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Leeds United fans would have been pleased to see the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville line up against Harrogate Town in their side's first pre-season clash in front of supporters, with the terrifying attacking duo given all of the second half to strut their stuff.

Neither would get on the scoresheet, but the in-demand pair would still run rings around the bamboozled League Two outfit's defence on the night, with Daniel Farke's men winning 3-0 at the end of the valuable run-out.

Farke and Co could be facing a losing battle to keep both Leeds stars situated at Elland Road beyond this action-packed transfer window, however, with the Whites now looking at a tricky winger as a possible summer signing.

Leeds interested in exciting Crystal Palace youngster

According to a report from the Daily Mail, the Championship promotion candidates are eyeing up a swoop for highly-rated Crystal Palace youngster Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who could soften the blow of either Gnonto or Summerville exiting shortly.

The Eagles have already brushed aside Southampton's advances for Rak-Sakyi reportedly, as Russell Martin's men were keen to sign the 21-year-old permanently, with a loan move to the second tier now potentially opening up instead.

Sheffield United and Sunderland are named as the other interested parties alongside Leeds, with Rak-Sakyi perhaps taken by the allure of Elland Road out of this trio of suitors, owing to the fact Summerville and Gnonto have excelled bombing down the wings when given the license to just maraud forward.

Rak-Sakyi would operate very much in a similar fashion if a move got over the line, and he could well end up being the club's very next Summerville if everything works out smoothly.

What Rak-Sakyi could offer Leeds

Watching the clip above of Rak-Sakyi's skills in action on loan at Charlton Athletic during the 2022/23 season, the 21-year-old should shine in the Championship having previously set the division below alight.

The agile 5 foot 10 attacker would help himself to 15 goals and nine assists playing for the Addicks further down the EFL from 49 overall clashes, with League One defences regularly scared stiff by Rak-Sakyi's darts up the pitch and his eventual deadly end product.

Games played

43

Goals scored

15

Assists

8

Shots*

2.1

Dribbles*

1.8

Key passes*

1.3

Big chances missed

21

Big chances created

5

It would be unreasonable to expect the promising 21-year-old to immediately fill the void left by Leeds' mercurial Dutchman if he was to leave however, but his 23 goal contributions in League One that season should stand him in good stead to take to the demands of the Championship well.

Summerville did manage to amass 29 goal contributions himself for Farke's men in league action, but Rak-Sakyi would be eyeing up Gnonto's spot more so than the ex-Feyenoord youngster's left flank, and could even take it away from him if the Italian was to stay put this summer.

Rak-Sakyi has even impressed for Palace in the Premier League, the level that Gnonto is crying out for, with a 64-minute cameo last season for the Eagles number 49 against Nottingham Forest seeing him make three successful dribbles and have two shots blocked.

It's that dazzling dribbling ability – completing 1.8 per game in the third tier last term – that sees him compare so nicely to Summerville. For context, he succeeded with 2.3 dribbles per match in 2023/24.

It could well be time, therefore, for the "remarkable" attacker – as he has been described in the past by ex-Palace boss Roy Hodgson – to take the Championship by storm out on loan, before coming back to Selhurst Park eager to impress more.

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ByDan Emery Jul 20, 2024

Manchester United begin their competitive season on Saturday afternoon when they face their big rivals Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in the traditional season opener, the Community Shield. It is a repeat of the FA Cup final from last season, in which United ran out 2-1 victors thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Following their return to Wembley on Saturday at 3pm, the Red Devils’ first day of the Premier League season sees them host Fulham at Old Trafford. That fixture is the Friday night slot, meaning it is the first game of the English top-flight season, in which they will be hoping to get off to a winning start.

United’s first away trip sees them travel down south to face Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX, before their final game before the September international break is a crunch clash against another huge rival, Liverpool, at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag’s side still need to add some depth to their squad, having signed two players so far this summer, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee. Recently, they have been linked with a midfielder who could add quality and depth to United’s squad ahead of next season.

Man United target Bundesliga midfielder

The player in question here is Borussia Monchengladbach and French midfielder Manu Kone. The 23-year-old, who is currently representing his nation at the Olympic Games, has impressed for Monchengladbach in recent times and has now been linked with a move away during the summer transfer window.

