Premier League

CHELSEA are reportedly leading the race to sign Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen.The 20-year-old joined the Cherries from Juventus last summer but has already attracted interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.Chelsea are leading the race to sign Dean Huijsen from BournemouthCredit: GettyReal Madrid, Arsenal and Liverpool are understood to be among the clubs monitoring the centre-back.But the Independent has claimed that Chelsea are frontrunners in the transfer race.Huijsen is now seriously considering a move to Stamford Bridge ahead of the summer window.The Blues are willing to offer him a package that could make up a seven-year deal.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut in order to sign him they will likely have to match his £50million release clause.Earlier this month, Huijsen said he is determined to play at the highest level.He also revealed that his friend told him to join Real Madrid.The defender explained: “One of my close friends sent me a story about Real. He told me to go to Madrid.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”I don’t know, we’ll see. It’s a big team. Every player wants to play at the maximum level possible.”I have a contract until 2030, I do have a clause.”How Enzo Maresca can transform Chelsea to challenge for Premier League titleRegardless of which team will sign him, Bournemouth are set to make a huge profit on Huijsen.The Cherries signed him for just £15million from Juventus in July. More

THE brother of Manchester United starlet Tyler Fredricson was forced to leave his Sunday League match early in order to catch the 20-year-old’s first team debut at the weekend.Academy graduate Fredricson earned his first start for United against Wolves at Old Trafford.Tyler Fredricson made his first start for United at the weekendCredit: AlamyHis parents and girlfriend were in attendance – while his brother made a mad dash from his Sunday League matchCredit: AlamyHis girlfriend, Brooke, and his parents all watched on from the stands – but his brother almost didn’t make it.That’s because he had his own match to play.The Daily Mail has revealed that Tate Fredricson decided to play the first 45 minutes of his Sunday League match for Stockport District League side Higher Poynton before completing the late 14-mile dash to Old Trafford.Tate left with his team 1-0 down at half-time but later found out that Poynton turned it around to win 3-1 after the opposing team went down to eight players.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt was a memorable day for the Fredricson family, even though Man Utd lost 1-0 to Wolves.Pablo Sarabia scored the decisive goal in the 77th minute with a free kick just outside the United box.Amorim praised Fredricson for his debut performance after the match.He said: “Tyler [Fredricson] played really well, also [Harry] Amass played really well and they deserve better.Most read in FootballJoin SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plusin-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford”We were the better team, we played well and created chances but then again, one opportunity for the opponent at the end and they scored.”What I felt today is that they deserved a better memory from their first games.”Fredricson had an impressive debutMan Utd fans celebrate outside Old Trafford after leaving Lyon game early The Red Devils currently sit 14th in the Premier League table.They next face Bournemouth in the league on Sunday. More

MANCHESTER UNITED are eyeing up a maverick with a questionable temperament to reignite their misfiring forward line.He plays just behind the striker, weighs in with his fair share of goals and possesses the guile to provide assists for others, too.Cunha gets in a tussle with a member of Ipswich Town’s backroom staffCredit: GettyCantona kung fu kicked a supporterCredit: REXAt 25, he has plenty of experience both here and overseas and is a real crowd favourite — although he never seems to be far away from controversy.Sound familiar?There will only ever be one Eric Cantona in the eyes of the Stretford End, of course.But United’s interest in Wolves’ Brazilian talisman Matheus Cunha has some fans wondering if he could be the man to revive them — just as King Eric did when he joined the club in 1992 at age 26.Read more FootballOld Trafford got a good look at the ace — who has a £62.5million release clause — on Sunday in a forgettable game and liked what they saw. It was Cunha who used his skills to win the free-kick which Pablo Sarabia converted superbly in the 77th minute to guarantee Wolves’ Prem safety.And with that now secured, talk over where the ex-Atletico Madrid man could go next has heated up.Red Devils coach Ruben Amorim made a point of having a natter with Cunha in the tunnel following the Easter Sunday encounter.Mind you, he had nearly let the cat out of the bag in his pre-match press conference.Most read in FootballCunha scraps with Kerkez after Wolves’ FA Cup tie with BournemouthCredit: GettyBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKSpeaking about the clash with his fellow Portuguese boss Vitor Pereira, Amorim said: “He has real quality players, Cunha and all these guys.”When asked if that meant he could be a target for United, Amorim hastily backtracked, adding: “I just gave the example because I remembered about Matheus — he’s scoring a lot of goals. Just that.”How the genius tactical play from Nottingham Forest is placing them firmly at the top of the leagueThe forward has 16 goals in all competitions for Wolves this term — with 14 in the Prem, which is a couple more than he got last season.Compare that to United, who have managed ONE goal in four top-flight games since last month’s international break.Cunha has played in Germany and Spain and is now showing in his second full season in English football what he is about.Wolves also play a similar system to United, so he would be able to slot straight into that hole behind the main striker.It all sounds too good to be true — but there is the other side to him.He clashed with a member of Ipswich’s security staff after a home defeat in December, pulling off his glasses and appearing to elbow him.It is a far cry from Cantona’s infamous kung-fu kick at Crystal Palace in 1995, though.The 13-cap star also received a four-game ban following his red card for a wild attack on Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez during an FA Cup tie last month.Wolves fans love him despite his imperfections but he even tested their patience recently.Even though he only signed a new contract at Molineux in January, he suggested in an interview that he may look elsewhere to fulfil his ambitions.Cunha said: “Now, we’re close to staying up. But I’ve made it clear I need to take the next step. I want to fight for titles, for big things. I have potential.”He quickly claimed his comments had been misinterpreted and he wants to move forward with Wolves.Plenty can still happen before Cunha — who turns 26 next month — is paraded on the pitch at the Theatre of Dreams.Qualifying for next season’s Champions League will have a huge impact on United’s summer budget.Attracting players of Cunha’s quality will also be helped if they return to Uefa’s top table next season.Read More on The SunUnited may still need to clear some space on their wage bill and Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho could be sold to make room.But after witnessing his team draw a blank for the 13th time this season, Amorim is looking at a revamp — and he hopes Cunha could be at the centre of it. More

