🚨 What's behind Rashford struggles? Plus dramatic Arsenal winner, possible Osimhen-Chelsea boost, Newcastle could sign big-name duo, and more
Today's football headlines, featuring Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and more!
Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - all today’s essential football headlines in one place for you, completely ad-free and delivered straight to your inbox. Enjoy!
Today’s top stories:
AC Milan
AC Milan are advancing in talks to sign 2006 born Serbian talent Matija Popovic from Partizan as free agent in January. There are multiple clubs interested but Milan are leading the race, confident to get it done soon.
Arsenal
What a crazy game we saw between Arsenal and Luton last night, with Declan Rice showing he’s the man for the big occasion again with this dramatic stoppage time winner! FT Luton 3-4 Arsenal [Pictures from Amazon Prime]
Arsenal director Edu won Golden Boy Award as Best Director 2023. When asked about the club’s Academy, he said: “The Academy is key for us. I want it to be key asset for Arsenal plans. We trust young players, you also need them in modern football with Financial Fair Play restrictions.”
Arsenal director Edu was in the same place as Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli at Golden Boy… Did you discuss about transfers, maybe Thomas Partey or Dusan Vlahovic? “No, they are too tough with us!”, Edu said, smiling.
Fabrizio Romano takes a look at what makes Edu so special in his column here.
Mikel Arteta on Aaron Ramsdale to Newcastle links: “I can’t tell you that any Arsenal player is not going to leave in January. Or he is to stay here for the next three years. I cannot guarantee that nobody is going to be leaving in January. For Newcastle or any other club.”
Arteta on Takehiro Tomiyasu injury: “We had a scan and it's not good news for Take, unfortunately. He’s got an injury in his calf and he’s going to be out for a while.”
Atlanta United
Thiago Almada looks set to have interest from Europe after announcing his future plans - more from Fabrizio Romano here.
Barcelona
What does the long-term future hold for Joao Felix? Fabrizio Romano has the latest details here.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is set to undergo a small intervention in order to recover from his injury. He won’t be available for Barcelona for the rest of 2023 — back in 2024.
Barcelona trust Inaki Pena as backup option after Ter Stegen injury. He’s doing great and everyone in the club believes this is the best solution to cover Ter Stegen’s absence. Pena recently signed new deal until June 2026.
Bayer Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz’s father Hans-Joachim on Florian’s future for summer 2024… “Currently, everything is leaning towards Florian continuing to play in Leverkusen next season.”
Bayern Munich
Bryan Zaragoza to FC Bayern, here we go! Understand Spanish winger has already completed first part of the medical tests. Bayern will pay €15m to Granada to sign Bryan for next season, now staying on loan until July to help Granada. Contract until June 2028.
Benfica
Gianluca Prestianni to Benfica - he’ll turn 18 at the end of January and then he will travel from Argentina to Lisbon in order to prepare new chapter. An agreement has been sealed between Benfica and Velez for €8m plus €2m add-ons and 15% future sale, as reported yesterday.
Brighton
Roberto De Zerbi on new deal at Brighton: “I feel very well in Brighton, relationship is also great. We are speaking about new contract but at the moment we are speaking, it’s not done yet. I feel very good here.”
Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino: “Christopher Nkunku will not be involved tomorrow. We have to be careful. I hope he’ll be back with us soon, but not tomorrow.”
Pochettino when asked if he’s happy after not getting Man United job: “You laugh but you try to make me talk too much and make a mistake. We need to be respectful with another club. I am not the person to talk. If you ask if I’m happy here? Yes, of course.”
Pochettino on Erik ten Hag: “He’s a fantastic coach. When we face in Tottenham against Ajax, everyone was talking about Ajax or him. For me, a fantastic coach.”
Luton Town
Luton can feel proud of their performance last night even if Arsenal snatched a late winner. But how bad was the Arsenal defending on this set piece? FT Luton 3-4 Arsenal [Pictures from Amazon Prime]
Manchester City
Kalvin Phillips is almost definitely leaving Man City and Newcastle may be an option - full details from Fabrizio Romano here.
Pep Guardiola: “If you ask me today, my feeling is that we're going to win the Premier League. If we play at the levels that we showed against Liverpool and Tottenham, we're going to do it again - knowing that it is not easy of course.”
Guardiola’s dig at pundits: “They know how difficult it is [to win PL four times in a row]. Neville, Micah Richards... never, ever. And then Jamie Carragher didn’t win one once.”
Carragher’s response: “I think I’d have probably won one if Liverpool were owned by a nation state, and pushed the rules so far that the PL charged us 115 times!”
Manchester United
Manchester United confirmed yesterday that the club had ‘taken action against several media organisations, not for publishing stories we don't like, but for doing so without first contacting us to give us the opportunity to comment, challenge or contextualize.’
Erik ten Hag on certain media outlets being banned: “They should have come to us first and not go behind our back printing articles that is not the right thing. We have a good relationship, they come to us beforehand, we have a debate about it.”
Ten Hag on the mood inside the club: “Stories in the media about players are not true. No chaos in the dressing room. In every team there are always players who are not playing or playing less who are less happy. In some circumstances you need that, they have to wait for their chance. But no, there are no issues.”
Ten Hag’s message to players: “I listen always to my players, I give them always opportunities to tell — if the players have a different opinion of course I will listen. Maybe one or two [have told me], but it is about in general, the majority want to play like this proactive, dynamic brave that is what they want. No issues.”
What’s the latest on Jadon Sancho possibly joining Juventus?
Manchester United have included a clause into Kobbie Mainoo’s current contract to extend it until June 2028 — clause valid on club side. Man Utd believe Mainoo will be a special talent to trust for present and future — salary rise and new deal could also be a topic in 2024.
Marcus Rashford is going through a bad period - what’s behind it?
Napoli
Are Napoli really close to a new contract for Victor Osimhen? Fabrizio Romano is not so sure…
Newcastle United
Kalvin Phillips is almost definitely leaving Man City and Newcastle may be an option - full details from Fabrizio Romano here.
Sheffield United
Official: Sheffield United confirm Paul Heckingbottom has left the club. He’s the first Premier League manager to be fired this season. Chris Wilder replaces him as he returns for a second spell managing the club in the Premier League.
Slavia Prague
Mohamed Ihattaren’s contract at Slavia Prague will be valid until 2024 as he signs on free transfer. One year contract plus three year option to sign new deal until 2027.
Stuttgart
Fabrizio Romano has an exclusive update on Serhou Guirassy’s future and his unique release clause situation here.
West Ham United
Wolves
A neat finish here from Hwang Hee-chan as Wolves gained an important win over Burnley last night. FT Wolves 1-0 Burnley [Pictures from Amazon Prime]