Brighton and Hove Albion have truly turned their form around this season, and while the praise has gone to the leader and legend Pascal Groß, there is another Albion midfielder who has caught the eye in the early stages of the new season. The next £100 million-plus sale for Albion, or finally one who wants to become a legend?

Malick Yalcouyé is a very exciting young talent. Energetic, ready, and beginning to demand a place in the team. Incredibly consistent, good in the challenge, technically wonderful on the ball and ticks every box to be labelled the 'mini N'Golo Kanté'.

The Ivorian midfielder has been at the club since 2024 and seems to be a revelation for Fabian Hürzeler's side. Yalcouyé is one of those players who only comes around every so often, but has to be enjoyed when he is on the pitch.

Covering significant ground, the 20-year-old is only 5 ft 6 in and officially weighs around 58kg, but will gladly put a strong challenge to anyone. 

He possesses a sharp burst of pace, the intelligence to read the game and is capable of spectacular line-breaking passes. Additionally, his finishing technique is very strong. Scoring two wonderful goals against both Coventry and Chelsea feels like a nice sign of what is to come for the youngster.

Ironically, his pathway and development hasn't been a linear graph of best fit. His initial loan spell to Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga was very successful.

He stepped up well at a young age to compete in the Champions League and played a consistent role.  During this period of time, many Albion fans relished the opportunity to see how he would develop and wondered if he would become the 'next Carlos Baleba' when he left the club.

While they are totally different profiles of players, it is fair to suggest the production line, as it were, has worked again in that capacity. 

Brighton tend to sign players who may not necessarily be the same, but fit the bill for certain systems, and it would then be up to the head coach to get the best out of what is available to them.

This logic possibly applies best to the midfielders over the years for the Seagulls. Moisés Caicedo was different to Yves Bissouma, just as Baleba was different to both of them. Once again, Yalcouyé is different to all of the above. It is quite astonishing. 

Yalcouyé then went on loan to Swansea City and didn't have his most successful spell on the pitch. Often put out wide, Yalcouyé perhaps didn't have the physicality for the Championship.

However, he gained valuable experience in England, which helped him adapt to the new culture, in turn contributing to his success in the Premier League. The English way is significant for young players, especially for those from different countries who may not be as heavily influenced by the top 5 leagues. 

Another good example of this is Yasin Ayari, who had rather below-par loans at both Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City. Ayari is now comfortably one of the club's best players.

Yalcouyé's exciting and combative style of play has directly helped Hürzeler. For a long time, it feels like the German head coach has been wanting players who would buy into his blend of technical and high-intensity football. This season, it is clear that vision has aligned with both the club and the players.