Ansu Pati is expected to face stiff competition for a starting spot at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The midfielder joined Brighton on loan ahead of the transfer window closing this summer. At Barcelona, he was a candidate for the last two seasons, and coach Xavi Hernandez didn’t trust him enough to play him on the left wing alongside midfielder Gabi.

Pati chose Brighton over interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. Speaking about this in his joining interview, he said, “Roberto Degerbi told me he trusted me completely. That was an important factor. He convinced me by listing what kind of player I am and what I can improve,” he said, adding that the project he presented was the reason he chose Brighton.

However, Brighton will also face stiff competition for places. The current Brighton attack is arguably the best in the club’s history. After four league games, they’ve combined for 12 goals, making them the top scorers in the English Premier League (EPL), ahead of the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur (11 goals apiece).

At left winger, Pati’s primary position, is Kaoru Mitoma, who burst onto the scene last season. This season, he’s already shown his ability to break down defenses with his brilliant dribbling against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and he’s been a standout alongside Peris Estupinan on the left.

At striker, they also have a great talent in Evan Ferguson. He was only born in 2004, but he’s already a semi-regular for Brighton and scored a hat-trick against Newcastle United. If Ferguson is not available, the main contender is Danny Welbeck, a seasoned striker from Manchester United.

Right winger Solly March is arguably the centerpiece of Mourinho’s tactics. A versatile player who can play as a winger, fullback, or central midfielder, his workrate and precise kicks from the flanks and center helped him score seven goals and provide seven assists in the EPL last season. However, it’s hard to see him as a direct positional competitor as Pati doesn’t favor the right wing.

With De Gea using Joao Pedro as his second striker in a near-two-man system this season, it’s possible that Pati could be used in that role, but with Pedro’s contributions up front, Pati will need to improve on his performances at Barcelona to earn a starting spot. 토토사이트