It has been another busy transfer deadline day as Premier League club’s work to get new signings in ahead of the 11pm deadline.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the best deals done so far.
Nunes secures City switch
Premier League champions Manchester City were among the earlier movers, announcing a £53million move for midfielder Matheus Nunes from Wolves.
Nunes has signed a five-year deal at City, with the fee received a club-record sale for Wolves.
The Portugal international only joined Wolves from Sporting Lisbon last summer.
However, once a transfer to the Etihad Stadium looked in the pipeline, Nunes was determined to push the move through and did not train as talks continued.
“The opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers ever, and alongside some of the best players in the world was something I couldn’t turn down,” Nunes said.
Seagulls swoop for Ansu
View this post on Instagram
Brighton pulled off something of a deadline day coup with the signing of Spain forward Ansu Fati on a season-long loan from Barcelona.
The 20-year-old academy graduate made 36 LaLiga appearances last season for Barcelona as they went on to win the title.
“This is a great deal for all of us,” Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi said on the Premier League club’s website.
“I am sure Ansu will help us to reach a new target and we can help him get back at the level he deserves to be.”
Palmer excited by Blues project
Chelsea continued their recruitment drive with the signing of forward Cole Palmer on a seven-year contract from Manchester City.
The PA news agency understands the London club will pay an initial £40m for the 21-year-old academy graduate, with an additional £2.5m in possible add-ons.
Palmer’s arrival the 12th new recruit at Stamford Bridge during the summer – has taken the club’s spending under Todd Boehly’s ownership group past £1billion in three transfer windows.
“I’ve joined Chelsea because the project here sounds good and because of the platform I will have to try to showcase my talents,” Palmer said.
“It is a young and hungry squad and, hopefully, we can do something special here.”
Lenglet’s back again
Aston Villa have moved for defensive cover with the signing of France centre-back Clement Lenglet on loan from Barcelona.
The 28-year-old is no stranger to the Premier League having spent last season at Tottenham.
Lenglet’s arrival provides some additional depth at the back, with Tyrone Mings set for an extended spell on the sidelines with a serious knee problem.
“Of course, after Tyrone’s injury we were analysing how we can face the season,” said Villa boss Unai Emery.
“It was a very good opportunity, he has experience at a high level and in Europe.”
Reguilon is a red
Having kicked things off on Friday morning by announcing the signing of Turkey goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from Fenerbahce, Manchester United later confirmed a loan move for Spurs defender Sergio Reguilon.
The Spaniard had been been training with the Red Devils – and could even feature against Arsenal this weekend.
“In life you have to be ready for everything and the chance to represent this great club with such an illustrious history is one that I could not turn down,” Reguilon told United’s website.
Pochettino: European qualification would be a major step for Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino believes it would be "amazing" for Chelsea to secure European qualification ahead of their trip to Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday.
After replacing Graham Potter in the Stamford Bridge dugout last July, the Argentine oversaw just three wins from his first 10 Premier League games in charge of the Blues this season.
However, his side are finishing the campaign strongly and occupy seventh place – level on points with sixth-place Newcastle United and six behind Tottenham in fifth with two games remaining.
"The team is doing well, in the second part of the season – in the last 26 or 27 games," Pochettino told reporters.
"If we can compete well in the last two games then there is a possibility to get into Europe, which would be amazing for us.
"If we are able to finish well and get into Europe, for sure, we can start the next season with hope to be in a better position than we were in this season."
Meanwhile, 10th-place Brighton have struggled for form in recent times, winning just one of their last eight league games – albeit that victory came against Champions League-chasing Aston Villa last time out on home soil.
Nevertheless, head coach Roberto De Zerbi is targeting a third successive top-half finish in the English top flight.
"I want us to finish in the top 10," he said during his pre-match press conference. "It’s important because, after Sunday, we go on holiday. When we’re on holiday, if we have no points [from the last two games], it will be a problem for me."
De Zerbi also paid tribute to the departing Adam Lallana, who will leave the Seagulls when his contract expires at the end of this season after four years with the club.
"I've been lucky to work with him because he is an honest guy, a top man," the Italian added. "I have learned a lot from him because he loves football."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brighton and Hove Albion – Joao Pedro
Scoring the match winner against Aston Villa last time out at the American Express Stadium, Pedro became the first Brighton player to bag 20 goals in a single season since Glenn Murray in 2016-17 (23).
The Brazilian has now been on target five times in the Seagulls’ last five Premier League outings on home soil.
Chelsea – Nicolas Jackson
The Senegal striker has been directly involved in five goals in his last three Premier League appearances for Chelsea (four goals, one assist), as many as in his previous 11 such games (three goals, two assists).
With 14 league goals already this season – none of which have been penalties – he could be the first Blues player to score 15 non-penalty goals in a Premier League campaign since Tammy Abraham in 2019-20.
MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA
Chelsea have won 29 points in the Premier League in 2024, with only the top three clubs – Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool – collecting more since the turn of the year.
The Blues have lost just one of their last 13 league games (won seven, drawn five), and are aiming to win four in a row for the first time since October 2022.
