Getty Images
Zambia goes to the polls in its general election on August 12 and the two main candidates were both quick to tweet their congratulations to Mwepu when he moved to Brighton.
President Edgar Lungu first wished Mwepu good luck and said: “Join me and congratulate Enock Mwepu on his signing with Premier League side Brighton. You have made the nation proud and can be sure that we will all root for you all the way up. our national flag high. ”
He was quickly followed by his closest rival Hakainde Hichilema, who tweeted: “Congratulations Enock Mwepu,” Computer “, when you moved to Brighton and Hove Albion. This marks another milestone for us as a country. We trust that you will be able to be an ambassador and open more avenues for other Zambians to join these ranks. The upcoming EPL season will be on fire! “
Whether Lungu, Hichilema and the rest of Zambia will feel so “enlightened” when they watch the Seagulls make 0-0 against Brentford despite collecting an xG of 3.73 next remains to be seen …
Bissouma has been linked to a move from Brighton / Mike Hewitt / Getty Images
Brighton fans were not the only ones celebrating Mwepu’s arrival at Amex. Arsenal and Liverpool have both been strongly linked to a big summer move for Bissouma and the Seagulls are perhaps more willing to listen to offers now that they seem to have signed on a finished replacement.
£ 50 million is the fee for Bissouma and if Brighton can come close to it for him to have spent £ 22 million for Mwepu, this whole transfer chain would represent excellent business for them.
Should Mwepu meet expectations, he could very well be as good as Bissouma with Brighton better with 28 million pounds. This money can then be reinvested where the Seagulls really need it – on a clinical striker to end their xG nightmare.
