Richard Keys makes shock Premier League relegation prediction months before season has even begun

Richard Keys believes one Premier League are heading for relegation after watching summer developments.

The Premier League season kicks off on August 17, 90 days after the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign and following this summer’s action at Euro 2024.

Fans of every Premier League team will find out their fixture list on June 18 as Manchester City look to retain their title.

Ahead of the new season, Keys has made a shock prediction and believes one club is destined for relegation.

Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester were all promoted from the Championship and are likely to be among the favourites to go down next year but Keys believes Brighton are in trouble following Roberto De Zerbi’s exit this summer.

The Seagulls finished 11th last season, on 48 points, 22 points clear of 18th-placed Luton Town who were relegated after one year in the top flight.

Keys believes Brighton’s appointment of Fabian Hurzeler as De Zerbi’s replacement and an ageing squad will contribute massively to their downfall.

“Put Brighton down for relegation,” he wrote in his blog. “What a strange appointment they’ve made - 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler.

“There’s his first problem. He’s younger than many of his key players - Jason Steele (33), Lewis Dunk (32), Joel Veltman (32), Pascal Gross (32), James Milner (38) and Danny Welbeck (33).

“He could lose his dressing all too easily if he gets off on the wrong foot.

“Good luck to him. I’ve said many times that I’ve got a real soft spot for Brighton, but I fear they’re going down the same path as their near neighbours Southampton.

“There’s only so many times that you can go to the ‘clever’ well before you find it’s run dry.”

Fabian Hurzeler is the younger than some of his squad members (Getty)

Hurzeler has signed a three-year contract after earning promotion with St Pauli, the first time in the 31 years the club was promoted to the top flight in Germany.

He becomes the youngest manager in Premier League history but Brighton chairman Tony Bloom is confident the club have made the right pick.

He said: “He has a style of play that aligns with how we want a Brighton & Hove Albion team to play and I’m confident it is one our supporters will appreciate and enjoy.”