🚨 TRUTH about Newcastle star's future, latest on Chelsea plans to replace Nkunku, plus goal highlights as Man City score late winner and Fofana's screamer at AFCON
🚨 TRUTH about Newcastle star's future, latest on Chelsea plans to replace Nkunku, plus goal highlights as Man City score late winner and Fofana's screamer at AFCON
Today's round up, featuring Newcastle, Chelsea, Man City, 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:
Kyle Walker has apologised after recent off-the-pitch controversy
Plus more from Man United, PSG and Spurs
AC Milan
Rade Krunic has joined Fenerbahce from AC Milan, deal confirmed. It’s all sealed. Formal loan with obligation to buy will be 100% permanent transfer in June. No doubts.
Genoa trigger the clause to sign Junior Messias on a permanent deal from AC Milan — €3m total package.
Al Hilal
Al Hilal want to advance on a deal for Renan Lodi in the next couple of days as they hope to close the deal soon. Negotiations with Olympique Marseille continue and keep advancing.
AZ Alkmaar
AZ Alkmaar are set to sign Kristijan Belic from Partizan, permanent deal at final stages with the Dutch club. Fee will be under €4m. Medical early next week if all goes to plan.
Bayern Munich
Bayern are planning to insist on the Nordi Mukiele deal in the next few days again as talks continue. More discussions will follow, it’s up to PSG. Bayern want Mukiele as their next top target - Thomas Tuchel has approved him and Mukiele is keen on the move.
Joshua Kimmich on his future and contract expiring in 2025: “I’m only focused Bayern. For me, it’s not a winter topic at all. At some point the club will approach me (over a new contract), and we’ll discuss it between us and not with the media.”
Bayern director Christoph Freund on Joao Palhinha: “We wanted him last summer, but the priority now was to strengthen ourselves at the back. In addition, Alexander Pavlovic has already filled a good role. That’s why we believe we have a good alternative internally.”
Joao Palhinha looks too expensive for Bayern, but could he sign for a Premier League club instead?
Benfica
Alvaro Fernandez to Benfica, here we go! A deal is in place with Man United after personal terms were agreed. Fernandez will join Benfica on loan until end of the season with a buy option clause included. Documents are being exchanged now and the player’s medical is booked.
Borussia Dortmund
It didn’t take long for Jadon Sancho to make an impact back at Borussia Dortmund as he picked up this assist for Marco Reus! FT Darmstadt 0-3 Borussia Dortmund [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans Joachim Watzke: “Jadon Sancho has no discipline problem at all. I have no idea who invented that story.”
Jadon Sancho on Borussia Dortmund: “It feels like coming back home. I’m happy to be back on the pitch again. I’m here to be happy again and help the team, smile again. It was just meant to be! Me coming back, assist to Marco Reus…”
Bournemouth
Medical tests are booked for Hamed Junior Traore at Napoli. Napoli and Bournemouth have now all the documents ready for the Traore deal - loan move confirmed, with a €25m option to buy clause in June, not mandatory.
Brentford
Burnley
“It feels very good to be here, I’m really happy. It will be a really good place for me to progress and it’s the perfect move for me.” - David Datro Fofana after joining Burnley on loan from Chelsea — there’s no buy option clause.
Chelsea
Cole Palmer scored Chelsea’s winner from the penalty spot - that’s now three Premier League victories in a row for the first time under Mauricio Pochettino. FT Chelsea 1-0 Fulham [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Mauricio Pochettino on if Christopher Nkunku’s injury has altered transfer plans: “No, it's not going to affect. We are talking, we are assessing the squad. I think Nkunku is going to be ready as soon as possible.”
More detail here on how Chelsea could respond to the Nkunku injury…
Fenerbahce
Rade Krunic has joined Fenerbahce from AC Milan, deal confirmed. It’s all sealed. Formal loan with obligation to buy will be 100% permanent transfer in June. No doubts.
