Jobi McAnuff
Former Crystal Palace winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Brighton have done something about Danny Welbeck leaving which will be big shoes to fill with the goals first and foremost, but also with how Fabian Hurzeler wants to play.

They have gone out and got Promise David who is a different profile and it's difficult to know how form in Belgium is going to translate here but he has a physical profile. He's a different dynamic to what they have but has to prove himself.

Steve Froggatt
Former Aston Villa midfielder on BBC Radio WM

Aston Villa need a mini-rebuild. If you look at what Sir Alex Ferguson did three or four times at Manchester United, this Villa team has done great for three years and won something. It could have fallen off a cliff this coming season with the same players.

Let's not forget, there were quite a few games last year when they didn't play well at all. When they had to, they came up with good results in big competitions towards the end of last season.

You have got to trust Unai Emery with the job he has done over the past few years. Teams have to evolve - it is happening all at once at Villa.

Football can change really quickly. You have to adapt and you have to bring new players in.

Lewis Dunk is making his 300th Premier League appearance for Brighton this afternoon, becoming the first player to reach this milestone for the Seagulls.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Collinson
BBC football statistician

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton secured a place in the Conference League by finishing eighth last season but with some better finishing, they could – and arguably should – have finished slightly higher.

Defensively the Seagulls were one of the best in the league. They conceded the fewest goals outside of the top two, while they also impressively ranked sixth for shots faced and fifth for expected goals against.

The attack was not quite so impressive, although they still ranked in the top half for both shots and xG. But, despite only five teams creating better chances on average, only five were worse at converting them.

As a result, the Seagulls scored six goals fewer than expected given the chances they had, with 52 scored from 57.8 xG – only four teams underperformed their xG by more.

If they can fix their finishing while maintaining their all-round performance from last season, then Fabian Hurzeler's men should have a strong campaign.

The Champions League is going to stretch Aston Villa and I don't see them making it back into the top four this season.

They have lost Morgan Rogers as well as Youri Tielemans and, while Johan Manzambi is a young man with a lot of talent, it is a big ask for him to hit the ground running and replace Rogers straight away.

Also, I'm not sure if anyone can get a tune out of Alejandro Garnacho but I suppose if anyone can it is Unai Emery.

Their goalkeeper situation is interesting too, with Japan's Zion Suzuki arriving. He will come in revved up, while Emiliano Martinez looked like he was on his bike until his move to Juventus fell through.

As I had to remind Mark Chapman on Monday Night Club, you can't play with two goalkeepers - they changed many laws of the game over the summer, but not that one - so we will have to see who gets the nod on Saturday.

As for Brighton, they have also lost a couple of key players, such as Danny Welbeck and Jan Paul van Hecke, who were the spine of their team. But I am expecting a big season from Jack Hinshelwood, who was phenomenal for them last season.

Villa started really slowly last season and it took them six league games to get a win. This will be close, but I think they will get off to a flier this time.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

This live text's been a bit City-centric (although to be fair they have just agreed a massive deal for Bouaddi), shall we chat about Aston Villa and Brighton for a bit?

It's official, the photos confirm it. Erling Haaland's ponytail has gone!

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier this week French football journalist Djibril Diop spoke to BBC Radio Manchester about the now-confirmed 100m euro fee that Manchester City are set to pay for Ayyoub Bouaddi:

"Ayyoub Bouaddi had one dazzling game against Brazil in the 2026 World Cup. After that, he faded a little bit," he said.

"That's where I'm a bit cautious about how good he is right now. There's no doubt how good he will be in the future. Manchester City are paying for the potential. They are not paying for how good he is right now.

"His playing style would fit everywhere because he is a press-resistant midfielder. Once you have that durability, you can play anywhere and everywhere.

"He is suited to the Premier League, but he probably would be more suited to the Spanish league because of possession and how he operates in midfield.

"I still think he can make an impact at Manchester City, but I don't think he is going to make an immediate [one] like people think."

Bournemouth

Bournemouth manager Marco Rose, speaking to Sky Sports: "We know we face a tough opponent but we want to see our principles. We want to be front-footed, you just need to find the right triggers, the right moments."

On if he can carry the momentum from last season: "A new season is a new season. Every game has chances to give points away or to win them. We need to be aware. It's a tough challenge, but we can take deserved confidence out of last season. We had good preparation and we are looking forward to starting the new season."

On how he prepared to stop a player he knows well in Erling Haaland: "We didn't speak about it because we have to defend so many players and so many situations. It's a top team."

Wow, ok, your reaction to that signing please.

Manchester City struggled in midfield against Arsenal in the Community Shield last Sunday, is Ayyoub Bouaddi the one to fix things?

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter at Etihad Stadium

At 18, Ayyoub Bouaddi was one of the star players for Morocco at this summer's World Cup, when the north African side reached the knockout stages.

City had been locked in negotiations with the Ligue 1 side for Bouaddi throughout the summer but have now had an initial fee accepted.

The teenager will fill a hole left in the middle of the park for City following the departures of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders this month.

Image source, Getty Images

Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

Manchester City have agreed a deal in principle worth 100m euros (£86m) to sign 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

BBC Sport reported earlier this week that the two clubs were in advanced talks over a deal for the Morocco international to join City.

An agreement for the teenager to join Enzo Maresca's side is now in place, with Bouaddi now set to complete his protracted move to England.

Having sold midfielders Rodri and Tijani Reinders, the Premier League side have prioritised central midfield as an area to strengthen.

They remain interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez but it remains to be seen whether a deal can be struck.

Hang on. Some breaking news...

Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, speaking to Sky Sports: "We are motivated, we are so excited to be starting today. We worked well in pre-season. We want to keep the same level we achieved."

On George Hemmings and Joao Gomes: "With George we worked last year a lot, he was training with us every day. In pre-season he showed his capacity to play with us. Joao Gomes it's the first match for us but he knows how we want to play and today is the first challenge for him in an official match."

On if Ollie Watkins' absence from the squad means his Villa career is over: "Silence."

On Tammy Abraham: "A small injury, some days off. Today he is not available."

Unfortunately our Getty Images licence doesn't cover Ghostbuster II so you'll have to search for that comparison yourselves folks.

Rachel Corsie
Former Scotland defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think this might be unfair on Enzo Maresca but when he was at Chelsea he had so many younger players, I don't know if that's what he prefers but I think the best teams have a blend. As a manager you're going to view it as an asset.

Senior players can have such an influence, so Rodri going back to Spain is such a huge loss. Even Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanji, they're just players that know the club and that's something you've got to use. It's going to be hard because the bar is so, so high.