🚨 CRAZY Chelsea-Man City game, goal of the season from Inter star, Fabregas first management job, Mbappe and Haaland speculation, and more
Today's Briefing, featuring Chelsea, Man City, PSG and much more!
Happy Monday folks and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading, and enjoy!
Today’s top stories:
What’s really going on with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland?
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Arsenal
Mikel Arteta on Leandro Trossard: “I’m very happy with him. Top approach, top mentality. I think every time you ask him to play, whether it’s wide or as a nine, it flows and he’s a real threat, so I’m really happy with him.”
How about this from composure from William Saliba during the win over Burnley? Is he the best centre-back in the Premier League? FT Arsenal 3-1 Burnley [Pictures from beIN Sports]
Is Mikel Arteta using this Arsenal player in the wrong position?
📰 Arsenal could reportedly offer Emile Smith Rowe to Aston Villa as they bid to sign Douglas Luiz from their Premier League rivals this January (Football London)
Aston Villa
What a goal this was by John McGinn as Aston Villa won yet again at home under Unai Emery - are they serious contenders for the top four? FT Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham [Pictures from Foot+]
Bayern Munich
Thomas Tuchel: “Do I want to sign Kylian Mbappe? Yes yes, he's going to play for us, that’s clear (laughs). He’s extraordinary. If he wants to come, I’ll go pick him up by bike! But I think that's not going to be reality.”
Bayern remain very happy with Mathys Tel. He has scored 6 goals and provided 3 assists this season in just 480 minutes, one more assist yesterday. Club convinced he is going to do even better in the second part of the season; crucial to remind that Tel is still 18, born in 2005.
Alphonso Davies remains one of the main targets for Real Madrid in 2024. He’s not leaving in January but Real keep monitoring him for the next summer window. It all depends on Bayern but Real appreciate Davies and will keep sending their people to track him.
Caykur Rizespor
Make sure you don’t scroll past this insane Jonjo Shelvey goal from the halfway line! This was his first goal for the club and it proved to be the winner in this game! FT Caykur Rizespor 1-0 Istanbulspor [Pictures from beIN Sports]
Chelsea
Cole Palmer on his strong penalty record: “I won’t say I work on penalties, I don’t. I just trusted in my ability! First time I played against City. I have great respect for the club I spent 15 years at. It was great to see some friends.”
More thoughts on Cole Palmer and that crazy 4-4 at Stamford Bridge in Fabrizio Romano’s column here.
Palmer was also involved in this fine team move as Raheem Sterling scored for Chelsea against his old club. FT Chelsea 4-4 Man City [Pictures from Sky Sports]
But Palmer’s old City teammates weren’t too happy with him here!
Mauricio Pochettino speaking after the 4-4 draw with Man City: “I’m happy and proud. We still need to improve, yes… but it's the process when you want to build a project, build a journey. This type of experience will improve our team, now we need to use and translate to the future.”
Could Chelsea lose Trevoh Chalobah to a Premier League rival?
Como
Cesc Fabregas will be appointed as new Como head coach. It’s his first management experience at senior level - the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder was Como youth team head coach but he’ll take over as new manager of the Italian second division side - more from Fabrizio Romano here.
Deportivo Alaves
What a start this was by Deportivo Alaves as they scored inside the first 20 seconds away to Barcelona! FT Barcelona 2-1 Deportivo Alaves [Pictures from beIN Sports]
Heidenheim
Jerome Boateng to Heidenheim as free agent - the deal has definitely collapsed. His agent Tolga Dirican said: “We’re surprised by the club stating that they rejected this possibility. They invited us, they asked for a meeting and Jerome never gave them his word.”
Inter Milan
Possibly the goal of the weekend here and a likely contender for goal of the season from Federico Dimarco - what a sublime long-range strike! FT Inter Milan 2-0 Frosinone [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Liverpool
Mohamed Salah has made it ten goals and four assists in 12 Premier League games this season. That’s why Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp called him untouchable in August despite a huge bid from Saudi. FT Liverpool 3-0 Brentford [Pictures from Liverpool FC/YouTube]
Jurgen Klopp praised Salah after the game, saying: “He is an exceptional player. He played a superb game today. The composure for the first goal was insane. A special player.”
Liverpool have been linked with Lucas Beraldo - Fabrizio Romano takes a look at the story here.
Manchester City
Micah Richards with some interesting analysis on why Manchester City missed John Stones so much against Chelsea. FT Chelsea 4-4 Man City [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Erling Haaland is being linked with Real Madrid, but what’s the truth?
Is Chelsea’s Reece James really a top target for Manchester City? Fabrizio Romano has the details here.
Pep Guardiola on Cole Palmer joining Chelsea: “After one or two years, he told me: I don’t want to play here. I said: Mahrez is leaving, you have a chance! He told me: no, I want to leave! I said: Ok, leave! It's good for him. Good guy, really. Wish him all the best.”
Manchester United
Manchester United want a new CB in 2024 - is this the latest name on their list?
Raphael Varane is said to have accepted that Erik ten Hag’s decision to drop him is tactical and it is felt that there is always a way back for a player under this manager, as Harry Maguire’s recent return to the starting XI proves.
Erik ten Hag when asked about being the quickest Man Utd manager to reach 30 Premier League wins: “Not bad...But I can’t celebrate that. We have other concerns, we have to perform better.”
Tahith Chong on the feeling of returning to Old Trafford with Luton: “Good, I think the reception from the fans, even in the warm-up, shows the gratitude and I appreciate that so much as a player.”
Napoli
Napoli will sack Rudi Garcia today. Decision confirmed following internal discussions which took place after the defeat against Empoli, and following Garcia already being in danger a month ago. Former Marseille manager Igor Tudor is the main candidate to replace Garcia at Napoli.
PSG
Kylian Mbappe was publicly criticised by Luis Enrique despite scoring a hat-trick this weekend - what does it mean for his future?
Rayo Vallecano
Stole Dimitrievski is already on the list of both Sevilla and Villarreal for next season as a potential free agent. Both clubs appreciate the Macedonian goalkeeper, with his current deal at Rayo Vallecano due to expire in June 2024.
Real Madrid
What’s really going on with those Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland rumours? Fabrizio Romano has the latest info here.
Alphonso Davies remains one of the main targets for Real Madrid in 2024. He’s not leaving in January but Real keep monitoring him for the next summer window. It all depends on Bayern but Real appreciate Davies and will keep sending their people to track him.
West Ham United
West Ham won a crazy game against Nottingham Forest yesterday, taking the lead before later falling behind and then turning it around again, but how about the quality of this finish from Lucas Paqueta for the opening goal? FT West Ham 3-2 Nottingham Forest [Pictures from Sky Sports]
For all the very latest transfer news, read caughtoffside.com