Juan Cabal, Diego Coppola. (Ivan Romano/Getty Images)
Brighton & Hove Albion kept their hopes of qualifying for European football next season alive with a comfortable 2–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
Danny Welbeck opened the scoring in the 29th minute from the penalty spot, confidently slotting the ball into the bottom corner after Mats Wieffer was brought down in the box by Matheus Cunha.
Summer signing Brajan Gruda sealed the win in the second half with his first goal for the club, calmly lifting the ball over Wolves goalkeeper José Sá after being played through on goal by Simon Adingra.
The win moved Brighton up to ninth in the Premier League, putting them within reach of the European qualification places—though those spots remain undecided and may shift depending on the outcome of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Crystal Palace.
Despite the growing excitement, Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler insisted he isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“I’m not thinking about Europe,” Hürzeler said after the match. “I’m thinking about how we can win the next game.”
On Gruda’s first-ever Brighton goal, the German coach added: “It is always difficult when a German makes a compliment to a German. I had to give him one because he’s sacrificed a lot and he has suffered a lot. He’s training very hard and today he made himself a big presence. We are all happy for him.”
Brighton Opens Talks for Coppola
European football or not, Brighton & Hove Albion are expected to strengthen their squad again this summer, continuing their trend of targeting young, emerging talent—a recruitment strategy that has earned them plenty of praise in recent years.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Seagulls already have a top target in mind: Hellas Verona centre-back Diego Coppola.
The 21-year-old has been one of the standout defenders in Serie A this season, leading the league in both tackles in the defensive third and interceptions. Romano reports that Brighton have already made “initial contacts” about a possible summer move.
“There are several clubs keen, but Brighton have started talks to be informed on the 21-year-old,” Romano wrote on X.
Coppola’s rise hasn’t gone unnoticed among scouts and analysts either. Writing in April, Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig described him as a “high-quality, no-nonsense” defender. Meanwhile, Antonio Manga, another scout who specialises in young European players, went even further—calling him a “colossal centre-back.”
Brighton’s track record of unearthing hidden gems in Europe makes this a transfer worth watching as the summer window approaches—especially if they’re looking to build a squad capable of competing for European qualification once again.
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