🚨😃 Pochettino's DELIGHT, Pep's STRONG words to City fans, ten Hag under pressure, Arteta's caring side, Costa's Juve plea and more
Today's headlines, featuring Aston Villa, Man City, West Ham and much more!
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Today’s top stories:
Pochettino says Chelsea are ready for the January transfer window
Plus more from Liverpool, Man United and Newcastle
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Arsenal
Arteta: “For Gabriel Jesus, the scans show there’s muscle injury and we might lose him for a few weeks again. Thomas Partey has got a muscle injury and we expect him to be out for a few weeks.”
Mikel Arteta was asked his opinion on player welfare in light of the recent issues with Ivan Toney and Sandro Tonali:
[Footage courtesy of Hayters]
Arteta a long-term admirer of 25-year-old PL ace but January move to Arsenal unlikely [Football Insider via CaughtOffside]
Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s Nicoló Zaniolo, now at the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Turin to explain his position about the gambling scandal in Italy. He answered all the questions and admitted that he used to bet on illegal platforms — but on poker, black jack and not football games. “We are confident in being able to clarify this story soon,” his lawyers said.
Aston Villa eyeing up a €15 million January move for La Liga veteran [Fichajes via CaughtOffside]
Ballon d’Or
Didier Drogba will give Lionel Messi his Ballon d’Or number 8. It will happen on Monday in Paris.
Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer, finally back. “He’ll start vs Darmstadt,” Thomas Tuchel announced. “We are looking forward to it, Manuel too”.
Tuchel on Thomas Müller not playing much: “Thomas is used to playing. He'll never like being on the bench. I can only give him the greatest credit. His training is great and his moment will come this season.”
Super League isn’t the way forward for European football [Stan Collymore via CaughtOffside]
Brentford
Thomas Frank and Ben Mee had to answer some brilliant and also some difficult questions from young Brentford fans on a variety of subjects:
[Footage courtesy of TNT Sports]
Brighton and Hove Albion
Lele Adani has shared a voice message he received from Roberto de Zerbi ahead of the UEL game vs Ajax... "My friend, I was walking around the city... but how nice is it to see the children with scarves, t-shirts, already waiting for our match? I felt goosebumps, unbelievable. How can you miss a tackle, play badly, not try a dribble if you think about these children who dream of that moment? Football is incredible. I'm 44 years old and I'm still in this state! Just few people can understand it."
Chelsea
Pochettino: “Christopher Nkunku is working really well now and he’s really close. We can have him involved as soon as possible. He's a really important player for us and for our project. Maybe after the international break he will be involved. Maybe… not sure. We are looking forward to seeing him help us score more goals.”
Pochettino on January window: “We are ready, working with the sporting directors to be ready. We’ll speak to see if the team needs to add players offensively.”
Pochettino discussed the challenge that he and his players have ahead of the west London derby against Brentford, paying tribute to Thomas Frank and his side:
[Footage courtesy of Hayters]
Si Phillips has all the latest on the links with Jamal Musiala, Ivan Toney, Jadon Sancho and Tammy Abraham exclusively here.
Mauricio Pochettino is “not happy” with latest decision made regarding Chelsea [The Guardian via CaughtOffside]
Pochettino on new deal for Conor Gallagher: “We have to see how he feels. The player, his plans and intentions, as well as what the club want. Both sides need to feel good and that’s why in this moment we can arrive at a new deal. Even if he wants to extend the contract, we will stop and speak…”
No chance Mykhailo Mudryk will leave Chelsea. Find out why here.
Crystal Palace
Roy Hodgson: “We became much weaker when I made the substitutions. Maybe the young substitutes, who we like to think we can believe in and help us to a different level, didn't show that. They didn't do anything for us at all, really.”
£60m Crystal Palace star would welcome Manchester United transfer [Todo Fichajes via CaughtOffside]
Hellas Verona
Isak Hien is set to sign a new deal at Hellas Verona valid until June 2027 after negotiations with Atalanta collapsed in the summer. Hien has accepted the final proposal, just working on the final details.
Belgian forward Cyril Ngonge on the verge of signing a new deal at Hellas Verona, valid until June 2027. Agreement in place, set to be sealed in the next days/weeks — same as Isak Hien.
Juventus
Douglas Costa: “I’d love to return to Juventus, it’s my dream. I want to be a soldier for Allegri and feel Juve fans love again. My agent is in contact with all clubs interested including Juve. We’re also gonna fly to Saudi, that league is growing.”
