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Negotiations are "ongoing" over a contract extension for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to an encouraging update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

How good is Bruno Guimaraes?

The Brazilian moved to St James' Park back in January 2022, and it's fair to say that he has made an enormous impact since arriving at the club. He has added a huge amount of quality in the middle of the park, but also brought fight and team spirit to the team, immediately becoming one of the most popular players among the fanbase.

Last season, Bruno scored four goals and registered five assists in the Premier League, with his influential box-to-box performances playing a huge role in Newcastle finishing fourth in the table and securing a return to the Champions League.

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

The 25-year-old's importance is going to be just as great in 2023/24, and he goes into the campaign as arguably one of the standout midfielders in the country. That means that there is always going to be potential interest in him from big clubs around the world, and while his current Magpies deal doesn't expire until 2026, those high up at the club will want to retain his services for as long as possible into the future.

Will Bruno Guimaraes sign new Newcastle deal?

Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano claimed that talks over a new deal for Bruno are progressing well, with an extension looking likely currently:

"Negotiations are ongoing at Newcastle over the new contract of star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. The club are confident of reaching an agreement with the player, as their first proposal in terms of salary was not at the level Bruno expected, but talks continue.

"For Newcastle, the Brazilian’s contract is a priority; therefore, they are not currently searching the market for replacements should Guimaraes decide not to sign a new deal."

This is great news for Newcastle, with Bruno's long-term future being tied down arguably as important as any new signing through the door this summer, whether it be Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes or a potential new arrival between now and the end of the transfer window.

The Brazil international has been such a fantastic addition to Eddie Howe's side – Alan Shearer has hailed him as "superb" – proving to be a footballer who shines in all facets of his games, and he has been a major reason for the Magpies' recent resurgence and top-four finish last season.

Bruno certainly appears to be happy at Newcastle, and there is no reason why any player would want to leave at the moment, given their upward trajectory as a club, but a new contract would just give the club that extra security when it comes to the bargaining position they are in, should a club like Real Madrid tempt him in the future.

At this point, though, it would be a major surprise if Bruno moved away from St James' Park any time soon, as he continues to be one of the poster boys for this exciting new era, preparing for what will hopefully be his best season yet in a Magpies shirt.

Antonio Conte and Spurs?

In their latest Premier League fixture, Spurs were unable to make the most of a two-goal lead as they conceded late on to drops two points in a 3-3 draw away at Southampton.

Indeed, Tottenham had led 3-1 thanks to goals from Pedro Porro, Harry Kane and Ivan Perisic but goals in the final 15 minutes of the match from Theo Walcott and James Ward-Prowse were enough to rescue a point for the Saints.

Speaking to the press after the match, a furious Conte delivered a few heated words aimed at his players and the club, saying: “They don’t play for something important, yeah. They don’t want to play under pressure, they don’t want to play under stress.

“It is easy in this way. Tottenham’s story is this, 20 years there is the owner and they never won something but why? The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench."

While talking about these claims on the BBC radio show 606, Sutton didn't seem to have too much sympathy for the Spurs manager as he said this poor form "is on him".

He explained (14:36): Basically, Antonio Conte says that he sees selfish players, players that don't want to help each other and put their heart into it.

"Hang on a minute, though, he's been there a while now he's not been in five minutes. He's been able to build a team, has brought a lot of signings in. This is on him."

After explaining what Conte had said, Sutton then added (15:46):

"I think his interview tonight, the words which he says tonight, stinks of a guy who wants out, who doesn't want to be there.

"I think a lot of Spurs fans feel the same way but, you know, it's coming to an unhappy ending, isn't it?"

Why did Conte seem so upset about Spurs?

Sutton certainly does have a point about Conte needing to take plenty of responsibility for the result. After all, he has been backed in the transfer market to shape the squad as he likes with Richarlison, Ivan Perisic, and Pedro Porro all involved against the Saints after relatively recent moves to north London.

And if the Italian can't help his team control a two-goal lead against the team sitting bottom of the league, questions should be asked of the manager.

However, it's also true that many other top coaches such as Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino have spent time with Spurs but nobody has been able to win a trophy since 2008.

All in all, it looks like there is plenty wrong with the club from top to bottom. But after these quotes, it's hard to see Conte staying on as manager for much longer.

After such a vicious attack on the club that employs him, you can't help but half wonder if he's trying to get fired.

Liverpool missed out on both Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo to Chelsea this month, but now look poised to attempt a hijack of their own to complete the midfield rebuild.

What's the latest on Sofyan Amrabat to Liverpool?