According to a report from Graeme Bailey, Kone is one of the names on a sizeable list of defensive midfielders currently being considered by United as they look to strengthen in the centre of the park. Bailey explains a potential deal for the midfielder has ‘been discussed internally’ at Old Trafford.

Indeed, a deal certainly seems plausible for the young midfielder this summer. The report from Bailey states that Kone is ready to leave Monchengladbach this summer, and the club themselves are ready to part ways with him as well.

In terms of a price, the French Olympian could cost less than £30m this summer, and given the fact the club and the player want the move, it does not seem hard to get over the line. Bailey explains the Frenchman has ‘fans within the club’ at United, too.

Why Kone would be a good signing

Kone struggled with a couple of injuries last season and only played 22 times in the Bundesliga last term. However, he was still a key player when he was fit, and started 18 times out of those 22 appearances in total.

In terms of his profile, Kone is a tough-tackling, tenacious ball-winner who was described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig as a “one-man army” in the centre of the park. He excels in a double pivot and could be a perfect player to unlock Mainoo, United’s 19-year-old starlet in midfield.

Given the Frenchman’s ability off the ball would certainly allow Mainoo to flourish in the second and third phases of the game. The 23-year-old is excellent out of possession, and averages 6.4 ball recoveries and 3.46 combined tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes, according to FBref.

Indeed, having that defensive security behind him would allow Mainoo to progress play forward and operate in the final third. The youngster flourishes when carrying the ball, and is superb at receiving possession off the back line and looking to carry through the opponent’s lines. He averages 2.70 attempted take-ons per game and completes 1.46 of them. According to FBref, that ranks him in the top 9% and 8% amongst midfielders respectively.

Having the security of the Monchengladbach midfielder in the pivot next to him, an athletic player who can cover lots of ground and win the ball back quickly and efficiently will certainly give Mainoo license to get forward more and affect the game in the final third.

Why Kone can be the next Pogba

Not only is Kone good out of possession, but he is also impressive on the ball too. In fact, he has previously been likened to former United midfielder Paul Pogba, such as in this instance by Marco Conterio. The journalist likened the pair, explaining Kone, like Pogba, is a ‘dribbler with great physique and long levers’.

Although his time at United split opinion, there is no doubt that Pogba was one of the most elegant players in the Premier League, who, when in full flow, was exemplary to watch. His ability on the ball was second to none, and he glided with the ball at his feet, dancing past opponents with ease. He regularly contributed to goals and assists, with 2018/19 being a particularly exceptional season.

The World Cup winner formed an exemplary partnership with United’s talismanic midfielder, captain Bruno Fernandes. The pair played 79 times with each other in the middle of the midfield for the Red Devils. They combined eight times for a goal, the third most the Portugal international has with a single teammate at Old Trafford.

Player

Games

Goal participation

Marcus Rashford

192

20

Anthony Martial

105

9

Paul Pogba

79

8

Some of those goals included one in the 2020/21 Europa League semi-final against Roma and two on the opening day of the 2021/22 season, in which Fernandes scored a hat-trick, assisted twice by Pogba, a game where the Frenchman got four assists.

Should United bring Kone to the club this summer, they could well see a partnership form between the Frenchman and the captain, similar to the one we saw between Pogba and the former Sporting midfielder.

Given the 23-year-old’s ability on the ball, and his similarity to the 2013 Golden Boy winner when looking at his ball-carrying skills and technique, United fans could well expect to see a similar duo form.

For a fee of £30m at the most, this is a deal that United might not want to miss out on, given Kone’s profile, age and the fact he could unlock Mainoo and form a deadly partnership with Fernandes at Old Trafford.

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1 ByRobbie Walls Aug 8, 2024

Glasgow Rangers head into their second Premiership match of the season under severe pressure to secure all three points.

The 0-0 draw against Hearts last week immediately put the Light Blues on the back foot, meaning a win over Motherwell this afternoon is a must.

Philippe Clement should make a few changes to his starting XI. Will a player who has started the opening two games of the campaign be dropped?

Tom Lawrence’s stats vs Hearts

Tom Lawrence was deployed as the number ten in the season opener against the Jambos due to the likes of Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell being on the verge of leaving the club.

During the tie, the Welshman completed just 21 passes, created just one big chance and made one key pass while succeeding with only one of his four dribble attempts. These are hardly the statistics of a player looking to carve open opposition defences.

