🚨 Arsenal deal IMMINENT, Man Utd star's Saudi links, Liverpool horror-show, Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid latest, plus what next for Chelsea?
Today's football headlines, featuring Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd and much more!
Good morning! Welcome to the Daily Briefing for your essential Monday morning round-up - hope you enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
AC Milan
Arsenal
Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal an early lead over Liverpool as they earned a hugely important win in the title race. FT Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Mikel Arteta: “Gabriel Jesus injury is not serious, he’s expected to be back in some days. Zinchenko? Too early to say.”
Jorginho got player of the match against Liverpool, but how close was he to leaving in January? Fabrizio Romano has the info in his exclusive column here.
Plus this Arsenal star is close to signing a new deal - an announcement is imminent!
📰 Martin Zubimendi is on Arsenal’s radar as Thomas Partey is expected to leave this summer (Mirror)
Atletico Madrid
Marcos Llorente netted this dramatic stoppage time equaliser against Real Madrid in last night’s derby! FT Real Madrid 1-1 Atletico Madrid [Pictures from ViaPlay Sports]
Bayern Munich
Borussia Dortmund
BVB director Sebastian Kehl: “Buy option clause for Jadon Sancho or Ian Maatsen was not realistic. We naturally advocated for an option with Sancho and Maatsen but the negotiating position was not such that we could implement it... and so we will accept it for now.”
Chelsea
Disaster for Chelsea as they lost 4-2 at home to Wolves, with Moises Caicedo giving the ball away for the Wolves equaliser and then spotted smashing his seat in frustration when he was subbed off by Mauricio Pochettino!
Mauricio Pochettino on the result: “We are disappointed but we need to fight all together. I want to apologise to the fans. It was a tough afternoon for everyone - for the players, for us, for fans. We made some mistakes that you can’t afford to do in the Premier League. Very disappointed.”
Pochettino on Mykhaylo Mudryk not playing: “Now he is on the bench. It’s about the form – if you keep your form and you are the best during every training session. It’s about meritocracy, He has amazing quality and potential, but it’s team game, it’s not tennis.”
Nordi Mukiele was linked with the Blues in January, so what happened? Fabrizio Romano has the answers in his column here.
This player will be back at Chelsea next season, according to Matteo Moretto.
Inter Milan
Lautaro Martinez on new Inter deal: “No update yet. We are in talks and working to agree on new deal. We are on the right track, I’m very happy at Inter so there’s nothing to worry about… we just have to talk and reach the agreement.”
Inter CEO Beppe Marotta: “Zielinski has the perfect skills to be part of our squad. We are exploring options like Zielinski who’s out of contract with Napoli until June — if we can make it happen, we will be happy. Otherwise he’ll go elsewhere.”
Juventus
Juventus may have lost last night, but what an incredible save this was by Wojciech Szczesny to keep the score at 1-0! FT Inter Milan 1-0 Juventus [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Southampton director Jason Wilcox on Carlos Alcaraz on loan to Juve: “This is the right move for Charly at this time. This move will allow Charly the chance to flourish in huge club as Juventus and top league… and then come back and be a success at Southampton.”
Liverpool
What an error this was by Alisson and Virgil van Dijk to gift Gabriel Martinelli the goal to put Arsenal 2-1 up! FT Arsenal 3-1 Liverpool [Pictures courtesy of Sky Sports]
Virgil van Dijk on the mistake: “I will work hard. I will be back. There is no doubt about that. I will make sure these things don’t happen anymore.”
Jamie Carragher had some advice for Van Dijk after watching that goal back!
Jurgen Klopp: “A lot of things went against us. This referee gave me red card against City for wrestling situation - Bernardo and Salah. Today same with Jota that didn’t get a red card. Unbelievable. Holding by Havertz on Konate… Gabriel did same with Nunez, no yellow card.”
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola on Erling Haaland Real Madrid accelerating new contract talks: “I don’t know, not involved in that. We love him, we want him for a long time at this club. We are happy to have him, hopefully he’s happy to be with us — this I know.”
Manchester United
Alejandro Garnacho had a great game as Manchester United swept past West Ham at Old Trafford. FT Man Utd 3-0 West Ham [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Erik ten Hag: “You can see how Hojlund is improving. We trust him. He gets angry, mad when he’s not scoring but also that's why we selected him. He has the resilience and the calmness, and to perform under that stress. He hasn’t had any moment when he wanted to give up.”
Ten Hag on United’s young players: “The future for Manchester United is very good because we have high potentials. Look at that picture, how they are together and want to play football with adventure and enjoyment.”
Rasmus Hojlund: “I remember just a month ago, there was a lot of talk about me and Garnacho not scoring enough goals…But we are both young, just growing every day. You can see the connection between us already now!”
Stat: Hojlund set an impressive record as his fine form continues!
Ten Hag on Varane out and Maguire in: “First of all, Harry was doing very well but picked up an injury — Raphael is also doing very well, but a third game in. We didn’t want to change too much, it’s up to Harry to show his contribution but we’re confident that he will.”
Ten Hag on the new Lisandro Martinez injury. “It seems bad… now we can only pray. We wait for the tests but we are really sad. It looks like he has to sit some games out injured again.”
Manchester United have held talks with two managers amid some doubts over Erik ten Hag’s future…
Did Bruno Fernandes really reject an approach from a Saudi club in January? Fabrizio Romano has the details in his column here.
Plus why did Man Utd let this youngster go and how have they secured some control over his future?
Napoli
What a stunning strike by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - he looks back to his best! FT Napoli 2-1 Hellas Verona [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Inter CEO Beppe Marotta: “Zielinski has the perfect skills to be part of our squad. We are exploring options like Zielinski who’s out of contract with Napoli until June — if we can make it happen, we will be happy. Otherwise he’ll go elsewhere.”
PSG
Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid soon? Matteo Moretto has the latest info in his exclusive column here.
Could this PSG star have ended up moving to the Premier League?
Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid soon? Matteo Moretto has the latest info in his exclusive column here.
Real Madrid have decided NOT to keep this player for next season.
Southampton
Southampton director Jason Wilcox on Carlos Alcaraz on loan to Juve: “This is the right move for Charly at this time. This move will allow Charly the chance to flourish in huge club as Juventus and top league… and then come back and be a success at Southampton.”
Tottenham
Ange Postecoglou on Lucas Bergvall: “He’s a very talented young man. He’s already had a really positive start to his career and we feel like this club will be good for him and he will be good for us. I’m looking forward to having him as part of the group.”
Was money the key for Spurs beating Barca to Bergvall? Details here from Matteo Moretto.
Real Sociedad asked for Bryan Gil on loan during the January transfer window. He was one of the targets, but despite secret talks with Spurs conditions of the deal were not in Real parameters. Gil turned down Feyenoord and Brighton proposals in the final week.
Wolves
What a win this was for Wolves yesterday, with Matheus Cunha on fire to hit a hat-trick away to Chelsea! FT Chelsea 2-4 Wolves [Pictures from Wolves TV]
