IS FABIAN HURZELER SAFE? THE TRUTH BEHIND BRIGHTON’S STANCE DESPITE A 1-WIN STREAK
With only one win in eleven games, the pressure is on Hurzeler, but club insiders say his job is safe. Full analysis here.
Brighton aren't looking to sack Fabian Hurzeler right now, even though a lot of fans are getting frustrated.
On Saturday, Hurzeler’s team drew 1-1 with Everton after Beto scored a late equaliser. That result means Brighton has only managed one win in their last 11 Premier League matches. They’ve slipped down to 13th place, and with Crystal Palace right behind them, the next game could see their rivals leapfrog them.
Still, former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Hurzeler’s job isn’t under threat at the moment—the club’s still backing him to turn things around.
David Moyes has weighed in, too. He doesn’t get why people are talking about sacking Hurzeler, and he told Brighton fans to be careful what they wish for, saying the 32-year-old is doing an “unbelievable” job.
Brown had warned back in December that the club might have to act if the fans completely turned against Hurzeler, but that’s not where things are now. The plan is to stick with him, hoping they can find some consistency and climb back up in what’s a pretty packed Premier League table.
“David Moyes is spot on,” Brown said. “He knows what it’s like—when I worked with him at West Ham, sometimes the fans got carried away and started believing the team was better than it actually was. Brighton’s a solid, stable Premier League club, and that counts for a lot. Sure, some fans want European football, but that’s not everything. I’d be shocked if the club was even thinking about sacking Hurzeler right now. That just isn’t on their mind. Every team goes through tough spells. A couple of wins, and suddenly they’re climbing the table, and all this talk disappears. There’s no real problem at the moment.”
On another note, Lewis Dunk is still a key figure for Brighton—both on the pitch and behind the scenes. The club shut down any talk of him leaving during the January window, holding onto him even when Nottingham Forest came calling late on. Forest boss Sean Dyche wanted Dunk to shore up his defence, but Brighton weren’t having it. Dunk, who’s already played 22 times this season, signed a one-year extension back in December, keeping him at the club until 2027.
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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