Defensively, the former Derby County gem lost possession 11 times throughout the game, along with winning just four of his 15 total duels, showing how poor he was in one on one battles against the tricky Hearts side.

Rangers simply couldn’t find a way through the defence last week and there is no doubt that a greater threat in the final third is required against Motherwell today.

Touches

43

Accurate passes

21/25

Key passes

1

Big chances created

1

Total duels (won)

15 (4)

Dribble attempts (successful)

4 (1)

Via Sofascore

Could Clement relocate a player into the number ten slot against Well? As Mohamed Diomande has the ability to shine in a more advanced position.

The man to replace Lawrence vs Motherwell

The Ivorian has forged a solid partnership already with new signing Connor Barron in the heart of the midfield.

With a win needed, however, could Clement place Dujon Sterling in the centre of the midfield alongside Barron, moving Diomande into the attacking midfield slot?

During the second half of last season, the African averaged 1.5 key passes per game in the top flight, while also creating one big chance and succeeding with 62% of his dribble attempts, solid statistics as he adapted to Scottish football.

Prior to this, he was in excellent form for Danish side FC Nordsjaelland, as he showcased his abilities going forward during the first six months of the Danish top flight.

Indeed, the 22-year-old grabbed three assists, created three big chances and averaged 1.1 key passes per game. These statistics came in just 13 matches, making them stand out a lot more.

Lauded as “aggressive” by analyst John Walker, moving Diomande slightly further forward could be a masterstroke by the Belgian this afternoon.

He wouldn’t be sacrificing anything in the middle of the pitch, as Sterling has proved capable of starring in that area previously, therefore it is a gamble certainly worth taking in a must-win clash.

There is no doubt that the Light Blues do need to bring another attacking midfielder to the club, as Clement cannot rely on Lawrence between now and 2025, especially with his previous injury issues.

Diomande as the number ten behind Cyriel Dessers today? Yes please.

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Newcastle United could look to make a £17 million move for an international forward alongside centre-back target Marc Guehi.

The Magpies get their Premier League season underway on Saturday as they welcome Southampton to St. James’ Park. The aim of Eddie Howe and co will be to compete for a place back in Europe’s top league.

The preparation for the new campaign has been rather quiet as the club has had to abide by financial fair play rules, which has meant Newcastle have had to be careful with what money they spend. But despite resources being rather tight, the club appears to be ready to pay big for Guehi.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 26, 2024 Newcastle United are confident in agreeing Marc Guehi deal

Newcastle seem keen on adding to their defensive options this summer, as the club are still without Jamal Lascelles and Sven Botman. Therefore, it has come to light that Crystal Palace’s Guehi is a top target of theirs.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Magpies are now increasingly confident that they can get a deal completed for the central defender. Romano adds that a new proposal has been sent to the London side, and negotiations are continuing between the two clubs, but importantly, he suggests Newcastle believe their latest bid will get the job done.

This is a big factor, as the Premier League side has already seen three bids rejected for the defender, who shone in Euro 2024 for England. The club’s third offer is said to be a figure of £55 million, which could rise to £60 million depending on add-ons.

However, Palace chairman Steve Parish has come out recently and stated that no club has met the player’s valuation. Parish told Sky Sports News: “Nobody has got to the valuation yet. If you want a superstar player, you need to pay superstar money.

Apps

6

Tackles per 90

0.5

Interceptions per 90

0.3

Fouls per 90

0.8

Clearances per 90

2

Blocks per 90

1

Average passes per 90

74.5

Pass success rate

93.5%

Stats as per Whoscored

"It's not near the point where we have to make a decision. We love having him and would love to keep him. If someone else wants to have him, they need to make it really difficult for us. He's a generational talent."

Newcastle will hope they can wrap that deal up as soon as possible, but as well as signing Guehi, it appears their business might not stop there, as the Magpies could then turn to a forward.

Newcastle United could make a bid for Federico Chiesa

According to TuttoJuve.com, Newcastle United could make a move to sign Federico Chiesa from Juventus. The report states that the Magpies could have money available for the remainder of this window should Miguel Almiron leave the club.

It goes on to add that the Premier League side could offer €20 million (£17 million) to sign Chiesa and pay him a yearly salary of €7 million (£6 million).

