Brighton news

Manchester United are on a roll following recent victories, including the morale-boosting win over deadly rivals Liverpool at Anfield. But the dust has settled on that fine win and boss Ruben Amorim has another landmark target to overcome when they face Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

With the title race having already swung back and forth while the top-four and relegation battles are as open as they have been for a few years, the Premier League is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. Sure, the odd match still follows the formbook, but a number of teams are proving tough to pin down and figure out what to expect from them on a game-to-game basis.

A resurgent Manchester United host Brighton and Hove Albion with eyes on European spots.

Manchester United have switched their attention to Elliot Anderson after failing to sign Brighton's Carlos Baleba, as Ruben Amorim eyes a midfield overhaul. The 22-year-old Nottingham Forest dynamo has become one of the most sought-after names in English football following his breakthrough into the Three Lions squad. United had already been monitoring Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and revisiting interest in Baleba, but it is now being reported that Anderson has emerged as the standout target.

Manchester United may have a secret agent on their hands in Bryan Mbeumo, with the Red Devils winger said to be urging Cameroon international team-mate Carlos Baleba to join him at Old Trafford. United remain in the market for another proven performer to operate in the heart of their midfield, with a big-money raid on Premier League rivals Brighton being mooted.

The Premier League is reportedly set to vote on proposals that could see a “salary cap” of sorts introduced at the top end of English football. An “anchoring” plan has been drawn up, which would limit spending for elite clubs, with shareholders expected to address that issue in November. Several teams, including Manchester rivals United and City, are said to oppose the concept.

Manchester United are reportedly prioritising a move for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton after cooling their interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba. The Red Devils were keen to strengthen in the middle of the park by signing the Cameroon international in the summer but have now decided to rethink their shortlist following the 21-year-old’s difficult start to the 2025-26 season.

Graham Potter is ready to swap club chaos for international rescue duty, declaring his interest in becoming Sweden’s next manager just hours after Jon Dahl Tomasson was ruthlessly axed following a humiliating World Cup qualifying collapse. An embarrassing 1-0 defeat to Kosovo sent the nation spiralling into turmoil. The shock loss, their fourth match without a win, left the Scandinavian side at rock bottom of their qualifying group and on the brink of missing the 2026 World Cup.

Brighton chief admitted there was interest from Manchester United for Carles Baleba and revealed why the Red Devils missed out on the £100m transfer. United boss Ruben Amorim had made the Cameroon powerhouse his No.1 midfield target as the Red Devils scrambled for reinforcements before the September 1 deadline. But Brighton refused to budge, slamming the door shut on a potential £100m mega deal that could have filled their coffers.

German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are reportedly interested in Koln winger Said El Mala, but have been told they will have to stump up a fair price as the Bundesliga side will only let him leave only for a club-record fee. The teenager, tied to the club until 2030, has already been the subject of a €20 million offer from Brighton during the summer transfer window.

Marseille are ready to buy Matt O'Riley on a permanent deal in January after initially signing the attacking midfielder on loan from Brighton for the season. Sporting director Medhi Benatia and his team have been impressed by the Denmark international's performances and are eager to ensure he does not slip out of their grasp.

Enzo Maresca explained why Chelsea's owners visited the Blues' dressing after a humiliating loss in the Premier League against Brighton on Saturday. After the disappointing home defeat, Chelsea's co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, along with several club officials marched straight into the dressing room. Maresca, however, played down the incident by claiming it is a regular occurrence.

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca labelled Trevoh Chalobah’s red card as a “game-changing mistake” in his side’s 3-1 defeat against Brighton at Stamford Bridge. The defender received his marching orders after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) penalised him for a foul on Diego Gomez, with the decision sparking a second-half collapse from the Blues on Saturday afternoon.