🚨 Pochettino's WORRY, Pep's DELIGHT, ten Hag's ANGER over Sancho, Werner's surprise, another HUGE blow for Newcastle and more

Today's round-up, featuring Arsenal, Man United, Tottenham, and much more!

Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing! Thanks for reading, and enjoy! :-)

Today’s top stories:

• EXCL: Today’s column from Fabrizio Romano

• Radu Dragusin said YES to Bayern before changing his mind

• Solanke wins December Player of the Month award

• Plus more from Arsenal, Everton and Newcastle

AC Milan

• Rennes push Matic towards the exit with statement [Gazetta dello Sport]

• Why most Milan fans want Conte to replace Pioli [Football Italia]

Al Hilal

• Al Hilal are in advanced talks to sign Renan Lodi from Marseille. Negotiations will continue for a fee of around €20m. Marseille are advancing to the final stages of the Josh Doig deal as a new full-back for Gattuso. “Yes, there are talks ongoing for Lodi,” Gattuso confirmed. “We didn’t want to risk anything, that’s why he didn’t play. There are negotiations and I can’t say more.”

Arsenal

• Marquinhos has been recalled by Arsenal from his loan spell at Ligue 1 side FC Nantes, where he has been since the start of the season. New solution being discussed internally for the Brazilian.

• Arsenal expected to shop in loan market only this window [football.london]

Aston Villa

• Unai Emery isn’t focussed on the January transfer window because, he says, Villa already have the players they need [pictures from Sky Sports News].

• Unai Emery: “Calum Chambers and Bertrand Traore can leave the club this month.” No plans to send Jhon Duran on loan as “his commitment is progressively getting better.”

Bayern Munich

• Christian Falk has a deep dive into Bayern’s pursuit of Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, and why the Bavarians believe Barça might do business in future.

• Tuchel: “We are looking for a right-back who is strong in duels. We’ll see if something is possible. If there's an opportunity on the market, we'll take it. Otherwise things will stay this way.”

• Radu Dragusin said yes to Bayern before changing his mind and choosing Tottenham. Christian Falk gives you the inside track on the deal.

• Harry Kane keeps making history at Bayern as he equals Lewandowski’s record for the most goals in the first half of a Bundesliga season (22).

Benfica

• Benfica are closing in on a deal to sign Álvaro Fernández. Personal terms 100% agreed now, the contract is ready. Agreement being finalised with Man United on a permanent transfer and then… here we go.

Borussia Dortmund

• Borussia Dortmund director Sebastian Kehl: "The Ian Maatsen deal with Chelsea will only be a pure loan, there is no purchase option as it was not possible to agree on that."

• On Jadon Sancho: "It was not easy to bring him back, it took many days. You can see the fire in his eyes. Jadon is really happy to be able to play football again. We'll do everything we can to get him back to his highest level as quickly as possible… We don't have a buy option for Sancho. Staying here beyond this season? You can never rule anything out... but we know what kind of market value he can generate. I'm not naive - but we'll let things come to us.”

• Jadon Sancho’s arrival could mean an immediate move for Donyell Malen. Christian Falk explains the up-to-date situation.

Bournemouth

• The Premier League’s Player of the Month for December is Dominic Solanke.

• “I think Newcastle are right to go for him” – Pundit urges Magpies to hijack possible deal [Daily Mail]

Brighton and Hove Albion

• Valentín Barco’s long term deal at Brighton has been signed with the following details: Contract valid until June 2028, club option to extend until June 2029. Official statement expected soon as Brighton already paid the $10m release clause to Boca Juniors.

Burton Albion

• Joe Hugill leaves Man United on loan as expected and joins Burton Albion until the end of the season.

CD América

• City Group are monitoring 19-year-old Colombian right-back Josen Escobar as one for the future. There are several clubs interested in the CD América player, but City Group are keeping a close eye on him.

Chelsea

• Mauricio Pochettino will be feeling the pressure at Chelsea after a series of poor results, and the Argentinian reflected on the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg loss to Middlesbrough [pictures from Sky Sports News].

• Christopher Nkunku is still undergoing rehabilitation, Chelsea statement confirms. Ben Chilwell, Benoit Badiashile and Carney Chukwuemeka all in full training.

• Pochettino: “I’m a little bit worried about Christopher Nkunku. We don’t know what’s going to happen. Of course I am worried because it’s ten days since he last trained. We are assessing him.”

• Pochettino on a new striker joining if Nkunku won’t be fit soon: “We are going to decide soon. I still don’t have all the info about whether Nkunku is going to be available or not for a small initial period. We need to be very clinical to take some decisions.”

• If Pochettino is out, what is the answer? Si Phillips discusses the options in depth.

• Pochettino: “With time, we are going to be very successful here. No doubt. New signings in January? We're all in conversation. We're going to do what is best. We are talking. We will decide as a club.”

• What’s next for Thiago Silva given he is out of contract in June? Pochettino: “At the moment, we are not talking with players. It's a moment to work together and try to perform to get the results. That's between the player and the club to decide what is the best.”

• David Oduru has been described as the next Alphonso Davies by Lothar Matthaus. Christian Falk explains why the German legend is really proud of Oduru’s progression.

• Chelsea keep working on a deal for Estevão Willian, and discussions have been taking place since October. ‘Messinho’ has a €60m release clause and no club has decided to trigger it yet. Barcelona remain in contact on the player side.