The winger has been with the Italian side since October 2020 but joined the club on a permanent basis in July 2022, when he signed from fellow Serie A side Fiorentina. The 26-year-old has been a big hit for Juventus, scoring eight times and recording eight assists in 30 league games in his first campaign.

The Italy international's last season was just as productive, as he scored nine times in 33 Serie A games, but the winger has also had injury problems during his time in Turin, and it now appears as though he could be on his way out of the club.

After seeing their attack picked apart by Premier League interest this summer, Leeds United have reportedly reignited their interest in signing a Bundesliga star for Daniel Farke.

Leeds transfer news

The Whites find themselves in a fairly frantic position in the final days of the transfer window, having lost Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray, Glen Kamara and, most recently, Georginio Rutter. The attacking midfielder completed his move to Brighton & Hove Albion to leave the side that helped Leeds reach last season's playoff final in tatters.

That said, as Transfermarkt have highlighted, those at Elland Road now have plenty of money to spend on reinforcements, which could reportedly see the likes of Manuel Benson and Largie Ramazani arrive to hand Farke some much-needed attacking additions.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Yorkshire club have reportedly reached an agreement to sign Ramazani from Almeria, with the winger set to undergo a medical before joining up with his new teammates and potentially another winger at Elland Road as soon as possible.

According to Graham Smyth of The Yorkshire Evening Post via Leeds All Over and Sky Sports' Tim Thornton, Leeds have reignited their interest in signing Roland Sallai after seeing their initial attempts knocked back by Freiburg earlier this summer. The Bundesliga club's stance has now reportedly changed, however, and the 27-year-old has become more attainable.

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Of course, some will remember Sallai from the heartbreak he helped to inflict on Scotland at Euro 2024, assisting Kevin Csoboth's last-gasp winner to knock Steve Clarke's side out and give Hungary hope that eventually failed to turn into qualification out of Group A.

Alas, with just over a week left in the summer transfer window, Leeds will have to act fast if they want to secure the winger's signature.

"Determined" Sallai could replace Summerville

Replacing Summerville is no easy task. He is a player of Premier League quality, as he will likely show this season at West Ham United. But, Sallai is one of the candidates who should, on paper, slot straight into his role and thrive under Farke, especially when dropping down from the Bundesliga.

The 26-year-old has impressed in Germany's top flight, stealing the show for Freiburg at times, with eight goals and four assists in all competitions last season. Described as "determined" by former Freiburg manager Christian Streich, Sallai could now get the chance to pick up where he left off in an impressive Euro 2024 in the Championship this season.

Compared to Benson and Forbs, Sallai certainly has more experience at the top level, featuring in the Europa League last season. Of course, that means that his signature could come at a certain price, but Frieburg's reported change of stance may just open the door for Leeds to secure a cheaper deal.

If it is to be the Hungarian with Ramazani, then Sallai will be one to watch this season.

Newcastle United have been searching for a new right-winger all summer long, but with less than 24 hours remaining in the window, they are running out of time to secure any new additions.

Numerous players have been strongly linked with a move to St James’ Park, including Chelsea ace Noni Madueke – but after his hat-trick against Wolves coupled with his England call-up, it’s highly unlikely he’ll be making the move to Tyneside.

The deal for the youngster appeared to be edging closer just a couple of weeks ago, with reports of Madueke even agreeing personal terms with Eddie Howe’s side.

After Marc Guehi’s proposed move fell through, the club will undoubtedly still be targeting a move for a new centre-back but it could allow them to split their investment and target a new attacker to complete the Magpies’ attack.

As a result, one player could be shipped out of St James’ before tonight’s deadline, with the club still willing to cut ties despite his lengthy spell at the club.

Miguel Almiron’s future at Newcastle

Miguel Almiron is now something of a long-serving figure at Newcastle, after joining the club in a then-club-record deal from Atlanta United back in 2019.

He’s provided some magic moments in the club’s black and white colours, but most crucially during the 2022/23 campaign, where the Magpies secured a Champions League place for the first time in two decades as he scored 11 league goals.

However, he’s since lost form and been touted with various moves away from St James’ – including a return to the MLS to join Charlotte FC – but a deal was never agreed, with the Paraguayan still currently a Newcastle player.

