🚨 Emery's first EVER win over Pep, McTominay is Man Utd's hero, Maguire's deserved award, Santos RELEGATED, Spurs ace signs until 2025 and more
Today's football headlines, featuring Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and more!
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Today’s top stories:
Plus more from Brighton, Inter Milan and Liverpool
AC Milan
AC Milan have now reached full agreement with Juan Miranda to join in 2024. His contract will be valid until June 2028, and Milan will now offer around €2m to Real Betis to ensure the deal completes in January.
Suggestions ‘something is wrong’ with Milan fitness work [Football Italia]
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta deserves credit for Arsenal star’s recent improvement [Fabrizio Romano]
Mikel Arteta backs Arsenal star despite costly mistakes [Daily Mail Sport]
Aston Villa
Aston Villa’s Brazilian star delivers blow to Arsenal’s transfer hopes [Sky Sports]
Aston Villa’s brilliant 1-0 win over Premier League champions, Man City, thanks to Leon Bailey’s winner (below) threw up some incredible stats [pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport]:
It was the first time in 13 attempts that Unai Emery had beaten Pep Guardiola.
Interestingly, it was also Villa’s first Premier League win over City in 13 attempts.
The most shots a Pep Guardiola side have faced in the first half of any of his 535 matches as a manager in the top European leagues (13)
The joint-most shots his side has faced in any of those 535 matches (22)
The joint-fewest shots his side have attempted in any of those 535 matches (2)
The first time Man City have failed to win a single corner in any of Pep Guardiola’s 281 matches in the Premier League.
The most times an opponent has won possession in the final third against Man City (13)
Bayern Munich
Official, confirmed. Bayern have signed Bryan Zaragoza on a €15m deal from Granada. The Spanish winger stays at Granada on loan until June and will join Bayern at the beginning of next season.
“Bryan Zaragoza is a very fast and extremely agile winger who can play on both wings. He is unpredictable, a goal threat and very good in 1v1 situations. We look forward to him joining us in the summer,” a club statement said.
Bryan Zaragoza had the chance to join RB Leipzig in January for €14m — but he wanted to stay at Granada to help the club in their relegation battle. Bayern will pay just €1m more but allowing the player to stay until June as he and Granada director Tognozzi wanted.
Brighton and Hove Albion
In only his fourth Premier League game, 18-year-old Jack Hinshelwood scored the winning goal in a 2-1 victory against Brentford. What a story! [Pictures from Canal Foot+]
Teenage sensation set to turn De Zerbi down as West Ham emerge as front runners [Football Insider]
Chelsea
Will Mykhailo Mudryk and Nicolas Jackson make it at Chelsea? Si Phillips discusses an underwhelming start to their Blues careers.
Fulham turn transfer attention to 22-year-old Chelsea star [Football Insider]
“There will be talks” – Chelsea happy with star but yet to take concrete steps over new deal [Fabrizio Romano]
Mauricio Pochettino ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to Man United: "The culture of Chelsea is about winning. We want to build something, a project. But the culture is the same: winning."
Cole Palmer silenced Old Trafford with an equaliser to make it 1-1 against Man United, but it was ultimately in vain as the Red Devils emerged victorious, 2-1 the final score [pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport]
Crystal Palace
Another poor performance at Selhurst Park saw the Eagles downed at home by Bournemouth. Goals from Marcos Senesi and Kieffer Moore gave the Cherries a 2-0 away win.
Crystal Palace could complete bargain signing of former Manchester City star in January [The Athletic]
Fulham
How about this for a cheeky finish?! Raul Jimenez’s back heel goal helped Fulham earn a brilliant 5-0 win over Nottingham Forest [pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport].
Bayern to face competition for Fulham star who was on Liverpool’s radar in the summer [Telegraph]
Inter Milan
Against Udinese this coming weekend, Inter Milan will wear a one-off limited edition shirt with the Transformers logo in place of the normal Paramount sponsor logo.
Marotta: ‘Inter negotiating five-year Lautaro Martinez contract’ [Football Italia]
Liverpool
Liverpool get green light to bid for Virgil van Dijk successor [90Min]
Virgil van Dijk stroked home his first of the season to give Liverpool the lead against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, a game in which the Reds went on to win 2-0 thanks to a late second from Dominik Szoboszlai [pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport].
Neil Jones has more on the responsibility that Trent Alexander-Arnold has been given of late.
Could Liverpool sign another midfielder in January? Neil Jones gives his exclusive insight.
Neil Jones looks at why Liverpool won’t look to the market to buy cover for Alisson.
Manchester City
20-year-old prodigy set to spark transfer war between Liverpool and Man City [90Min]
Could Man City be expelled from the Premier League? Joining Angus Scott and Ben Jacobs on The Debrief podcast this week is esteemed football journalist, Jonathan Wilson, to discuss the ramifications.
Manchester United
Harry Maguire is the Premier League Player of the Month for November.
Antony had some strong words for pundits who have been critical of his performances: “I see criticism coming from former Man Utd players, other people in the media… but I've never seen them give constructive criticism to help me be a better professional. The digital court is ruining lives; the truth no longer matters… In the Premier League the game requires focus on both the physical and mental side. This is why it's essential to have a good pre-season, and I didn't have any opportunity to participate. I'm racing against time to be at the same level as my teammates.”
Erik Ten Hag was asked about January signings: “I don’t think we will sign players - and if so, the approach from United should be that if you can improve your team, then you should do. What we expect from every player is for them to give their best.”
Erik ten Hag says the one thing Man United fans will not want to hear ahead of January window [United We Stand]
Bruno Fernandes’ early missed penalty against Chelsea summed up Man United at present. It was a tame effort that was easily saved by Robert Sanchez [pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport].
Scott McTominay saved his captain’s blushes by scoring not long afterwards to ramp up the atmosphere inside Old Trafford, and then added a second to give Man United a much-needed 2-1 victory [pictures from Amazon Prime Video Sport]
Scott McTominay is Man United’s top goalscorer with five goals so far: “What changed? The manager. The way we approached the game and some light training sessions to keep the energy high with a lot of games coming and keep the pressure on the teams above us.”
Napoli
Kvaratskhelia has stoked the fire again: “Real Madrid was my favourite team in my childhood but now I am 100% focused on Napoli. I am doing best to help the team. I like many clubs but I’m not even thinking about my future. All I think about is Napoli and I feel so happy here.”
Napoli look at RB Salzburg midfielder [Football Italia]
Newcastle
Eddie Howe confirms: “Nick Pope will undergo surgery. There's no doubt he needs an operation. When is he returning? We're thinking roughly around four months time.”
Howe on David de Gea links: “We have not made any enquiries despite the links. We really believe in Martin Dubravka. I've always had a high opinion of him. Martin is a high class goalkeeper.”
Chelsea and Newcastle rival Manchester United for €50million-plus transfer [Sport Witness]
Palmeiras
Endrick has scored 6 goals in his last 8 games for Palmeiras and he’s making history. He has surpassed Neymar’s record — now ranked 2nd behind Ronaldo for most goals scored in the Brazilian League by U-17 players.
Santos
Santos have been relegated for the first time in the club’s 111 year history. Pelé and Neymar’s old club will play in the second division next season.
Tottenham
Ange Postecoglou on James Maddison’s recovery: “We should go with the medical staff and as far as I'm aware he's progressing as expected.”
Spurs set Richarlison asking price amid Saudi Pro League interest [90Min]
Fraser Forster has signed a new contract with Tottenham that will run until June 2025.
