Bayern Munich are targeting a move for Brighton's 23-year-old goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen in the summer. (Talksport), external
Chelsea are set to rival Bayern for Verbruggen and will match Brighton's £50m valuation for the Netherlands international. (Teamtalk), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column
Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Tuesday's and Wednesday's Premier League fixtures.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I learned a lot about the group in the last days, about their character and how they stick together.
"We showed a good performance and a performance that definitely deserved more than we got today.
"In the end we can't blame luck and we have to take responsibility.
"I was very pleased with how our supporters supported us for 90 minuted. They definitely deserved more today and therefore we apologise and I apologise but we have to keep pushing and trying to get the results we deserve in the next games."
Did you know?
Brighton and have won just one of their last 13 Premier League games (D6 L6). Since the start of that run in December, only Burnley (8) and Wolves (7) have picked up fewer points than the Seagulls (9).
No team have scored more own goals in the Premier League so far this season than the Seagulls, with four as many as they leaked in the previous two seasons combined (2 in both 2023-24 and 2024-25).
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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Have your say on Aston Villa's performance
What did you make of Brighton's display?
Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies
Matty Cash misses out with a knee injury as Unai Emery makes two changes for Aston Villa.
Lamare Bogarde comes in at right back for Cash while Ian Maatsen also starts at left-back as Lucas Digne drops to the bench.
Ollie Watkins starts ahead of Tammy Abraham, who is on the bench, while Harvey Elliott is again left out but winger Alysson is in the squad for the first time since arriving from Gremio.
Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Bogarde, Mings, Konsa, Maatsen, Onana, Luiz, Sancho, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins
Subs: Bizot, Wright, Lindelof, Digne, Torres, Barkley, Bailey, Abraham, Alysson
Image source, Premier LeagueBrighton boss Fabian Hurzeler makes five changes from the 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.
The Seagulls have won just once in the last 12 Premier League games so Joel Veltman, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Diego Gomez and Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck all come in.
James Milner is on the bench waiting to equal the Premier League appearance record at one of his former clubs.
Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Baleba, Hinshelwood, Gomez, Gross, Mitoma, Welbeck
Subs: Steele, Georginio, Minteh, Kostoulas, Milner, Boscagli, De Cuyper. O'Riley, Howell
There are five games in the Premier League on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Aston Villa v Brighton
Crystal Palace v Burnley
Man City v Fulham
Nottingham Forest v Wolves
Sunderland v Liverpool (20:15)
Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated
Follow all of the action and reaction here
And listen to Around The Grounds on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 19:00
Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesMatt O'Riley says it feels like coming home after his return to Brighton from a loan spell at Marseille.
The London-born Denmark midfielder went to Ligue 1 on a season-long loan spell in the summer - but the deal was cancelled last month and he came back to Albion.
"It's very nice to see a lot of friendly faces," he told BBC Radio Sussex. "It felt like coming home in a way which was really nice.
"It was definitely an experience. I'm really happy I did it. It was really good for me mentally to deal with playing under that kind of pressure - it's relentless there. I really enjoyed aspects of it.
"I feel I've come back a more mature and stable person which was what I wanted.
"I want to bring good energy to the team and I think I can do that after having six months away in the sun."
He added that he watched Brighton games while he was in France.
"I watched a lot of our games," he said. "I wanted to keep tabs on the team. I didn't know what would happen - whether I'd come back - but I wanted the team to do well. I don't watch too much football in general."
Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist
Champions League-chasing Aston Villa seek to put their indifferent form behind them on Wednesday at the expense of an out-of-sorts Brighton side who have lost seven of the past nine league meetings.
Villa have won just two of their seven most recent midweek Premier League games, though both victories came against Brighton – including by a 4-3 scoreline in December.
Squeaky Brum time
Villa had an eight-point cushion in third place after 20 games, and were 11 clear of fifth. After Tuesday night's results, they are now two points clear of fourth-placed Manchester United, with Chelsea a further point behind.
It's just one win, three goals and five points from as many league games for Unai Emery's side, who are in danger of becoming the first English top-flight team to lose three successive home matches after winning the previous eight.
