🚨 Concern over Man Utd star's HUGE wages? Plus Spurs closing in on two signings, bid submitted for Chelsea star, and key Arsenal update as crisis continues
Today's football headlines, featuring Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal and more!
Good morning all, and welcome to your Monday morning edition of the Daily Briefing! Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy!
Today’s top stories:
Latest from Arsenal, Chelsea + don’t miss this Patrick Bamford wonder-goal!
AC Milan
AC Milan director Geoffrey Moncada: “We like Brassier as new centre back, he’s on our shortlist but there’s no agreement so far. Fenerbahce bid for Krunic? We didn’t receive what we want yet. He only leaves if we’ll receive the correct proposal.”
Arsenal
Another defeat for Arsenal, but how did they fail to score here? Will their luck eventually turn around if they keep playing like this? FT Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool [Pictures from BBC Sport]
Mikel Arteta on signing a new striker this January: “At the moment it doesn’t look realistic. My job is to improve the players we have. One thing is what we can do: we need to stay behind those players.”
Gabriel Jesus has a knee injury but it’s being described as ‘not serious’ - just a knock after the blow he suffered a few months ago. The expectation is for Jesus to be out just for a short time as a precaution, he’s set to return soon if all goes to plan.
Could Dominic Solanke to Arsenal be the solution this January?
Barcelona
Xavi: “We have to be realistic. In this moment, we can’t register any more player in the squad. Of course, after Gavi injury it’d be good to have a new signing in the midfield. We’ll see [if possible]. Maybe we can try an opportunity for present rather than future.”
Bayern Munich
Bayern have opened talks to sign Nordi Mukiele from Paris Saint-Germain. He’s one of the names in the list. Talks are ongoing for a loan deal with a buy option in excess of €25m. PSG are still discussing internally, while Thomas Tuchel has approved Mukiele.
Joshua Kimmich has been linked with an exit, but how likely is it?
The Eric Dier deal depends on Bayern now. The player is waiting for the club’s decision with hope to join Tuchel and the squad already next week. The contract is already agreed, just waiting for Bayern to decide who’s their favoured option as new centre -Frankfurt
Sasa Kalajdzic’s move to Eintracht Frankfurt has been completed on loan, there’s no buy option included. Both Fabio Silva and Kalajdzic will return to Wolves in June.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund sent an official proposal to Chelsea for Ian Maatsen yesterday. A loan bid has been submitted, more details to be clarified soon between the two clubs. Maatsen is keen on the move and things are now at an advanced stage.
Bournemouth
Lloyd Kelly is now fully fit and available for selection against Liverpool on 21st January. He is free agent in the summer and now able to speak to clubs outside of England. There is concrete interest from AC Milan, Juventus and Stuttgart — Tottenham made an offer in the summer and are thought to be keeping an eye on his situation. He has not ruled out staying at Bournemouth and there has been conversation over a new deal.
Brazil
Dorival Junior signs in as new Brazil head coach on contract valid until 2026 World Cup. Despite Sao Paulo’s proposal to sign new deal, he decided to accept the Selecao job.
Chelsea
Artem Dovbyk has been linked with Chelsea after his fine form for Girona - Fabrizio Romano takes a look at the story in his column here.
Borussia Dortmund sent an official proposal to Chelsea for Ian Maatsen yesterday. A loan bid has been submitted, more details to be clarified soon between the two clubs. Maatsen is keen on the move and things are now at an advanced stage.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht have sent formal bid to Rennes for Arnaud Kalimuendo - it’s a loan with the obligation to buy. Details on fee: €23m between loan fee and guaranteed buy option plus some add-ons. Kalimuendo wants the move, it’s now up to the clubs.
Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce are interested in signing Leonardo Bonucci from Union Berlin. Talks took place in the recent hours. More will follow early next week, time for final decision.
Juventus
Juventus have no intention to proceed for the Kalvin Phillips deal at current conditions after talks with Man City on loan fee/salary coverage. Juventus’ priority is now Tiago Djalo from Lille as new centre-back.
