All posts by z3u9t.icu

It is make or break for Sunderland this afternoon as their 2024/25 campaign will be defined by the outcome of today’s Championship play-off final clash with Sheffield United.

The Black Cats beat Coventry City 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the play-offs, thanks to a dramatic late winner in extra-time from central defender Dan Ballard, sending the Stadium of Light into raptures.

Regis Le Bris now faces the unenviable task of selecting the right starting XI to take to the field against Sheffield United this afternoon at Wembley, and Chris Rigg is one player who should be brought back in.

Why Chris Rigg should start

Sunderland know that this is a high-stakes game and that any small errors could be the difference between another season in the Championship or playing Premier League football in the 2025/26 campaign.

Therefore, it could make sense to bring in another midfielder who can provide solidity just ahead of Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham, making it even harder for the Blades to break them down.

In the regular Championship season, Rigg won four duels per game on average, winning 47% of his battles overall, and averaged 1.6 tackles and interceptions per game, without a single error that led to a goal or a penalty for the opposition.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

This means that the teenage midfielder would add another layer of defensive insurance ahead of the back four by coming into the side, but it would also mean that Eliezer Mayenda would have to drop to the bench to make way for the English ace to play behind Wilson Isidor.

Why Eliezer Mayenda should be dropped

Le Bris should ruthlessly drop the 20-year-old starlet to the bench for today’s final in order to make room for Rigg to provide a reliable presence at the top of the midfield.

This would also provide Mayenda with the opportunity to come on as an impact substitute, which suits his style of play with his directness and pace on the counter-attack, as he could cause problems for a tired Sheffield United defence late on.

His disappointing performance against Coventry in the second leg of the semi-final, though, suggests that it may be too much of a gamble to play him from the start.

Minutes

120

Goals + assists

0

Successful dribbles

2/6

Pass accuracy

29% (2/7)

Duels won

6/18

Key passes

0

Possession lost

15x

As you can see in the table above, Mayenda played the full 120 minutes against the Sky Blues and only completed two passes, without creating any chances, and lost the vast majority of his duels.

This suggests that he could be a liability in the final from the start if he produced a similar kind of performance, as the Sheffield United players could find it too easy to beat him in duels and to intercept his passes.

Therefore, dropping him for Rigg, who has won 47% of his duels and completed 79% of his passes in the Championship, could increase Sunderland’s chances of being solid from the start.

Le Bris would then have the option to bring Mayenda’s pace off the bench to make an impact late on, by taking Rigg off to play the Frenchman in a front two with Isidor, which is why this could be a good tactical move for multiple reasons.

Le Fee 2.0: Sunderland set sights on signing "fantastic" star from France

Sunderland could be about to pick up their next Enzo Le Fee with this summer buy.

ByKelan Sarson May 21, 2025

Manchester City’s strong end to the season continues.

On Friday night, the Sky Blues beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at the Etihad with, who else, Kevin De Bruyne the only scorer.

Having now won four Premier League games on the spin, Pep Guardiola’s team now have second place well within their sights, widely expected to continue their winning streak on Saturday, considering they’ll be facing rock-bottom Southampton.

Despite this recent upturn in form, which includes reaching a third successive FA Cup Final, Guardiola still insists that this season has been a disaster, hence why he’s planning to spend big this summer, so could he go shopping within the league?

Manchester City's midfield target

The Blues are lining up a big-money move this summer with the likes of £100m-rated Morgan Gibbs-White now in their sights and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz also a target.

That said, could it be another Premier League star who Pep and Co turn to?

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, according to a report in Spain, Manchester City ‘have submitted’ an offer of £55m to Tottenham Hotspur for the services of James Maddison, who they claim is viewed as the long-term ‘successor’ to the outgoing De Bruyne.

Maddison would surely add a touch of creativity and vision to Man City’s midfield, something that has been lacking throughout this season.

The 28-year-old England international joined Spurs from Leicester City for a reported fee of £40m two summers ago but, with Tottenham currently down in 16th, no European football next season could force them to sell key assets, unless they’re able to win the Europa League of course.

So, would Maddison be a good signing for Manchester City, and which recent move would this be reminiscent of?