According to Sky Sports, the Reds are said to be 'in talks' with Fiorentina for midfield star Sofyan Amrabat, looking to bypass the interest of Premier League rivals Manchester United, who have held talks with the Moroccan maestro ahead of a possible transfer.

Jurgen Klopp's side are closing on a surprising deal to sign Stuttgart midfielder Wataru Endo, but after a mass exodus at Anfield this summer another signature would go down a treat.

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

And Amrabat, who is valued at a ballpark £30m, could be the perfect fit to complete a midfield rebuild that has also welcomed the exciting acquisitions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but now more defensive aces are required.

How good is Sofyan Amrabat?

Once hailed as "phenomenal" by The Star's Joe Crann, the 26-year-old pass specialist caught the eye at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, completing 85% of his passes, averaging 2.3 tackles and 1.4 clearances per game as his nation sensationally came fourth.

Lauded as the "best central midfielder in the tournament" by journalist Carlo Garganese, Amrabat would be a credit to Liverpool's team and would inject robustness and intensity into the centre, utilising his passing prowess to revitalise the midfield.

Indeed, the £32k-per-week gem ranks among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and the top 11% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

Given his "extraordinary" skills – as praised by Spain boss Luis Enrique – Amrabat could be the perfect heir to Liverpool maestro Thiago Alcantara, especially considering the 32-year-old Spaniard has entered the final year of his contract with the Anfield side.

Thiago has made 97 appearances for Liverpool since signing from Bayern Munich for £20m in 2020, scoring three goals and supplying six assists, though he has been sidelined for 45 matches across the past two campaigns and will not have many fans expecting a seamless ride this term – on the injury front, that is.

Amrabat, comparatively, has missed ten games during the same period, far more reliable to string together lasting periods of fitness and form, heralded as a "monster" by WhoScored's Ben McAleer.

To his credit, Thiago is one of the most technically brilliant, seamlessly slick and elegantly graceful midfielders of the modern age, having been praised as "sensational" by Klopp.

The £200k-per-week star ranks among the top 4% of midfielders for passes attempted, the top 6% for progressive passes, but also ranks among the top 5% for tackles and the top 11% for interceptions per 90, highlighting his defensive work rate.

Amrabat showcased his tenacity in the tackle during his international escapades in Qatar, and by blending the facets of his skill set together he has every chance to be a successful heir to such a renowned phenom in Thiago.

West Ham United are preparing an official offer to sign Southampton central midfielder James Ward-Prowse this summer, according to fresh reports.

Is James Ward-Prowse leaving Southampton?

The St. Mary’s academy graduate has been a hugely integral member of his squad over the course of his 409 senior appearances on the south coast, being made captain and named Russell Martin’s overall best-performing player last season with an average WhoScored match rating of 6.95.

With the Saints having suffered relegation from the Premier League, it’s likely that they will have to cash in on some of their prized assets to help rebuild their team, and the 28-year-old, you would expect, is the player to be at the top of the list of those being let go, and Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has backed this up.

Speaking on his Here We Go podcast, he said: “I think this is [a] typical deal for [the] final weeks of the transfer window or maybe for late July because, of course, he is a very good player and so there is some clubs who [will] decide to go for him.”

Earlier this month, Football Insider reported that the Irons saw a verbal proposal rejected by the England international, though it’s believed that this hasn’t put them off taking a second bite of the cherry by this time around tabling a serious financial offer.

Are West Ham signing James Ward-Prowse?

According to Football Insider once again, West Ham are set to “formalise their interest” in Ward-Prowse by submitting an “official bid” in the weeks ahead.

Southampton have placed a £40-50m price tag on their skipper’s head which is seen as a “sticking point” for David Moyes’ side, and whilst that fee is one that the club are “unwilling to pay”, it’s stated that chiefs “hope to get things moving” in the right direction with their incoming offer.

Whilst Ward-Prowse is naturally a central midfielder, West Ham will know that he is much stronger in the attacking aspect of his game having been dubbed "world-class" by his former manager Nathan Jones, so whilst £40m is a big sum, it's one that would well be worth paying in order to secure his services this summer.

The Portsmouth-born talent clocked up 13 goal contributions (nine goals and four assists) in 38 Premier League matches last season so was not only prolific in the final third, but also more than helped to produce chances for his fellow teammates in the red and white stripes.

As per FBRef, Moyes' target recorded a total of 241 crosses and 127 shot-creating actions over the course of the previous campaign which was more than any other member of his squad, showing his desire to get involved with the action at the top end of the pitch.

Finally, Ward-Prowse shares the same agent, CAA Stellar, as Gianluca Scamacca so this existing connection that his representative already has to the club could potentially hand them a small extra advantage when trying to get a deal across the line in the coming weeks.