THE Champions League anthem will surely ring around the City Ground next season and deservedly so.Nottingham Forest are closing in on a top five Premier League finish after a simply incredible campaign.Nuno Espirito Santo has transformed Forest from relegation candidates to Champions League hopefulsCredit: AlamyCentre-backs Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo have been key to their successCredit: ReutersNuno Espirito Santo’s side stayed up by just six points last season and many predictions for this term had them to be involved in another relegation scrap.But they have defied belief to consistently be closest challengers to Liverpool and Arsenal.Forest are a unique side tactically with some of the league’s most underrated players. Here is how they have shocked everyone this year.Stats just not rightWhen crunching the numbers, Forest’s clinical and resilient side are on show.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAttacking-wise, they rank fourth for shot conversation and 14th for total shots, all while having the least amount of average possession in the division.Only Liverpool and Arsenal have conceded fewer, but Forest do it without pressing as they come in at 18th for winning the ball back in the opposition’s third.So how do they keep so many teams out? Essentially, it is park the bus brilliance.In Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo they have two great box defenders and full-backs, usually Neco Williams and Ola Aina, rarely go forward.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSNuno cuts his team down the middle with a setup that sees six players defend and four attack.When out of possession, they sit on the edge of their own box in a 4-4-2 shape and it is extremely narrow and difficult to play through.They are well-drilled in blocking passing lanes, setting traps to win it back and funnelling the ball wide.Forest then back themselves should a cross come in, having aerially dominant centre-back and a keeper in-form like Matz Sels are a must.Teams have so much of the ball but have nowhere to go, it is the magic of the formation.Forest are so compact and there is no way through for opponentsThe gaps between their lines are tight and set traps and block passing lanesDreaming dreams of our MurilloThe Brazilian 22-year-old is not far off Ruben Dias and Virgil van Dijk levels. He is simply outstanding.He is so good at giving striker’s no space to work with and he is the leader of the back four.Murillo does this amazing thing where if the ball’s on one side of the pitch, he brings the two nearest Forest players closer to him as he marks the rival centre-forward.The team pulls in towards Murillo when a cross comes inWhen opponents are about to cross, Murillo drops two steps and the rest of the team follow suit.We see players put their hands in the air as a signal before a free-kick and the defensive line then drops. Essentially, Murillo does it in open play. It’s amazing.He also bullies the striker before the ball comes in with clever nudges and holding.In Forest’s 2-1 win over Tottenham, Spurs crossed the ball 48 times and scored with their final cross attempt as Murillo gave Richarlison a nightmare night.Murillo and Milenkovic are physical and aerially dominantDon’t Look Back, ElangaAgainst Spurs, Anthony Elanga played like a second striker in the 4-4-2 out of possession shape, ready to use his explosive pace on the break.Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White tucked in to frustrate the inverted full-backs formation that so many teams use, again, giving opponents no space to work with.Wood is the focal point and Elanga is free, ready to float around the striker to cause havoc where he wants.The ex-Man Utd star drifts wide into space that attacking full-backs vacate, where is ready to receive the ball and break from.In transition, passes are always aimed towards Elanga to start the counter-attack.And the team pulls apart opponent’s defensive structures to help with their quick breaks.Wood drops deep to hold up the ball and runners go beyond him, defensive lines then becomes jagged so they can’t play offside as Elanga truly doesn’t look back and sprints forward.Elanga drifts out wide and starts counter-attacksWhere there’s Forest, there’s WoodYou would be forgiven for thinking Wood’s run would not go on… but go on it does.But the veteran striker continues to be the league’s most clinical forward, his 19 goals this season is eight more than his expected goals have predicted (only three of his strikes have been penalties too).Going back to him dropping deep, when Forest win it back with a clearance, he positions himself on the opponent’s midfield with the wide players either side of him.Centre-backs do not want to leave their zone and be dragged miles out, those jagged backline worries, and Wood is able to win headers and flick it on for his speedster team-mates.Wood likes to drop deep and win flick-ons after a clearance to start counter-attacksForest are also happy to go long from goal-kicks and put it on Wood’s head. They have players around him to pick up the loose balls.A throwback centre-forward and it is working wonders.Give ’em EllElliot Anderson is one of the most underappreciated players in the Premier League.His awareness of where to help defensively and his positional play is brilliant and key to Nuno’s system.He can play on the left of a midfield three, the No.6 role, part of a double pivot and further up the field in attack.Read More on The SunAll action Anderson knows when the likes of Elanga, Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi go forward where to fill in and cover.It is exactly what Nuno demands in a setup that prioritises never being outnumbered defensively. More