How Maddison compares to Jack Grealish

Of course, the Sky Blues are no strangers to signing high-profile English international attacking midfielders from within the Premier League, breaking the then-British transfer record to secure the services of Jack Grealish for £100m in 2021.

Now coming towards the end of his fourth season at the Etihad, Grealish’s Man City career can be split into two distinct parts, as the table below outlines.

Appearances

39

50

36

31

Minutes

2,730

3,487

2,114

1,520

Goals

6

5

3

3

Assists

4

11

3

5

As the numbers emphasise, during Grealish’s first two seasons in Manchester, he was a regular starter and key contributor, but this has certainly not been the case during this campaign or the last, starting only one Premier League fixture since Christmas.

So, would Maddison be able to replicate the form of great Grealish should he make the move to the Etihad?

Well, let’s compare the duo this season to help answer that question.

Appearances

31

45

Minutes

1,520

2,717

Goals

3

12

Assists

5

11

Goals – xG

+0.1

+4.2

Shots on target %

32.3%

46.6%

Pass completion %

87.7%

81.5%

Attempted take-ons

37

106

Take-on success %

37.8%

41.5%

Big chances created

3

8

Progressive carries

92

62

Progressive passes

71

221

Touches per 90

36

66

As the table highlights, Maddison’s statistics this season are almost universally more impressive than Grealish’s for every metric included.

He’s certainly a more progressive passer, while simply on goals and assists alone, the Spurs star – who is “unbelievable” in the eyes of Sky Sports pundit Darren Ambrose – has a lot more end product.

The one problem could be that Maddison’s season may actually be over.

Ange Postecoglou stated that he is “concerned” his star midfielder could require knee surgery, which would be a major blow because, as Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic argues, he might just be Tottenham’s most-important player, given ‘how good he is at finding those pockets of space’.

Thus, any potential summer sale would be a massive blow for Spurs but, on the flip side, this would be a major coup for Man City.

He'd be amazing with Haaland: Man City pushing to sign £100m "magician"

Erling Haaland could be boosted in attack if Manchester City snap up this exciting star.

ByKelan Sarson May 4, 2025

All roads lead to Bilbao in the Europa League, with Manchester United still left with a glimmer of hope regarding the chance to end this wretched campaign on a real high.

For a third successive campaign, the Red Devils could round off the season with a notable piece of silverware. Even in the most desperate of times, this team can still pull a rabbit out of the hat.

European glory and the ensuing Champions League qualification would certainly be something to cherish, although it should not mask the task ahead for new boss Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese coach still yet to truly revive this sinking ship.

Currently residing in 14th in the Premier League, the Old Trafford side have now scored just once across their last four top-flight outings – a fact that has only heightened the need to bolster the forward line this summer.

With the likes of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony all looking set to depart permanently this summer following their respective loan moves, the hope will be that funds will be available to revive this limp attacking unit.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

53

29

10

Romelu Lukaku

96

42

12

Odion Ighalo

23

5

1

Edinson Cavani

59

19

6

Cristiano Ronaldo (2nd spell)

54

27

5

Wout Weghorst

31

2

3

Anthony Martial

317

90

46

Rasmus Hojlund

88

24

6

According to recent reports, it already looks as if INEOS have settled on their first leading target, ahead of strengthening for next season.

Latest Man Utd transfer news

With few distractions, outside of Europa League action, the remainder of the campaign should well be used to get ahead on the transfer front. No longer should United be left scrambling around in August or on deadline day.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Thankfully, the new INEOS regime appear to be keen to avoid that latter scenario, with reports already rife that the Red Devils are progressing with regard to the potential signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has outlined that United are in pole position for the Brazilian’s signature, with The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell since adding that positive talks have been held regarding the 25-year-old’s personal terms.

That comes amid claims from the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones that suggested Amorim and co are even ‘inching closer to an agreement’ for the former Atletico Madrid man, albeit with United still needing to activate his £62.5m release clause.

Jones went on to add that INEOS are keen to get terms agreed by next month, to ensure that ‘they still have headroom under Profit and Sustainability Rules’, with it likely to be the case that the club will need to sell to buy if notable deals are to be made this summer.