Following Saturday's hard-fought draw at Bournemouth, Emery told the media: "Two months ago you were saying we are contenders to win the Premier League. Now, two months on, everything I told you two months ago makes sense. Why? Because the Premier League is a very difficult league."
In truth, the vast majority of Villa supporters never truly believed their side were title contenders this season. Their concern now is whether the team can overcome the destabilising effect of key midfield injuries and find a way to remain firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification and trophy success via the Europa League or FA Cup.
Comfort can be found in the fact Villa are four wins and nine points better off than at this stage last season, when only goal difference kept them out of the Champions League. They're a mere two points down on the 2023-24 campaign, in which they finished fourth.
Rogers rivalling best young attacking players in Europe
Morgan Rogers has overcome a poor start to the season to become Villa's trump card this season. While Ollie Watkins and Villa's summer attacking reinforcements struggle to provide an end product, Rogers has already equalled last season's tally of eight league goals.
He is also one of only five players still under the age of 24 in Europe's top five leagues to have managed a minimum 20 goals and 20 assists since the start of last season.
Brighton rocked
While Aston Villa are experiencing a wobble, Brighton are suffering a crisis of confidence. Albion were booed off following Sunday's home defeat by Crystal Palace, with some fans calling for head coach Fabian Hurzeler to be sacked.
Brighton, who were restricted to a season's low of 13 touches in the opposition penalty area against Palace, have only beaten Burnley in their past 12 top-flight fixtures.
"We have a loss of self-confidence, and how you get the self-confidence back is only by getting the right results," said Hurzeler, who could give James Milner a Premier League record-equalling 653rd appearance.
Albion have taken just two points from their past five away matches and won three of their 26 Premier League games played on a Wednesday; that 11.5% win rate is the lowest among current sides in the division.
Their loss of form can be traced back to the reverse fixture against Aston Villa on 3 December. Brighton led 2-0 and would have gone third in the table, above Villa, had they won – only to lose 4-3. Their record since then is the third worst in the division.
Brighton have only won one of their past 12 league games so the worry for them has to be that they will get sucked into the relegation scrap.
It was a 4-3 home defeat by Aston Villa in December that was the start of this poor run for Fabian Hurzeler's side, and I don't see it ending at Villa Park.
I'm surprised that the Seagulls are struggling. I looked at their bench against Crystal Palace at the weekend and thought 'blimey, they've got a good squad' - but they are underperforming and the fans seem really split on Hurzeler, and have been for a while.
Villa were lucky to get a point against Bournemouth at the weekend and I couldn't believe how Lucas Digne just let Rayan run past him for the Cherries equaliser. He seemed to give up and it was astonishingly bad defending.
Unai Emery's side have lost their past two home league games, against Everton and Brentford, which worries me.
Will it be a hat-trick of home defeats, or will they come good again? I've got to back my old team, so I am going with my heart here and saying Morgan Rogers will make the difference.
Sutton's prediction: 3-1
Brighton accepted an offer from Nottingham Forest in January for Lewis Dunk, but the defender wanted to stay. (Sky Sports), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park (19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Hurzeler says Jan Paul van Hecke is back available after a hamstring injury while Mats Weiffer is getting close to a return.
The boss was asked about reports that captain Lewis Dunk turned down a potential move to Nottingham Forest: "Lewis and me have a good relationship. I need him here, I need him as a leader. I really appreciate that he stays here and that he keeps fighting. That was his words and I really appreciate his performances after these kinds of rumours."
Why was a move entertained by the club?: "There are always two perspectives; the player's and the club's. There are always things going on in a transfer window. The most important is Lewis' perspective, we had a good chat, looked in each other's eyes, and spoke about it, and then he made his decision and I appreciate that. What makes me much more impressed is how he played afterwards. That's not normal, that's outstanding."
On boos from the crowd after Sunday's home defeat against rivals Crystal Palace: "It's part of the game. There are a lot of emotions. The fans come to the stadium to see us win and perform and we didn't do that. We, and especially personally me, deserve the boos and I take responsibility for that."
Are the Seagulls in a relegation battle?: "We have to see the reality of where we are in the table. It is important to stay humble, to know where we are, and to know we have to collect points. The table never lies but we know what we are capable of doing and showing good performances. We just have to get the rewards. We have to show a reaction in the next game and see the reality of where we are at the moment."