Aston Villa have opened discussions regarding a deal to sign Arsenal defender Nuno Tavares this summer, and his agent has delivered his stance on his future at the Emirates Stadium.

Where was Nuno Tavares born?

Tavares was originally born in Lisbon, Portugal, and first made the move to the Premier League from Benfica back in 2021, but after making just 28 senior appearances since putting pen to paper, he spent last season out on loan with Marseille in Ligue 1.

The Gunners left-back still has another two years remaining on his contract in N7, but after firmly establishing himself as Marcelino Garcia Toral’s top-performing offensive and second-best defensive player whilst on the road, via WhoScored, he’s caught the eye of Unai Emery.

Italian reporter Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that the Midlands outfit had brought the 23-year-old onto their radar as a result of his proposed move to Nottingham Forest having fallen through. Taking to X, he wrote:

"After deal collapsed with Forest, Aston Villa are exploring conditions of deal to sign Nuno Tavares from Arsenal. Personal terms not discussed yet — as up to the clubs now. Nuno, alternative option to Marcos Acuna deal with Sevilla for Villa."

Are Aston Villa signing Nuno Tavares?

According to 90min, Aston Villa have "reached out" to Arsenal to enquire about a summer deal for Tavares. NSWE and Monchi have already "expressed an interest" in the defender, but they aren't alone in their pursuit with Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg also keeping close tabs on his situation in England.

Speaking to TRT Spor during a public interview last month, however, the player's representative said:

"Nuno is still under contract at Arsenal. He wants to stay in the team but we'll see what happens in the future."

At Marseille last season, Tavares netted six goals which is an impressive return for a left-back, and despite his natural role being in defence, he’s much stronger in the offensive aspect of his game when bursting down the flank and creating chances in the final third.

Arsenal’s £27k-per-week earner ranked in the 99th percentile for shots having made 65 over the course of the campaign which was his squad’s second-highest total, via FBRef, alongside the 97th percentile for successful take-ons so loves to dribble past his marker, making him “aggressive”, as lauded by journalist Josh Bunting.

Read The Latest Aston Villa Transfer News HERE…

Sponsored by Nike, the left-footed gem also has the ability to operate slightly higher up in left midfield, at right-back and on the right side of the centre so he would provide the boss with wonderful versatility should he ever want to tinker with his formation or team selection.

With Marcos Acuna talks having been temporarily stalled with Sevilla, not to mention that Lucas Digne has reportedly reached an agreement to join Nice, Emery will have to enter the market to find a suitable reinforcement, and if the above update is to be believed, Tavares could be the perfect candidate to sign on the dotted line in the final days of the window.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is now advancing in his quest to conclude a deal at Anfield as the German coach continues his squad planning, as per reports.

What's the latest news involving Liverpool?

The Reds have made a relatively strong start to the 2023/24 campaign and sit third in the Premier League table with ten points from their first four fixtures in the English top flight.

Nevertheless, Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has copped criticism from former England forward Jay Bothroyd, who believes that the Uruguay international needs to do more given his £85 million price tag. Speaking on Sky Sports Saturday Social, Bothroyd stated:

"For me he’s between a C and a D. When he has played he’s played the majority of games on the left, and when he has played as a striker I don’t think he’s played well. We spoke about missing chances, and he’s missed loads of chances. I know pricetags, at £80m, I’m expecting him to come in and score goals, but he hasn’t done it in the Premier League yet. He has to really work on his composure as a striker".

Cited by 90min, French defender Ibrahima Konate has taken to social media platform Instagram to show the world his progress as he battles back from a thigh injury. The 24-year-old posted footage of him going out on a run and also, later on, Konate showed fans himself on a bike ride, indicating that he is building his way back up to full fitness. It remains unclear when the former RB Leipzig defender will be available for selection once again.

Meanwhile, Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma is believed to be on Liverpool's radar; however, Manchester City, Barcelona and Napoli are also keen on the Japan international, as per the same outlet.

Who could sign a new deal at Liverpool?

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has taken to social media platform X to issue an update on the state of play regarding the future of left-back Kostas Tsimikas at Anfield, stating:

"Liverpool are now advancing in talks to extend Kostas Tsimikas' contract. Negotiations are progressing to get it done as soon as possible. Discussions will continue to complete the agreement, as @JamesPearceLFC called."

Capology understand that the Greece international is contracted to Liverpool until the summer of 2025 and earns £50,000 per week on Merseyside.

In his time at Liverpool, Tsimikas has become a reliable understudy for Andy Robertson at left-back and has registered 12 assists in 62 appearances across all competitions for the Reds, as per Transfermarkt.

