🚨 Chelsea STUNNED by Boro in 1st leg defeat, Osimhen's FURIOUS response to agent claim, decision time for Dragusin, Arsenal star set to stay, and more
Today's round-up, featuring Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, and much more!
Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing! Thanks for reading, and enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
AC Milan
After missing out on Radu Dragusin, Milan have turned their attentions to Torino’s Alessandro Buongiorno in their hunt for a new centre-back.
Matija Popovic has been in Milano as AC Milan are closing in on deal to sign the Serbian talent as a free agent. The final details are being sorted and then it will be completed.
Ajax
Ajax are showing concrete interest in signing Jordan Henderson in case he’ll get the green light to leave Al Ettifaq in January transfer window - more details in Fabrizio Romano’s column here.
Al Ettifaq
Ben Jacobs has more exclusive info on the Jordan Henderson situation in his column here, including Bundesliga interest and his reasons for wanting to leave Saudi Arabia.
Arsenal
Ivan Toney would welcome an approach from Arsenal but it looks complicated for January - Ben Jacobs explains why here.
Arsenal are eyeing this bargain Bundesliga star this January.
Aston Villa
Leonardo Spinazzola is not part of Aston Villa’s shortlist for January transfer window despite recent links. Spinazzola is expected to leave Roma but Villa are not working on this deal.
Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich have made a late attempt to hijack the Radu Dragusin deal! More exclusive info from Fabrizio Romano here.
Bayern have added Kevin Danso to their centre-back shortlist. He was already on Bayern’s list last summer but then he signed new deal at Lens.
PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi on Joshua Kimmich links: “I respect FC Bayern and I won’t talk about player from another club. If we’ve an interest in some players, we go and speak directly to the club.”
Benfica
Benfica are advancing in talks to sign Leandro Barreiro as a free agent for next summer. Barreiro is expected to leave Mainz as Benfica are negotiating with Barreiro’s agents. The Portuguese club were already keen on signing Barreiro last year.
Borussia Dortmund
Ian Maatsen has landed in Dortmund as he’s set to complete his move to BVB after agreeing on new deal at Chelsea until 2027. Here’s Maatsen who officially signed for his new agent Ali Barat from Epic Sports.
Borussia Dortmund have agreed deal to sign Italian U16 National team centre back Luca Reggiani. Reggiani will leave Sassuolo as he turned 16 today and he’s set to join BVB with immediate effect. Agreement reached for 2008 born Italian talent.
Brentford
Brentford are completing a deal to sign Turkish talented midfielder Yunus Emre Konak, confirmed and here we go! Medical this week in England for Konak who’s turning 18 tomorrow — deal agreed with Sivasspor, all set to be sealed.
Brighton
Brighton have scheduled medical tests for Valentin Barco, probably for Wednesday. The deal is ready with Boca Juniors, with the player’s $10m release clause set to be triggered. Paperwork time now.
Chelsea
It was a night to forget for Chelsea as they were beaten by Championship side Middlesbrough in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie. FT Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Mauricio Pochettino on the defeat to Middlesbrough: “The approach was good, we were punished for our mistakes. We can understand that fans will be disappointed with that but there is still 90 minutes to play.”
Chelsea have set a £60m asking price for Conor Gallagher - more from Ben Jacobs here.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Robin Koch has signed a new deal today at Eintracht Frankfurt — it will be valid until June 2027.
Everton
Everton are monitoring 2003 born talent Tom Fellows at West Brom over a potential summer move, as he’s out of contract in June. He’s been excellent for WBA this season, also scored first goal in the FA Cup.
Fenerbahce
Leonardo Bonucci to Fenerbahce, here we go! An agreement is in place for termination of the player’s contract at Union Berlin. Bonucci will join Fenerbahce as a free agent on short terms contract valid until June 2024. Bonucci will travel to Istanbul on Wednesday.
Getafe
Could Mason Greenwood play for Manchester United again? Ben Jacobs gives some insight into the thinking inside Old Trafford.
