🚨 ALL you need to know about Mbappe to Real Madrid, Pochettino under pressure at Chelsea, fresh Salah Saudi speculation, Foden hits hat-trick for Man City, and more
Today's headlines, featuring Kylian Mbappe, Phil Foden, Mauricio Pochettino, and much more!
Good morning! Welcome to another Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy :-)
Today’s top stories:
AC Milan
AC Milan have a concrete interest in Joshua Zirkzee - latest info from Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive column here.
Alanyaspor
Alanyaspor have reached an agreement to sign Ui-jo Hwang on loan from Nottingham Forest - deal done. The loan is valid until the end of the season, there’s no buy option clause included. Hwang has already accepted the destination and he’s leaving Forest.
Arsenal
Takehiro Tomiyasu’s new deal at Arsenal is agreed and sealed. The Japanese defender is set to sign a new long-term contract with the club. The decision was wanted by both the board and by Mikel Arteta - there was never any chance for Tomiyasu to leave in January. An announcement will follow soon.
Kylian Mbappe’s entourage have reportedly considered Arsenal, but there’s an issue…
Some good analysis of Arsenal’s defensive strength from Jamie Carragher on Monday Night Football last night. [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Martin Odegaard: “If you’re not allowed to celebrate when you win a game, when are you allowed to celebrate? We will stay humble and focus on the next one, but… we were just happy.”
Mikel Arteta: “Jorginho is unbelievable. Example, role model. He’s been in a lot of pain, he had an issue but he didn’t want to stop. For all the kids, for everybody at the club, you want to look in the mirror at somebody, just look at him and how he behaves.”
Aston Villa
Aston Villa have reached a verbal agreement with Leon Bailey to sign new long term contract very soon. It’s all agreed, time to complete paperwork and then sign as Bailey’s happy to stay at Villa. Salary rise and longer contract for the Jamaican winger.
Barcelona
What does the future hold for Sergi Roberto at Barcelona? Latest info from Matteo Moretto’s column here.
Barcelona director Deco on Jurgen Klopp links: “Klopp is a top coach, but I don’t think this is the moment to speak about it. We have many options; the future head coach will be discussed later. We didn't speak to any other manager yet. It has to be someone who wants to follow our working plan, playing good football and with ambition. I won’t speak about any other manager now.”
Deco on Vitor Roque: “You killed the kid before he started playing. Liverpool signed Darwin Nunez €90m, Newcastle paid €70m for Alexander Isak. The price analysis should be done in some time. It wasn’t too expensive, we paid right money for a player we needed.”
Deco on Raphinha and potential signings: “Don’t forget that Chelsea and Arsenal both wanted to sign Raphinha. He ended up playing more than Dembele with goals and assists. I’d love to sign Ronaldinho, Eto’o and Deco but they don’t exist anymore or they’re not available on the market.”
Deco when asked about selling Frenkie de Jong or Ronald Araujo: “The plan is NOT to sell any player and include one or two players. In case we need to sell, we will try to make it happen without touching our crucial players.”
Barça director Deco on negotiations with Manchester City and Atletico Madrid for Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo: “Cancelo is doing very well, Felix started very well too and he brought us very important points. It will depend on many factors...We will try to sign both of them.”
Besiktas
Joe Worrall has completed a loan move to Besiktas from Nottingham Forest. The Turkish side have the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
Brentford
What a move and what a goal by Neal Maupay that gave Brentford the lead last night! FT Brentford 1-3 Man City [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Chelsea
Pressure is growing on Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea - latest from Fabrizio Romano here.
Who could replace Mauricio Pochettino if Chelsea decide to sack their manager?
Todd Kline is set to join Chelsea in the next months after leaving his role as Tottenham commercial chief officer. He’s been placed on gardening leave - he is expected to join Chelsea right after. An agreement is almost done with Chelsea.
Corinthians
Matheuzinho is set to join Corinthians from Flamengo. The deal will be signed by Flamengo president on Tuesday morning. An agreement is in place over a €4m fee plus €1m add-ons, while medical tests have already been completed.
Crystal Palace
Inter Milan
Inter CEO Beppe Marotta: “We have informed Napoli that we are in talks with Piotr Zielinski to sign him as free agent. We will see how the negotiations advance and if we make it happen.”
Juventus
Lecce
French midfielder Balthazar Pierret will leave Quevilly-Rouen to join Serie A side Lecce. Deal done, contract ready. It will be valid until June 2027.
Liverpool
What’s the truth behind the latest Mohamed Salah to Saudi rumours?
Kylian Mbappe’s entourage have reportedly approached Liverpool, but it’s not straightforward…
Barcelona director Deco on Jurgen Klopp links: “Klopp is a top coach, but I don’t think this is the moment to speak about it. We have many options; the future head coach will be discussed later. We didn't speak to any other manager yet. It has to be someone who wants to follow our working plan, playing good football and with ambition. I won’t speak about any other manager now.”
Manchester City
Here’s the goal that sealed Phil Foden’s hat-trick - what a performance! FT Brentford 1-3 Man City [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Savio from Girona for the summer - full info here from Fabrizio Romano.
Manchester United
Amad Diallo had positive conversations with Erik ten Hag in January. It was crucial to prepare Amad’s future involvement in Man United squad. The club and manager want to trust Diallo and that’s why a loan move to the Championship was never considered a realistic option for January.
Manchester United are asking for crazy money to sell Jadon Sancho this summer!
Manchester United statement confirms that Lisandro Martinez has sustained an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his knee: “He’s expected to be out for at least eight weeks.”
Lisandro Martinez after his latest injury setback: “I’ll be soon be back out there and we will fight together. Always united!”
📰 Al Nassr are eyeing up a move for Manchester United defender Raphael Varane (Daily Star)
Napoli
Inter CEO Beppe Marotta: “We have informed Napoli that we are in talks with Piotr Zielinski to sign him as free agent. We will see how the negotiations advance and if we make it happen.”
Orlando City
Orlando City are advancing to the final stages of negotiations to sign Luis Muriel from Atalanta. A deal is progressing for an immediate, permanent transfer.
PSG
Real Madrid keep advancing on the Kylian Mbappe deal with confidence - a decision from the player is expected soon. More info in Fabrizio Romano’s column here.
How will PSG work to replace Mbappe? These internal discussions have already started - full details from Fabrizio Romano here.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid keep advancing on the Kylian Mbappe deal with confidence - a decision from the player is expected soon. More info in Fabrizio Romano’s column here.
Leny Yoro is another name on Real Madrid’s list - latest details here from Matteo Moretto’s exclusive column.
Roma
What a header by Dean Huijsen in this big win for Roma! FT Roma 4-0 Cagliari [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Sevilla
Youssef En-Nesyri scored twice in an important win for Sevilla last night. FT Rayo Vallecano 1-2 Sevilla [Pictures from ViaPlay Sports]
Tottenham
Lucas Bergvall on deciding between Spurs and Barca: “They are both incredible clubs. It was a very difficult choice, it was 50-50…It felt like the next step for me was Tottenham. It was not very easy to say no to Barca - it took a very long time to decide.”
Todd Kline is set to join Chelsea in the next months after leaving his role as Tottenham commercial chief officer. He’s been placed on gardening leave - he is expected to join Chelsea right after. An agreement is almost done with Chelsea.
📰 Tottenham are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona winger Raphinha this summer (Sport)
Trabzonspor
Trabzonspor are set to complete deal to sign Thomas Meunier. Negotiations are very advanced, final details and then he can complete his move from Borussia Dortmund soon.