Despite the lack of time remaining in the window, Fulham have recently monitored the 30-year-old over a potential move, with a deal for the winger potentially going down to the wire.

He may be sent packing after making 211 appearances for the club, potentially being replaced by one player who’s currently on Newcastle’s radar.

Why Ferran Torres should replace Miguel Almiron

In recent days, Newcastle have moved closer to a deal for Barcelona ace Ferran Torres, with rumours suggesting the Magpies have tabled an offer for the Spanish forward.

The 24-year-old, who earns a reported £165k-per-week as per Capology, only joined the Catalan side back in January 2022 for a fee in the region of £55m but could be set to depart the LaLiga giants as a result of their current financial situation.

He would be a huge upgrade on Almiron, with the Euro 2024 winner producing an array of impressive stats across the board in 2023/24.

Games played

29

33

Goals + assists

9

7

Shots taken

2.8

1.9

Shot-on-target accuracy

40%

29%

Shot-creating actions

3.9

2.4

Crosses completed

1.6

1.1

Goals + assists per game

0.7

0.2

The “world-class” talent, as described by former boss Xavi Hernandez, registered more combined goals and assists last season, despite featuring in five fewer games than the Paraguayan – an example of his added qualities in attacking areas.

Torres also managed more shots per 90 whilst also managing a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing the threat that the Spaniard poses should he make the move to Tyneside.

The former Manchester City ace has also completed more crosses, allowing for the likes of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon to increase their own goal tallies as well as his own.

A move for Torres would certainly spell the end for Almiron at St James’ with Torres providing an upgrade on the winger for Howe’s side.

If the club are to reach the heights they achieved two years ago, numerous elite-level talents are required, with Torres fitting the bill perfectly – potentially completing the club’s already impressive forward line.

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2 ByBrett Worthington Aug 29, 2024

Ahead of the visit of West Ham United, Fulham have been hit with frustrating injury news which has ruled one forward out for multiple games including the clash with the Hammers.

Fulham injury news

The Cottagers have shown glimpses of their quality so far this season, with their one victory over Leicester City arguably coming at an important time in between a narrow 1-0 loss against Manchester United and a frustrating draw against Ipswich Town. Marco Silva’s side are a difficult side to judge these days.

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Avoiding relegation will still be their first goal, but it wouldn’t be absurd to suggest that Fulham are now in position to set their sights on causing a few shocks towards the Premier League’s top-half. Just last season, they found themselves sat in 13th and just two points shy of the top 10. A repeat of such an achievement or potentially more would undoubtedly receive rightful applause around Craven Cottage.

Fulham’s first task will be to get back to winning ways in a London derby against West Ham, which they’ll be forced to do without the attacking impetus of one player. As confirmed by Silva, Carlos Vinicius will now miss the West Ham game through injury and is also likely to miss Fulham’s Carabao Cup tie against Preston North End on Tuesday.

The forward should feel particularly frustrated about the Preston game, given that it represented a chance to make his first appearance of the season. Ruled out, however, the Brazilian must now wait for an opportunity to come his way in the Premier League.

"Decisive" Vinicius is at a crossroads

After failing to get his move away amid links to the likes of Red Bull Bragantino in the summer, Vinicius finds himself at a slight crossroads. Whilst Fulham are yet to find a like-for-like replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic over a year on from his departure to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Vinicius seems unlikely to emerge ahead of Raul Jimenez and particularly Rodrigo Muniz.

Making the former Tottenham Hotspur loanee a third-choice under Silva, he may be left with little choice but to pursue a January departure. Whether Silva would be keen to part ways with the forward is another argument in itself though, having praised Vinicius’ performance against Luton Town last season.

Silva said via West London Sports: “He made the impact that we needed in that moment on the pitch, not just because he scored – but of course scoring is always the most important thing for a striker.

“It was nice to see Carlos score. He deserved the chance to go in and it was nice to see him be decisive for us. The competition (with Raúl Jiménez) is also important to us.”

Of course, Muniz proves that form will earn a place in the current Fulham side, but whether Vinicius can finally find his goalscoring touch at Craven Cottage remains to be seen.

Todd Boehly is a man who has shown huge ambition during his two-year tenure owning Chelsea Football Club – spending over £1.1bn on new transfers to try and overhaul the playing squad.

