Is it a bit far-fetched or even just wishful thinking? Can a less glamorous, or should that just be less wealthy, club get in on the Champions League action for once? Brighton owner Tony Bloom, with his business acumen and his renowned methodology, has got some previous here.

Last season, he invested some money – and even more know-how – into Hearts and they came within three minutes of winning the Scottish Premiership title.

This might not seem such a big deal, but Celtic and Rangers not only have massively bigger budgets than Hearts, between them they have won every league title since 1985, when Sir Alex Ferguson was manager of champions Aberdeen .

Bloom has shown that he can produce what is considered the impossible. His is a slow, sure, methodical build, not just a flash in the pan after splashing the cash.

Brighton are head and shoulders above everyone else for buying young talent and selling them at a huge profit, while seemingly not appearing to miss them when they have gone.

On the current trajectory, do not count Brighton out of a top-six finish. They are now as good on the pitch as they are off it.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here .