• Official: Chelsea confirm Dujuan Richards has officially completed his move from the Phoenix Academy. “My dream was always to sign a professional contract and to have the chance to do that here at Chelsea, it’s difficult to put the emotions into words.”

Everton

• Everton manager Sean Dyche reacts to Arnaut Danjuma loan rumours [pictures from Sky Sports News].

• 777 Partners takeover bid of Everton to be rejected by the Premier League [Football Insider]

Galatasaray

• Official, confirmed. Berkan Kutlu has re-joined Galatasaray from Genoa on loan.

Hadjuk Split

• Hajduk Split are still dreaming of Ivan Perisić as their top target and will try again to make the deal happen in January. Perisić’s recovery from his ACL injury is going well, but a lot depends if doctors can confirm that he’d be able to play before May 2024.

Juventus

• Juventus are prepared for a final round of talks and then the Tiago Djaló deal will be completed. It’s just a matter of time. Details to be sorted and then medical tests will be booked for next week.

• Juventus’ players gift to Milik after Coppa Italia hat-trick [Football Italia]

Leicester City

• Leicester manager Enzo Maresca confirms Stefano Sensi as a top target: “Yes, he’s a player we like — but we need to sell before signing new players.” Negotiations to follow with Inter for a permanent deal - Sensi’s keen on the move.

Liverpool

• What’s happening with Jorg Schmadtke given that his contract is due to end soon? Christian Falk has all the details.

• Kieron Dyer has settled the Gerrard vs Lampard vs Scholes debate [talkSPORT]

• Fabrizio Romano’s crucial update as Liverpool set to rival Man United for Todibo

Manchester City

• Pep Guardiola had some great news for Man City fans ahead of the club’s away fixture against Newcastle.

• Guardiola also confirmed that both Erling Haaland and John Stones wouldn’t play against Newcastle.

• Erling Haaland sustained "a little bit" of a setback in his recovery from a foot injury, says Pep Guardiola. “He’s fine. He will restart maybe in Abu Dhabi and hopefully at the end of this month he’ll be ready.”

Manchester United

• Erik ten Hag’s annoyance was clear when he was asked about Jadon Sancho joining Borussia Dortmund in his pre-match press conference for the Tottenham game [pictures from Sky Sports News].

• What’s going on with Anthony Martial? Ten Hag: “He’s not fit. We have to make him fit and it is his job as well to get ready for the next game. But in this moment he is having medical treatment and he has to recover.”

• Ten Hag on Antony: “His off-field issues stop him playing. I think his first year was OK and I think in the pre-season he was very OK. First four games were very good. He was out and then he came back and he didn't deliver the performances we should expect from him.”

Napoli

• Hamed Traoré to Napoli, here we go! Verbal agreement almost reached on a loan deal with Bournemouth, final details then time to sign. Deal subject to medical tests. Buy option clause in June: €25m. Napoli to pay loan fee only if they will not trigger the buy option clause in June.

Newcastle

• Bad news for Newcastle as Joelinton will be out for six weeks. “He’s set to miss a minimum of six weeks, it is a real blow for us. He has a problem with his tendon in his quad. He is very disappointed,” said Eddie Howe.

• Eddie Howe on loan deals: “I think there's value in the loan market, but I’m not sure there is for us. We’re in a moment where I don’t think we have many friends in the market. I’m not sure anyone wants to help us out.”

• Eddie Howe on Dominic Solanke: “We didn’t make a move for Solanke, we can’t sign him. I love Solanke, I signed him for Bournemouth and rate him very highly. But we have not made an inquiry for him and we don’t have the ability to sign a player of that level.”

• Financial Fair Play hindering Newcastle transfer efforts says Romano

Paris Saint-Germain

• Corinthians and Paris Saint-Germain are exchanging and checking contracts on the Gabriel Moscardo deal. The agreement is finally being sealed after further checks due to Moscardo’s injury. The deal is still confirmed, as expected.

Real Madrid

• Christian Falk explains why he believes there’s a big chance for Real Madrid to sign Bayern Munich’s excellent full-back, Alphonso Davies.

• Dani Carvajal eases Real Madrid Supercopa injury fears [Mundo Deportivo]

Roma

• Ola Solbakken has signed on as a new Urawa Red Diamonds player, on loan from AS Roma

Sevilla

• Stanis Idumbo Muzambo has signed his contract as a new Sevilla player — valid until June 2028. Done deal with Ajax, confirmed.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Ange Postecoglou spoke about why he believes that Timo Werner will be a good fit for Tottenham [pictures from Sky Sports News].

• Timo Werner didn’t actually want to move back to the Premier League according to Christian Falk.

• Postecoglou on Dragusin picking Spurs over Bayern: “We did a fair bit of work on it. What did I say to convince Radu? It's just a conversation about what I believe and my thoughts on them as players and where they fit in. He really wanted to join this football club.”

Villarreal

• Villarreal have enquired about Monza’s Luca Caldirola. The centre-back’s current deal expires in June 2025 and the Spanish club are planning to approach him over a January move. Monza want to keep him.

• Arnaut Danjuma will remain on loan at Everton despite exit rumours [Liverpool ECHO]

West Bromwich Albion

• French centre-back Cedric Kipre could be on the move in 2024 as his current deal at West Bromwich Albion expires in the summer. He's having an outstanding season in the Championship, with clubs in Premier League, Ligue1 and Bundesliga all tracking him.