🚨 FREE Friday - Man Utd cleared to sign £51m star, Arsenal & Liverpool chase Huijsen, awful Onana howlers, & more

Apr 11, 2025

Good morning everyone and welcome to your *Free Friday* edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks for reading and hope you enjoy :-)

Today’s top stories:

Mikel Arteta’s staff members Carlos Cuesta, Albert Stuivenberg, Inaki Cana, Nicolas Jover, Miguel Molina have all signed new contracts with Arsenal. They’re all considered crucial for the club, and it’s all been completed.
Dean Huijsen to Arsenal? Reports claim that Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta are HUGE fans of the Bournemouth defender…

Raphinha: “Treble? I keep saying since day one: if you play for Barcelona, your focus should always be on winning all titles.”

Dean Huijsen: “One of my close friends sent me a story about Real Madrid… he told me: go to Madrid! It’s a big club. Every player wants to play in the biggest possible.”

Enzo Maresca: “I’ve fallen in love with Josh Acheampong. For me, potentially, he can be a top player, fantastic player for Chelsea. He can be good in different positions. The best thing for Josh is that he’s open, he wants to learn. Full-back? No problem, what do I have to do?”
Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea could still be one to watch for the summer, according to David Ornstein!

Hugo Ekitike scored a stunning opening goal against Tottenham last night to show why he’s a man in demand ahead of the summer transfer window! FT Tottenham 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt [Pictures from TNT Sports]

Fabrizio Romano: “Understand Ipswich Town have been monitoring Ryan One’s performances at Sheffield United. He’s one of the names on the shortlist if Liam Delap leaves the club in the summer.”

Xavi Simons to Liverpool EXCLUSIVE - the Reds are confident they can beat Manchester City to his signature for one key reason!
Ryan Gravenberch’s agent Jose Fortes: “He’s good enough for Real Madrid. We would love for him to play for them, but Liverpool would ask for a lot of money. I know they’ve had their eye on him, but now it’s impossible.”
Dean Huijsen to Liverpool transfer could be one to watch as the Reds have had some contacts over this exciting deal…

Late drama as Rayan Cherki poked home this equaliser for Lyon, but what a howler by Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana! FT Lyon 2-2 Man Utd [Pictures from TNT Sports]

Fabrizio Romano: “The story between Man City and Kyle Walker will be over in the summer, regardless of AC Milan’s future decision. Milan have buy option clause for Walker but decision will follow with new director. In any case, Walker will NOT stay at City as they’ll bring in new fullback.”

Man United thought they’d won it with this late header from Joshua Zirkzee, which was beautifully set up for him by Bruno Fernandes. FT Lyon 2-2 Man Utd [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Ruben Amorim when asked about Andre Onana’s mistakes: “If you look at the season, I’ve made more mistakes than the players during these last months. It happens. It can happen if you play football and a lot of games, that you will make mistakes.”
More from Amorim on Onana: “When one player makes a mistake, all the team makes a mistake so we continue like this. Still trusting Andre? We will keep working hard and improving.”
Ademola Lookman transfer to Manchester United could be set to go through for just £51m, according to sources in Italy!
Amorim: “Leny Yoro… a top, top, top player. Trust me, he’s really good. He's really confident. He’s improving his physicality. We are seeing all the work that all the staff are doing with him. He feels at home in our club.”
Serie A clubs are reportedly monitoring Rasmus Hojlund’s situation at Manchester United ahead of the summer. Contacts and approaches from Italian clubs could come in if the Red Devils decide they definitely want to sell the player.
Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea could still be one to watch for the summer, according to David Ornstein!

Ryan Gravenberch’s agent Jose Fortes: “He’s good enough for Real Madrid. We would love for him to play for them, but Liverpool would ask for a lot of money. I know they’ve had their eye on him, but now it’s impossible.”
Dean Huijsen: “One of my close friends sent me a story about Real Madrid… he told me: go to Madrid! It’s a big club. Every player wants to play in the biggest possible.”

What a superb improvised finish by Pedro Porro as Tottenham responded well to an early setback! FT Tottenham 1-1 Eintracht Frankfurt [Pictures from TNT Sports]