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp: "Ryan Gravenberch, an excellent guy and top signing. Really good player. I'm so happy for him. His first touch is incredible, so good in tight spaces. He still has space for improvement, he's very young and so much more to come."
Liverpool favourites to sign highly-rated 22-year-old defender as Man United pull out of deal [SportBILD via CaughtOffside]
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola had some strong words to say regarding the City supporters who mocked the death of Man United icon, Sir Bobby Charlton, ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend:
[Footage courtesy of Hayters]
Stan Collymore on the complete meltdown at Man City if Everton are charged [via CaughtOffside]
Manchester United
Ten Hag on the potential ban for Alejandro Garnacho: “We are talking with the FA. I can confirm that and want to emphasise we are together. We are United and you see that in the post of Andre Onana.”
Ten Hag on André Onana: “André has high expectations from himself. We give him the confidence. We told him: look what you did in the past for great clubs in great leagues, you have the ability and the skills. Now we have to keep this going.”
Erik ten Hag on Rashford: “Give him the trust and play him every game. That’s the only way. Most of the games he finishes every game, so I have a strong belief he will return to scoring a lot of goals.”
Ten Hag under major pressure after abysmal Man United signings [Stan Collymore via CaughtOffside]
Harry Maguire: “Manchester United always demands winning football, but, of course, we also demand better performances as well so we're working on that on the training pitch.”
All change at Man United once Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrives. Read about what’s likely to happen at Old Trafford in the new year here.
Erik ten Hag deserves time though Roberto De Zerbi would be an able replacement. Read more.
Napoli
Napoli director Meluso when asked about top players like Victor Osimhen leaving in January: "No, no way. Absolutely not. Our squad is very good and we feel relaxed. Of course we can improve it but will discuss this topic later."
Victor Osimhen’s surprising preferred destination if he leaves Napoli [CalcioNapoli24 via CaughtOffside]
Newcastle
Eddie Howe: “Alexander Isak has got a groin injury, we don’t think is serious. It is a reoccurrence of the one he suffered for Sweden. Jacob Murphy is going to see a specialist for his shoulder, we’ll know more on him later.”
Newcastle could sign most prolific striker in Europe after Isak injury [The Shields Gazette via CaughtOffside]
Is there any truth in Al Hilal’s Ruben Neves being the perfect replacement for Sandro Tonali? Find out here.
Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham is incredible but does he need to stand out in El Clásico to be acknowledged as one of the greats? Exclusive opinion here.
Roma
Romelu Lukaku, on fire this season with 13 G/A in 14 games so far after joining AS Roma on loan from Chelsea. He's doing great for both club and national team. Fee to sign Lukaku in June 2024, already fixed by Chelsea: €40m.
Find out the latest on what Jose Mourinho’s employment plans are here.
Tottenham Hotspur
Son Heung-min made it eight goals in the Premier League this season to help send Tottenham five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, their 2-1 win ruining Crystal Palace manager, Roy Hodgson’s 500th game as a manager in England (Crystal Palace 184, Fulham 128, Blackburn 63, West Brom 54, Liverpool 31, Bristol City 22, Watford 18):
[Footage courtesy of Sky Sports]
Ange Postecoglou was clearly in a playful mood with Sky Sports presenters Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher after the match:
[Footage courtesy of Sky Sports]
Ange Postecoglou: “I enjoy every day of it and I want the players to enjoy every day of it. Not because we're top-of-the-table, but because we're living the dream, mate. We're playing for a fantastic football club, we get to do what we love and the rest of it is about honouring that responsibility that has been bestowed on us. For me what is important is we are giving our supporters some joy, some belief and some hope. That is what football clubs are there for. We need to keep feeding into that.”
Tottenham could land sought-after striker for a bargain €45m. More here.
Tottenham player ratings: Maddison and Son continue to light it up for Spurs at the top of the tree [via CaughtOffside]
Wolves
Pedro Neto: “I want to say that I am happy at Wolves. I love the club and everybody here, I have always felt that it has given a lot to me. The future and long-term ambitions don’t matter. I feel really good at the moment and hope to continue.”
Supporters raging as Wolves v Chelsea match confirmed for Christmas Eve [Express and Star via CaughtOffside]
For all the very latest transfer news, read caughtoffside.com
Thank you Sir for all the football updates, with your updates I’ve become a more knowledgeable and passionate football fan. Cheers Fabrizio 🙏🏾