As per FBRef, the 27-year-old has excelled in comparison to his positional peers around Europe's top five divisions in the art of progressive passes received, taking in around 7.77 per 90 minutes across the last 365 days, putting him in the 92nd percentile for this metric.

Tsimikas may not overtake Robertson as Liverpool's starting left-back under Klopp in the immediate future; nevertheless, he has proven his worth as a capable deputy who can replicate the Scot's intensity both in attack and defence, with the Reds also in the Europa League this season.

Liverpool welcome Aston Villa to Anfield this afternoon as Jurgen Klopp's side look to claim their third successive Premier League win of the season, having drawn at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in the season opener.

Last season, the Reds endured a miserable campaign and failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons after finishing fifth.

Even that somewhat flatters the overall discourse of the campaign; Liverpool were shocking until the closing stages of the term, with a late-season purple patch salvaging European football.

Villa qualified for the Europa Conference League under Unai Emery's stewardship in a tremendous rise, and despite falling flat against Newcastle United to start their campaign, losing 5-1 at St. James' Park, the Villa Park side have rebounded with wins over Everton and Burnley.

Klopp will understand the task at hand, but will be confident that the home side will secure three points, closing the gap on league leaders and defending champions Manchester City to just two points.

What is the Liverpool team news vs Aston Villa?

Klopp will be forced to field a new centre-defensive pairing on Sunday, with Ibrahima Konate out injured and captain Virgil van Dijk suspended after receiving a red card against Newcastle last weekend.

In midfield, Curtis Jones could return after injury, while Stefan Bajcetic may receive his first outing of the term after making the bench for the past two match weeks; Thiago Alcantara has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a long-term issue and will remain sidelined.

Multi-functional midfielder Ryan Gravenberch will not play after completing a £34m move on deadline day from Bayern Munich, having failed to be registered in time for the final fixture before the term's first international break.

Up front, Darwin Nunez will be pushing for his first start of the season after a "razor-sharp" – as said by Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury – cameo against the Magpies, where his brace gave ten-man Liverpool an unlikely, galvanising victory.

Will Wataru Endo start vs Aston Villa?

With Gravenberch unable to participate this weekend, Klopp might be inclined to hand Wataru Endo his second successive start in the Premier League after signing from German side Stuttgart in a £16m deal in August.

The Japan captain's arrival raised more than a few eyebrows; Liverpool had been in pursuit of Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo to fill the void left by Fabinho and Jordan Henderson's departures to Saudi Arabian sides, but both ended up joining Chelsea.

Endo, relatively unknown outside the Bundesliga, could prove to be a shrewd investment for Klopp's side, with transfer guru Fabrizio Romano even saying: "he’s an extremely underrated player, ask Stuttgart fans."

A tenacious, tough-tackling midfielder, Endo is indeed likely to retain a starting berth in Liverpool's team in the absence of any other defensive midfielder.

Against Newcastle, he didn't produce the finest, slickest display in memory but did demonstrate his defensive skills, making two tackles and winning four of his seven duels, important in preventing Eddie Howe's side from capitalising after going a man and goal down in the opening half-hour.

Thiago remains an absentee, and given that teenage talent Stefan Bajcetic has yet to play a minute this term following his own return from a long-term injury, his reintegration might be better placed through a substitute appearance.

Why should Wataru Endo start vs Aston Villa?

Described as a "proper warrior and leader" by Bundesliga commentator Kevin Thatchard, Endo has been a stalwart for Stuttgart in their battles against relegation in the German top-flight.

Having made 133 appearances for die Schwaben, posting 15 goals and 12 assists, Endo has indeed been crucial to the club's flow and industriousness.

The 50-cap international was in fine fettle last season, recording an average rating of 6.99 in the Bundesliga – as per Sofascore – across his 33 displays, scoring five goals and supplying four assists, completing 80% of his passes, averaging 1.4 key passes per game and making 2.1 tackles and 1.8 clearances each match.

To showcase his defensive qualities, FBref ranks Endo among the top 7% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for clearance and aerial wins per 90.

The £50k-per-week ace's inclusion against the Lions will be imperative, with Emery's outfit ravenous for a continuation of the fantastic, Europe-clinching feats of last year.

During Liverpool's opening match against Chelsea last month, the club's lack of control without an established No. 6 was clear for all to see, with the Stamford Bridge side retaining 65% of possession and completing 87% of their passes as opposed to Liverpool's 80%.

For reference, last year, despite the Merseyside outfit's struggles, only champions Manchester City completed more passes than Liverpool. Against Chelsea this season, that tactical philosophy went out the window.

Emery's Villa thrive through organisation and discipline, maintaining a compact shape and as such nullifying the advances of the opposition.