Whilst some of his signings have been erratic, to say the least, many of them have proven to be excellent additions, providing added quality to new boss Enzo Maresca.

Cole Palmer undoubtedly has been the American’s best investment during his time at the helm, splashing out £40m on his services – registering 45 goal contributions in his 51 appearances for the Blues.

Fellow forward Christopher Nkunku hasn’t been able to make as great an impact as he would’ve envisaged due to his injury concerns, but he has posted a tally of six goals in 20 matches.

One other player has also enjoyed a great start to life at Stamford Bridge, taking his form at the club to the next level after the arrival of Maresca during the off-season.

Noni Madueke’s stats for Chelsea

Winger Noni Madueke made the move to Chelsea back in January 2023, joining from Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven in a £29m deal.

He had to bide his time under former boss Mauricio Pochettino before he could make an impact in West London, only making 13 starts in the league last season.

However, he still managed to post a tally of five goals in the Premier League during the 2023/24 campaign – ending his first full season at the Bridge as the club’s fourth top scorer.

The arrival of Maresca has allowed for a huge upturn for the 22-year-old, starting all but one league outing so far, excelling with his increased game time on the pitch.

He’s already scored three league goals this season, bagging himself a hat-trick in the 6-2 demolition of Wolves – subsequently earning him his maiden call-up to the England national side during the recent international break.

However, despite his recent form, he’s been outperformed by one player who was allowed to leave the club 12 months – with potential regret now creeping in after his recent form away from the Bridge.

The former Chelsea ace who’s outperformed Madueke after leaving

Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi looked to be one of the biggest young talents in Europe a couple of years ago – breaking through Chelsea’s academy before featuring for the first team before even being subjected to £70m interest from Bayern Munich.

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However, a torrid spell with injuries saw the Englishman rapidly drop down the pecking order, losing his place in West London and in desperate need of a fresh start to reignite his once-promising career.

The attacker is still only 23, but he secured a £5m move to fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest last summer – an absolute bargain, especially when considering his recent form at the City Ground.

Hudson-Odoi notched eight league goals last season, before firing home the winner against Liverpool for the Reds last weekend – with the youngster outscoring Madueke in the same time period, having notched nine league goals to Madueke’s eight since the start of 2023/24.

Games played

29

Minutes played

1854

Goals scored

8

Assists

1

Pass accuracy

85%

Dribbles completed

61%

Touches in opposition box

80

He’s already been touted with a £40m move to Tottenham Hotspur in recent months, further proving how cheaply the Blues allowed the “sensational” forward – as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango – to depart his boyhood club.

The attacker’s recent form in England’s top flight is evidence that he still has all of the qualities to thrive at the top level despite his recent injury worries.

Whilst Madueke has undoubtedly been a superb addition for the club, they may have been better off putting trust in Hudson-Odoi, with his goalscoring exploits already better than that of the £29m signing.

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Amid an excellent start to the season, Brighton & Hove Albion could now be handed a major boost on the injury front, with one star man facing a late fitness test before the Nottingham Forest game.

Brighton injury news

Fabian Hurzeler deserves great credit for the start that he’s made to life as Brighton manager. At just 31 years old, the young Seagulls boss has already earned a draw against Arsenal and defeated Manchester United in an unbeaten start to his side’s league campaign. On the pitch, he couldn’t have asked for a much better start, which was recognised when he received the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award for August.

That start becomes even greater when you consider his side’s injury struggles, however. As things stand, Hurzeler is without the likes of Brajan Gruda, Matt O’Riley, James Milner and Solly March, but could at least be in line to receive a major boost.

As confirmed by the young manager via The Argus, Joao Pedro could make his return from injury against Nottingham Forest this Sunday amid a late fitness test. The forward missed Brighton’s 0-0 draw against Ipswich Town last time out as the Seagulls struggled to find their attacking sharpness without their talisman.

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Hurzeler provided a cautious but positive update, telling reporters: “He will train today with the team, then we have to see how it’s going. If he can train fully, if he can do all the movements. Of course we won’t take any risk but he will be part of the training today.”

"Incredible" Pedro is crucial to Brighton

Starting the season in fine form with two goals in three games, it’s no surprise that Pedro is keeping the likes of Evan Ferguson out of Hurzeler’s side so far in the current campaign and his return, whether it comes against Forest or in the coming weeks, will be an important boost.

