🚨 [FREE] Mount screamer sends Man Utd to Europa final! Plus Real's "big" Arsenal raid, Chelsea in winger talks, & more
Today's FREE Friday edition, featuring major updates from Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea and much more!
Good morning everyone and welcome to your *FREE* Friday edition of the Daily Briefing - all the essential football headlines to start your morning, in one handy round-up. Thanks for reading, and enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
Man Utd through to the Europa League final against Spurs
Plus more from Liverpool, Chelsea and PSG
Arsenal
Jamie Gittens Arsenal links have emerged, but which wingers are really on the club’s radar this summer? Charles Watts has all the info in his latest exclusive column.
Rafael Leao to Arsenal or Chelsea? Talks have taken place over a potential €75m move for the AC Milan forward!
Goncalo Ramos to Arsenal? Sources claim the Portuguese striker could leave PSG for the right price, putting a host of top clubs on alert.
William Saliba Real Madrid transfer update from Fabrizio Romano - the Spanish giants would be prepared to ‘go big’ for the Arsenal defender, but could he also be ready to sign a new contract? Full info here.
Declan Rice: “In life, in general, sometimes you have to lose a few in order to win. You have to overcome setbacks to mentally grow, as a person, as a player, as a group - and we’re going through that.”
Barcelona
Xavi: “Hansi Flick came here to see me and we spoke for two hours. We have a good relationship. He said: Thank you so much. What you helped create here means I’m happy. The players train hard and they get some mentality from you.”
Xavi: “I’m happy and proud to have given debuts to Lamine and Pau Cubarsi! Lamine is a genius. He will become the best. Koeman should be credited for bringing in Gavi, Balde and other young players.”
Bayer Leverkusen
Florian Wirtz on his future: “It’s definitely tempting for me to leave my comfort zone at some point and experience something new. I’m quite lucky to have so many excellent clubs right on my doorstep and to now be able to play for one of the best clubs in Germany and Europe at Leverkusen.”
Chelsea
A neat finish by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Chelsea have confirmed their place in the Europa Conference League final! FT Chelsea 1-0 Djurgarden (5-1 on aggregate) [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Reggie Walsh is now Chelsea’s youngest ever European starter after coming on last night, aged just 16 years and 200 days.
Enzo Maresca on Reggie Walsh: “He was laughing when I told him he was starting. I told him to enjoy it. I love Reggie. He is perfect for my system. He’s only 16. One. Six. And he was asking for the ball and he was so good on it. Now tomorrow, he has to go to school!”
Maresca: “We were trying to work to reach the final, now the next step is to win it. We have 20 days to prepare, and before that we have three more Premier League finals.”
Maresca on facing Betis as a former Sevilla player. “I’m happy to face Betis. I played four years for Seville. That’s a big derby against Betis. We won one of them 1-0 and I scored… so I know they don’t like me!”
Rafael Leao to Arsenal or Chelsea? Talks have taken place over a potential €75m move for the AC Milan forward!
Juventus
Fabrizio Romano: “Juventus confirm obligation to buy clause for Lloyd Kelly has now been activated for €17.5m with add-ons. It was always a permanent move planned with no chance of return to Newcastle but now formally completed.”
Liverpool
Jeremie Frimpong’s release clause remains the same, available also this summer: €35/40m total package. The Bayer Leverkusen right-back is one to watch this summer, with genuine interest from Liverpool as they look for a replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Manchester United
What a goal by Mason Mount! A stunning long-range strike to help Manchester United book their place in the final! FT Man Utd 4-1 Athletic Bilbao (7-1 on aggregate) [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Ruben Amorim: “I really want to give something to the fans, because we've been so disappointing in the Premier League this season. It is more important to give something to the fans, than to add something to my CV as a winner.”
Amorim on Mason Mount: “Mount is perfect for that position because he can be a midfielder, can run like a winger, can play with his back to the goal. When you see that kind of guy, working hard every day, eating well, resting, ice bath, he does everything.”
Mount: “My first goals at Old Trafford… a special night. We’re going to Bilbao and we want to finish strong. It’s been difficult since I’ve been here but I stayed positive and knew something good would come.”
Xavi: “Bruno Fernandes is another top-level player. He’s a warrior, his mentality is only to win. He has the talent and the passion.”
Matheus Cunha to Manchester United talks remain ongoing, despite the story appearing to go ‘cold’ in recent weeks, according to Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive video update - watch here!
Monaco
Eric Dier’s transfer to AS Monaco is signed and completed, with the contract also in place for the experienced English defender. He’ll leave Bayern for Monaco this summer.
PSG
Luis Enrique on his future: “I’m so happy here at PSG because together with Luis Campos and Nasser Al Khelaifi we can project a team appreciated by our fans.”
Gigio Donnarumma on his future: “I’m under contract for one more year... it’s up to the club. If PSG want me to stay, I’m gonna stay. We just have to sign the new contract. But it’s up to the club.”
Real Betis
Antony scored this beautiful free-kick, making it eight goals since joining Real Betis on loan from Man United. That’s now 12 G/A since signing for the Spanish club in January.
Tottenham
What a goal by Pedro Porro, but did he mean it? He won’t care! Spurs have booked their place in the Europa League final! FT Bodo/Glimt 0-2 Tottenham (1-5 on aggregate) [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Ange Postecoglou on people trying to downplay what it would mean for Spurs to win the Europa League: “Some people are fearing that it might actually happen… and because it might happen, saying, let’s see how we can tear it down. Being in the final, this is massive.”
Postecoglou on whether the Europa League final is more significant to Spurs than Manchester United: “What do I care what Man United think? Why is that relevant to me? You know better than me, you follow this club more than I have. What do you think a trophy would do for this club?”