They also utilise overloaded midfielders, with the Spaniard manager not shy to field the likes of John McGinn on the wing, allowing the full-backs to overlap and supplement the attack.

Endo will be crucial in preventing this, having completed 88% of his passes in the Premier League thus far, also averaging two ball recoveries and 1.5 tackles and clearances per match.

By deploying the hard-working ace in the holding midfield role, the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai could see their creative qualities shine through, with Aston Villa's heavy defeat against Newcastle evidence that the Midlands outfit is susceptible to swift attacking transitions and incisive play.

Highlighting his strengths prior to the confirmation of Endo's move to Anfield, The Athletic's Seb Stafford-Boor said: "He is a ball-winner, but he’ll do a fine job protecting the defence. He can play too, though."

The hope will be that as he acclimatises to life on Merseyside, the veteran midfielder maintains these core qualities as he gels with Klopp's squad, and against Villa, his inclusion as the all-action defensive component could prove to be the difference-maker.

Endo is not the high-profile name the Liverpool support yearned for, but he is a solid midfielder and he will prove to be a central figure in the team this year, and maybe even instrumental in the club's renaissance.

AFC Bournemouth will host West Ham United on Saturday 12th August as the two teams kick off their Premier League campaigns. Here's everything you need to know about the history of this fixture.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: Who has the best head-to-head record?

These two clubs haven't typically been playing at the same level throughout their respective histories. There aren't too many fixtures to go on, then – only 17 competitive meetings, in fact.

The majority of those have come since the Cherries made it to the Premier League, of course. This will be their seventh season in the top flight.

The Hammers have been a better side and there were a couple of seasons in that span where they were much better. Overall, though, their records when going head-to-head are quite similar.

West Ham have won eight of the 17 games, with Bournemouth winning four. That leaves five as draws, for those keeping count.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: Who has the best record at the Vitality Stadium?

Eight of the 17 fixtures have come at Bournemouth – where the 12th August meeting will also take place. The record there is perfectly split, though, suggesting there's no great advantage for either side.

West Ham have won two, Bournemouth have won two, and the other four have all been draws. The latter feels like a relatively safe choice for anyone predicting a result on the opening weekend.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: Who has the best record at the London Stadium?

However, unlike at Bournemouth, there is a clear advantage to the Hammers when the fixture takes place in east London. Nine of the games have taken place there and the home side have won six of them.

Bournemouth have managed two wins, to their credit, but this one typically sees West Ham claim the victory. 2018 saw the single draw in that particular fixture, and the return game is currently stapled in for 30th January as the Cherries seek to improve their record.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: When did the sides first meet?

Despite recent fixtures dominating the history of this fixture, you do have to go back nearly a century for the first meeting between the two. It came in the FA Cup back in 1929.

It was the Round of 16 and the two sides were pitted against one another at Bournemouth. That game finished 1-1, however, meaning they returned to West Ham for a replay shortly afterwards. West Ham saw the Cherries off in that one, winning 4-1 at home to progress to the quarter-finals.

Portsmouth would then knock them out, if anyone was wondering, with the south coast outfit eventually losing to Bolton Wanderers in the final.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: How many competitions have they met in?

While there have only been 17 fixtures between the two, they've managed to spread them across several competitions, with the sides meeting in four tournaments.

The Premier League has seen 12 clashes, all coming since Bournemouth's 2015 promotion. But as mentioned earlier, West Ham and Bournemouth did first meet in the FA Cup nearly a century ago.

It would be 60 years before they'd come across one another again, though. They were both in the old Second Division for the 1989/90 season, playing each other twice in their first league meetings. They'd draw at Bournemouth before West Ham won 4-1 at home.

Another 10-year break followed, as the next fixture between the two didn't come until 1999 as they were drawn against one another in the League Cup 3rd round. Again, West Ham would win 2-0 at home to progress in that one.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: What is their Premier League record?

We've now had six seasons of Bournemouth vs West Ham and things have been very even so far. Of the 12 games, West Ham have won the most with five, while Bournemouth have picked up four wins, with only the three draws so far.

But breaking this down further, Bournemouth things are literally even – two wins each, two draws from the six games. That changes a little when the fixture is at West Ham as the Hammers have won three to their opponent's two (one draw).

This one has been pretty difficult to predict, then. The two clubs are about as even as you can expect over 12 games of football.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: Which team has the most goals?

17 fixtures doesn't exactly allow for a mountain of goals in this fixture, of course. We've seen 59 in total, spread in favour of West Ham.

And that's perhaps the biggest revelation here. Despite results being quite even, West Ham have managed 37 goals to Bournemouth's 22. When the Hammers win, they tend to win big.