Having seemingly fended off competition from the likes of Newcastle United, it looks as if United are closing in on the signing of such a leading Premier League talent…

Why Man Utd could be set to sign the next Cantona & Berbatov

It has been a common theme in the Premier League era – particularly during Sir Alex Ferguson’s glory days – for United to try and raid the rest of the division for the best attacking talents, be it Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha, Robin van Persie, Dimitar Berbatov and, of course, Eric Cantona.

There are certainly shades of the latter two with regard to Cunha, with the £90k-per-week star something of a “maverick” and a “flawed genius”, in the words of journalist Nathan Juddah, albeit while combining that with his status as a “match-winner” and a “superstar”.

Those are no doubt traits shared by the great Cantona, in particular, with the iconic Frenchman a truly enigmatic and talismanic figure for United, following his arrival from rivals Leeds United on a £1.2m deal in November 1992.

The driving force of United’s domestic dominance in the early 90s, ‘King Eric’ went on to claim four league titles during his stint in Manchester, while racking up 82 goals in 182 games for the club in total.

With his collar up and chest out, the beloved forward strutted his stuff around the Old Trafford turf, combining moments of magic on the pitch, with his at-times colourful actions off it. Who can forget that Kung-Fu kick at Selhurst Park.

Cunha, meanwhile, mirrors that knack for going from the sublime to the ridiculous, with 2024/25 alone seeing him memorably score directly from a corner against Amorim’s side on Boxing Day, albeit while since receiving two separate suspensions for off-the-ball altercations.

Like Cantona, the one-time RB Leipzig man can be hot-headed, but more importantly, however, he appears to relish his talismanic status at Molineux, having now scored 14 league goals this season, after netting 12 times in 2023/24.

Capable of operating as a centre-forward or off the front – again, like Cantona – the ‘maverick’ Brazil international has that ability to switch it on in an instant, as he actually tops the division for most time spent walking on the pitch, excluding goalkeepers.

That at-times ‘lazy’ quality is something that was shared by the aforementioned Berbatov, albeit with the Bulgarian – who signed from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2008 – subsequently outlining the benefits of that approach:

The silky striker memorably claimed the top-flight Golden Boot as United romped to the title in the 2010/11 campaign, having also possessed that Cantona-esque knack for the spectacular, be it his touchline trickery against West Ham United, or his overhead-kick as part of a treble against Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Cunha – who scored from range out of nothing at Anfield back in March – can also conjure up a magic moment in an instant, with the Red Devils needing that ‘maverick’ talent to revive this lifeless frontline.

Like Cantona and Berbatov before him, the 25-year-old certainly isn’t perfect, but he is a showman. It doesn’t appear that the United jersey would weigh too heavy on him…

Romano: What we know so far about Man Utd's £62.5m talks for Matheus Cunha

This would be some coup.

ByBarney Lane Apr 22, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur have been tipped to appoint a 52-year-old after he was spotted at the Spurs stadium recently, which also follows his rumoured talks with chairman Daniel Levy.

Ange Postecoglou facing sack as Tottenham make boardroom change

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou’s long-term future will seriously hinge on their Europa League quarter-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt next week.

Tottenham make contact with former manager as Levy hatches transfer plan

Spurs have reached out to their ex-boss.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 11, 2025

Fabrizio Romano is among the credible media sources to report that there is a strong possibility Postecoglou will be dismissed if Tottenham fail to mount an impressive run in Europe, so the pressure is on the 59-year-old to get it right during their return leg in Germany.

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Tottenham have identified a few candidates to replace Postecoglou already, including Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who is seen as a top target for the Lilywhites alongside the likes of Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Fulham boss Marco Silva (The Athletic).

All of this comes amid their fresh appointment of new CEO Vinai Venkatesham, who will officially commence his role this summer after swapping Arsenal for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It is a hire which could have major implications on Levy’s influence and the running of the club, with Venkatesham set to oversee both on-field and off-field matters in a very senior role (Dave Hytner).

His arrival will also have a big say on whether Tottenham end up re-hiring former managing director Fabio Paratici.