What has been the reaction to Sunday's defeat in training?: "I saw a team with a lot of energy and that gives me a lot of confidence speaking in front of the press because I see a team that really sticks together with great players, great personalities and great characters. I am confident we have a big chance tomorrow."
On facing Villa at this moment: "We definitely want to show a reaction, the next opportunity is against Villa. We are positive and we will go there to try and win this game."
Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Get a question about Brighton? Get in touch and we'll put it to our experts
The Observer's Rory Smith believes that Brighton's recruitment strategy might be the reason for their current form struggles.
The Seagulls' defeat by Crystal Palace on Sunday extended their winless run to five Premier League games.
Smith says that it could be because it's difficult for Brighton to be consistent with their preferred recruitment method.
"The risk with that model - and Brighton have been amazing at it - with being a kind of trampoline club is that sometimes the signings won't be quite as good," Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.
"They had a run of real hits - Caicedo, Mac Allister, Mitoma - it's really hard to get players of that standard every single summer no matter how clever you are and how much of Jamestown's data you have access to or the advice that they give you.
"They're really good at it but there's no such thing as a sure thing and I wonder if that is part of it, that it's kind of dropped off slightly."
Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds
Scott McCarthy
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesTwo weeks ago, an anonymous source was quoted by The Athletic as saying there was "irritation" at boardroom level over criticism being directed at Fabian Hurzeler by Brighton fans.
Oh to be a fly on the wall in the directors' lounge then to hear what was said after Hurzeler was serenaded with "you're getting sacked in the morning" and "you don't know what you're doing" as the Albion fell to an abject 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace.
Irritation may well have upgraded to disappointment, disgruntlement or even fury. But watching the shambles unfold, there were two concerning second-half moments which made me think the crowd might be right and Hurzeler doesn't know what he is doing any more.
The first came after a triple sub. Maxim de Cuyper, Carlos Baleba, Harry Howell come off. Danny Welbeck, Diego Gomez, Yankuba Minteh on. Nobody in the stands could work out who was taking over from De Cuyper at left-back or if there had been a formation change. Worryingly, the players on the pitch did not seem to know either.
During an injury break, Bart Verbruggen sprinted from his goal to the technical area appearing to ask what was going on. Around 30 seconds and a lot of hand gesturing later, he was jogging around his defence, seemingly telling them where to play.
The second moment came entering injury time when Lewis Dunk was the furthest Brighton player forward, chasing a through ball. It was like watching an Under-9s game when the players ignore the positions selected by the manager, go rogue and just do their own thing.
Where the Albion go from here, it is impossible to say. Hurzeler appears to have lost the crowd to such a degree than even a few wins will not be enough to turn it around.
Qualifying for Europe or lifting the FA Cup would probably be needed to get supporters back on side, neither of which looks remotely likely right now. Especially if the players on the pitch do not know what they are doing and Dunk is playing up front.
What a mess.
Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Premier League striker Clinton Morrison discussing Fabian Hurzeler on BBC Sounds' Football Daily: "Huge pressure because you can hear the boos. it doesn't look the same. They are not the same fluent team I saw with Roberto de Zerbi.
"They are struggling to score goals and not keeping clean sheets - a recipe for disaster. Pressure will mount on him and they have a tough run of fixtures."
Telegraph journalist Luke Edwards added: "Drifting. That's how I would describe it. One win in 12, it doesn't matter what club you're at, you're in trouble. You keep selling your best players and relying on the brilliance of your data model and recruitment to find replacements, there's no such thing as a 100% success ratio in recruitment. I think the recruitment has gone a bit wayward. And the novelty of being Brighton - a thorn in the side of big boys - it wears off after a while.
"Stoke were a different club to Brighton in the way they did it. They stayed in the league for a long time, made Europe and then the magic fades.
"Hurzeler is in trouble as Tony Bloom will know the sense of drifting is insidious and dangerous. They are in trouble. It's worrying really."
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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Brighton and Crystal Palace.
Here are some of your comments:
Brighton fans
Joe: We're now boring as well as disjointed and dreadful. With Fabian Hurzeler at the helm the admiration and pundit plaudits we once had have turned to ire and disenchantment. He's taken us backwards, or at best stagnated, and truly lost the fans, and perhaps the dressing room too.
