Premier League

Ranking every Manchester United No. 9 of the Premier League era
Features, Premier League

Ranking every Manchester United No. 9 of the Premier League era

Although Manchester United have a storied history, the No. 9 is synonymous with just one player, and that is the most important player of the club's past, Sir Bobby Charlton. In the Premier League era, the No. 9 kit has been given to some high-profile transfers, but, in many ways, it has bounced around since 1992, with even the likes of Paul Scholes and Roy Keane donning it. More recently, Manchester United have tried giving the iconic shirt to players like Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku after they were marquee signings, but neither ended up panning out. Big-name short-term signings like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Radamel Falcao have worn the No. 9 kit, too, but they made even less of an impact at Old Trafford. Here are the five strikers who wore the No. 9 at Manchester United a...
Chelsea might be trying to poach Brighton’s most valuable transfer commodity
Features, Premier League

Chelsea might be trying to poach Brighton’s most valuable transfer commodity

After gazumping Brighton to the signing of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall earlier in the transfer window, Chelsea are now considering signing one of the Seagulls’ best players. According to transfer reporter Ben Jacobs, the Blues “admire” Brighton left winger Kaoru Mitoma.  Given that seemingly three quarters of the Stamford Bridge front office worked at Brighton before joining Chelsea, this is not surprising. However, it would be a slightly outside-the-box signing for the Blues given the other players they have been linked with. As Jacobs explained, Chelsea are looking at a number of young left-sided attackers. Leeds United’s Crysencio Summerville, who has also been linked to Brighton, is one of Chelsea’s top transfer targets. 19-year-old Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa and breakout Ukra...
Brighton’s predicted best XI with Mats Wieffer
Features, Premier League

Brighton’s predicted best XI with Mats Wieffer

Brighton are set to sign Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer. The 24-year-old was one of the best young players in the Eredivisie and has the potential to be one of Premier League’s best midfielders. For Brighton, Wieffer gives the Seagulls physicality in their midfield that they severely missed last season after selling Moises Caicedo. He was second in the league for blocks and in the top ten for interceptions, tackles, and dribblers tackled.  Wieffer’s passing ability is also very impressive. He ranked in the top ten for passes into the final third, progressive passes, and for a number of other passing metrics. This was mostly due to Arne Slot’s system, but Wieffer was key to that system, so I can’t knock him too much.  Here’s how new Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler’s system coul...
Brighton fans get highly optimistic update on futures of two stars primed for potential exit
Features, Premier League

Brighton fans get highly optimistic update on futures of two stars primed for potential exit

Deniz Undav and Pascal Groß looked sure to leave Brighton this summer. Now, it seems like the Seagulls’ two star Germans might be sticking around for at least another season.  Brighton Technical Director David Weir told The Athletic that the club’s chances of holding onto both Undav and Groß are “very high.” “They are contracted to Brighton and they are players that have done well for us,” Weir said, “hey are two players that we are expecting to be back with us and looking forward to being part of our squad. A lot of things have been written and said, but ultimately nothing has changed from our perspective.” The former Scotland international also revealed that Brighton’s new manager Fabian Hürzeler has already spoken to Undav and Groß.  “They are players we really like, Fabian ...
Are West Ham willing to pay what it takes to sign a true top CB?
Features, Premier League

Are West Ham willing to pay what it takes to sign a true top CB?

West Ham have launched an ambitious plan to sign one of the most in-demand center backs in Europe. The Hammers have reportedly bid €35m for Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo.  Sky Sports has reported that the bid was rejected. Other outlets claim Nice will hold out for €50m or more. West Ham’s current record record signing is Lucas Paquetá, who they signed from Lyonnais for around €60m.  Betting scandal aside, Paquetá rapidly became one of the best players at his position and helped West Ham reach another level. Todibo has the chance to do the same.  Kurt Zouma and Konstantinos Mavropanos are solid Premier League center backs, but neither are as good with the ball at their feet as Todibo. A player with the Frenchman’s skills will be essential to playing more progressive football under new ...
Fabian Hurzeler has approved Brighton’s newest transfer priority
Features, Premier League