Granada
Granada have sealed deal to sign Martin Hongla on permanent move from Hellas Verona. Fee in the region of €3m. Hongla will travel to Spain soon in order to complete the agreement.
Juventus
Juventus are in talks again today with Tiago Djalo and his representatives to close the final details of the deal. Contract valid until June 2028, agreement already in place with Lille on €3.5m deal plus 10% sell on clause since Saturday.
Leicester City
Leicester City have approached Inter over a deal for Stefano Sensi. Talks are taking place over a permanent move. Sassuolo are not working on Sensi deal, Leicester are interested and negotiations with Inter will continue.
Liverpool
Liverpool confirm Trent Alexander-Arnold hyperextended his knee during the last game. “Trent had a scan and he will be out for a few weeks,” a club statement read.
Manchester United
Could Mason Greenwood play for Manchester United again? Ben Jacobs gives some insight into the thinking inside Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag on possible January loans for Man United: “We consider everything, the best interest of the player and for us, our team. We will see how it progresses during the window.”
Napoli
Victor Osimhen replies to the agent of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who had stated that the Nigerian will head to Saudi Arabia in the summer. “Dear Mamuka Jugeli, you are a piece of filth and a disgrace. I’m embarrassed at your sense of reasoning. Dumb f*ck! KEEP MY NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH!”
Napoli have no plan to sell Matteo Politano despite proposal from Saudi side Al Shabab. New deal at Napoli, very close and set to be signed soon — told it will be valid until 2028, three year plus option. Saudi will remain as option for future years, not now.
PSG
Nasser Al Khelaifi on Kylian Mbappe: “I want Kylian Mbappe to stay at PSG. He’s the best player in the world and the best club for him is PSG. I see Kylian very happy now. I’ve never seen Mbappe being that happy. I’m confident on Mbappe situation as he’s French and he’s in Paris, captain of the national team, PSG vice captain, playing for a top club. I trust Mbappe and I want to protect him. He’s a good guy and he won’t do anything negative against the club.”
Al Khelaifi: “I’m confident on new deal for Warren Zaire-Emery. I want him to become PSG’s Steven Gerrard, I want him to stay here forever. He’s from Paris, loves the club. He’s an excellent player but also top guy, he’s an example.”
Al Khelaifi on Joshua Kimmich links: “I respect FC Bayern and I won’t talk about player from another club. If we’ve an interest in some players, we go and speak directly to the club.”
Real Madrid
Fede Valverde: “It’s really impossible for me to move to Saudi League as of today. No chance. 10, 20 or 30M won’t change my life. I’m at Real Madrid, the best club in the world. I love my life in Madrid, same for my family and so that’s it.”
Rennes
Rennes are closing in on deal to sign Guillermo Maripan from AS Monaco. The agreement is being closed on a permanent move with player expected to travel later this week. Final details being sorted… then here we go.
📰 Nemanja Matic is unhappy at Rennes and wants to return to the Premier League, or he could even retire (L’Equipe)
Servette
Chris Bedia is attracting interest as contract at Servette is due to expire in the summer and he’s top scorer in Switzerland — 28 goals in 2023. Werder Bremen, Bologna and Wolves are all following Bedia’s situation closely.
Tottenham
Timo Werner’s loan move to Tottenham has been made official, with the player expressing his aim to win trophies and Ange Postecoglou’s role in the deal: “I’ve joined a big club, I’m here at Tottenham to win titles … Yes, the manager straight away gave me the feeling that I needed to join the club, and the way the team plays fits me perfectly.”
Genoa are now prepared to accept Djed Spence as part of the Radu Dragusin deal (with €25m fixed fee and €5m add-ons). It would be a loan move until the end of the season.
More details on the Radu Dragusin situation in Fabrizio Romano’s column here.
Two important points to clarify about Bryan Gil’s future. Despite interest from Feyenoord and Fiorentina as they both approached Tottenham, there’s still NO contact on the player’s side. Bryan Gil is 100% focused on Spurs and not close to leaving the club as things stand.
Tottenham are admirers of Conor Gallagher but he could cost as much as £60m in total - details in Ben Jacobs’ column here.
