Former Sunderland flop Jason Steele has now emerged as a key man in Brighton's European push under Roberto De Zerbi. The for Black Cats goalkeeper, who signed a four-year deal with the Wearsiders after they were relegated to the championship in 2017, but would spend just one season at the Stadium of Light coinciding with their relegation to League One.
Steele made 15 appearances that season for the Black Cats, and was set for a January loan move to Derby County in 2018, only for the Rams to pull the plug on the move at the 11th hour. He signed for Brighton in the summer of 2018, penning a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
The 32-year-old has seen been back-up to first-choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez for the majority of his time on the south coast, but he made just his second Premier League appearance for the Gulls in their 4-0 win over West Ham, with Sanchez dropping to the bench.
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De Zerbi told The Argus: “I am sad for Robert because with him I have one of the best relationships. I spoke with him yesterday but I think my job is to be a coach.
"You have to be honest and clear and Jason now is playing better than Robert. Robert is playing well but Jason was fantastic in build-up, for example, in my style.
“Maybe he is closer than Roberto to my style. But I think Robert can work to arrive at the same level.
“Okay, there are different characteristics, I understand, but Robert is a good guy and I think he will want to improve in this aspect.”
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