In the Premier League alone, the 12 top-flight games have seen West Ham net 26 times to Bournemouth's 18. Funnily enough, they've scored fewer in east London than they have away from home – 12 to 14. Bournemouth, though, do tend to score more at home, with 11 to their 7 away strikes.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: What is Bournemouth's biggest win?

Bournemouth's biggest win in this fixture is fairly modest. It came in January 2019 as they beat West Ham 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Callum Wilson and Joshua King.

Other than that, the Cherries' wins have always been by the odd goal. Thus, their biggest away win is just a 2-1 victory, with Steve Cook scoring the winner after Wilson cancelled out Marko Arnautovic's opener.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: What is West Ham's biggest win?

West Ham's biggest win in this one is 4-0 – a feat they've achieved twice. The first came in January 2020 at home. This was a season that would eventually see Bournemouth suffer relegation and this result set them well on their way.

Mark Noble scored twice, Sebastien Hallér grabbed one and Felipe Anderson rounded off the scoring.

The other 4-0 thrashing came at Bournemouth, meaning West Ham's biggest away win is the same as their biggest home win. This one happened in the most recent clash between the two teams, too.

Michail Antonio opened the scoring back in April, with Lucas Paquetá, Declan Rice and Pablo Fornals also finding the net – a dominant display that will carry West Ham into the season opener with confidence.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: What were the recent results?

Bournemouth's relegation in 2020 means the last few games between the two have seen a big gap between them. Only the last two feel particularly relevant, as a result.

And last season was West Ham's without a doubt. They won 2-0 at home before smashing the Cherries 4-0 away; 6-0 across two games, six points – you can't really ask for much more.

The last game before that relegation – the third-most recent fixture – was also a dominant 4-0 West Ham win.

But things were brighter for Bournemouth up to that game. In fact, the first of those 4-0 wins was West Ham's first victory in the fixture in seven attempts. They drew 2-2 in late 2019 after Bournemouth beat the Hammers 2-0 earlier that year.

Those results had followed two more draws and a Bournemouth win dating back to early 2017. The Cherries do have a period of success in this fixture, then.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: How did the Cherries do last season?

Bournemouth would eventually finish five points clear of the relegation zone but things were incredibly dicey for a while. A 9-0 defeat to Liverpool early in the season saw manager Scott Parker depart, reportedly over transfer plans.

Gary O'Neil stepped into his shoes and did very well, all things considered, even getting a Manager of the Month nod. It wasn't quite enough to keep him in the job this season, however, as he left the club in June to make way for Andoni Iraola.

Bournemouth vs West Ham: How did the Hammers do last season?

In the Premier League, West Ham were massively disappointing. Their previous seasons suggested they'd compete for European football. Instead, they finished 14th – six points above relegation and just a single point ahead of Bournemouth.

But that isn't the whole story, of course. David Moyes would guide West Ham to the second-ever Europa Conference League title, bringing home a European trophy for the first time since 1965 (not counting the Intertoto Cup, sorry).

Bournemouth vs West Ham: Who are the favourites?

History suggests this one could be close, given it's at Bournemouth. At the same time, West Ham won there 4-0 last season and they'll be entering the new season with plenty of confidence.

Though, at the same time, the influx of cash from selling Declan Rice means no one can be sure what West Ham's team will even look like come the opener. They'll surely make a few signings between then and now – who knows what effect that will have?

Bournemouth, on the other hand, will certainly be an unknown quantity. They've appointed Iraola as their new manager, on top of a few first-team signings that could change the squad quite significantly.

And so, as with most season openers, this one has a lot of questions around it. We likely won't really know what the two teams are like until the game is over.

When is Bournemouth vs West Ham?

Bournemouth will host West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday 12th August at 3pm UK time. It'll be the 18th competitive meeting between the two sides.

This is the season opener for both sides, with each undergoing big changes over the summer transfer window.

Both will surely feel they have points to prove this coming term, with West Ham looking to return to prominence following their European glory and the Cherries hoping to consolidate themselves as a solid top-flight outfit once again under new management.

Jorginho made the move across London from Chelsea to Arsenal back in January. There have been rumours of him moving on from the Emirates already but Ryan Taylor of the Daily Express has offered an update to GIVEMESPORT.

Will Jorginho stay put?

Since arriving in North London, Jorginho, who was hailed for being a "top guy", has hardly had the smoothest of journeys. Arsenal may have enjoyed a successful 2022/23 season but the Champions League winning midfielder remained on the outskirts of the team.

As a result, there have been rumours swirling that point towards his imminent departure. The most likely destination is said to be Turkey with Fenerbahce leading the charge.