After he resigned from his post in 2023, due to a worldwide ban from football, that sentence is set to end on June 30th – and Spurs have reportedly been pursuing a return for Paratici.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey and other reports in Italy, Levy has held talks with Paratici over re-joining Tottenham, and the Lilywhites chief was thought to be “working hard” to bring him back to N17.

Milan’s recent negotiations to appoint Paratici also collapsed last week, handing Spurs a potential free run.

Tottenham tipped to appoint Fabio Paratici after Daniel Levy talks

Interestingly, Paratici was spotted at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, sitting in the stands as he watched Postecoglou’s side draw 1-1 with Frankfurt.

After seeing this image, following on from these alleged Levy talks, pundit John Wenham is convinced that Paratici is returning to Tottenham, and the Italian could already be working on a replacement for Postecoglou.

“If Postecoglou is sacked, I’m not sure who will come in until the end of the season,” Wenham said to Tottenham News.

“We will have to wait and see. However, we saw that Paratici was at the stadium again on Thursday, sitting with the club legends. Therefore, it looks like he is coming back, and perhaps he is already lining up a new manager to replace Postecoglou.”

He would be a controversial hire after his footballing ban, but sections of supporters are keen for it to happen.

Paratici played a key role in their appointment of Antonio Conte, whilst also orchestrating deals for Rodrigo Bentancur, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma, Cristian Romero, Pedro Porro, Djed Spence, Destiny Udogie and Pape Sarr, who’ve all gone on to impress since joining Spurs.

When West Bromwich Albion handed Tony Mowbray the reins for his second spell at the Baggies, another promotion, one that the impressive Carlos Corberan failed to deliver, was being dreamt of.

Indeed, Mowbray has been here before when guiding West Brom triumphantly to the Championship title back in 2008, with his task in the here and now to steer the West Midlands outfit to a playoff finish.

Part of that great side were players like Graham Dorrans, James Morrison, Robert Koren and, of course, Jonas Olsson.

Perhaps Mowbray has found his next version of the big Swede in 2025.

Jonas Olsson's time at West Brom

Last time the current manager took West Brom up to the promised land of English football, Mowbray did, unfortunately send his side straight back down.

But, the dismal relegation that did occur at the end of the 2008/09 season – which ultimately cost the manager his job – didn’t mean it was all doom and gloom at the Hawthorns, with Olsson sticking out as a formidable performer even as the Premier League slipped out of his new team’s grasp.

In total, the Swedish powerhouse tallied up 261 appearances donning a Baggies strip, with this unfortunate relegation blot on his resume not deterring him from going on to amass eight goals and six assists in the Premier League from 201 clashes.

Often using his towering 6 foot 5 frame to resiliently battle and grind out important wins, there’s one player in Mowbray’s current camp who bares similarities to the modern West Brom icon by displaying equal amounts of grit.

West Brom's new version of Olsson

The second-tier promotion chasers were very proactive in the busy January market, with the likes of EFL sharpshooter Adam Armstrong joining the ranks on loan, alongside Tammer Bany joining from Scandinavia in a surprise switch.

Amazingly, this isn’t the only pursuit from this neck of the woods that West Brom have signed off on in recent times, as tough defensive battler Torbjørn Heggem joined from Swedish top-flight side IF Brommapojkarna for a modest £500k last summer.

Heggem has managed to instantly fit in – much like Olsson after his move in 2008 – with a header being powered home back in December eerily similar to the many goals the Swede scored in crucial moments.

Moreover, the ex-Brommapojkarna titan has managed to shore up Mowbray’s side like the memorable number 4 before him, seen in Heggem winning a high five duels on average per Championship clash.

Games played

39

Games started

39

Goals scored

1

Assists

2

Touches*

67.8

Accurate passes*

44.5 (88%)

Ball recoveries*

3.3

Clearances*

4.9

Total duels won*

5.0

Clean sheets

12

The “outstanding” summer recruit – as he’s been lauded by pundit Carlton Palmer for his Baggies heroics – has also managed to collect 12 clean sheets from his 39 second-tier appearances, resulting in Heggem cementing himself as a regular by missing zero Championship games this season.

