Tony Bloom has revealed why Albion invested big this summer – and why it could not be with Roberto De Zerbi.

The Seagulls chairman has targeted an immediate return to Europe under head coach Fabian Huerzeler.

He has backed him in record-breaking style, making Albion the biggest nett-spenders in Europe this summer.

READ MORE: BLOOM BREAKS DOWN ALBION’S TRANSFER WINDOW 

That investment comes after transfer windows in which they had earned a reputation for selling players for big fees.

Now, Bloom has pinpointed the role played by his head coaches in player recruitment – and how Huerzeler has bought into that.

Bloom said: “In the summer transfer window when Roberto was here, we also spent quite a bit of money.

“The process hasn’t changed. The philosophy hasn’t changed.

“But I think it is fair to say that Fabian has bought into it a lot more than his predecessor.

“Roberto had thoughts on certain players but that is not the way we as a club work.

“The club will decide on the players potentially to bring into the club, in conjunction with the head coach.

“But it’s not a situation where the head coach says, ‘I like this player and that player and that player’ and that’s what we do.

“No, if a head coach has some ideas, that comes in as part of the process but a head coach really liking a player has got to fit many characteristics.

“It has got to fit with the data analysis that we do so it is a part of the process, it’s not like some clubs who work with the head coach saying ‘I want this player and that player and that player’.

“When Roberto came in, we explained the philosophy of the club and the process of the club.

“We had two really good seasons with Roberto.

“We had an amazing season when we qualified for Europe and when we had discussions towards the end of the season it made sense that we were going to part ways amicably.

“If there is non-alignment between the head coach and the club, then things are never going to work out long-term.”