Granit Xhaka already left the club though, returning to the Bundesliga to join Bayer Leverkusen and Thomas Partey also faces an uncertain future as well. This means that Mikel Arteta can hardly boast loads of midfield depth and will need contributions from as many players as possible as they take on European football in the coming season, after they of course came second and secured a Champions League spot.

What is Ryan Taylor's update?

"I expect him to stay 100%. I think the only way that would probably change is if Arsenal decided they wanted to bring in another midfielder.

"But even still, I can't really see Jorginho leaving, he's only just joined. I think long term, he will probably depart in the next year or so.

"But I think it seems to have been quite settled in pre-season and there's not really anything concrete.

"There's talk of interest from Fenerbahce, but from what I understand that's not genuine at the moment and his agent has ruled out a return to Italy on a lot of occasions this summer.

"So unless something changes, I think he'll be remaining with the club."

What else is going down at the Emirates?

The Arsenal starting XI was more or less perfect last year and so a lot of the transfer business this summer was geared towards adding further depth.

One position of note is in between the sticks where Aaron Ramsdale thrived last term. USMNT number one Matt Turner was his deputy but, as per Sky Sports’ Dharmesh Sheth, a move to Nottingham Forest is “advanced and progressing” for him. Brentford’s David Raya is the man being touted as the next goalkeeper to join Arsenal although given the fee and his ability, he is more likely to push than Ramsdale for the starting spot as opposed to settling for the rotation role.

Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz are the notable new arrivals already through the Emirates’ door and they all started the Community Shield success over title rivals Manchester City. Rice and Timber in particular played really well and have showed positive signs of what Gunners’ fan can expect from them this season.

Folarin Balogun is a final name worth mentioning when it comes to his potential departure from Arsenal. Turner’s international teammate excelled on loan with Stade Reims in Ligue 1 last season and, according to reports from The Daily Mail, a sizable offer has been rejected by Arsenal from another French team. The English side are holding out for £50 million which is more than Monaco are willing to offer at the time of writing.

Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United have a long history that stretches back to their first encounter in October 1903 – a game the south coast club won 3-2.

Football FanCast has everything you need to know about the Premier League fixture before the two sides clash at the Amex on Saturday.

While it's hard to extrapolate too much in terms of form from just two league games, both sides should be going into the contest feeling confident.

The Hammers come into the game fresh from a brilliant 3-1 home win over Chelsea, while the Seagulls bagged a 4-1 away victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Brighton vs West Ham: What's their head-to-head record?

Despite first meeting in 1903, the two sides have only played one another 32 times in all competitions in the intervening 120 years.

This lack of games is partly due to the massive 45-year gap between their clashes in 1933 and 1978 and a 13-year break between 1991 and 2004 without a match-up.

Indeed, made their way up and down the English football pyramid before breaking back into the top two tiers in the late 1970s.

By the late 80s, they were back in Division Three, and after another relegation to the third tier in 1992, the sides didn't meet again until they were both Championship sides.

The Seagulls took the long way back to the big time via League One, and are now a fixture of the top flight alongside West Ham after over three decades out.

When they have played each other, it has generally been a closely fought affair, with Brighton just edging it in terms of overall wins at 11, while their east London competition have won ten, leaving 11 encounters as draws.

Brighton wins: 11 Draws: 11 West Ham wins: 10 Brighton vs West Ham: What's their record on the south coast?

15 of the 32 fixtures have come at Brighton's various home grounds, and have unsurprisingly been where the Seagulls have had the most amount of luck. They've won eight games when playing as hosts – more than double what they've managed in the capital.

There have been five draws along the way, and perhaps most impressively, just two defeats.

Brighton wins: 8 Draws: 5 West Ham wins: 2 Brighton vs West Ham: What's their record at Upton Park/London Stadium?

This fixture has been played at Upton Park or the London Stadium 17 times since 1903, and the results are pretty much just a reverse of the ones on the south coast.

The Hammers have come out on top in eight of their matches against Brighton in east London, drawing six and losing just three – although that is still one more loss than Brighton have suffered at home.

West Ham wins: 8 Draws: 6 Brighton wins: 3 Brighton vs West Ham: What's their Premier League record?

While the overall picture between these two sides is one of balance in terms of results, that certainly hasn't been the case in the Premier League, as since Brighton won promotion to the top flight in 2017, it has very much been one-way traffic.

In their 12 league meetings since that promotion, Brighton have found themselves on the winning side six times, drawing the other six games – meaning their claret and blue opponents have yet to beat them in the league since their return six years ago.

Interestingly, the six draws all came consecutively between August 2019 and December 2021, suggesting that there has still been some competition, there. However, the last three games have all been convincing wins for Brighton.

