McKenna, Maresca face tough opening matches

Two debutant coaches to the Premier League, Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca, face a trial by fire in their first games of the new season.

Ipswich take on Arne Slot’s Liverpool in his first fixture since replacing Jurgen Klopp. The match will be televised on TNT TV at 12.30 pm UK time (4:30 pm EAT).

Meanwhile, Maresca will face Pep Guardiola at Stamford Bridge when Chelsea test their new playing strategy against champions Manchester City.

In the tough battles to come, it might be a good idea to get some of the worst over first because that is exactly what Ipswich will face.

Their second game is against Manchester City. McKenna said he relishes the challenge and the games give him a chance to test his new Premier League team against two of the best.

He is in a confident mood. Town have sold their entire season ticket allocation guaranteeing their stadium will have a 30,000 crowd for every match.

Ironically, Ipswich Town’s last Premier League match before being relegated in 2002 was a 5-0 defeat to Liverpool.

The season opens on August 16 as Fulham travel to Manchester United, who start their eighth consecutive season’s opening game at home.

Promoted Leicester host Tottenham on August 19 while the other promoted club, Southampton, face a difficult game at Newcastle United.

The Magpies coach Eddie Howe must impress his Saudi employers, who are anxious to see a good return on their investment in the northeastern club.

31-year-old coach replaces De Zerbi at Brighton

Brighton have taken a huge gamble by appointing 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler as their new manager on a three-year contract. He has become the youngest-ever Premier League boss.

Hurzeler coached German second-division side St Pauli back to the German top flight after the club spent 13 years in the lower league. During the season St Pauli played 34 games, winning 20, losing five and drawing nine.

Hurzeler is an interesting character, is tattooed and is known for having a fiery temper. He collected 46 yellow cards and six red cards in 91 matches in the Bundesliga second tier. During one ban he actually sat in the stands with the fans.

Urzeler was born in Houston, Texas, and is younger than several of the Brighton senior players. James Milner is 38, Danny Welbeck is 33 and Lewis Dunk is 32.

Speaking this week, Hurzeler said: “Brighton have a unique history and bold vision for the future so I am truly excited to be part of the project.”

Many fans at the Seagulls’ Goldstone ground cannot understand why Brighton have gone for someone so unknown. They are already worried about the club’s Premier League status.

The Bundesliga second division will not be like competing against Europe’s elite Premier League clubs and facing the likes of Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.

Time will tell. We might all be in for a big surprise but it will be interesting to see how this youngster fairs now he is in with the big boys.

Palace plan to keep Guehi

With Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool hovering, Crystal Palace are putting together a plan to keep hold of their star midfielder and current England international Marc Guehi.

The 23-year-old was in fine form for England’s opening Euros match against Serbia, which they won 1-0. Guehi has just two years on his current Palace contract and the club is determined not to let their star midfielder enter the final 12 months without a new deal.

They intend to offer him a substantial pay increase. In addition, they are hoping to persuade him to allow Palace to insert a buy-out clause into any new deal with the price said to be £65m (Sh10.6bn).

Pressure builds on Mount

One of the main reasons the Manchester United minority shareholder INEOS decided to stick with coach Erik Ten Hag was what they called problems beyond Ten Hag’s control which he can put right for next season.

They recognised that incoming players take time to settle as is the case with Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount. INEOS believe the trio will turn out to be good investments long term.

Onana has improved steadily and Hojlund has shown occasionally that he will lead the line in time. The big problem is Mount, who has sustained injuries and thus failed to show his true ability with some disappointing performances.

Everyone expected Mount to build on his success at Chelsea but the £55m (Sh9bn) star managed just 20 matches with only eight starts. He scored one goal and made one assist.

Pressure on Mount to survive at United has intensified because the role he was signed for is now taken by the in-form Kobbie Mainoo.

United are likely to bring in another holding midfielder this summer and with Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes certain to start, it is difficult to see where Mason will fit. Ten Hag intends to work hard with Mount during pre-season in the hope that he can repeat the form he showed at Chelsea under former coach Thomas Tuchel.

Ten Hag was only retained after a two-week review. After making their decision, three United staff flew to the holiday island of Ibiza where Ten Hag was staying with his family to inform him to continue in his job.

However, United had interviewed other candidates which proves that Ten hag hit the ground running and produce results. If not, he could be out of the club by Christmas.

Cooper signs on as Leicester manager

After expressing his wish to return to football after being fired by Chelsea in 2023, Graham Potter could not reach an agreement to join newly promoted Leicester City.

Potter was the Foxes' preferred choice to replace Enzo Maresca but now ex-Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has signed a three year contract.

Who is likely to leave Man United?

The future of seven players at Manchester United are under review. Now that Erik Ten Hag has been given more time to complete his “project”, United are looking to strengthen their options but they have to sell to remain inside the financial fair play rules.

