🚨22-year-old shines for Man United, Kylian Mbappé shock, key Real Madrid star close to return, and much more

Plus all of the other stories making the news in the world of football...

the Daily Briefing

Nov 08, 2024

Welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing! Thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy :-)

Today’s top stories:

AC Milan

AC Milan and Tijjani Reijnders are progressing in talks over a new contract. He is viewed as a key part of the Serie A club’s project having featured 13 times this season.

Arsenal

Arsenal are still monitoring the progress of Benjamin Sesko at RB Leipzig as Mikel Arteta is keen to add a striker to his squad in 2025. [The Daily Mail]
The Gunners have also been linked with a move for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak after the Sweden international scored the winner against the North London club last weekend. [Football Insider]

Barcelona

“Since day one at Barcelona, I keep saying that Jules Koundé is an excellent player,” Barca coach Hansi Flick said about the French defender following his hat-trick of assists in their Champions League match with Crvena Zvezda. “Once again, you can see how good he is.”
Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi required 10 stitches to close a cut on his face after the youngster was forced off in the 67th minute of Barcelona's 5-2 Champions League win at Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday.

Champions League

The UEFA Champions League Team of the Week for matchday four:

Chelsea

Summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo scored his first goal for Chelsea to open the scoring in the Blues’ UEFA Europa Conference League clash with Noah. FT: Chelsea 8-0 Noah. [Pictures by TNT Sports]
Enzo Fernández would produce three assists within the opening 21 minutes of Chelsea’s match with Noah on a night the World Cup winner captained the West London club.
Benoit Badiashile has spoken about his Chelsea future as the defender has only played 37 minutes in the Premier League this season: “Of course, I want to stay. Chelsea is a big club. I know it's difficult to succeed here. But I will do my best”.
Chelsea have reportedly made contact to sign Bayer Leverkusen talent Florian Wirtz. [Fichajes]

Europa League

Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 Slavia Praha: Eintracht Frankfurt continued their impressive start to the season with another win as Omar Marmoush scored once again to help the Bundesliga club into the automatic qualification places.

Ludogorets 1-2 Athletic Club: The Spanish side needed to come from a goal behind in this clash after conceding with 20 minutes on the clock. However, two goals in two minutes would win the match for Athletic Club with Inaki Williams and Nicolas Serrano getting on the scoresheet.

Union Saint-Gilloise 1-1 AS Roma: Roma’s poor start to the season continued on Thursday night in Belgium as a goal from Kevin Mac Allister cancelled out an earlier strike from Gianluca Mancini.

FC Viktoria Plzeň 2-1 Real Sociedad: There was a shock in the Czech Republic as Plzen defeated Real Sociedad to secure their second Europa League win this season. Daniel Vasulin scored the winner in the 89th minute to secure all three points.

Lazio 2-1 FC Porto: Lazio left it late in Rome to overcome Porto on Thursday night as Marco Baroni’s team needed a late goal from Pedro to secure the win.

Hoffenheim 2-2 Lyon: A Europa League thriller played out in Germany on Thursday night as Hoffenheim and Lyon traded blows. Alexandre Lacazette thought he won the match for his team after scoring a 93rd-minute goal, but only for Umut Tohumcu to find an equaliser two minutes later.

Europa Conference League

Real Betis 2-1 NK Celje: Real Betis secured their first win in the Europa Conference League this season after a late goal from Juami secured all three points in the 94th minute against Celje.

Hearts 0-2 Heidenheim: two second-half goals from Sirford Conteh and Jan Schoppner in Scotland helped Heidenheim remain perfect in the Europa Conference League this season.

Apoel 2-1 Fiorentina: there was a shock in Cyprus on Thursday night as Apoel secured a big win over Serie A side Fiorentina. The Cypriot team would storm into a 2-0 lead in the first half and were able to hold out in the second despite a goal from Nanitamo Ikone.

Shamrock Rovers 2-1 The New Saints: Shamrock Rovers’ impressive start to their Europa Conference League campaign continued on Thursday as the Irish team secured their second win of the competition with goals from Johnny Kenny and Dylan Watts helping to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

France

Kylian Mbappé has been left out of France's squad for their UEFA Nations League games against Italy and Israel.
“I had discussions with Kylian and made my decision. It’s better this way,” Didier Deschamps told the press after leaving Kylian Mbappé out of his squad. “Mbappé wanted to come with us, it’s not because of any other problem.”

Galatasaray

Yunus Akgun scored a stunning goal to give Galatasaray the lead against Tottenham in their UEFA Europa League clash. FT: Galatasaray 3-2 Tottenham. [Pictures by TNT Sports]

Victor Osimhen scored a brace within eight minutes to give Galatasaray a 3-1 lead over Tottenham. The goal proved to be the winner of the contest. FT: Galatasaray 3-2 Tottenham. [Pictures by TNT Sports]

Inter Milan

Inter and Yann Bisseck’s camp are set to complete the final details of a new deal, despite the defender having a contract with the Italian club until 2028. One more meeting is scheduled to get the deal over the line, which will see Bisseck sign a new contract for the next five years at the San Siro, which includes a salary rise as part of the agreement.

Liverpool

Liverpool are one of several clubs that have enquired about the availability of Sporting CP’s 17-year-old talent Geovany Quenda. [TBR Football]
Liverpool are ready to open contract talks with left-back Andy Robertson. [Football Insider]

Manchester City

Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci is an option for Manchester City in January as the Premier League champions look to replace the injured Rodri. [L’Equipe]

Manchester United

Amad Diallo completed his brace with a stunning strike as the winger guided Man United to a much-needed win over PAOK in the UEFA Europa Lague. FT: Man United 2-0 PAOK. [Pictures by TNT Sports]

“I like to celebrate with the fans and give them joy. I’m happy to score again,” Amad Diallo told the media after scoring a brace for Man United in the Europa League. “I’m here to do my best for Man United.”
Amad Diallo also addressed the arrival of Ruben Amorim after the PAOK match as the Portuguese coach is set to become the new Man United manager during the international break: “I can’t wait to work with him! I’m very happy to have Amorim as our new coach.”
Andre Onana has admitted that he and the rest of the Man United team are hopeful Ruud van Nistelrooy will stay at the club when Ruben Amorim arrives. [Pictures by TNT Sports]

“It’s a big moment for him, that first time being back in team training,” Man United interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy said about the return of summer signing Leny Yoro from injury. “We’re going to get him back partially over the coming weeks and look to get him on board as quickly as possible.”
Man United remain interested in Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and continue to monitor the England talent ahead of the January transfer window. [The Daily Mail]

Real Madrid

David Alaba is closing in on a return to action for Real Madrid as the Austrian star has started working with a ball on the training pitch.
Florentino Perez will run for president of Real Madrid again in 2025 despite holding the role for 21 of the last 24 years. [SPORT]

Saudi Pro League

Former Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim will become the new Al Ain manager this week with the 50-year-old set to sign a contract until June 2025.

Tottenham

Will Lankshear scored his first senior goal for Tottenham during Spurs’ Europa League clash with Galatasaray in Turkey on Thursday night. FT: Galatasaray 3-2 Tottenham. [Pictures by TNT Sports]

However, Will Lankshear’s memorable night would end in horror as the 19-year-old was sent off after picking up two yellow cards just before the hour mark. FT: Galatasaray 3-2 Tottenham. [Pictures by TNT Sports]

Tottenham have been monitoring Rayo Vallecano’s Andrei Ratiu ahead of the 2025 transfer windows. [CaughtOffside]