🚨 FREE FRIDAY - Arsenal target's NEW release clause, Newcastle reject bid, Amorim on Man Utd transfers, & Liverpool thrash Spurs to reach final
Today's *FREE* Daily Briefing, featuring some big name Arsenal targets, plus reaction to Liverpool's big win over Spurs...
Good morning everyone and welcome to another Daily Briefing! Thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy :-)
Today’s top stories:
Liverpool are through to the Carabao Cup final!
Matheus Cunha and other Arsenal transfer updates
Plus more from Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle
AC Milan
AC Milan director Geoffrey Moncada: “Keeping Joao Felix here? It will depend on Joao and on us. There are always chances, even without a buy option clause. We’ve an excellent relationship with Chelsea so… we will see.”
AC Milan chief Moncada plays down reports on Samuel Chukwueze possibly moving to Turkey: “Samuel Chukwueze will stay with us.”
Arsenal
Ollie Watkins to Arsenal transfer could have happened for just £60m, with the player keen to leave Aston Villa for the Emirates Stadium!
Joan Garcia to Arsenal looks a real possibility for the summer after talks held in Spain just a few days ago…
Hugo Larsson transfer saga takes a fresh twist as Arsenal make positive contact over the Eintracht Frankfurt midfield wonderkid!
Mikel Arteta on the Gabriel Martinelli injury: “Gabriel Martinelli felt something, it was his hamstring and he wasn't comfortable to continue. So we will have to have an MRI scan tomorrow to see the extent of the injury.”
Meanwhile, one top Arsenal transfer target has been given a bargain release clause for the summer! Full story here.
Augsburg
Augsburg have rejected two approaches for their highly-regarded 19-year-old talent Mert Komur with talks over a new deal soon to follow. Several European clubs are interested in him but Augsburg will offer the player a new contract.
Barcelona
Ansu Fati has been left out of Barcelona’s squad list once again amid ongoing doubts over his long-term future at the Nou Camp.
Bayern Munich
Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich future could be in some doubt due to the presence of a surprisingly low release clause…
However, Fabrizio Romano has added: “Harry Kane, currently not planning to leave Bayern in the summer and very happy at the club. The release clause is valid for €65m only in January 2026, as BILD revealed — PL clubs aware but no contacts so far. Tottenham have matching rights, Kane has the final say.”
Joshua Kimmich contract latest - Bayern will try again to persuade the player to sign a new deal, but he’s also been approached by Premier League clubs.
Bayern director Max Eberl on Kimmich’s contract being due to expire in the summer: “New deal? Of course we know that we can’t wait forever, but we want to give Joshua a bit of time and let his thoughts mature that Bayern Munich is the club where he wants to continue. That’s legitimate.”
Ange Postecoglou: “Mathys Tel will be a Tottenham player, mate. I didn't bring him here for six months. I think he’ll show everyone he’s going to be a Tottenham player in the next six months.”
Chelsea
AC Milan director Geoffrey Moncada: “Keeping Joao Felix here? It will depend on Joao and on us. There are always chances, even without a buy option clause. We’ve an excellent relationship with Chelsea so… we will see.”
Worry for Chelsea as Malo Gusto is attracting interest from a major Premier League rival! Full story here.
Could Matheus Cunha to Chelsea be one to watch for the summer? Latest reports suggest there’s an opportunity…
Fulham
Officially confirmed: Willian has signed in as a new Fulham player, returning to the club after leaving Greek giants Olympiacos. The Brazilian winger has signed a contract until the end of the season.
Liverpool
Cody Gakpo finished well to get Liverpool on their way to a commanding victory over Tottenham that earned them a place in the Carabao Cup final. FT Liverpool 4-0 Spurs [Pictures from Sky Sports]
Arne Slot: “Trent, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk haven't extended yet. So we are aware of the fact that we have to be sharp and ready for things that can happen.”
Virgil van Dijk on his contract: “What the future brings, I have no idea. Whoever says they know something knows nothing at all!”
Liverpool have been in contact with one of the world’s best midfielders…Full story here!
Manchester City
Real Zaragoza, Rayo Vallecano and Sheffield Wednesday all made approaches to sign Manchester City youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan in January. There was no green light from the club as City were keen to keep him.
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim: “We are being really careful with transfers because we did some mistakes in the past...”
Manchester United’s statement has confirmed Lisandro Martinez has suffered an injury to his cruciate ligament: “Assessment of the injury is ongoing to determine the appropriate course of treatment and the timescale for his rehabilitation.”
Amorim: “Luke Shaw has one small issue in the different area from the last injury, so we try to be careful with Luke. Licha Martinez is a difficult situation, he’s going to be out for a while.”
Amorim: “Changing everything in the middle of the season without new signings is a danger for a coach, but I have a clear idea of what I want to do and I take these risks because in the end it’s going to pay off. It was my decision to do that.”
Antony on his future: “I went through difficult times (at Man United). If I have to stay longer (at Real Betis), I would have to talk to the president and everything. And for now I want to play and score goals and give assists. I have to help the team, later we can talk about that.”
Leny Yoro: “For Amorim, you’ve to be disciplined outside the pitch and train hard. The training is very important. If you don’t work, if you're lazy in training, he won't like you, he'll kill you. It's normal because, yes, we play the way we train.”
Yoro on joining Man United: “When I was a kid, everyone was watching Manchester United! It’s a dream to be here.”
Lecce president Sticchi Damiani: “We tried to keep Patrick Dorgu and agree with Man United for next season, but they really wanted him now. There was no other way, Dorgu was a key target for them and for Amorim. Patrick wanted to go and we closed this historical sale.”
Newcastle United
Kieran Trippier is wanted by Galatasaray, but what’s the latest on the story? Full details here.
Real Madrid
Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid? Reports suggest the young Bournemouth centre-back is one of the Spanish giants’ top targets for the summer.
Santos
Neymar: “I’m ready to play. Of course I won’t be able to play 90 minutes, I came from a long time out injured. I needed games. Obviously I was VERY upset with Jorge Jesus’ words when he said I didn’t have the capability to play like the rest of the team.”
Tottenham
Ange Postecoglou: “Mathys Tel will be a Tottenham player, mate. I didn't bring him here for six months. I think he’ll show everyone he’s going to be a Tottenham player in the next six months.”
Postecoglou on the Liverpool defeat: “We’ll learn from tonight but the major lesson to learn is that we can’t go into games like this looking to protect or try to get results in other ways than what's got us to this point. I’m sure the players will learn from that, I’m sure they're disappointed by that. As much as we’ve missed an opportunity to get to a final, what probably hurting even more is that we didn’t really give ourselves a chance with our performance tonight.”
Postecoglou: “It looks like Richarlison suffered a calf injury, it didn’t look good…”