Meanwhile, Brighton have now failed to score more than once in each of their last 11 Premier League outings, their longest such run in the competition.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Brighton and Hove Albion: 33.8%
Chelsea: 37.3%
Draw: 28.9%
Pochettino admits European qualification 'would be amazing' for Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino admits it would be "amazing" for Chelsea to secure European qualification ahead of their trip to Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday.
After replacing Graham Potter in the Stamford Bridge dugout last July, the Argentine oversaw just three wins from his first 10 Premier League games in charge of the Blues this season.
However, his side are finishing the campaign strongly and occupy seventh place – level on points with sixth-place Newcastle United and six behind Tottenham in fifth with two games remaining.
"The team is doing well, in the second part of the season – in the last 26 or 27 games," Pochettino told reporters.
"If we can compete well in the last two games then there is a possibility to get into Europe, which would be amazing for us.
"If we are able to finish well and get into Europe, for sure, we can start the next season with hope to be in a better position than we were in this season."
Meanwhile, 10th-place Brighton have struggled for form in recent times, winning just one of their last eight league games – albeit that victory came against Champions League-chasing Aston Villa last time out on home soil.
Nevertheless, head coach Roberto De Zerbi is targeting a third successive top-half finish in the English top flight.
"I want us to finish in the top 10," he said during his pre-match press conference. "It’s important because, after Sunday, we go on holiday. When we’re on holiday, if we have no points [from the last two games], it will be a problem for me."
De Zerbi also paid tribute to the departing Adam Lallana, who will leave the Seagulls when his contract expires at the end of this season after four years with the club.
"I've been lucky to work with him because he is an honest guy, a top man," the Italian added. "I have learned a lot from him because he loves football."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brighton and Hove Albion – Joao Pedro
Scoring the match winner against Aston Villa last time out at the American Express Stadium, Pedro became the first Brighton player to bag 20 goals in a single season since Glenn Murray in 2016-17 (23).
The Brazilian has now been on target five times in the Seagulls’ last five Premier League outings on home soil.
Chelsea – Nicolas Jackson
The Senegal striker has been directly involved in five goals in his last three Premier League appearances for Chelsea (four goals, one assist), as many as in his previous 11 such games (three goals, two assists).
With 14 league goals already this season – none of which have been penalties – he could be the first Blues player to score 15 non-penalty goals in a Premier League campaign since Tammy Abraham in 2019-20.
MATCH PREDICTION: CHELSEA
Chelsea have won 29 points in the Premier League in 2024, with only the top three clubs – Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool – collecting more since the turn of the year.
The Blues have lost just one of their last 13 league games (won seven, drawn five), and are aiming to win four in a row for the first time since October 2022.
Meanwhile, Brighton have now failed to score more than once in each of their last 11 Premier League outings, their longest such run in the competition.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Brighton and Hove Albion: 33.8%
Chelsea: 37.3%
Draw: 28.9%
Fast Cash Saddlers United, Jones Group Sandy Point, Security Forces and Conaree Fireball International secure wins to commence round two of SKNFA Division One season
Round two of the 2024 SKNFA Division 1 season got under way last week with wins for Fast Cash Saddlers United, Jones Group Sandy Point FC, Security Forces FC and Conaree Fireball International.
On Thursday at the NBGC Technical Center in St. Peters, Security Forces drubbed Rivers of Living Water FC 7-0.
Evanslie Fahie scored two goals in the 13th and 37th minutes while the other goas came from Everette Ritchen in the 34th, David Joseph in the 57th, Shane Clarke in the 60th, Ronaldo Blake in the 73rd and Shamar Douglas in the 86th min.
In Thursday’s second match Lodge Patriots drew 1-1 with TGE Dieppe Bay Eagles.
Sair Morton scored for Lodge in the 54th minute, while Jason Phipps equalized for Dieppe Bay in the 84th minute.
After the match, Coach of Lodge Leon Natta-Nelson praised his players for their execution on the pitch.
“I thought tonight, the first game of the second round, a better playing from the team…the movement on the ball and off the ball was wonderful in the first half,” Natta-Nelson said.
He blamed the goal they conceded on lack of focus.
“That has been our demise for the whole season,” he said, while expressing satisfaction with a point. He said the aim now is to beat teams they lost to in round one of the league.
“We had some developmental players who are just in the first and second year in the league. We have seen some improvement and we hope that we can regroup after this second round, we can go into next season but we will focus on one game at a time,” he said.
In the Tuesday games, Conaree Fireballs United secured a 2-1 win over Molineux before Jones Group Sandy Point drubbed KFC/Trinity Challengers United 7-0.
Leslian Dasent gave Conaree the lead in the 49th minute before Kahml Wattley got the equalizer for Molineux with 16 minutes left in normal time.
I-Dee Caines then got the Conaree winner in the 96th minute.
In the second game, goals from Deshawn Collins (7’), Diontre Eddy (15’, 45’) and Jahlyan Burnt (21’) meant Sandy Point went into the halftime interval with a comfortable 4-0 advantage.
They didn’t let up in the second half with goals from Troy Bassue in the 52nd minute and Dequan Joseph in the 68th minute making it 6-0 before Collins got his second goal of the contest in the 81st minute to complete the day’s scoring.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