Graham: The second half was abysmal. The stats are an embarrassment. The team selection wasn't the best and the players should be playing at a higher level, or at least at the level that they once played. Something clearly is not right. This game should have been regarded as a must win but I saw no evidence that was the mindset.
Chris: No passion. No cohesion. No creativity. A dire performance. The fans are growing restless and this can only be addressed with improved results. This match showed the pressure is beginning to mount on Hurzeler.
Dan: A very, very poor performance in a game the players and manager should know the meaning of to the fans. We have a Brighton fan as an owner so this will have been made very clear. I'm not in the Hurzeler out group - yet. But I do think he won't be our manager come August. Where we go from here, I have no idea!
Palace fans
Al: 60 years ago I started watching Crystal Palace so what a birthday present this win was. Gritty, dour, stubborn and no nonsense. New signings fitted in nicely. Dean Henderson blowing kisses to the home fans at the end was priceless. Always fun beating the wannabes at the seaside. Next four games are key to build momentum for the rest of the season. Sorry, JP [Jean-Philippe Mateta], but you weren't missed.
Stephen: Palace looked again like the team at the beginning of the season. Evan Guessand and Jorgen Strand Larsen look good additions to the team. It's nice to get back on the winning trail and even better to beat Brighton at the Amex for the second year running! Great goal from Ismaila Sarr!
Les: An improvement. Beating Brighton is the be all and end all. Performance doesn't matter in this game. With two home games to come against Burnley and Wolves, this week we are safe. Get rid of Oliver Glasner and bring the new manager in to work with the players in the 10 games that are left.
Martin: Important players back from injury and Afcon. Decent debuts. No surprise the intensity returned. Jefferson Lerma immense AGAIN. Time to look upwards again.
Pundits Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.
And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesHaving made their feelings clear following last weekend's 1-1 draw at home against Everton, Brighton fans once more directed their ire towards manager Fabian Hurzeler at the end of Sunday's encounter.
The full-time whistle was met by a chorus of boos from the home supporters, with some chanting "You don't know what you're doing" in the direction of the 32-year-old as he made his way off the pitch.
Brighton were marginally the better side in the opening 30 minutes, but Maxim de Cuyper's low shot - easily held by Dean Henderson - was all they produced against a Palace side who were evidently lacking in confidence.
Henderson did well to save Charalampos Kostoulas' low drive after Ismaila Sarr's second-half opener, but there was little else in the way of a response as the home side faded badly.
The 2-0 victory over Burnley last month stands as Brighton's only victory in their latest 12 league matches – only Burnley and Wolves have picked up fewer points in that time.
There was to be no late cameo for Brighton substitute James Milner, who would have drawn level with Gareth Barry at the top of the Premier League's all-time appearance list if he had come off the bench.
However, there was a first senior start for teenage winger Harry Howell, who became the youngest player to begin a top-flight game for the Seagulls, aged 17 years and 294 days.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, speaking to BBC Sport: "Not an easy moment or situation but that is football and we will face. The game was not our best game so we have to be self-critical.
"Until the first goal, it was not our best game but it was how we reacted. We didn't stay in our structure and made easy mistakes. Goals always happen after mistakes. This game was decided by individual tackles, duels and personal mistakes.
"We are all disappointed and know we have problems at the moment but it is about finding solutions.
"It is football. I have to accept emotions are part of the game I am fully committed to this club and try my best along with the players."
Hear more from Hurzeler on BBC Sounds
Dunk 'understands frustration' - listen to Albion captain on BBC Sounds
Did you know?
Brighton's only win in their last 12 Premier League games (D6 L5) was a 2-0 victory over Burnley in January. Since the first game in this period (Dec 3rd v Aston Villa), the Seagulls are 18th in the Premier League form table with just nine points. They came into that fixture in fifth spot in the table.
Harry Howell (17 years, 294 days) became the first player aged 17 years or younger to start a Premier League match for Brighton; before him, the Seagull's youngest starter in the competition was Evan Ferguson against Everton in January 2023 (18y 76d).
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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Have your say on Brighton's performance
What did you make of Crystal Palace's display?
Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies
