🚨 Emerson Palmieri GOLAZO, doubts over Man Utd star's future, Alphonso Davies favours Real over Barca, Chelsea manager latest, three Arsenal targets & more
Today's round-up, featuring Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and much more!
Good morning! Welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing, brought to you ad-free and straight to your inbox as always. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
Plus more from Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid
Arsenal
Kenan Yildiz to Arsenal? Reports in Italy have an intriguing update…
Amadou Onana is also on Arsenal’s radar, and they lead these two other clubs in the race for his signature…
The Gunners could also be interested in the transfer of Mikayil Faye, according to reports in Spain.
Barcelona
Barcelona have not made any proposal to Alphonso Davies so far, with Real Madrid emerging as the Bayern left-back’s preferred destination since back in October. Bayern’s position is that Davies has to sign a new deal by June or he will be sold.
Bayer Leverkusen
Pep Guardiola on Xabi Alonso: “Wow! The job he’s doing, fantastic. The only team unbeaten, fighting with Bayern. Now it’s the most important part of the season. They cannot win the Bundesliga, they can lose it… because everybody thinks it’s done!”
Bayern Munich
Mathys Tel’s agent Gadiri Camara met with Bayern director Christoph Freund yesterday. The meeting was very positive - the club have confirmed their plan to keep Tel and include him in the future project. A new deal could also be a topic as Bayern don’t want Tel to leave.
Real Madrid has been, and remains, Alphonso Davies’ preferred destination since October - but Bayern’s asking price will be key part of the story. Bayern’s position is that he must sign a new deal by June or he will be sold. There are no issues between Davies and Real on personal terms.
If Davies does leave, AC Milan left-back Theo Hernandez could be one to watch as a target for Bayern in that position.
Official: former RB Leipzig director Max Eberl has been appointed new FC Bayern board member, on a contract until 2027. “I spent my entire childhood and youth at FC Bayern and in Munich, so it is special for me to now return to the club where it all began in a new role.”
Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino: “I remember after three or four years, Liverpool lost the Champions League, lost the Europa League, and they believe in the project and in the next season were stronger until they got what they wanted. That is a good example, Liverpool... if we want to challenge a team like Liverpool, it’s not to be frustrated today because we didn’t get the trophy. It’s about to take the example to keep believing, that is the most important thing.”
Could these four Chelsea transfer deals get the club firing again?
The next four games could be crucial for Pochettino, according to Ben Jacobs…
Ruben Amorim has been linked with the Chelsea job, and he looks a man in demand ahead of the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
📰 The futures of Conor Gallagher, Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah and Armando Broja are all in doubt this summer (Telegraph)
Everton
Official: Everton’s points deduction has been reduced to from ten to six points, a Premier League statement has confirmed.
Girona
A well-worked goal by Savio here for Girona - remember, he’ll be joining Manchester City in the summer! FT Girona 3-0 Rayo Vallecano [Pictures from ViaPlay Sports]
Juventus
Federico Chiesa has been linked with Liverpool, but his agent has also had important talks with Juventus.
Zinedine Zidane to Juve in the future? He’s dropped a possible hint…
Lazio
Luis Alberto finished this lovely team move by Lazio, though it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat to Fiorentina. FT Fiorentina 2-1 Lazio [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Still, the Lazio star was NOT happy when he spoke after the game…
Liverpool
What’s the latest progress on the Xabi Alonso to Liverpool saga? Fabrizio Romano provides his exclusive insight here.
Ibrahima Konate on his Liverpool future - a very clear message from the Reds defender!
Jurgen Klopp: “I’m pretty sure that Wataru Endo will sign another long term contract at Liverpool. He might be 31 on the passport but... he’s a machine!”
Manchester City
Alan Varela to Manchester City? Fabrizio Romano exclusively reveals plenty of clubs have been scouting the €70m star.
