Hurzeler on 'Baby Rodri', Minteh and transfer dreams

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s Premier League game against Leeds United at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Deadline-day signings Chema Andres, a £15.5m arrival from Stuttgart, and Femi Azeez, who joined from Millwall in a deal worth up to £15m, are both “great characters”.

• Andres, 21, “can definitely be an option” against Leeds on Saturday, but Azeez, 25, who is recovering from an injury, “hopefully will be available for the next game”.
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• On comparisons between Spain Under-21 international midfielder Andres, who has been dubbed the ‘Baby Rodri’, and the World Cup Golden Ball winner: “He has a long way to go and hopefully he can get there one day.”

• On what it would mean to Brighton if Andres lives up to his nickname: “It would be a big one for us but also the whole football world.”

• On whether Yankuba Minteh is committed to the club after Brighton turned down offers for him from Liverpool: “Yes, definitely. He wears the Brighton colours, he wears the Brighton badge.”

• On his challenge to Minteh: “If the whole team is successful and the individual shines then Yankuba will get a lot of attention again and he can then maybe fulfil his dream in the next transfer window.”

Deadline-day signings Chema Andres, a £15.5m arrival from Stuttgart, and Femi Azeez, who joined from Millwall in a deal worth up to £15m, are both “great characters”.

Andres, 21, “can definitely be an option” against Leeds on Saturday, but Azeez, 25, who is recovering from an injury, “hopefully will be available for the next game”.

On comparisons between Spain Under-21 international midfielder Andres, who has been dubbed the ‘Baby Rodri’, and the World Cup Golden Ball winner: “He has a long way to go and hopefully he can get there one day.”

On what it would mean to Brighton if Andres lives up to his nickname: “It would be a big one for us but also the whole football world.”

On whether Yankuba Minteh is committed to the club after Brighton turned down offers for him from Liverpool: “Yes, definitely. He wears the Brighton colours, he wears the Brighton badge.”

On his challenge to Minteh: “If the whole team is successful and the individual shines then Yankuba will get a lot of attention again and he can then maybe fulfil his dream in the next transfer window.”