By OkayGoal
Bart Verbruggen has no interest in talking about a move away from Brighton, even with reports suggesting Liverpool and Aston Villa both have the Premier League’s in-form goalkeeper on their list.
The 24-year-old has joined up with the Netherlands in Zeist for the international break, and he arrived there with Brighton second in the table and his own numbers better than any other keeper in the league.
Asked about the speculation around his future, he gave a calm, very clear answer: not now.
What did Verbruggen say about Liverpool and Aston Villa?
Speaking to NOS at the Dutch camp, Verbruggen said thinking about the next step would only get in the way of what is happening at Brighton.
“Right now things are going really well for us at Brighton, so it would be a real shame to ruin that by living in the future in your own head,” he said. “I really try to stay in the moment and focus on what’s going on right now. I enjoy that, and it’s also how I perform best.”
He admitted he dreams of winning trophies, but said that is a decision for another day. “I think that’s an assessment you make when the moment comes, and that is absolutely not now. If you start living in the future or the past, I think your performances drop, so I try to stay away from that. For now, life is good.”
Why the numbers have the big clubs looking
No goalkeeper in the Premier League has kept more clean sheets this season than Verbruggen’s seven. He also has the best pass accuracy of any keeper in the division, at 77 per cent, which matters for a side like Fabian Hurzeler’s that likes to build from the back.
The latest of those clean sheets came in the 2-0 win over Brentford that sent Brighton second going into the break.
Verbruggen played it down, as you would expect. “I feel like I’m in a good rhythm and I’ve found good form,” he said. “But of course, when a team is going well, it’s easier for individuals to shine. It’s always a nice feeling when you play well and reach a high level, but you’re in the middle of such a busy season that you try to focus on what’s in front of you and what you can do from day to day.”
Why Liverpool and Villa are in the market
Liverpool’s interest makes sense. Alisson Becker is 34, and while the Brazilian has made it clear he wants a new deal at Anfield, the club will need a long-term number one sooner rather than later.
Aston Villa are in a different spot. Zion Suzuki only arrived from Parma in the summer, but he has reportedly been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, which explains why Villa are keeping an eye on the keeper market. We looked at how much Unai Emery relies on him when the Asian Cup was pushed back a year.
Xavi’s number one for the Netherlands
Verbruggen has 37 caps and has been the first choice for his country for several years. That has not changed under the new head coach.
“The previous national coach, Ronald Koeman, already expressed his confidence in me. And the new coach also let me know during the last international break that I’m his number one,” he said. “That’s really nice. That kind of trust does everyone good, and me too. Xavi comes in with his own ideas and he’s very clear about them. You really get the feeling we’re building something, and hopefully we can carry on with that this week.”
The Netherlands play Greece in Amsterdam on Friday and Germany in Berlin on Monday, their last two games of the Nations League group stage.
Can Brighton keep Bart Verbruggen?
For this season, almost certainly. Nothing he said sounds like a player angling for a January move, and Brighton have no reason to sell a 24-year-old keeper in the form of his life while they sit second.
The summer is a different story. If Liverpool decide they need Alisson’s successor, or Villa lose Suzuki, Verbruggen will be near the top of the list, and Brighton know better than anyone how to drive a hard bargain for a player in demand. The smart move for him is exactly what he is doing: keep the clean sheets coming and let the price take care of itself.