Heggem would love to round off his stunning debut season in England with a promotion in hand, as the 26-year-old no-nonsense defender potentially becomes more and more like West Brom’s next Olsson if he passes any upcoming hurdles in front of him with flying colours.

Best signing since Pereira: West Brom have struck gold on "special" star

West Bromwich Albion struck gold when snapping up this lethal attacker.

ByKelan Sarson Mar 31, 2025

Newcastle United are on a high after claiming the Carabao Cup and will look to build on their success this summer as Eddie Howe builds a legacy on Tyneside.

Newcastle look to secure Champions League slot ahead of summer window

While the dust has barely settled on a whirlwind cup win for Eddie Howe, the Magpies know they will be in the Europa Conference League at the very least next season after a famous Wembley triumph over Liverpool before the international break.

Enjoying a free weekend, Newcastle return to action against Brentford next Wednesday as their pursuit of a top four Premier League finish continues. Five English teams are likely to earn admittance to next season’s Champions League based on current trends, which may open up further leeway for a return to Europe’s premier competition in the North East.

In turn, the opportunity to compete against the best is bound to attract prospective recruits. According to reports, Fiorentina’s Moise Kean is on the Geordies’ wishlist as speculation over Alexander Isak’s future dominates headlines.

Callum Wilson could leave on a free transfer and may be joined by several experienced first-team stars to make way for new blood at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United contracts expiring in 2025

Callum Wilson

No option

Fabian Schar

No option

Jamaal Lascelles

No option

Jamal Lewis

No option

Mark Gillespie

No option

John Ruddy

No option

Defensively, Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah is a target to replenish Newcastle’s backline and may be available in the summer to the tune of £30 million plus add-ons.

Refreshing a squad with several players coming to the end of their cycle is the priority for Howe, who now has a financially advantegeous deal in his sights ahead of the window opening for business.

Newcastle make contact over deal for Lille forward Jonathan David

Joining the pursuit of one of the hottest properties on the market, Newcastle have made contact with Lille star Jonathan David’s representatives over the possibility of a free transfer to St James’ Park this summer.

Liverpool, Manchester United, West Ham United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are also in the mix for his signature, competing against suitors such as Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Inter Milan from further afield.

Better dribbler than Gordon: Newcastle now plotting to sign "crazy" winger

He’s free to leave his current club.

1 ByTom Cunningham Mar 26, 2025

Labelled “unique” by Canada boss Jesse Marsch, David has registered 23 goals and ten assists in 41 appearances across all competitions this campaign. PIF have spent a considerable amount since taking over in the North East, but will hope they can pull off a masterstroke by landing a prolific soon-to-be free agent at no cost to bolster the ranks.

Showcasing his capacity to fit the brief of a modern centre-forward, the Brooklyn-born man has laid on 27 chances for his teammates in Ligue 1 – he is far more than just a goalscorer.

Like any high-profile star at a career crossroads, on-field minutes are likely to determine where he becomes most enthusiastic about heading to in the coming months. Now, the onus is on Newcastle to convince David he can become a regular under Howe.

With their sights set on promotion, Leeds United are set to be handed the boost of a returning player when they square off against Queens Park Rangers this weekend.

Leeds recieve fresh injury boost

There may have been a sigh of relief around Elland Road when Leeds overcame Millwall to win 2-0 and instantly got back to winning ways after suffering shock defeat against Portsmouth just days before. Back on track, Daniel Farke’s side now sit two points above second placed Sheffield United and four clear of Burnley in third with just nine games left to play in the Championship.

Those in Yorkshire will be more aware than most that it’s not done until their place in the Premier League is confirmed and, as ever, they face a nervous final stretch towards potential promotion.

With nine finals remaining, Farke will need to use the quality of his squad more than ever. It is a side full of talent, from the likes of Manor Solomon – who has rediscovered his best form – to important midfielder Ao Tanaka. Now, that side must simply hold their nerve.

What will undoubtedly help them do just that is the boost of recent injury news. As revealed by Farke, Isaac Schmidt is now set to make his return against QPR after returning to training. The defender missed the victory over Millwall through illness but has seemingly since recovered in time for this weekend.

