🚨 Man Utd must sell before they buy, Osimhen to Chelsea latest, Arsenal know Toney transfer decision, plus what next for unsettled Leverkusen talent?
Today's football headlines, featuring big stories on Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and much more!
Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing! Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
Arsenal
Arsenal are aware of Ivan Toney being keen to join them - further details from Fabrizio Romano here.
There’s been further speculation about Sacha Boey, but what’s the truth?
Atalanta
What a sublime finish this was from Luis Muriel in last night’s win over Salernitana! FT Atalanta 4-1 Salernitana [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Atletico Madrid
Antoine Griezmann after being voted La Liga Player of the Season 22/23 by AS: “The joy and the level of my game are evident; I’m an Atlético for life!”
Barcelona
Fluminense midfielder Andre: “For sure Barça and Real Madrid are two big clubs — but I think I would choose Barcelona.”
Joan Laporta: “If Barcelona don’t win titles, there are always consequences. We’d need to take decisions. But the reality now is that we’re alive in all the competitions. We will compete to win all possible titles, I’m optimistic. My expectations are still the same.”
Barca president Laporta: “We are planning with Vitor Roque’s arrival at the end of December or beginning of January, we want Vitor here ASAP. Deco told me that he’s excellent talent so we expect him to help us a lot.”
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich
Thomas Muller has accepted the offer of a new contract from Bayern Munich - he will sign new deal until June 2025. It’s done. Agreement reached and now Muller will not leave as free agent, he’s staying one more year. Thomas Tuchel also spoke to Muller directly as he wanted him to stay.
Champions League
Here’s the round of 16 draw in full, with Arsenal up against Porto while Manchester City are drawn with FC Copenhagen. Napoli against Barcelona also looks like a stand-out tie.
Chelsea
Conor Gallagher’s future could be open this January - more info from Fabrizio Romano here.
Mauricio Pochettino on Kendry Paez: “He’s a great talent, top talent. He was the youngest to make his debut for Ecuador. I follow the national teams, I follow them in South America… he is our player and I know him very well.”
Pochettino on Christopher Nkunku: “He can maybe play 20 minutes tomorrow. The priority is to feel 100%. My worry is to put too much pressure on him now that he's arrived and to make us win every single game… …it’s not going to be like this. He needs time.”
Pochettino on other injuries: “Lavia is still not ready. Nkunku trained well today and he has the possibility to be involved in some minutes tomorrow. Surgery for Reece James? We still don’t know. In the next few days we will see and know the possibilities of the options.”
Pochettino on Alex Matos: “He’s really impressed me with his focus in everything. His personality, his character is always so focused. Of course he’s talented with potential. He’s so smart, watching always everything, always smiling. He’s competitive, he’s strong.”
Nicolas Jackson: “It’s my first season so I am happy, although everybody is talking s*** - I am very happy, I don’t care what people say. It is just people who don't know about football. I will just continue to play more games and score more goals.”
Jose Mourinho: “When people say I let Salah go, I say exactly the opposite. I bought Salah. He was going to Liverpool and I made a war to make him come to Chelsea. He didn’t want to wait, he wanted to go on loan... then Chelsea sold Salah, not me.”
Eintracht Frankfurt
Donny van de Beek will complete medical tests as new Eintracht player in the next 24 hours and then his loan deal will be signed this week. The buy option clause will be there as revealed on Friday; it’s not mandatory, worth €11m fixed plus €4m add-ons.
Europa League
Here’s the Europa League knockout round playoff draw in full:
Fluminense
Andre on PL move: “I watch Premier League and it's a big dream to play there one day. I’m focused on finishing the season with Fluminense and realising our own dream of winning the Club World Cup. But my dream is clear, to be a Premier League player.”
Juventus
Juventus have now opened talks with Manchester City to discuss Kalvin Phillips deal. Negotiations starting between clubs as Kalvin is said to be open to the move. Juventus plan to offer loan with buy option clause. Man City want it to be mandatory. Talks on.
Fabrizio Romano spoke to Ben Jacobs with further details on the Phillips-Juve deal here.
Liverpool
Jose Mourinho: “When people say I let Salah go, I say exactly the opposite. I bought Salah. He was going to Liverpool and I made a war to make him come to Chelsea. He didn’t want to wait, he wanted to go on loan... then Chelsea sold Salah, not me.”
Manchester City
Juventus have now opened talks with Manchester City to discuss Kalvin Phillips deal. Negotiations starting between clubs as Kalvin is said to be open to the move. Juventus plan to offer loan with buy option clause. Man City want it to be mandatory. Talks on.
Bernardo Silva: “The Saudi League improvement has been massive, it’s because of the investment and from what we hear it’s not going to stop. Future in Saudi? For now I’m focused on City, very happy playing European football — which in my opinion is the highest level.”
Excellent news for Man City as Kevin de Bruyne is back - he was training with the squad in Saudi Arabia yesterday.
Manchester United
What key details are slowing down Jadon Sancho’s Man Utd exit?
Sacha Boey has been linked with MUFC - Fabrizio Romano takes a look at the story here.
Gary Neville admitted to being completely shocked that Man United came away from Anfield with a clean sheet. FT Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Donny van de Beek will complete medical tests as new Eintracht player in the next 24 hours and then his loan deal will be signed this week. The buy option clause will be there as revealed on Friday; it’s not mandatory, worth €11m fixed plus €4m add-ons.
Erik ten Hag on Kobbie Mainoo: “When you’re good enough, you’re old enough. And Kobbie proves that. He has some calmness and composure. His biggest qualities is his scanning but he is good physically. He is young, will adjust to the game.”
Jose Mourinho: “Man United still have a CEO who is an amazing person, that’s Richard Arnold. I had him as a Commercial Director, not a CEO, and I would love to have had him on my side in my time there, but the club wasn’t easy.”
Napoli
Victor Osimhen’s new deal doesn’t necessarily mean he’s staying at Napoli for the long-term. More info from Fabrizio Romano in his column here.
A reminder of Osimhen’s quality - what wonderful play this was for this assist! FT Napoli 2-1 Cagliari [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest are in contact with Nuno Espirito Santo as a potential candidate to be their next manager. Talks are ongoing, with the former Al Ittihad, Spurs and Wolves manager emerging as a top candidate in case Forest decide to sack Steve Cooper.
Sevilla
Official, confirmed. Quique Sanchez Flores has been appointed as new Sevilla manager. After Mendilibar and Diego Alonso, it’s now time for Quique.
Sporting Lisbon
Viktor Gyokeres scored again for Sporting in their key game vs Porto - that makes it 17 goals and 8 assists in 20 games this season. Release clause: €100m, not €80m. Top striker, top signing by Sporting this summer.
Sporting manager Ruben Amorim on new links for Viktor Gyokeres and PL clubs: “He will only leave if someone pays the buyout clause in January — otherwise he will stay.”
Sunderland
Official, confirmed: Michael Beale has been appointed as new Sunderland head coach.