The summer transfer window is officially open and a number of players are heading towards the final year of their current contracts. This is particularly important because Ten Hag has to reach a decision about who can make his plan work.

If United wait until January, United could be in trouble because the Bosman ruling allows players to agree on a pre-contract with an overseas club if they are in the last six months of their contracts. The main players affected by this are: Harry Maguire: Defender stripped of the captaincy but has enjoyed a good season.

Victor Lindelof: Defender behind Maguire in Ten Hag’s selection and he is under considerable threat if United bring in either Jarrad Branthwaite or Matthijs de Ligt.

Scott McTominay: Midfield second choice by Ten Hag who has discovered Kobbie Mainoo but his goals and energy and ability still make him a valuable asset.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Defender is a real talent but Ten Hag prefers Diogo Dalot. He is expected to decide his own future during the next few weeks.

Amad Diallo: Forward who did enough in a brilliant display against Newcastle and scored against fierce rivals Liverpool which should be enough for Ten Hag to keep him. I can reveal that the manager rates Amad, Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund as the youngsters, who will lead his future team.

Willy Kambwala: Defender who will probably be given another season to prove his worth. Christian Eriksen: Midfielder currently doing well for Denmark in the Euros but out of favour with Ten Hag. After having limited gametime, he will probably leave this summer if an offer comes in.

Saudi and Madrid a worry for Liverpool

Three words Liverpool fear hearing at the same time are transfer, Saudi League and Real Madrid. The Saudi league forced the Reds into recruiting midfield players after Fabinho and Jordan Henderson took the road for the Middle East riches.

Now they have made it public knowledge that they intend to buy Mo Salah and Alisson Becker. Apart from ending Liverpool’s hopes of winning the Champions League, Real Madrid also signed Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham when the Premier League club had put together tempting offers for both players.

Club captain Virgil Van Dijk is the latest name to be talked about by the Saudi League. Several worried Liverpool fans emailed me to ask me to find out if the rumours are true.

After a few telephone calls and a couple of meetings, I can confirm that Van Dijk has no intention of leaving and is looking forward to working with new coach, Arne Slot.

The Saudi team, Al Nassr, was rumoured to be in contact with Liverpool about Van Dijk. However, I can confirm that no contact has been made but it is important that Liverpool start working on a new contract for the defender since his current deal ends at the end of next season.

United’s insulting bid for Everton’s Branthwaite

Manchester United’s opening bid for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite last weekend was ridiculous. The Blues have financial problems stemming from the Financial sustainability rules plus uncertainty as to who will own the club next season.

However, despite Everton needing to bring in money the bid of £35m (Sh5.7m) for a player who has broken through into the top ranks of the Premier League to become one of Europe’s hottest properties was viewed by the Toffees as insulting.

I felt it was crazy of England coach Gareth Southgate not to pick Branthwaite for the Euros because playing alongside John Stones with his Everton teammate Jordan Pickford behind him in goal would have given the national side a strong defensive backbone.

The result of not going to Germany has made him an easier target for big clubs to come calling and offering to buy him. Everton are determined to hang on to their golden nugget but financially they might be forced to sell him.

Because of the financial rules Everton were forced to sell Richarlison a couple of seasons ago and the price paid by Tottenham was probably £20m (Sh3.2bn) short of his true value. Everton are desperate not to be forced into that position again.

The owner of Roma football club Dan Friedkin is nearing a deal to buy Everton. The American has been granted exclusivity which will give him time to put a solid offer in place.

Transfer News…

Arsenal have contacted Everton regarding the possibility of signing their central midfielder Amadou Onana. Arsenal dispatched scouts to watch Onana several times last season and he has long been linked with move to the north London club.

I have learned that Everton would expect a fee in the region of £50m (Sh8bn) for the Belgian international. When the 22-year-old impressed during the Gunner’s 1-0 win at Goodison Park, Onana was the main topic of conversation in the Arsenal dressing room.

Crystal Palace have signed Morocco defender Chadi Riad from Barcelona for £12.6m (Sh2bn). He will be a good signing and could replace England defender Marc Guehi if he leaves.

Chelsea are still chasing Crystal Palace striker Michael Olise and a figure of £60m (Sh9.8bn) has been rumoured. The Blues sent scouts to watch the France Under-21 star last summer but he signed a new deal at Palace. The two Manchester clubs, Bayern Munich and Newcastle are also showing considerable interest in the 22-year-old.

Brentford are reported to have reduced the price of their striker Ivan Toney. Chelsea and Manchester United are in the hunt and his contract is up at the end of next season.

Brentford previously valued Toney at £80m (Sh13bn) because of his 32 goal season but I understand they will accept £60m (Sh9.8bn) for the 28-year-old.