49ers eyeing Leeds move to sign £8m+ striker who already knows Ramazani

He’s been compared to Lukaku.

ByCharlie Smith Mar 14, 2025

Speaking to reporters about his side’s injury status, Farke said: “As it stands I hope I have that whole group plus Isaac Schmidt to pick from for the travelling squad.

“In terms of the starting line-up and who has recovered, we’ll make some late decisions. This turnaround is a bit more tricky. We had more or less 80 hours to recover for Millwall, this time around just over 60 hours. It will be a bit more tricky. Travelling is involved of course.”

Every player counts for Leeds in vital run

Whilst Schmidt hasn’t been one to steal the headlines throughout the current campaign, often watching on from the bench, he could be thrust into Farke’s side at any given moment and he, like others, must help the Whites in their push for promotion.

Having arrived in the summer, Schmidt has found himself at the centre of Farke’s praise even whilst playing a cameo role. The former Norwich City boss told reporters earlier this season: “Great guy, a bit like I mention also about all our new signings.

“I think still at a really good age because he is more likely still on his way up the hill in his career. Great mentality, also desperate to play for the shirt, desperate to play for us, great character, so really nice guy and really nice team-mate.”

Now back from a brief absence, Schmidt will no doubt have his sights set on putting every minute that he does receive to good use as he aims to leave his mark on Leeds’ promotion push.

Brighton & Hove Albion take on Chelsea in the FA Cup on Saturday evening, with the two Premier League sides looking to book a spot in the last 16.

The Seagulls, who have never won the famous cup competition, host the Blues, who have lifted the trophy on eight occasions.

FA Cup 2024/25: Cup final details, results, TV picks & more

Find all the latest and key FA Cup info here ahead of the weekend’s final between Crystal Palace and Manchester City.

1 ByRoss Kilvington May 12, 2025

Both clubs will fancy their chances of making it to Wembley come May, with this meeting a welcome distraction from the pressures of the Premier League.

Brighton v Chelsea team news Brighton

The Seagulls have a long injury list with Mats Wieffer, Jason Steele, James Milner, Solly March, Ferdi Kadioglu, Carlos Baleba, Yasin Ayari, Igor and Pervis Estupinan all missing last time out against Nottingham Forest.

Fabian Hürzeler has revealed that Wieffer is back in training and March is making good progress, however, none of the players are set to return this weekend.

Chelsea

Chelsea’s absentees last time out were Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile, and Omari Kellyman. All of them look set to miss the match against Brighton.

Marc Guiu has also suffered a ‘bad’ injury, as revealed by Enzo Maresca, whereas Nicolas Jackson is also a doubt for the trip to south coast.

Where to watch Brighton v Chelsea on TV

The fixture between Brighton and Chelsea was selected to be shown live by ITV. Scheduled to kick-off at 8pm (GMT) on Saturday 8, February, ITV4 will broadcast the match live, whereas viewers can also stream the game on ITVX.

In the USA, the match will be streamed on ESPN+, and in Canada, live on TV with channel Sportsnet.

Brighton v Chelsea referee and is there VAR?

Despite the match being played by two Premier League clubs, there will be no VAR for the fourth-round tie, with the FA deciding to introduce Video Assistant Referees from the fifth round.

Therefore, the man with all the power will be referee Jarred Gillett. The Australian will be assisted by Darren Cann and Sam Lewis, with the fourth official being Stephen Martin. Gillett, 38, has taken charge of eight Chelsea games and seven for Brighton in the past.

Games

7

8

Record

4W, 0D, 3L

3W, 4D, 1L

Cards received

9 Yellow, 0 Red

15 Yellow, 1 Red

Cards to opponents

10 Yellow, 0 Red

11 Yellow, 0 Red

Penalties for/against

3/2

3/0

Brighton v Chelsea form Brighton

A few weeks ago, Brighton were on course to be coming into this FA Cup clash in fine form and full of confidence. However, back-to-back defeats in the Premier League to Everton and Nottingham Forest have changed that.