The Brazilian is into his second season at The Amex now after scoring an impressive 20 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign to leave him alongside some of the best goalscorers that the Premier League has to offer.

Earning plenty of praise as a result, former manager Roberto De Zerbi told reporters via The Independent last season: “He is the best player on the pitch, I think. He played another incredible game.

“I am really pleased for his improvement on mentality, on attitude. In defensive phase, incredible because he defended 90 minutes like a centre-back in terms of mentality. He is becoming, I think, a top player. I hope in the next year to work with him but I think it will be very tough.”

Now, it is Hurzeler who is benefitting from Pedro’s continued rise, which could take its latest step against Nottingham Forest.

Manchester United’s 2024/25 campaign has gotten off to a disastrous start. The Red Devils are reeling in 13th place in the Premier League and drew their first Europa League game. It has been a far from the ideal start to the new season for Erik ten Hag’s side.

The Dutch manager now finds himself under some pressure, with a big week ahead for United. They travel to FC Porto on Thursday night in the Europa League, before a trip to Villa Park awaits them on Sunday afternoon.

Losses to the Portuguese side and Aston Villa could leave Ten Hag in trouble, with reporter Alex Crook reporting that “a managerial change” will be made if results do not improve.

United’s underlying numbers so far

Context is important, and whilst the Red Devils have clearly made a poor start to the new season, it is necessary to look further than their results. For reference, Ten Hag’s side have played six times in the Premier League, winning two, drawing one and losing three.

The losses have not just been unlucky defeats, either. The first one came against Brighton and Hove Albion, a late 2-1 defeat at the Amex. Liverpool then won at Old Trafford the following week, a humbling 3-0 victory, before Tottenham repeated the feat last Sunday.

Using Understat’s detailed Premier League table, it is clear to see that United are massively underachieving. They have amassed seven points so far, but are underachieving on expected points, a metric which suggests they should have 1.63 points more than they do, with an expected points tally of 8.63xPTS.

Whilst they are statistically seeming more comfortable from a defensive standpoint this season, they are struggling to find the back of the net, having scored five times. However, their expected goals tally is a shocking contrast; as high as 10.81xG, a big gap between the suggested total and the actual total.

Stat

Number

PL Rank

Points

7

=8th

Expected points

8.63xPTS

10th

Goals scored

5

=8th

Expected goals scored

10.81xG

9th

Goals against

8

=5th

Expected goals against

13.10

17th

All of these numbers are cause for concern for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his newly appointed hierarchy. Should they decide to sack Ten Hag if things don’t improve, they may have the perfect replacement waiting in the wings.

The dream Ten Hag replacement

The man in question here is club legend, and current United assistant manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy. The former striker scored 150 goals and grabbed 30 assists in just 219 games for the Red Devils; he is widely regarded as one of the club’s best-ever centre-forwards.

Now, with Ten Hag’s future up in the air, the former Dutch striker has been linked with the role should it become vacant.

According to Crook, the United board “would consider putting” their legendary striker in interim charge, something which could turn permanent if it is a success, just as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer found out in 2019.

The 48-year-old is a great manager in his own right and comes with a high reputation. He was manager of Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in the 2022/23 campaign and coached a side that included Everton defender, and long-term United target Jarrad Branthwaite, and exciting young Netherlands attacker Xavi Simons.

Van Nistelrooy had a superb record at PSV, coaching 50 games in all competitions, winning 34, drawing eight and losing eight. He won the Dutch Cup during his time in Eindhoven, but left the club due to ‘a lack of management support and amid reports of a player revolt’, as ESPN reported.

Impressively, Van Nistelrooy has a “better win rate than Arne Slot” in the Eredivisie as football statistician Statman Dave explained.

The man who replaced Jurgen Klopp at Anfield over the summer previously coached Feyenoord.

There, Slot boasted a win rate of 65%, less than the former United manager, who had a 69% win rate in the league at PSV. Van Nistelrooy also had a better league win rate than Ten Hag during his Ajax tenure, where he won 67% of his games.

It would be a bold choice for United to appoint Van Nistelrooy, but he is clearly a manager with great talent, as his record at PSV suggests.

Given he is an all-time great of the club, the appointment would surely go down well with the fans. He would be hoping to guide the club back on track this season if given the chance.

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