Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi believes his side are still capable of securing a place in Europe for a second successive season.

The Seagulls are 10th in the Premier League with seven games of a campaign memorable for a first foray into continental competition remaining.

Current form is not good, however, with just one win from the last six league outings, but De Zerbi is optimistic.

Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Burnley, the Italian said: “It’s difficult to understand how many points we need, but we have to think game by game.

“I think we have the chance to reach Europe. It’s tough because there are a lot of strong and very good teams, but we have the chance.

“The schedule is not the best, but we’re going to find a lot of teams who play in Europe – Man City, Chelsea plays in the FA Cup, Aston Villa are playing in Conference League.

“I think we have the chance and we have to believe in that, and we have to win, for sure.

“I would like to play next season again in Europe. I think this season we are paying a lot, a big price, for the first experience in the Europa League, but the second one can be easier.”

Brighton are also hampered by a lengthy injury list. Tariq Lamptey and Julio Enciso are the latest additions after suffering knocks in last weekend’s defeat at Arsenal, taking the number of casualties to nine.

De Zerbi said: “The situation is tough. We have still nine injured players – yes, nine.

“It’s more or less the same squad we played against Arsenal but no Tariq. Julio Enciso is the ninth injured player.”

Solly March, Jack Hinshelwood, Karou Mitoma, Billy Gilmour, Evan Ferguson, Adam Webster and James Milner also remain on the sidelines.

Of those, Gilmour, Webster and Milner seem the closest to returning.

De Zerbi said: “Billy is better. I don’t know how much time he needs to start with us on the pitch, but he’s better. James Milner, the same.

“I think Webster, Milner and Bill can be available (in) the next weeks.”

De Zerbi also confirmed goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who has started the last five matches, will retain his place.

He said: “Bart plays tomorrow, starts at the beginning in the first XI. I’m happy and lucky to work with Bart and Jason (Steele) as well.

“They are different players, different keepers, but both are very good, very important for Brighton.”

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Thomas Frank laughs off supposed Ivan Toney price tag
Brentford striker Ivan Toney linked with summer moves to Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd
Reports this week claimed Bees would be open to £30m deal
Thomas Frank has hit back at such suggestions

By Sean Walsh
Apr 12, 2024
Frank has been open about Brentford's stance on Toney
Frank has been open about Brentford's stance on Toney / Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/GettyImages
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has downplayed suggestions the club would accept offers in the region of £30m for Ivan Toney.

England striker Toney is expected to leave the Bees this summer with his contract up in 2025, and Frank has already admitted the club would be willing to do business at the right price.

90min recently reported that Arsenal have cooled their interest in the 28-year-old, though he could emerge as an option for Manchester United in their pursuit of a new centre forward. Chelsea have also been heavily linked with him.

Reports from Germany earlier this week stated Brentford would consider selling Toney for £30m, but Frank has swiftly moved to deny such talk.

"Normally I don't go into these price labels, but I would say that's very cheap for a 20-goal goalscorer in the Premier League," he said at a press conference on Friday.

Ivan Toney, Keane Lewis-Potter
Toney could prove pivotal in Brentford's fight against relegation / Naomi Baker/GettyImages
Brentford's record sale stands at £33m from Aston Villa for Ollie Watkins, who scored a brace against the Bees last week in an enthralling 3-3 draw. David Raya will join Arsenal for a permanent fee of £27m this summer after the Gunners paid £3m up front as part of their initial loan agreement.

Toney made his return from an eight-month ban for breaches of betting rules in January and has since registered four goals in 13 Premier League matches, while he scored his first England goal in their 2-2 draw with Belgium during the March international window.

After being dropped to the bench for last Saturday's draw at Villa due to a minor injury, Frank has confirmed Toney is fit and ready to take on Sheffield United in a huge battle towards the bottom of the Premier League table this weekend.

"Everyone from last week when we faced Villa is available," Frank added.

"Ivan is fine. Good news: [Kevin] Schade is available and will make the squad, so that's very good news. And Ethan Pinnock is available and will make the squad."

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EFL says Leicester will not face points deduction this season over PSR charge

Leicester will not be deducted Championship points if found to have breached Premier League financial rules before the end of the season, the EFL has announced.

The Foxes were charged with breaching the top flight’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) last month in relation to the assessment period ending with the 2022-23 season, when they were still a Premier League club.

The club issued “urgent legal proceedings” on March 22 against that charge, and against an EFL transfer embargo.

The EFL revealed on Friday that as part of those proceedings, Leicester had sought an interim injunction preventing any sporting sanction – such as a points penalty – being imposed in the current season, with the Foxes battling Leeds and Ipswich for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

However, the EFL has now said that after taking legal advice it does not have the power under its rules as currently drafted to impose any points penalty ordered by an independent commission set up to hear a Premier League charge, and has confirmed that to all parties concerned.

It said Leicester’s application for an injunction was therefore no longer necessary.

There had been no realistic expectation that any points penalty arising from the Premier League charge would end up being applied to this season’s total, given the timescales involved.

Haptic shirt to help boost St James’ Park atmosphere for deaf Newcastle fans

Newcastle have launched a new initiative which will allow deaf supporters to “feel” the atmosphere of games at St James’ Park.

The Premier League club have brought out a new haptic replica shirt which, when worn at matches, will vibrate in response to crowd noises.

The technology, which utilises microphones placed around the ground, will be used for the first time as the Magpies host Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday.

It is a world first in sport but similar systems have been used successfully in other areas of entertainment, particularly classical music concerts.

Former Newcastle midfielder Rob Lee, who is an ambassador for the project, told the PA news agency: “It’s very difficult as someone who can hear to imagine what it’s like going to a game when you’re deaf.

“Football is an experience of sound really. It’s the crowd cheering, singing songs. When I was playing, you’d run out at St James’ Park and the hairs on the back of your neck would stand up.

“For these guys to be able to experience that through feel is amazing. It’s great technology.”

The shirts have numerous sensors integrated throughout the garment, with each responding in different ways to the different sounds captured by the microphones.

The noises are transformed into digital signals by specialised software and then transmitted wirelessly to the shirts, creating a tactile sensory experience for the wearer.

Newcastle sponsor Sela, the Saudi events company, has been the driving force behind the initiative as part of its “Unsilence the Crowd” campaign.

To mark the system’s launch, Sela has gifted its sponsorship rights for the Spurs game – including its logo space on the front of the shirt – to the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) charity.

The system will be available at all Newcastle home matches from then onwards.

Lee, who made 381 appearances for the Magpies between 1992 and 2002, said: “St James’ Park is an amazing stadium. It’s always full, the atmosphere is always electric.

“Ask any player what’s their favourite ground. I guarantee St James’ will be in the top three because of the atmosphere, because of the sound.

“If we can get that experience out to the deaf and the hard-of-hearing, then it can only be a good thing.

“I think it’ll be a showstopper and every club should get it.”