Hürzeler’s side lost 1-0 to Everton then shipped seven against Forest last time out, leaving them 10th in the Premier League.

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

Sat 1st Feb

Nottingham Forest (a)

Premier League

L 7-0

Sat 25th Jan

Everton (h)

Premier League

L 0-1

Sun 19th Jan

Man Utd (a)

Premier League

W 1-3

Thu 16th Jan

Ipswich (a)

Premier League

W 0-2

Sat 11th Jan

Norwich (a)

FA Cup

W 0-4

Chelsea

Meanwhile, Chelsea, who ended 2024 with successive defeats against Fulham and Ipswich Town, have also struggled for consistency which has seen them drift away from the title race.

A defeat to Manchester City last time on their travels, Maresca’s Blues did manage to come from behind to beat West Ham last time out to keep them in the top four.

Date

Opponent

Competition

Result

Mon 3rd Feb

West Ham (h)

Premier League

W 2-1

Sat 25th Jan

Man City (a)

Premier League

L 3-1

Mon 20th Jan

Wolves (h)

Premier League

W 3-1

Tue 14th Jan

Bournemouth (h)

Premier League

D 2-2

Sat 11th Jan

Morecambe (h)

FA Cup

W 5-0

Brighton v Chelsea head-to-head

Before Brighton’s promotion to the Premier League in 2017, the two sides only met on a handful of occasions, with all four of their first games coming in the FA Cup.

The sides met in 1933, twice in 1967 and again in 1973 and overall, it is Chelsea who have the better record between the two sides.

Brighton wins

3

Draws

5

Chelsea wins

16

Manchester United’s quest to return to their former glory has reached an all-time low in 2024/25, with the club registering their lowest ever Premier League finish.

The Red Devils only managed to pick up a total of 42 points from their 38 outings, also their lowest since the division’s formation in 1992, highlighting the work needed this summer.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager tasked with the responsibility of winning the league, after numerous other candidates tried and failed to end their now 14-year drought.

Sir Alex Ferguson was the last person to lift such a trophy at Old Trafford, with millions upon millions of pounds wasted on players who are evidently not at the level required for success in England’s top flight.

The current transfer window is an opportunity to learn from their mistakes in the past and secure top-level talents who can contribute positively to their end goal of once again being a force to be reckoned with.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

Juventus star Dušan Vlahović has emerged as a surprise option for United this summer, with work already being done behind the scenes to complete a deal for the Serbian international.

He’s not the only one, with Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta another player on their shortlist after he scored 17 times this campaign and led the Eagles to an FA Cup triumph.

However, despite the interest in the aforementioned talents, progress has been made on a deal to land Eintracht Frankfurt talisman Hugo Ekitiké, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that talks have already been held with the Frenchman’s representatives over a move to Old Trafford, with a bid expected for his services in the coming days.

It also states that the hierarchy see the 22-year-old as a priority addition this summer, unsurprisingly so given his tally of 22 goals and 12 assists across all competitions this campaign.

One obstacle is likely to be the player’s asking price, reportedly valued at around £85m.

Why United’s latest target would be a better signing than Gyokeres

Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres is another striker who’s been firmly on United’s radar over the last couple of months, with the Swede undoubtedly one of Europe’s hottest prospects at present.

The 27-year-old has caught the eye with his bonkers goalscoring record, notching 54 goals in just 52 appearances across all competitions throughout the 2024/25 season.

Such form, coupled with his previous stint under Amorim, has seen him hugely linked with a move to Old Trafford, but concerns have been raised over his ability to replicate such form in the Premier League.

However, it appears as though the club could be set to miss out on his signature completely, with the talisman personally wanting a move to rivals Arsenal instead this window.

Such a decision will undoubtedly be a blow to the Red Devils’ ambitions within the market, but they shouldn’t worry, with fellow target Ekitike arguably a better addition.

The youngster has already proven his talents in one of Europe’s top five leagues, as seen by his tally of goals this campaign, demonstrating he’s more than capable of carrying such form over to England with him.

Whilst he’s been outscored by Gyokeres, he’s managed to better him in numerous key areas that are vital for a top-level striker, highlighting why he’d be a more effective option for Amorim.

