🚨 Reaction to SHOCK Liverpool decision, plus latest on Jesse Lingard's future, surprise Man Utd rumours, PSG ace linked with PL move, and more

Oct 01, 2023

Good morning and welcome to the Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy!

Today’s top stories:

Jose Mourinho: “I received the biggest proposal ever in the history of football for a manager.” It was from Al Hilal - more info here.

Five goals and three assists in nine games all competitions this season for Bukayo Saka. Leadership. Quality. Talent.
This was one of the easier goals Saka will score, but they all count! [Pictures courtesy of AFC Bournemouth/YouTube]

What a classy moment this was from Arsenal’s players as Kai Havertz scored his first goal for the Gunners!
Mikel Arteta on Takehiro Tomiyasu: “His defending is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The moment he has consistency, he’s gonna be a tremendous asset for us. Also, Tomiyasu can play in any position in the backline — we don’t have a player like him.”

7 goals and 3 assists for Ollie Watkins in 11 appearances in all competitions after yesterday’s hat-trick vs Brighton…and Villa keep pushing to extend his contract as soon as possible.

Bayern are in advanced talks to bring Jerome Boateng back to the club as free agent — the deal is at the final stages. Boateng has given his green light — he wants Bayern return. The deal is set to be completed in the next 24-48 hours.
Mathys Tel: “Real Madrid or Bayern? It’s true that many clubs wanted me in 2022. It’s very true. But I was only focused on Bayern, no other chance because I appreciated their project and the people behind the project.”

This PSG youngster has been on Crystal Palace’s list and he’s likely to be on the move in January - more info here.

Lazar Samardzic: “I feel I’m ready to join a top club. I want that kind of move. Inter deal collapsed? It wasn’t about money, there were other issues but it makes no sense speaking of that now. I’ll spend this year at Udinese then I want top club move.”

Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli: “Max Allegri will be our reference. He’s crucial for us, we want to return to Champions League football — that’s our target.”
Juventus director Giuntoli on Domenico Berardi: “He’s very good player but we want to understand our value before making any decision.” Berardi could be available again for fee around €35m in 2024.
Juventus director Giuntoli on Paul Pogba and doping case: “We wait for the counter-analysis. Termination of the contract? We wait then we will decide with Pogba’s camp how to proceed. It’s just time to look forward.”
Why didn’t Dusan Vlahovic leave Juve for Chelsea?

PGMOL statement: “PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred. PGMOL will conduct a full review. The goal by Luis Diaz was disallowed for offside by the on-field team of match officials. This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention, however, the VAR failed to intervene.”
Virgil van Dijk had his say on the decision - full quotes here.
Jurgen Klopp: “I don’t think there is anything to say about the offside goal, I knew it at half-time. In the first moment I saw [it], it’s clearly not offside but then it’s offside, so I try to think they have a better view and at half-time we knew. With normal pictures, [it’s] easy to see now. But I’m pretty sure whoever did that, made that decision, didn’t do it on purpose.”

Is Andre Onana’s Man Utd future really in doubt already?
Antonio Silva is being scouted by MUFC - latest info here.
Erik ten Hag: “We conceded only three chances over the whole game - all three from set-plays. Then I think we got in good positions and then made poor decisions. We have to blame ourselves.”
Ten Hag: “It’s frustrating beginning of the season for everyone. Especially for the fans, but for us as well. We’ve to stick together, fight together and get better and make sure we get improvements. I understand the ‘boos’ from the fans.”
Mason Mount: “We have to improve and we will improve. We want to perform for the fans and we want to win games for them. We'll improve, we need to go away and look at some areas that just weren’t there today.”
Full analysis on United’s struggles here.

Could Real Madrid be about to enter the market for a free agent?
Another goal for Jude Bellingham! That’s now eight games, seven goals as a Real Madrid player. What a signing.
Bellingham: “I feel good in this team. I’m really enjoying my football, being here at Real Madrid. Whenever I wear this shirt, I just try to do my best.”
See below for Bellingham’s latest goal [Pictures courtesy of ViaPlay]

Jose Mourinho: “I rejected a huge bid in the summer because I told Roma that I was going to stay. I’m not the problem. I can’t accept that”. “Until June 30, I’m here fighting for AS Roma. Unless Friedkin tells me not to do that, I’m here and I fight. I’m not scared.”
More info about the HUGE offer Mourinho turned down here.

Tottenham are very happy with Guglielmo Vicario and his impact with English football. Understand real fee invested by Spurs to sign Vicario from Empoli was €19m. Top signing.

Lazar Samardzic: “I feel I’m ready to join a top club. I want that kind of move. Inter deal collapsed? It wasn’t about money, there were other issues but it makes no sense speaking of that now. I’ll spend this year at Udinese then I want top club move.”