{"id":437865,"date":"2026-02-21T12:00:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T12:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/437865\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T12:00:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T12:00:08","slug":"brighton-have-got-it-badly-wrong-after-transfer-collapses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/437865\/","title":{"rendered":"Brighton have got it badly wrong after transfer collapses"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Fabian<\/p>\n

(Credit: Imago)<\/p>\n

\"Jack <\/p>\n

Sat 21 February 2026 8:00, UK <\/p>\n

Brighton are in a tricky situation after Lewis Dunk refused to go to Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day.<\/p>\n

That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness<\/a>, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the cracks are starting to show in the Seagulls\u2019 long-term planning.<\/p>\n

A report from the Daily Mail<\/a> on 9 February suggests that the Brighton<\/a> captain rejected a move to the City Ground in order to stay at the AMEX Stadium.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Keith Wyness: Brighton have taken another misstep as Lewis Dunk saga unfolds<\/p>\n

Dunk<\/a> is one of Brighton\u2019s best servants in their history.<\/p>\n

The centre-back has made 512 appearances in the history of the club and has led them from League One to become an established Premier League<\/a> side.<\/p>\n

Despite the defender now being 34 years old, the former England international has still made 26 appearances in all competitions this season.<\/p>\n

MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES<\/p>\n

Therefore, when the report came out that Brighton tried to sell the centre-back on deadline day, only for him to reject the move, it did not go down well at the AMEX Stadium.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8| Lewis Dunk was left \u2018surprised\u2019 after Brighton accepted a bid from Nottingham Forest for him in January.<\/p>\n

The offer from Forest included a significant pay rise and a contract to 2028. The Seagulls felt that, given the service Dunk had given to the club, he deserved to be\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/5LS6Ba1ZET<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 The Brighton Base (@TheBrightonBase) February 9, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

Now, Wyness exclusively told Football Insider that the saga has exposed the cracks in Brighton\u2019s traditionally great planning.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cIt is a strange situation, certainly, because normally the club would have at least had some inkling as to whether he would have accepted or not, whether he was up for a move. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it was almost like, you know, Lewis, we love you, but by the way, mate, would you mind going? And it was a bit of a strange situation. I think it hasn\u2019t been received well, I don\u2019t think, by a lot of the Brighton fans as well, who see him as one of their regulars, and he\u2019s been a great servant to the club. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a strange situation. Again, this is another sort of a little bit of a misstep from Brighton. As we\u2019ve seen, know, a few things are starting to, a few questions are starting to be asked down there. There\u2019s no doubt about it. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd for Dunk to say, \u2018thanks, I\u2019m quite happy where I am\u2019. It just means that their planning and their famous succession planning isn\u2019t quite going as they wanted it to right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

What has Fabian Hurzeler said about Lewis Dunk?<\/p>\n

Despite Brighton trying to sell Dunk, Fabian Hurzeler was seemingly quite pleased that Dunk rejected a move to Nottingham Forest on deadline day.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Sussex World<\/a> on 10 February, the Seagulls manager said before their tie against Aston Villa:\u201cI need him here. There\u2019s two perspectives. There\u2019s always rumours in the transfer window but what\u2019s most important is Lewis\u2019 perspective.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen he made his decision, and I\u2019m really appreciating his decision.\u201d<\/p>\n