Does Jahanbakhsh need a change of scenery?

Alireza Jahanbakhsh was one of the major signings made by Brighton and Hove Albion in their bid to improve their standing in the Premier League. The Seagulls broke their club record to sign the Iran international from AZ Alkmaar in Eredivisie, but he failed to thrive in his first season in England.

Jahanbakhsh arrived with a burgeoning reputation, having impressed for AZ in the Netherlands’ top division, scoring 21 goals in the 2017/18 campaign. In his debut season at the Amex Stadium, he made 24 appearances in all competitions under the tenure of Chris Hughton. Although he was part of the team that just survived in the top flight last term, the winger did not score or notch an assist during his time on the field. Hughton was sacked after Brighton’s owners decided that flirting with the relegation zone was enough to remove him from his post.

Graham Potter was brought in from Swansea City to replace Hughton in the dugout. The new manager has not shown the same faith in Jahanbakhsh as his predecessor. Leandro Trossard, Solly March and Steven Alzate have leapfrogged the Iranian in the pecking order. The 26-year-old has not played a single minute at the time of writing in the Premier League this season. His lone appearance came in the EFL Cup in a second round win over Bristol Rovers on the road.

Potter has suggested that Jahanbakhsh could be moved on in January and that could be the best thing for all parties unless there’s a radical shift between now and the opening of the transfer window. The winger has been a crucial player for Iran, being capped 50 times and scoring seven goals for his country. They cannot afford to have one of their crucial players not be playing regular football in their bid to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Brighton are not in need of him, currently being backed in the football betting odds at 5/1 to be relegated from the Premier League, highlighting the strength of their position in the table.

A move elsewhere could give Jahanbakhsh a new lease of life. He would not be the first player to have switched to the Premier League from Eredivisie and struggled, then transferred to another country to regain his form. Memphis Depay was a big-name signing for Manchester United under Louis van Gaal in 2015, joining the Red Devils for £25m from PSV Eindhoven.

Depay was a player on the rise, but could not find his peak levels of performance for United, scoring only twice in the top flight in 29 games. He was moved on after Van Gaal was sacked by Jose Mourinho, with the Dutchman completing a transfer to Lyon. Depay has gone from strength-to-strength in Ligue 1, becoming one of the division’s top players. The 25-year-old has become a key cog in an improving Netherlands’ outfit under the tenure of Ronald Koeman.

It proves that it’s hard to write off a player after minimal exposure in the Premier League. Sometimes it takes time for players to blossom and it could be what Jahanbakhsh needs is to find a new club either on loan or a permanent move to rediscover his touch on the pitch.