Fulham
Genoa
Genoa trigger the clause to sign Junior Messias on a permanent deal from AC Milan — €3m total package.
Inter Milan
Inter CEO Beppe Marotta on links with Piotr Zielinski as free agent for June: “The transfer window is always active, we are keeping close eye to opportunities. We are now allowed to contact players out of contract in June and we want to be active. Nothing is done, as of now.”
Ivory Coast
What a strike by Seko Fofana as Ivory Coast made a winning start at AFCON! FT Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea-Bissau [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Juventus
Juventus have finally sealed all the documents for Vasilije Adzic (born 2006) — deal done, here we go now confirmed. Adzic will fly to Turin on Tuesday, medical booked and contract signing on Wednesday. Adzic will be at the Juventus Stadium for Juve vs Sassuolo.
Manchester City
Late drama as Oscar Bobb got on the end of this superb Kevin De Bruyne assist to win the game for Manchester City! FT Newcastle 2-3 Man City [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Pep Guardiola: “This team is hungry and wants to win the PL title again. Kevin de Bruyne is pure talent. It’s not about tactics, it’s about talent.”
Manchester United
Sevilla have agreed a deal to sign Mateo Mejia from Manchester United on a permanent transfer. Documents to be signed next week. The 2003-born striker will leave the club on a free permanent deal as his contract was due to expire in June. Man Utd will have 25% sell-on clause for Mejia.
Alvaro Fernandez to Benfica, here we go! A deal is in place with Man United after personal terms were agreed. Fernandez will join Benfica on loan until end of the season with a buy option clause included. Documents are being exchanged now and the player’s medical is booked.
This Man Utd flop could be set for a move to Brentford - details here.
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans Joachim Watzke: “Jadon Sancho has no discipline problem at all. I have no idea who invented that story.”
Marseille
Olympique Marseille have agreed on personal terms with Josh Doig. Hellas Verona still prefer to sell Doing to Sassuolo after a fresh bid - they’re pushing to do deal with Sassuolo. Doig prefers to play for Marseille, who want a final decision soon or they will start talks for another full-back.
Al Hilal want to advance on a deal for Renan Lodi in the next couple of days as they hope to close the deal soon. Negotiations with Olympique Marseille continue and keep advancing.
Napoli
Medical tests are booked for Hamed Junior Traore at Napoli. Napoli and Bournemouth have now all the documents ready for the Traore deal - loan move confirmed, with a €25m option to buy clause in June, not mandatory.
Inter CEO Beppe Marotta on links with Piotr Zielinski as free agent for June: “The transfer window is always active, we are keeping close eye to opportunities. We are now allowed to contact players out of contract in June and we want to be active. Nothing is done, as of now.”
Newcastle United
What a goal this was by Alexander Isak to bring Newcastle level against Man City yesterday, even if they still went on to lose the game. FT Newcastle 2-3 Man City [Pictures from TNT Sports]
What’s the latest on Bruno Guimaraes’ future? Fabrizio Romano has the answers in his exclusive column here.
PSG
Bayern are planning to insist on the Nordi Mukiele deal in the next few days again as talks continue. More discussions will follow, it’s up to PSG. Bayern want Mukiele as their next top target - Thomas Tuchel has approved him and Mukiele is keen on the move.
Sevilla
Sevilla have agreed a deal to sign Mateo Mejia from Manchester United on a permanent transfer. Documents to be signed next week. The 2003-born striker will leave the club on a free permanent deal as his contract was due to expire in June. Man Utd will have 25% sell-on clause for Mejia.
Strasbourg
18 year old Serbian striker Milos Lukovic has signed his contract as a new Strasbourg player. Lukovic was on Chelsea/BlueCo radar for long time — now he has joined Strasbourg.
Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart captain Waldemar Anton will sign new deal until June 2027, agreement reached. The player is on the list of European top clubs as movement is expected again in the summer.