Brighton wins: 6 Draws: 6 West Ham wins: 0 Brighton vs West Ham: Which team has the most goals?

With the two sides being pretty even over the last century, with periods of dominance for both teams, it's not all that surprising to see that their goalscoring records are also incredibly similar.

When Brighton play host, they have scored 27 goals across all competitions, conceding just 13. West Ham have scored one more when hosting at 28, but have also conceded more, letting in 18 as being the home team.

Brighton vs West Ham: What happened in last season's fixtures?

Brighton came away with six out of six points last season, edging out West Ham early on in the season at the London Stadium and completely blowing them away at the Amex seven months later.

In the first encounter, Alexis Mac Allister gave the visitors the lead from the spot in the 22nd minute following a foul on Danny Welbeck from Thilo Kehrer. They doubled their lead in the 66th minute thanks to a brilliant strike from Leandro Trossard.

The reverse fixture was a demolition job by the Seagulls, becoming their biggest-ever win against the Hammers.

Brighton vs West Ham: What is Danny Welbeck's record?

Welbeck tends to excel against West Ham, regardless of who he is playing for. In total, the former Arsenal man has come up against the east London outfit on 21 occasions – the most he has faced any team other than Tottenham Hotspur – and has been on the victorious side 13 times.

The Hammers are also the team that Welbeck has scored the most goals against in his career, finding the back of the net seven times and providing four assists for his teammates.

The Irons might be hoping Roberto De Zerbi opts for Evan Ferguson or Joao Pedro up top for this one.

Brighton vs West Ham: What is Michail Antonio's record?

Michail Antonio has played Brighton more than any other side in his career, but probably doesn't look forward to the fixture too much considering he has been on the victorious side just three times out of a possible 19.

The other 16 fixtures have resulted in eight defeats and eight ties, with the Jamaica international scoring just two goals and providing another two assists over that period.

Brighton vs West Ham: What is Brighton's biggest win?

As alluded to above, the Seagulls' biggest win over their east London opponents came earlier this year when they won 4-0 at home in early March.

Mac Allister opened the scoring in the 18th minute, converting from the penalty spot for a second time against the Hammers last term after Jarrod Bowen bundled over Kaoru Mitoma.

Fans had to wait until the 51st minute for another goal, but once Joel Veltman doubled his side's lead, it was plain sailing, with Mitoma and Welbeck also getting involved in the action to complete a comprehensive win.

David Moyes' team will have to forget about that performance if they want to get anything out of the game this weekend.

Brighton vs West Ham: What is West Ham's biggest win?

While Brighton's 4-0 win is undoubtedly impressive, the Hammers have been able to go two better in the past, smashing six past Peter Brezovan in April 2012 to win 6-0 in the Championship.

The scoring was opened by Ricardo Vaz Te in the third minute, with the tricky winger going on to add another in the eighth minute and a third in the 62nd minute, with the rout rounded off with a Gary Dicker own goal in the 78th minute.

Kevin Nolan and Carlton Cole were the other goalscorers on the day, with the Hammers boosting their promotion bid, which was eventually successfully achieved through the play-offs.

Brighton vs West Ham: What are the recent results?

It's pretty clear that between these two teams, Brighton have pretty much dominated the Premier League era, and that is clearly reflected in the recent results between the sides.

The most recent game – in March – ended 4-0. The two preceding results finished 2-0, and 3-1, both in Brighton's favour – with West Ham only able to score a single goal in reply to the Seagulls' nine across those three games.

The six matches before that run of Brighton victories were all score draws; however, the three before which preceded that were also all Brighton wins – leaving the Hammers winless in the last 12.

Brighton vs West Ham: When is it?

Brighton & Hove Albion host West Ham United on Saturday 26th August at 5.30pm (UK time), and will be broadcast on Sky Sports.

It may not be one of the marquee matchups in the Premier League, but it's a tie that has served up plenty of goals and action in the past, and both teams have a lot to play for this season.

Brighton are still under the guidance of the charismatic and intriguing De Zerbi, who is tasked with taking them on a European journey this year without their midfield stalwart from last season, Moises Caicedo.

However, the arrival of Joao Pedro promises to add even more attacking threat to one of the league's most entertaining sides to watch.

On the other hand, West Ham will also have a European journey of their own to contend without last season's midfield general, this time Declan Rice.

That said, when it comes to their league campaign, Moyes' men will likely be aiming to simply avoid another relegation battle this season and to bed in their new talent.

The arrivals of James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez have given many fans reason to be excited, and after the side's excellent performance against the free-spending Chelsea last weekend, there is no reason not to be.