🚨 Chelsea exit CONFIRMED, world class duo linked with Man City, Arsenal to hold midfielder talks, plus Joao Felix wonder-goal & more
Today's round-up, featuring Chelsea, Arsenal, City, Barcelona, and much more!
Good morning everyone! Welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
Plus more from Arsenal, Liverpool & Man United
Arsenal
Charlie Patino is yet to hold talks over a new Arsenal contract and could leave this summer - latest details in Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive column.
Mikel Arteta on Gabriel Jesus playing with pain: “I can say that Gabriel had exactly the mindset that you would ask of him. I could see in his eyes that he was ready to make an impact. He loves the competition and he was tremendous.”
Barcelona
Joao Felix with a beautiful overhead kick as Barcelona beat Cadiz! FT Cadiz 0-1 Barcelona [Pictures from Premier Sports]
Ronald Araujo’s Barcelona future still hasn’t been resolved - latest info in Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive column.
Could Xavi reverse his decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the season?
Xavi: “I believe in Vitor Roque, he can help us a lot and he will have the chance to get minutes today. He needs to understand our positional game, but he goes very well into the space and we should use that skill.”
Xavi: “The real Raphinha is the one we saw in Paris. He’s intense, finds the space, creating chances...He’s one of the best players in the world when it’s the moment to attack the space.”
Xavi: “Pau Cubarsi will mark an era at the club. He’s a crucial player for us and he’s 17! He looks older for the way he plays. I’m really proud to see the team competing like this.”
Barnsley
Fabio Jalo has scored his first goal of the season in the league for Barnsley, as 18 year old talent is being scouted by several clubs. Premier League and Serie A clubs like Fabio, with a bid from Italian side Lecce rejected last summer.
Bayern Munich
What’s the truth about Jamal Musiala’s future as he’s linked with Manchester City? Fabrizio Romano with all you need to know in his exclusive column.
Three names remain in the frame for the Bayern job, but there’s one favourite at the moment - full details here in Fabrizio Romano’s column.
Dayot Upamecano on his future at Bayern: “My contract runs until 2026. Until 2026! There's nothing more to say.”
Bad luck again for Kingsley Coman as he’s injured again and set to miss the second leg against Arsenal. Bayern confirm Coman has sustained a muscle injury in his right adductor. “Coman will be sidelined for several weeks,” a club statement said. The expectation is that he won’t play for Bayern again this season but could return to represent France at the Euros this summer.
Bayern do, however, expect both Leroy Sane and Manuel Neuer to be back against Arsenal next week. “We didn’t want to take risks today,” Thomas Tuchel confirmed.
Besiktas
Besiktas have fired their manager Fernando Santos just three months after he signed in as new head coach. The former Portugal and Poland coach is now out.
Bournemouth
What a goal by Dominic Solanke, who continues his superb scoring form this season! Should he be in the England squad for Euro 2024? FT Bournemouth 2-2 Manchester United [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Chelsea
Lewis Hall’s Chelsea exit looks to have been finalised - more info here from Fabrizio Romano’s column.
Todd Boehly: “Chelsea will comply with Premier League Financial Fair Play rules for the foreseeable future.”
Inter Milan
Alessandro Bastoni: “I see my future at Inter. The emotions I’m feeling at the club are really special, I see the fans every time we go to the stadium… so at the moment I see my future there. I’d like to be the captain one day.”
Juventus
Alex Sandro: “It will be difficult to say goodbye to Juventus, I love this club and I spent great time here”. The Brazilian left-back is out of contract with Juve in June and set to leave the club as a free agent.
Adrien Rabiot on his Juventus contract being due to expire in June: “I’m not discussing a new deal with Juve yet. My target is to bring Juve into Champions League again. If we get UCL spot, we will see and talk. Even if I won’t be here next season, my desire is to see Juventus playing UCL again.”
Lazio
Lazio president Claudio Lotito: “Luis Alberto wants to leave as free agent and terminate the contract but he recently signed a new four year deal. I’m not crazy, if he wants to leave Lazio he has to bring a proposal to sign him. We’re not wasting our money.”
Liverpool
Could Ruben Amorim bring Goncalo Inacio to Liverpool with him from Sporting Lisbon this summer? Fabrizio Romano takes a look in his exclusive column.
Manchester City
Lucas Paqueta to Manchester City could be one to watch again this summer, but there’s a key detail that needs to be resolved first, says Fabrizio Romano.
Jamal Musiala transfer rumours over a move to Man City have also been circulating, but what’s the truth? Fabrizio Romano has the answers in his exclusive column.
Pep Guardiola: “We're really pleased with Grealish, we miss him. He has to continue until the end. That level is the Jack we know, the personality. He has to improve some departments, finishing for example. But this is the Jack we know from last season, that helps us.”
Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes scored twice against Bournemouth, including this well-taken close-range finish to make it 1-1 in the first half. FT Bournemouth 2-2 Manchester United [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Erik ten Hag: “We have a team that is resilient, has character, we want to win. Twice we fought back from losing position. You see with every opponent there is that desire to beat us. Every match they went to their limits. We have to show resistance, control it, dominate it.”
WATCH Erik ten Hag as he stormed out of his press conference!
Is it the manager or the players to blame for Manchester United’s struggles? Fabrizio Romano offers his analysis in his exclusive column here.
Newcastle United
Alexander Isak was on fire for Newcastle yesterday as they thrashed Tottenham! That’s now 21 goals for the season for the Sweden international. FT Newcastle 4-0 Tottenham [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Done deal for Newcastle! Details in Fabrizio Romano’s column.
RB Leipzig
Benjamin Sesko scored again yesterday and it’s 13 goals for him so far this season - in only 13 starts in Bundesliga for RB Leipzig. Scouts from several big clubs have again been in attendance to monitor Sesko.
Rennes
What a superb solo effort this was by Rennes wonderkid Desire Doue, still just 18 years of age! FT Rennes 1-2 Toulouse [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Tottenham
Postecoglou: “Son is world class. I'm sure he will go down as one of the greats of the Premier League when he's done. He’s a superstar. There is still more to come from him. To do what he’s doing, PL numbers, travelling to the other side of the world for Korea. Respect.”
Postecoglou: “Pape Sarr has super energy. He’s a really exciting footballer, one of these midfielders you need these days. He’s very dynamic, he covers the ground really well, defensively and offensively. He’s another one who I feel there is so much more growth in.”
West Ham United
Lucas Paqueta to Manchester City could be one to watch again this summer, but there’s a key detail that needs to be resolved first, says Fabrizio Romano.
Could this West Ham manager target now be available?
And could Jose Mourinho to West Ham even be a realistic possibility as well?