🚨 Nkunku out AGAIN, Garnacho trolls Rooney, Rice talks up title chances, Bellingham returns, Moyes' happy Everton reunion and much more
Today's round-up, featuring Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and much more!
Good morning everyone and welcome to another Daily Briefing - thanks for reading and hope you enjoy!
Today’s top stories:
Arsenal
Jorginho's agent Joao Santos: "Contract expiring in June? Arsenal know our priority. Jorginho is very happy with his teammates, with Arteta and with Edu Gaspar. We will consider the proposals and decide what's the best option for his future."
Declan Rice spoke about Arsenal’s title challenge, the remainder of the season and what the Gunners can expect from this point [pictures from Sky Sports].
Former Man City ace on Arsenal radar; €30m deal mooted [Fichajes]
Arsenal have scouted one €100m-rated European ace multiple times [Fabrizio Romano]
Atlético Madrid
Samu Omorodion on his future: "Links with other clubs? I'm only focused on playing for Atlético Madrid as the next step of my career.” His current deal includes a release clause close to €100m but Atléti will consider improving his contract and include a higher release clause.
Atlético Madrid not ruling out major exits this summer [Matteo Moretto]
Bayern Munich
Eric Dier’s contract at Bayern has been extended until June 2025. The clause has been triggered after three appearances. Short-term deal initially valid until 2024 after joining from Tottenham, now valid for one more year.
Draw for Bayern against Freiburg on Friday night… and Bayer Leverkusen can go 10 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga if they’re able to win against Cologne on Sunday.
Thomas Tuchel: “Playing just one good half is not enough. It was partly harakiri. We did things we've never talked about before... it wasn't a matter of will.”
Bayern director Freund: "We are of course disappointed. Tuesday is a very important game and we have to be there from the first minute. We have 90 minutes to change the tie and advance. We want to achieve that."
Braga
João Moutinho signs a new short term deal at SC Braga, valid until June 2025. He didn’t want to leave as a free agent in the summer so is now staying at the club for one more season.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Roberto De Zerbi on links with Barcelona, Liverpool and more clubs: "I have only Brighton in my head. I have decided nothing and I'm under contract here. I'd like to finish the season in the best way with our young players. My focus is on Brighton, 100%."
Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino spoke about his disappointment that Chelsea weren’t able to win the Carabao Cup [pictures from Hayters].
Thiago Silva and Marc Cucurella, back to team full training as Chelsea confirm. Nkunku, Badiashile, Chukwuemeka, Fofana, Reece James, Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu are continuing to undergo a rehabilitation programme.
Pochettino: “Nkunku suffered a problem in his hamstring. We will see in a few weeks if he can be available. He’s been little bit unlucky because to suffer again is always tough for a player.”
Pochettino on Wesley Fofana: “I don’t think we will see him back before the end of this season, unfortunately. You never know, of course. But it looks like this is the situation now.”
Si Phillips has an exclusive deep dive on the future of Saudi target Raheem Sterling.
Pochettino on his objectives until the end of this season: "Win every single game. We hope we can win all the games and be in the final of the FA Cup. We need to start to win games in the Premier League and arrive close to the positions at the top."
Pochettino on Conor Gallagher: “He loves to play for Chelsea. His contract situation, that’s another thing. It's between the club and Conor to make the deal. I am the coach that needs to be in my place. I take the best decision for the team and the club.”
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp: “Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai trained with the team on Thursday. Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson didn't.”
Jurgen Klopp: “Mo Salah will not be ready to play on Saturday but he’s on the way back. Maybe next week. Getting closer… Honestly I don’t think he is too far off but he will not be available against Forest.”
Pundit rubbishes suggestions Liverpool will sell £37 million star [Stan Collymore]
Klopp: “Alisson has suffered a serious injury, not a short one. There is no real timescale on it, it is proper muscle injury, but NOT a season-ending injury.”
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola gave an update on Jack Grealish’s injury ahead of the Manchester derby [pictures from Hayters].
Pep Guardiola on Sir Jim Ratcliffe words on challenging Man City: “They know the diagnosis of the club. If Sir Jim said they need two or three years to be there, who am I to say opposite? I'm sure they'll work to close the gap. I'm not the right person to know...”
