🚨 CHAOS in Turkish Cup final, Kobbie Mainoo scores stunner vs Liverpool, Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal latest, Ruben Amorim update, & more
Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy!
Today’s top stories:
Al Ittihad
Karim Benzema could have concrete chances to leave Al Ittihad this summer, but where could he move to next?
Arsenal
Arsenal will make an important signing up front this summer, but how advanced are things with Viktor Gyokeres? Fabrizio Romano discusses the latest in his exclusive column.
Mikayil Faye has been linked with Arsenal, but has his Barcelona future been decided just yet? Fabrizio Romano has the latest info in his exclusive column.
Mikel Arteta on Ben White: “Credit to him. Ben’s always willing to learn, to train, to play in any circumstances, when he’s feeling good, when he’s not feeling that good. He’s open-minded, he has the desire to win and that’s what he made the difference in.”
Atletico Madrid
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo: “Joao Felix wants to stay at Barca, it’s normal. Barcelona wants him and he wants it. He’s a magnificent, great player. He’s fit in well. I don’t know how much Atleti would get at this stage in terms of amount of money.”
There is no change of plans as things stand between Mario Hermoso and Atletico Madrid. There’s no agreement over a new deal as he’s expected to leave the club as a free agent. However, there are currently no talks ongoing with Inter or Juventus despite recent links.
Barcelona
Mikayil Faye has been linked with Arsenal, but has his Barcelona future been decided just yet? Fabrizio Romano has the latest info in his exclusive column.
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo: “Joao Felix wants to stay at Barca, it’s normal. Barcelona wants him and he wants it. He’s a magnificent, great player. He’s fit in well. I don’t know how much Atleti would get at this stage in terms of amount of money.”
Amadou Onana to Barcelona transfer deal is currently expected to cost around £50m, according to reports…
📰 Brighton won’t sign Ansu Fati permanently, but the Barcelona youngster could have interest from Wolves, Valencia and Sevilla (Sport)
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Bayern Munich
Bayern director Max Eberl: “I don’t give a sh*t about the search for a coach. Now it’s all about the Arsenal game. We’ll face a team that – with all respect to Heidenheim – is a class above them. We have to make a proper turnaround so that we don’t get a slap to the face.”
Bologna
Thiago Motta has been linked with the Juventus job as it also looks increasingly like Massimiliano Allegri will step down at the end of the season. More info from Fabrizio Romano here on on what it all means.
Chelsea
Noni Madueke scored a sublime effort but it wasn’t enough to give Chelsea the win against Sheffield United. FT Sheffield United 2-2 Chelsea [Pictures from Viaplay Sports]
Mauricio Pochettino: “The draw today is fair result, it’s correct. This is a new team and we are learning. The process always takes time. It's not a magic thing. It's a project, a three or five year process to build a team.”
Pochettino: “At 52, you identify really quickly whether the team is ready to compete or not. Maybe this group is not mature enough to compete in games every three days. It's a new team and we are still learning about their profiles. The process always takes time.”
Chelsea are among the clubs to have sent their scouts to follow Franco Mastantuono at River Plate. His new release clause is €45m, and there’s also interest from the likes of Real Madrid, who plan to scout him again in the near future.
Galatasaray
It was absolute chaos in the Turkish Cup final as Galatasaray scored through Mauro Icardi in the first minute, before Fenerbahce ordered their players (an Under-19 side) to leave the pitch! This was a protest against alleged unfair treatment from referees in the Turkish league this season. The trophy was awarded to Galatasaray.
Fenerbahce president Yildirim Ali Koc later said in a statement: “Our rebellion today, our stance in the Super Cup, is not only about the date of the match or what happened in the last away match. It is time for a ‘reset’ for Turkish football. We are in a period when the swamp must be drained and Turkish football must rebuild itself. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. I hope that the justified rebellions of our club and the actions we decided to take out of necessity will ignite the cleansing process that needs to be done.”
Juventus
Thiago Motta has been linked with the Juventus job as it also looks increasingly like Massimiliano Allegri will step down at the end of the season. More info from Fabrizio Romano here on on what it all means.
Liverpool
Liverpool will feel they could have won this, but they managed this late equaliser from the penalty spot to rescue a point. FT Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool [Pictures from Sky Sports]
That’s now 23 goals and 13 assists this season in all competitions for Mohamed Salah, while he’s also become the first visiting player to score in four consecutive Premier League away games at Manchester United.
Fabrizio Romano’s thoughts on Liverpool’s draw with Man United and one particular performance that impressed him.
Liverpool remain the most concrete name in the running to hire Ruben Amorim, but could the Sporting Lisbon manager have other suitors soon?
Jurgen Klopp: “For all the time I was the coach here at Liverpool, I don’t think we dominated United like we did in these two games. But unfortunately, we didn’t get the result we wanted. Arsenal is a good football team. If Man United play like they did today, Arsenal will win the game. I am 100% sure of that.”
Manchester City
Kalvin Phillips making his West Ham transfer permanent is currently looking unlikely, so where next for the on-loan Man City midfielder? Fabrizio Romano takes a look in his exclusive column.
Manchester City have opened an academy with this Italian club…
Manchester United
What a goal by Kobbie Mainoo in such a big game - what a talent this kid is! FT Manchester United 2-2 Liverpool [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Kobbie Mainoo has been singled out for praise after his superb performance against Liverpool.
Erik ten Hag on naming Harry Amass and Habeeb Ogunneye in the Man United squad: “It’s about the Busby Babes, it’s about the Class of 92, and we also are in this project to add another point of history too.”
Could Manchester United sign this £50m Premier League star this summer?
📰 Anthony Martial could be a summer transfer target for Inter Milan (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Napoli
One of the goals of the season in Serie A here from Matteo Politano - what a hit! FT Monza 2-4 Napoli [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Nottingham Forest
Chris Wood continued his recent hot streak in front of goal to give Tottenham a real worry yesterday. FT Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Real Madrid
Real Madrid have sent their scouts to follow Franco Mastantuono several times and there’s a plan to do the same again in the near future. The River Plate wonderkid is also being monitored by scouts of several clubs like PSG and Chelsea. His new release clause is €45m.
Sheffield United
What drama as Sheffield United scored this equaliser right at the death against Chelsea! FT Sheffield United 2-2 Chelsea [Pictures from X/Sheffield United]
Sporting Lisbon
Sporting boss Ruben Amorim has a €20m release clause for clubs from abroad, €30m for clubs in Portugal. However, there is also a verbal agreement for him to leave for €10m in case he receives a proposal from a top club.
Liverpool remain the most concrete name in the running to hire Ruben Amorim, but could the Sporting Lisbon manager have other suitors soon?
Tottenham
What a finish this was by Pedro Porro as Tottenham eventually beat Nottingham Forest. FT Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Ange Postecoglou: “Micky van de Ven has a real ambition and determination to be the best he can. It's a credit to him. We're not going to be the ones who put a limit on him and he wouldn't let us either.”
West Ham United
Kalvin Phillips making his West Ham transfer permanent is currently looking unlikely, so where next for the on-loan Man City midfielder? Fabrizio Romano takes a look in his exclusive column.
Mainoo is an incredible talent, but I agree with Klopp - Arsenal are going to beat United, probably quite comfortably