🚨 Everton sack Dyche, Amad signs new deal, Juve want Araujo, Kvaratskhelia to PSG, Real vs Barça in Super Cup & more
Plus all of the other stories making the news in the world of football...
Good morning everyone and welcome to another Daily Briefing - your essential round-up of the biggest football headlines, all in one place and delivered straight to your inbox. Thanks for reading, and hope you enjoy :-)
Today’s top stories:
Amad Diallo puts pen to paper on a new Manchester United deal
PSG, Liverpool and Chelsea all linked with Napoli’s Kvicha Kvaratskhelia
First game of 2025 and Cristiano Ronaldo scores again
Plus the latest news from Chelsea, Dortmund, Tottenham & more
AC Milan
AS Roma and AC Milan are in direct talks to discuss the permanent futures of Alexis Saelemaekers and Tammy Abraham.
Conceicao clamping down on Milan with tough new rules.
Arsenal
Marquinhos leaves Arsenal again on loan to join Cruzeiro until the end of the season. He joined the Gunners on a €3.5m deal in summer 2022.
Isak is exactly what Arsenal are missing.
AS Monaco
Mika Biereth has reached an agreement to join AS Monaco. His medical will take place on Friday and the deal is for a €13m fixed fee plus €2m in add-ons to Sturm Graz. Arsenal also had sell-on clause.
Barcelona
Juventus want to tie up a deal for Ronald Araujo deal, and more contact is planned with Barcelona to speed up negotiations.
La Liga confirm registration of Barcelona pair, Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have made an approach to see if they’re able to do a deal with Man City for Max Alleyne. Contacts are ongoing.
Chelsea
Si Phillips on whether Chelsea should make a loan approach for Ivan Toney.
Everton
New Everton owners, The Friedkin Group, sacked manager Sean Dyche on Thursday afternoon. The club have already started talks to find a replacement, Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines are not expected to be there as caretakers for the long term.
Big Jose Mourinho claim made as Everton sack Sean Dyche.
FA Cup
Sheffield United vs Cardiff City (0-1): Cian Ashford gave the Bluebirds a surprise 1-0 lead at half-time, and their five-man back line managed to hold on against a second-half onslaught from the Blades to send the visiting fans home happy.
Fulham vs Watford (4-1): Rodrigo Muniz opened the scoring for the Cottagers on 26 before Rocco Vata unleased a rocket just after the half hour to equalise. Another Raúl Jiménez penalty after the break restored Fulham’s lead, before Joachim Andersen added a third just after the hour. Timothy Castagne’s 85th-minute fourth put the gloss on a fine Fulham victory [pictures from BBC Sport]:
Everton vs Peterborough (2-0): On a day when Sean Dyche was sacked, Everton produced a tepid performance to take them into the next round. Beto’s goal just before the break looked as though it would be the only goal of the game before Iliman Ndiaye converted a 98th-minute penalty. Peterborough deserve the plaudits for standing toe-to-toe with the Premier League outfit and almost matching them in terms of possession and passing accuracy throughout the game.
FC Utrecht
Sebastien Haller joins FC Utrecht on loan from Borussia Dortmund. Leganes loan, cancelled.
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town and Aston Villa are due to exchange final documents on Friday in order for Jaden Philogene’s permanent move to be completed.
Liverpool
Tottenham urged to complete signing of Liverpool fan favourite.
Manchester City
Manchester City have agreed on personal terms with Vitor Reis and his agent, his contract is ready and the green light has been given by the 18 year old centre-back. Negotiations are underway to close the deal with Palmeiras for around €40m.
Christian McFarlane’s move to Manchester City will be formally announced during the January window.
Man City circling for superb £50m-rated talent.
Manchester United
Amad Diallo has signed a new deal with Manchester United until June 2030. “I have had some incredible moments with this club already but there is so much more to come. I have huge ambitions in the game,” he said to the official Manchester United website.
West Ham emerge as contenders to sign £300,000 per week Man United ace.
Marseille
Mehdi Benatia has signed to become an Olympique Marseille director until June 2027. The decision to sign for two and a half years is so that his contract aligns with manager Roberto De Zerbi. His relationship with Pablo Longoria has been key.
Napoli
Napoli’s important new contract offer to Kvicha Kvaratskhelia remains available on the table but there’s still no answer. PSG are attentive to the situation and are willing to step up their efforts to make it happen now, including offering players. The player is open to the move, personal terms are agreed and a fee of €80m is being demanded by Napoli.
Napoli have agreed a loan deal to sign Philip Billing from Bournemouth. Salary will be covered by Napoli until June 2025 and the Partnopei have a €9/10m option clause to buy Billing in the summer.
Juventus are discussing Danilo exit, Napoli waiting for free agent signing.
Orlando City
Orlando City are closing in on a deal for Fortaleza’s Nicolas Rodriguez. Deal at the final stages.
Paris Saint-Germain
Milan Skriniar has been offered to Napoli as part of a potential Kvaratskhelia deal with Paris Saint-Germain. No green light from the Italians at this stage.
Plymouth Argyle
Miron Muslic is a strong candidate to replace Wayne Rooney at Plymouth Argyle. The former Cercle Brugge coach, who took the club from the bottom of table to the top six and European football, is in talks with a decision expected within 48 hours.
RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig and AC Milan have agreed on a loan deal for Noah Okafor. A buy option clause for between €25/28m, based on several factors, is not mandatory. Medical scheduled for Friday.
Saudi Pro League
First game of 2025 and first goal of the new year for Cristiano Ronaldo against Al Okhood. That’s now 917 career goals and counting…
Schalke
Loris Karius will become a new Schalke goalkeeper later this week. Medical arranged for Friday.
Spanish Super Cup
Real Madrid vs Mallorca (3-0): It was an interesting opening 45 in Jeddah because despite having all of the play, Los Blancos were continuously frustrated by their less celebrated opponents. Jude Bellingham eventually broke Mallorca’s resistance in the second half with his seventh goal in the last nine games. An injury time own goal from Mallorca’s Martin Valjent and a 95th-minute strike from Rodrygo sets up a mouth-watering final against Barcelona on Sunday [pictures from SSC]:
Spartak Moscow
Spartak Moscow are prepared to offer a new improved contract to Manfred Ugalde. Top clubs in Europe are keen on to take him in the January window.
Sunderland
Details of Enzo Le Fee’s deal for Sunderland from AS Roma. It will be a loan with his salary covered, and a buy option clause to become mandatory if Sunderland get promoted to the Premier League. Final valuation could be in the region of €23/24m.
Torino
Torino are preparing a new bid for Cesare Casadei, including an important sell-on clause for Chelsea. Napoli are not willing to match Chelsea’s conditions.
Tottenham Hotspur
Ange Postecoglou to reporters after Spurs’ Carabao Cup First Leg win over Liverpool: “Bergvall was brilliant! Him, Gray… I'm so happy they're at our football club and you know, in two or three years' time, I just pray to God I'm the beneficiary of their talent because if somebody else is getting it, I won't be happy.”
Collymore’s “massive thumbs up” after what ref did in the Tottenham vs Liverpool game.
Udinese
Egil Selvik has completed medical tests to become a new Udinese player. He will sign a 3.5 year deal on Friday.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Emmanuel Agbadou has completed his move to Wolves from Reims on a deal worth €18m plus €2m in add-ons.