Published Sep 1, 2026, 7:10 PM GMT+1

Matt specialises in football analysis, transfer insight and original feature writing across the Premier League, EFL and Scottish football.

A sports writer for 15 years, Matt graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in 2018 and has developed particular expertise in Arsenal and the wider Premier League while also reporting on clubs including Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Celtic, Rangers and teams across the EFL. He joined Football FanCast as part of its writing team in 2019 before progressing to Assistant Editor and then becoming a Senior Editor in 2021.

His work combines authoritative reporting with data-led analysis, tactical insight and informed transfer assessment. Matt regularly examines how players fit into different systems, what their underlying numbers reveal about their performances and whether transfer targets represent realistic solutions for clubs. His analysis aims to go beyond the headline, explaining not just what has happened but what it means for a team, manager or player.

Matt's journalism has also appeared through the Press Association, with his work featured by Sky Sports and the Daily Mail. He previously served as Arsenal and Premier League Editor at VAVEL and gained first-hand club-media experience with Chesterfield FC. Over his career, he has interviewed figures including Arsène Wenger, Ray Parlour, Alan Smith, Lucy Bronze and Steph Houghton. Matt's voice has been heard across Arsenal Fan TV and Love Sport Radio.

Through his reporting, analysis and features, Matt brings readers credible football insight grounded in research, statistics, tactical understanding and years of experience covering the professional game.

Today, Matt leads Football FanCast's features team as Senior Editor, overseeing the publication's opinion coverage while helping shape its overall editorial standards and content strategy.

They had agreed a deal for Lyon winger Malick Fofana and the player was ready to put pen to paper, only for Crystal Palace to launch a hijack.

The Black Cats, however, will get their man. Reports in the final hours of Tuesday have suggested he is getting ready to have a medical in France before sealing his switch to the Stadium of Light.

Why Sunderland are signing a gem in Malick Fofana

Sunderland's recruitment since being promoted to the Premier League has been first-class. From Granit Xhaka to Robin Roefs to Nordi Mukiele and Brian Brobbey, everywhere you look there have been success stories.

Well, in comparison to those more proven assets, Fofana fits into the camp of being something of a wildcard signing. That's because, in his career to date, the 21-year-old has struggled to truly live up to his potential.

That, however, is largely down to an injury he suffered last season. The Belgian only played 16 times due to ankle injury. In that time, the wide man scored twice.

In 2024/25 he demonstrated why he's one of the most exciting young wingers around. In the view of European football expert Robin Bairner, he's something of a "bargain Bradley Barcola". He's a strong carrier, ranking among the top 12% of wingers in Europe's top five leagues for progressive carries per 90 minutes. That said, he doesn't quite match the new Liverpool signing's elite levels when it comes to goal involvements.

In that aforementioned campaign, Fofana netted 11 goals and laid on six assists for his teammates. Those are promising numbers, particularly when you consider he was just 19 for half of the season.

So, there is a real talent in there and under Regis Le Bris, his qualities could be fully uncovered.

Why Sunderland must sign £21m winger alongside Fofana

On a busy transfer deadline day, Sunderland are not stopping there in their pursuit of adding more quality to Le Bris' squad.

That's according to Sky Sports' Keith Downie, who taking to social media on Tuesday evening revealed that Sunderland are now trying to pull off two deals.

One of them is for Fofana and the other is for Benfica attacker Dodi Lukebakio. The former is ready and waiting to undergo a medical while it is believed a private jet has been booked for the former to fly to Sunderland this evening so that a deal can be officially wrapped up.

Other reports suggest a fee has already been agreed between the Portuguese side and the Mackems to the tune of £21m.

So, why do Sunderland want two wingers and more specifically, why do they want Lukebakio? Well, he's cut from a similar cloth as a certain Amad Diallo. Remember him?

While the Ivorian has struggled at Manchester United over the last year, he was electric on Wearside during a loan spell in the Championship.

He scored 14 goals in 42 games and is still remembered incredibly fondly at the Stadium of Light. He was an exceptional dribbler that season, ranking among the top 15% of wingers in the Championship for dribbles completed per 90 with 2.09.

Lukebakio is also a very lively character down the flanks. Last term, the Benfica star ranked among the top 4% of wingers in Europe's top five leagues for successful dribbles per 90 with a whopping 3.26. He also ranked as highly as the top 3% for progressive carries with 5.92 per 90.

What Sunderland will hope to see, however, is an improvement in goal involvements. Like Fofana, 2025/26 was not too kind to the 28-year-old in that regard. He scored twice and assisted five in what looks to have been his final season in Lisbon.

Still, he's a real livewire and will add plenty of excitement down the flanks, just as Amad did all those years ago.