🚨Double injury blow for Man United, Chelsea defender signs new deal, Cristiano Ronaldo scores another hat-trick & more

Today's round-up, featuring Man United, Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool, and much more!

Apr 03, 2024

Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks, as always, for reading and for signing up to this newsletter. Enjoy! :-)

Today’s top stories:

Al Nassr

Cristiano Ronaldo scored back-to-back hat-tricks with three goals in Al Nassr’s win over Abha. FT: Abha 0-8 Al Nassr [Pictures from Roshn Saudi League]

Arsenal

Aaron Ramsdale will consider his Arsenal future this summer and his exit is a possibility. Fabrizio Romano has the full story here.
“Jurrien Timber is not far off, getting closer,” Mikel Arteta has said. “I’d say he’s got a good chance to play this season.”
Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres is on Arsenal's list of striker options for this summer’s transfer window - find out the Gunners’ other targets by clicking here.
Jakub Kiwior’s future will determine if Arsenal sign a defender this summer - Gunners journalist has more here.
Arsenal journalist Charles Watts has a hunch Gunners star will be sold this summer. Find out who here.
Could Arsenal lure Joshua Kimmich away from Bayern Munich?

AS Monaco

AS Monaco technical director Carlos Aviña is on the verge of joining MLS side San Diego FC as their new director. Talks are at advanced stages.

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Benfica

Man United are following Benfica’s João Neves very closely and have scouts continuously monitoring the midfielder. The player has a €120m release clause in his current contract. Man City and Bayern Munich have also had scouts watch the 19-year-old.

Barcelona

Pedri on his recovery from injury: "There’s no specific date for my return, but for now everything is going very well.”
Marcos Alonso will take his time to consider his future after it was decided he would leave Barcelona at the end of the season. More info on this story can be found here.

Bayern Munich

"I still have another year on my contract with Bayern, but I feel very comfortable in Stuttgart,” goalkeeper Alexander Nübel has said about his future. "We'll talk, staying in Stuttgart is definitely a very, very good option. I can say that so openly.”
Could Arsenal lure Joshua Kimmich away from Bayern Munich?

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton have officially announced a profit of £122.8m after tax in their latest set of financial figures.
Brighton CEO Paul Barber has signed a new deal with the Premier League club until June 2030.
“I’m proud to be Brighton coach. I know I am really lucky to work with these players, this club,” Roberto De Zerbi has said amid rumour over his future. “I have a contract at the moment. The focus is on the pitch. I am really relaxed, without problems.”
Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi was never a frontrunner for the Liverpool job. More info can be found in Fabrizio Romano’s latest column.

Chelsea

Alfie Gilchrist has signed a new deal with Chelsea until June 2026 with an option for a further year.
“Signing this contract at Chelsea is a massive achievement for me and my family,” Alfie Gilchrist has said after signing his new deal. “It was a no-brainer and every time I’ve signed a contract here it has felt nicer and nicer. I want to keep on pushing on and keep improving.”
Chelsea could loan Alfie Gilchrist out next season after signing his new deal - Fabrizio Romano has more info here.
Kepa Arrizabalaga will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season and return to Chelsea.
“We just need to let the process develop and give our squad the time to go from being unbelievable individual players with great skills to fold into a team,” Todd Boehly has told Forbes about Chelsea’s project. “We just have to continue to stay the course.”
Jose Mourinho and Thomas Tuchel are not being considered for the Chelsea job. Find out more about the Blues’ manager situation from Ben Jacobs here.
Chelsea are likely to miss out on Napoli’s Victor Osimhen this summer. (Radio Kiss Kiss Napoli)

Everton

Dominic Calvert-Lewin ended his run of 22 games without a goal with a crucial late equaliser to earn Everton a point at Newcastle. FT: Newcastle 1-1 Everton [Pictures from TNT Sports]

Juventus

Juventus’ Giovanni Manna is the main candidate to be the new Director of Football at Napoli starting next season. Contacts have taken place.

Liverpool

There are no negotiations or talks taking place between Jason Wilcox and Liverpool. He has agreed to join Manchester United as their new technical director.
Liverpool are currently working on their final shortlist to replace Jurgen Klopp - Ben Jacobs names some of their targets here.
Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi was never a frontrunner for the Liverpool job. More info can be found in Fabrizio Romano’s latest column.
Liverpool owners FSG are close to appointing Benfica’s technical director Pedro Marques to their football stable. (Liverpool Echo)

Manchester City

Ederson, Kyle Walker and Nathan Aké will miss Manchester City's match with Aston Villa on Wednesday.
“The doctor said that Kyle Walker will not be ready to play against Real Madrid next week,” Pep Guardiola has said. “But, Kyle is Kyle… and he has special genetics. The doctor said it was quite serious. But Kyle is Kyle.”
Man City have not set a price tag for Kalvin Phillips ahead of a potential summer exit. Fabrizio Romano has the latest.
Pep Guardiola has revealed details about his animated exchange with Jack Grealish following Man City’s draw with Arsenal.

Manchester United

Man United’s Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof will be out of action for at least a month. Both have received muscle injuries. The Argentina star has an issue with his calf, while the Swedish defender picked up a hamstring injury against Brentford.
There are no negotiations or talks taking place between Jason Wilcox and Liverpool. He has agreed to join Manchester United as their new technical director.
Man United are following Benfica’s João Neves very closely and have scouts continuously watching the midfielder. The player has a €120m release clause in his current contract.
Man United are prepared to wait for Dan Ashworth. Ben Jacobs has the latest on the sporting director’s situation with the Manchester club.
Leicester City’s Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is attracting interest from Man United. (Ben Jacobs)
Manchester United are ready to part ways with Facundo Pellistri when he returns to Old Trafford from Granada this summer. (The Mirror)

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