Games played

33

33

Goals scored

15

39

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

75%

71%

Passes into final third

0.8

0.5

Take-on success

47%

45%

Carries into final third

2

1.3

Aerials won

1.8

1.1

Ekitike, who’s been described as the “next Mbappe” by journalist Graeme Bailey, has produced a better goal per shot on target rate, proving that he’s more effective with the opportunities that fall his way in front of goal.

His all-round play is also more impressive than the Swede’s, completing more passes and winning more aerial battles per 90, having the ability to link up with players around him and provide the side with a focal point should they need to be direct.

The French star has also shown evidence that he can produce chances out of nothing, registering more carries into the final third per 90 and completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, subsequently not relying on others around him to hand him an effort at goal.

There’s no denying that both options would massively bolster the attacking unit at Amorim’s disposal, but given the stats produced and the difference in age, there’s no doubt that Ekitike is the more attractive prospect.

If he can replicate such success at Old Trafford, he would certainly become a fan-favourite, potentially playing a huge role in their ambitions of ending their unthinkable wait for a title triumph in the years to come.

The new McTominay: Man Utd moving to sign "one of the best CMs in Serie A"

Manchester United have a player in their sights who could replicate Scott McTominay’s success.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 19, 2025

Nottingham Forest are preparing for their first campaign back in European competition since 1996, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side marking themselves out as last season’s surprise Premier League package.

Nottingham Forest now rivalling Chelsea to sign "complete" £25m midfielder

He’s a wanted man…

ByTom Cunningham Jun 20, 2025

Forest were serious contenders to qualify for the Champions League for a large portion of 2024/2025, but they fell just short on a dramatic final day which eventually saw Newcastle United and Chelsea pip them to a place in the top five.

Aston Villa took the final Europa League spot in sixth, meaning Forest ultimately had to settle for a place in the Conference League, and the far less lucrative prize pool.

In any case, Forest certainly weren’t initially tipped to qualify for Europe and end their near-two-decade-long wait to compete outside English shores, so we can safely call last term an undoubted success for Nuno.

It is now the task of Evangelos Marinakis and the Forest board to build upon their excellent campaign in the transfer market, with Forest also under less PSR pressure than this time last year after earning an extra £32.4 million in Premier League prize money.

Their seventh-placed finish and place in Europe means Forest could “fall a decent way short” of the £85 million they’re permitted to lose this financial year without breaching PSR (The Athletic), meaning Nuno’s side have more wiggle room to spend on summer recruitment.

Forest could still be forced to sell star midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White, considering the England international has just two years remaining on his contract, and he’s shown zero indication that he’s willing to pen an extension at the City Ground (The Mail).

Gibbs-White’s potential sale, combined with both their league and European earnings, looks likely to fund Forest’s summer transfer window as they gear up for a crucial 2025/2026 campaign.

“Nottingham Forest will look to strengthen,” said ex-Premier League chief scout Mick Brown to Football Insider this week.

“Their recruitment has been excellent recently, and they’re able to bring players into an environment where they all work together for the club.”

Forest are targeting new forwards to complement Nuno’s squad and back the Portuguese with more firepower, as they look to compete on multiple fronts, with Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović a serious option for them.

Nottingham Forest hold talks with Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović

The Serbia international is out of contract next summer as things stand, and if the Old Lady cannot agree to extend their talisman’s deal, he could be allowed to leave for as little as £26 million.

That is according to journalist Rudy Galetti, who also told TEAMtalk this week that Forest have contacted Vlahovic’s representatives for discussions in an effort to tempt the centre-forward with a Premier League switch.

The Tricky Trees are described as favourites to sign Vlahovic, who is very keen on a move to England. Despite interest from Serie A heavyweights AC Milan, Forest stands out as the most “concrete” option for him.

Called a “superstar” striker by members of the Italian media, Vlahovic has hit double figures in every single season since 2020/2021, across spells at both Juve and Fiorentina.

The 25-year-old, who won Serbia’s Footballer of the Year award in 2024, would be a bold statement of intent from Forest, but his reported £200,000-per-week wage demands prove a major obstacle.