Latest Premier League News Round-Up
European Spots
With the FA Cup now concluded in favour of Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle have learned their fate about participating in UEFA competitions next summer. The Blues will be playing Europa Conference League football, while there will be no European nights at St. James’ Park in 2024/25.
Promotion Play-Off
Leeds United and Southampton are battling it out for the last promotion spot tonight and you can read all about it here. Leicester and Ipswich have already secured automatic promotion to the Premier League earlier this month.
Old Trafford Dugout
Erik ten Hag, after guiding United to FA Cup glory, maintains that he is not thinking about his own future: “I don’t know,” Ten Hag told BBC Sport about his future at Old Trafford.
“The only thing I’m doing is preparing my team, developing my team. This is a project for me. When I came in I can say it was a mess. Now we are better. We are not where we want to be.
“Football is about winning trophies. I want to play the best football, dynamic, attacking football but in the end you have to win games and trophies. That’s the mentality we brought in. This was our one opportunity and we did it. I‘m very proud of the players and staff.”
Lopetegui Returns to the Premier League
Julen Lopetegui has been confirmed as the new manager of West Ham, replacing David Moyes.
The 57-year-old Spaniard had a previous experience in the EPL coaching Wolves and guiding them to safety in 2022/23.
He has notably won the Europa League with Sevilla in 2020.
Palace and Everton Ownership
Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor is understood to want to sell his 45% stake in the club. Furthermore, according to BBC Sport, he is interested in purchasing Everton or a club in the Championship.
Textor, through his company (Eagle Football Holdings), owns majority stakes in 4 different clubs: Crystal Palace, Olympique Lyon, Brazilian club Botafogo and Belgian side RWD Molenbeek.
Eagle Football can not purchase another EPL club before selling their stake at Palace.
Fernandes Wants to Stay
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes said that he wants to stay at Old Trafford, but is looking for the club to match his ambitions.
“I love to step out at Old Trafford more than anything in the world. I don’t want to leave. This has always been my ultimate dream,” Fernandes told Players’ Tribune.
“I just want my expectations to fit with the expectations of the club. If you go talk to any fan, they will tell you the same thing. We want to compete for the league. We want to be playing Champions League football. We want to be in cup finals. That is the standard.”