Fabian Hurzeler has approved Brighton’s newest transfer priority

Roberto De Zerbi left Brighton earlier this year because of disagreements with club owner Tony Bloom about the club’s transfer strategy. New manager Fabian Hürzeler, meanwhile, is in full agreement with the club about one of Brighton’s biggest transfer targets.  According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Hürzeler has approved the club’s pursuit of young Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer.  Brighton have opened talks with Wieffer’s agents, and reportedly, the player is very keen to join Brighton. However, the Seagulls are not the only club in the running to sign the 24 year old.  Wieffer is a top target for AC Milan. Liverpool, Tottenham, and other top European clubs are also monitoring the Dutch international’s transfer situation. Feyenoord are asking for £30m or more for Wieffer....
Brighton are pursuing another high-upside attacker after Minteh signing
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Brighton are pursuing another high-upside attacker after Minteh signing

Brighton’s signing of Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle for £30m is one of the biggest deals of the Premier League transfer window so far. Despite that massive deal, the Seagulls are not done spending. Reports claim Brighton have bid £30m for Leeds United forward Georginio Rutter.  The Whites reportedly rejected the bid, hoping to hold on to the 22-year-old for one more season. It is unclear how much Brighton would actually need to spend to pry him away from Leeds.  Rutter started 44 of Leeds’ 46 games in the Championship last season, primarily playing as a No. 10 or second striker behind a more natural goal-scorer up front. From that position, Rutter scored 6 goals and had 16 assists in the league. Ipswich Town’s Leif Davis was the only player in the Championship with more assists than ...
Brighton are looking to the Championship’s best for proven depth at a position of need
Features, Premier League

Brighton are looking to the Championship’s best for proven depth at a position of need

After hiring new manager Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton are looking to bring in reinforcements at one of the thinnest positions in their squad. The Seagulls have been linked to multiple right backs, including Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters.  The former England international has just one year left on his Saints contract. He is reportedly very open to a move this summer. If he does not sign a new contract soon, it is very likely Southampton will look to offload him this summer instead of losing him for nothing next year.  Brighton, West Ham, and his former club Tottenham have all been linked to Walker-Peters. Most reports claim Southampton want £20m for him. At 27-years-old, Walker-Peters is slightly older than most Brighton transfer targets. Spending £20m on a player with low resale p...
Brighton are eyeing one of Euro 2024’s biggest breakout stories in defense
Features, Premier League

Brighton are eyeing one of Euro 2024’s biggest breakout stories in defense

Brighton are looking to finally reinforce at the right back position. After years of relying on Tariq Lamptey and Joel Veltman, the Seagulls have identified multiple right back targets for the 2024 summer transfer window. One of top names on Brighton’s shortlist is Andrei Rațiu.  Both Diario AS in Spain and top Brighton reporter Andy Naylor claim the Seagulls are interested in signing the 26-year-old. Rațiu has been one of the top players at Euro 2024. His bombs forward from the right back position and blue hair has made him one of the icons of the tournament that people will remember when looking back on the 2024 tournament.  If you hadn’t heard of Rațiu before the Euros, I don’t blame you. He is a second string right back for Rayo Vallecano, who finished 17th in La Liga last sea...
Brighton stand a good chance at bringing in an even better Feyenoord player alongside Yankuba Minteh
Features, Premier League

Brighton stand a good chance at bringing in an even better Feyenoord player alongside Yankuba Minteh

Brighton officially signed Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh on Sunday for £30 million. The 19-year-old Gambian spent last season on loan with Feyenoord. The Seagulls were clearly watching that side closely as they have now been linked to another top star from Arne Slot’s former team.  According to 1908.nl, Brighton have made Feyenoord’s Mats Wieffer one of their top transfer targets. The Seagulls have already had a bid rejected. However, they are expected to make another push to sign him soon.  Wieffer started 29 matches in the Eredivisie for Feyenoord last season and was one of the brightest young players in the entire division.  Playing as a double-pivot in a 4-2-3-1 or as a roaming No. 8 in a 4-3-3, Wieffer was at the center of everything Feyenoord did last season. The 24-year-o...