🚨 Real Madrid make CONTACT over Haaland, Guehi to Liverpool latest, Gerrard close to management return, Mbappe golazo, & more
Today's round-up, featuring a stunning exclusive on Erling Haaland and Real Madrid!
Good morning folks! Welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - your essential round-up of the biggest football headlines and news clips, delivered ad-free and straight to your inbox. Thanks for reading, and enjoy :-)
Today’s top stories:
Real Madrid have made contact with Erling Haaland
Steven Gerrard is close to a return to management
Plus latest from Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea & more
World Cup qualifiers round-up
What a stunning solo goal this was by Kylian Mbappe - he’s on fire at the moment and continued that form for France in their victory last night. FT France 3-0 Azerbaijan [Pictures from UEFA]
World Cup qualifiers scores in full
France 3-0 Azerbaijan
Germany 4-0 Luxembourg
Northern Ireland 2-0 Slovakia
Iceland 3-5 Ukraine
Kosovo 0-0 Slovenia
Sweden 0-2 Switzerland
Kazakhstan 4-0 Liechtenstein
Belgium 0-0 North Macedonia
Arsenal
Do Arsenal have a secret weapon that their fans don’t even know about, and is that another clue as to why Mohamed Salah is struggling for Liverpool? Read the full analysis here.
Arsenal could have the edge over Tottenham in the race to sign in-form Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo - find out why here!
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich like Murillo and Marc Guehi as centre-back options, but it will depend on whether or not Dayot Upamecano signs a new contract at the Allianz Arena. (Christian Falk, CF Bayern Insider)
Bournemouth
Bournemouth sporting director Tiago Pinto says he wants Andoni Iraola’s contract sorted soon and that he doesn’t fear his departure: “Our first option is Andoni. Our second option is Andoni. Our third option is Andoni. That’s our succession plan.” (Ben Jacobs, Give Me Sport)
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Chelsea
Chelsea remain keen on signing Mike Maignan but it now looks like they’ll face competition from Juventus for the AC Milan goalkeeper as he’s set to become a free agent next summer. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Chelsea striker Marc Guiu is frustrated with life under Enzo Maresca and wants the chance to return to Sunderland. (Give Me Sport)
Inter Miami
Inter Miami are eyeing up an ambitious move to sign Neymar so they can reunite him with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. (Daily Mail)
Juventus
Juventus are the latest club to eye up Mike Maignan as the AC Milan goalkeeper and Chelsea target approaches the end of his contract at the San Siro. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
Liverpool
Castello Lukeba is another Liverpool CB target, but the RB Leipzig star is also on the radar of top clubs such as Chelsea and Real Madrid. (Mark Brus, the Daily Briefing)
Liverpool remain relaxed over their centre-back situation as they continue to target Marc Guehi and also consider Dayot Upamecano for that position. (Florian Plettenberg)
Marc Guehi is also a target for Bayern Munich and Tottenham, even if Liverpool got very far along with their deal for him in the summer. (Christian Falk, CF Bayern Insider)
Adam Wharton is wanted by Liverpool but is not expected to be sold by Crystal Palace in the January transfer window. (Football Insider)
Do Arsenal have a secret weapon that their fans don’t even know about, and is that another clue as to why Mohamed Salah is struggling for Liverpool? Read the full analysis here.
Lyon
Malick Fofana’s agent: “If he succeeds, he can move from Lyon to a top 10 club. At Roc Nation, we strongly believe in him. Liverpool, Bayern, Manchester City, those are the clubs where he belongs.”
Manchester City
Erling Haaland is wanted by Real Madrid but Manchester City insist they don’t want to sell and the player is also not looking to leave. (Mark Brus, the Daily Briefing)
Manchester United
Manchester United want Adam Wharton but there is a long list of clubs chasing the Crystal Palace midfielder, and he’s unlikely to move in January. (Football Insider)
Joshua Zirkzee has already started talks over leaving Manchester United this January. (Graeme Bailey, TBR Football)
Bruno Fernandes: “I didn’t close the door to move to Saudi because of the World Cup — that was never on my mind. I just wanted to stay at the club, and the club wanted me to stay. That’s all.”
Senne Lammens: “Moving to Man United was my dream since day zero. We have everything to win titles here. There’s no excuses. It’s a step up from Antwerp, when I came here the first time it was eye opening.”
Porto
Porto president Andre Villas-Boas: “Al Ittihad offered €50m for Rodrigo Mora… then they promised to offer €63m but that proposal never arrived. We agreed to let Rodrigo leave only for €70m but Al Ittihad disappeared. It happened again after summer 2024.” (A Bola)
Rangers
Rangers are closing in on a full agreement to bring back Steven Gerrard as manager to replace Russell Martin. (Alex Crook, talkSPORT)
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Real Madrid
Erling Haaland is wanted by Real Madrid but Manchester City insist they don’t want to sell and the player is also not looking to leave. (Mark Brus, the Daily Briefing)
But could Erling Haaland replace Vinicius Junior if he seals a world-record transfer to the Saudi Pro League? More info here.
Vinicius: “Carlo Ancelotti was the coach who gave me the most confidence and the one I played best with. The progress under him is evident. We want to continue like this to have a great World Cup.”
Franco Mastantuono has suffered a muscle strain and will return to Madrid after being assessed by the Argentina national team staff. (Fabrizio Romano)
Gonzalo Garcia on his decision to sign new deal: “My only option has always been to stay at Real Madrid. It’s the best club in the world. The competition is at its peak, but for me, it’s a dream to be in the first team. I do not regret staying.” (Cadena SER)
Tottenham
Tottenham are closely monitoring Brentford winger Kevin Schade. The 23-year-old is under contract with Brentford until 2028, and Spurs have him on their list as a potential transfer target for summer 2026. (Florian Plettenberg)
Tottenham and Italy full-back Destiny Udogie has signed up with Elite Project Group to be his new representatives. (Fabrizio Romano)