Leeds United
Don’t miss this goal of the season contender from Patrick Bamford - what a strike to help Leeds into the next round! FT Peterborough 0-3 Leeds [Pictures from BBC Sport]
Liverpool
A lovely finish by Luis Diaz following an earlier Jakub Kiwior own goal sealed the win for Liverpool away to Arsenal yesterday. FT Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool [Pictures from BBC Sport]
Manchester City
Phil Foden scored this well-taken goal as Manchester City made easy work of Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup. FT Man City 5-0 Huddersfield [Pictures from BBC Sport]
Is Joshua Kimmich a genuine and realistic target for Man City?
Juventus have no intention to proceed for Kalvin Phillips deal at current conditions after talks with Man City on loan fee/salary coverage. Newcastle remain interested in Kalvin Phillips, while the race is also open to more clubs.
English talent Finlay Gorman has officially signed in as a new Manchester City player from Leeds United, deal completed. The 2008-born top talent turned down many bids to accept Manchester City project, and the agreement is now official.
Manchester United
Are Casemiro’s wages a problem for Man United? And what’s the latest on Anthony Martial’s future?
Erik ten Hag on INEOS: “Trust me, I had fantastic feeling after talking to them. How their personalities and ideas affect the process they want to go in... great, really. I’m very positive about that, I am sure it will be beneficial to Man United.”
Ten Hag on Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez: “They are a long time back on the grass already, but now they have returned to team training. Not fully but partial, and now they have to make the next steps that, of course, takes some days… I think even weeks.”
Marseille
Jean Onana to Olympique Marseille, done deal and here we go - medical tests booked today for the 23-year-old midfielder. Besiktas and OM agreed on a loan deal plus buy option clause not mandatory, as revealed yesterday.
Napoli
Napoli director Mauro Meluso after 0-3 defeat vs Torino: “We trust Walter Mazzarri. He’s 100% part of our plans and we’re not considering to sack the manager.”
Newcastle United
Juventus have no intention to proceed for Kalvin Phillips deal at current conditions after talks with Man City on loan fee/salary coverage. Newcastle remain interested in Kalvin Phillips, while the race is also open to more clubs.
Nice
Nice are set to sign Mo Ali Cho from Real Sociedad. An agreement is in place and the deal has been completed. It will be a permanent transfer for Ali Cho as he’s set to return to Ligue 1.
PSG
Bayern have opened talks to sign Nordi Mukiele from Paris Saint-Germain. He’s one of the names in the list. Talks are ongoing for a loan deal with a buy option in excess of €25m. PSG are still discussing internally, while Thomas Tuchel has approved Mukiele.
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti: “Arda Guler will improve his level little by little but on his debut he has already showed his quality. The important thing is he's back. Trust me, Arda Guler has a great personality. This is very important at Real Madrid.”
Kylian Mbappe has reportedly agreed to join Real Madrid next season!
Tottenham
Tottenham have already booked medical tests for Timo Werner as they wait for contracts to be signed then his loan deal will be completed. Werner will start training as a new Spurs player next week.
Tottenham and Genoa are progressing in talks over Radu Dragusin - more exclusive info from Fabrizio Romano here.
Tottenham are continuing to keep an eye on Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly, who is out of contract in the summer. He’s free to negotiate with foreign clubs now, with AC Milan and Juventus also showing a concrete interest in him.
The Eric Dier deal depends on Bayern now. The player is waiting for the club’s decision with hope to join Tuchel and the squad already next week. The contract is already agreed, just waiting for Bayern to decide who’s their favoured option as new centre -Frankfurt
Wolves
Sasa Kalajdzic’s move to Eintracht Frankfurt has been completed on loan, there’s no buy option included. Both Fabio Silva and Kalajdzic will return to Wolves in June.
Zenit Saint Petersburg
Zenit St Petersburg are closing in on deal to sign Artur Victor Guimaraes from Palmeiras. The final fee will be €18m, with the deal being completed.