Paltry Barcelona offer for Cancelo could be accepted by Man City [Sport]
The Saudi Pro League still want one major Man City star [Fabrizio Romano]
Manchester United
La Liga president Javier Tebas: "Mason Greenwood was not condemned, so I don’t care. He’s a great player and he's doing really well at Getafe, so I hope he continues to be successful and he continues to stay in Spanish football because that’s always good for us."
Stan Collymore predicts Manchester Derby and picks United star as weak link.
Alejandro Garnacho was asked if his overhead kick was better than Wayne Rooney’s and his answer might surprise you [Pictures from Sky Sports].
Napoli
It isn’t just Victor Osimhen that could be leaving the Partnopei this summer. Matteo Morreto looks exclusively at who could join him.
How Napoli could try to keep Calzona [Football Italia]
Newcastle United
Eddie Howe: “No decisions have been made on contract renewals for any players. Dummett, Ritchie, Karius? Every player in the squad has the chance to stay.”
Eddie Howe on Nagelsmann linked with the Newcastle job: “Genuinely it doesn't affect me. I am sat in the seat and my future will be defined by what I do, nobody else. It is up to me to continually prove myself but I back myself and my abilities, and I know my qualities.”
Leeds United plotting bargain move for Newcastle outcast [Yorkshire Evening Post].
Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappé was been taken off at half-time of PSG’s match against Monaco on Friday night by Luis Enrique. Mbappé had also been replaced in the second half in the last game vs Rennes, in that case after 65 minutes.
Luis Enrique on Mbappé subbed off at half-time: “I have been in football for quite a long time, you must know that everything is important in this kind of club. Sooner or later we will play without Mbappé, we have to get used to that.”
PSV Eindhoven
Dutch talent Isaac Babadi has agreed to sign a new contract at PSV, it’s all done and set to be sealed. Deal will be valid until June 2028. The forward received proposals from European clubs and other Dutch clubs too but together with his brother and agent Samuel Babadi from FSB Spielerberatung he decided to stay at PSV.
Real Madrid
Matteo Moretto has news on two veterans that Real Madrid are likely to offer contracts to, and one other player who could be on his way out of the club.
Jude Bellingham is back. Carlo Ancelotti confirms: “He has recovered from his injury and he’s 100% ready to play. Joselu has also recovered and he’s back too.”
Thibaut Courtois and Éder Militão are set to return in April after ACL injuries. “After the game vs Mallorca on April 14th, Courtois and Militão could be back,” Carlo Ancelotti said. Following game on April 21st: El Clásico vs Barça.
Sergio Ramos advising Kylian Mbappé regarding Real Madrid [AS]
Serie A
There are likely to be two major exits from the Italian top-flight this summer. Matteo Moretto delves a little deeper.
Super agent backs Paul Pogba after doping scandal [Football Italia].
The Debrief Podcast
The New Invincibles: Inside Bayer Leverkusen's Magical Season Bundesliga football expert Kevin Hatchard joins the show to talk about Bayer Leverkusen’s fairy tale run this season. Can Die Werkself remain unbeaten this season? Will they win the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Europa League? Our experts weigh in. Plus, Fabrizio Romano on Xabi Alonso’s future, Pochettino’s prospects of staying at Chelsea and what a Man United player exodus might look like in the summer.
Tottenham Hotspur
Ange Postecoglou had news of an injury to Richarlison ahead of Tottenham’s game against Crystal Palace [pictures from Hayters].
Postecoglou on Manor Solomon: “Manor is sort of progressing but is still not anywhere near rejoining the group. He still has a bit of a way to go. Again, it is another frustrating one for him. He is working really hard.”
Tottenham and Man United to fight for 18-year-old wonder kid [Fabrizio Romano]
Tottenham tipped to cash in on 26-year-old ace for £60 million [Dan Kilpatrick]
West Ham United
Pundit angry with Moyes for mistreating West Ham striker [West Ham Zone]
Ahead of a weekend reunion with former club, Everton, David Moyes spoke very highly of the Toffees [pictures from Sky Sports].