Oscar Bobb has signed a new long term deal at Manchester City valid until June 2029, done and sealed. City rejected a loan bid from Lazio in the final 24 hours of the 2023 summer window as they trusted Bobb for their first-team.
On his new contract, Bobb said: “I’m very proud to be here. It’s the best possible place to be for a young player - I have already learnt so much from Pep, his coaching staff and my team-mates.”
Txiki Begiristain on Oscar Bobb: “Oscar is blessed with superb natural talent and technique, he’s now very important member of the squad. We trust him for present and future.”
Pep Guardiola on Kevin de Bruyne being linked with Saudi move: “It’s a question for him. I’d love that he stays, but I don’t know... I don’t know if he has an offer, I don’t know if Saudi Arabia wants him. I would love for him to stay at City, of course.”
📰 Kevin De Bruyne could favour a move to MLS over Saudi Arabia this summer (The Athletic)
Guardiola on Xabi Alonso: “Wow! The job he’s doing, fantastic. The only team unbeaten, fighting with Bayern. Now it’s the most important part of the season. They cannot win the Bundesliga, they can lose it… because everybody thinks it’s done!”
Manchester United
Manchester United want a new left-back this summer - more details here in Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive column.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe made an audacious effort to bring Kylian Mbappe to Manchester United on an astronomical contract!
A look at Antony’s future at Man Utd…
Erik ten Hag on Rasmus Hojlund: “We were happy to bring Rasmus in, because if I saw the striker options, and the available striker options, there was really a shortage on good options. We were very happy to sign Hojlund, he is a player to the level of Man United.”
Ten Hag on INEOS project: “The club dictates the style, so you have to get agreement about that. That is given by the leaders of this club. INEOS want to play proactive, dynamic, attacking football, which during my time here, we always tried to do.”
Official: Eric Ramsay has signed in as new Minnesota United head coach. Ramsay has joined the club from Manchester United, where he served as a first-team coach under current manager Erik ten Hag.
Newcastle United
Eddie Howe on Newcastle pushing to agree a new deal for Joelinton: “That’s always been in my mind as an absolute priority to try and get him to stay at the club long-term. I see that as hugely important.” Joelinton’s current deal expires in June 2025 and Newcastle will try again.
PSG
PSG manager Luis Enrique on Bayern interest in Marquinhos: “History shows that few players leave PSG. Those who leave are either out of contract or the club wants to sell them. I think that’s not the case with Marquinhos. He’s a top player, crucial for us.”
RB Leipzig
Benjamin Sesko is flying in recent games at RB Leipzig with many top club scouts constantly in attendance to monitor him. Sesko has scored four goals in his last five Bundesliga games, and seven goals in his last nine games as a starter.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid has been, and remains, Alphonso Davies’ preferred destination since October - but Bayern’s asking price will be key part of the story. Bayern’s position is that he must sign a new deal by June or he will be sold. There are no issues between Davies and Real on personal terms.
Carlo Ancelotti on Luka Modric’s future: “It’s in his hands. It depends on him. Same as Kroos and Nacho. He’s a top guy, very humble, I love him. I don’t know if he wants to stay to be a substitute...But what I say is that it’s about quality of minutes that really matters.”
Lucas Vazquez on his future: “I don’t know yet. I don’t think much about it. I’m enjoying the moment and playing more games in a row. I want to help the team more and that’s what is on my mind.”
Roma
Paulo Dybala scored this absolute beauty for Roma last night as he hit a hat-trick against Torino! FT Roma 3-2 Torino [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Tottenham
Son Heung-min transfer interest from Saudi emerging again, according to latest reports…
Tottenham defender Ryan Sessegnon has confirmed that he has undergone surgery to his right hamstring. Sessegnon sustained an injury during an U21’s match last week for Spurs.
West Ham United
Emerson Palmieri scored an absolute rocket for West Ham as they beat Brentford last night! FT West Ham 4-2 Brentford [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Good news