🚨 Guardiola LAUDS Palmer, Ange's firm NO, Klopp BITES back, Mbappe's speech to team-mates, Arteta LOVES Havertz and more
Today's football headlines, featuring Arsenal, Man United, Liverpool and much more!
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Today’s top stories:
AC Milan
Milan are preparing for life without Stefano Pioli. Matteo Moretto has an exclusive look at the surprise name in the frame to replace him.
Milan offered new hope for the San Siro [Football Italia]
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta on Arsenal being in the conversation for Kylian Mbappé: “Why not? If we want to be the best team, we are going to need the best talent and the best players. I am not involved. Maybe Edu and the owners are, I’m not in those conversations until the last stage.”
Mikel Arteta on Havertz: "I love him. I think we all love him as a player, as a person, everything that he brings to the team. He’s defending the box and then how he’s attacking the box... fantastic. I'm super happy with him and with his attitude."
Mikel Arteta could soon lose key man [The Guardian]
Mikel Arteta spoke about Arsenal’s injury worries ahead of their weekend match against Burnley [pictures from Sky Sports].
Aston Villa
Unai Emery: "Boubacar Kamara will be out until September/October. Diego Carlos will also be out for next 3-4 weeks. Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia are ruled out for the season, we hope for their return to training shortly before."
Barcelona
Frenkie de Jong to leave Barça in the summer? Xavi: "He’s a world class player and it's not the right moment to talk about this. The club and the player will sit together and talk about his situation at the end of the season."
Former Barcelona defender considering retirement at just 30-years-old [AS]
Xavi on Gavi linked with Paris Saint-Germain as part of their post-Mbappé plan: "Gavi has to stay at Barça. He's a Barça guy, he has to stay and be one of the captains. Gavi is Barcelona's future."
Bayern Munich
Bad news for Bayern as Sacha Boey has sustained a 'big' hamstring strain. The right back will be sidelined for the coming weeks, club statement confirms.
Chelsea
Chelsea are closing in on the appointment of Josh Marsh from Swansea as loans manager. He'll be active for Chelsea but also Strasbourg and other clubs set to be part of BlueCo group in the future. It's imminent.
Pochettino: "Carney Chukwuemeka twisted his ankle two days ago, he's out. Thiago Silva also has a minor injury, he is not available. We need to assess day by day."
Pochettino on Cole Palmer: "I remember when we signed him one staff person in the club said to me: ‘he's from Manchester, but he looks Brazilian/Argentinian, he has the capacity to adapt so quick.’ He arrived and adapted very quickly."
Pochettino on recalling Casadei from his Leicester City loan: "It was a tough decision because we didn't want to cut his development, but, with the injuries of Lavia and Lesley, we needed another midfielder. The squad is only Enzo, Moi and Conor. We decided together with Cesare."
Pochettino on Mudryk not starting: "It's part of the evolution and development. They need to feel sometimes the pain of not playing because it's not so easy to grow, mature and improve. It's up to them to reach the level we think they have."
Pochettino on Chelsea owners potential plan to buy a club in Argentina. “The fans in Argentina feel they belong to the club… and the club belongs to them. It’s not easy to change the mentality for the Argentinian fans.”
Si Phillips discusses Jarrad Branthwaite to Chelsea and more in an exclusive deep dive.
Crystal Palace
The Roy Hodgson era is over, but Oliver Glasner can’t wait to get started. Fabrizio Romano details what Palace fans can expect from their new manager.
Everton
Jordan Pickford's acrobatic stop against Fulham earns him the Castrol Save of the Month award for January.
Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim are close to signing a new deal with U17 European and World Champion Max Moerstedt. Just 8 months after signing his first pro contract, Hoffenheim are trying to conclude a new deal to secure the possibly biggest number nine talent in Germany on a long term-contract.
Inter Milan
Inter CEO Marotta on Lautaro Martínez and PSG interest: “We are not worried. We had no signals from PSG or any other club. We are extremely optimistic on a new deal to be agreed soon with Lautaro, he loves Inter — same for Barella.”
Inter CEO Marotta confirms: “We are working on Taremi and Zielinski deal and we look forward to announcing signings at the right moment if all goes to plan.” Both Zielinski and Taremi deals are done. Here we go, confirmed.
Marotta: No difference between Inter and PSG [Sky Sport Italia]
Liverpool
Alisson has suffered a hamstring injury, one more issue for Liverpool. He will undergo tests on Saturday to clarify how serious the injury is and how long he will be out for. He’s expected to miss the Brentford game.
Liverpool told they can sign Salah replacement for £80m [Football Transfers]
Jurgen Klopp: “Xabi Alonso is doing an incredible job. Even if you would have asked me eight weeks ago about Xabi Alonso, I would have gone: oh my God. The next generation is already there and I would say Xabi Alonso is a standout in that department. He’s exceptional.”
Jurgen Klopp denied suggestions that Trent Alexander-Arnold was brought back too soon from injury [pictures from Sky Sports].
Jurgen Klopp has been named the Barclays Manager of the Month for January with Diogo Jota picking up the EA SPORTS Player of the Month.
Manchester City
Oscar Bobb has won Budweiser Goal of the Month for his 91st minute winner against Newcastle in January.
Pep Guardiola: “Chelsea are exceptional in all departments. One of the toughest games we have until the end of the season. They have everything: intensity, quality, able to not lose the ball. Difficult to find a Chelsea player who loses the ball.”
Man City keen to sign 24-year-old attacking full-back [Fotomac]
Pep Guardiola was effusive in his praise of Cole Palmer ahead of Man City’s match against Chelsea this weekend [pictures from Sky Sports].
Manchester United
Sir Dave Brailsford reacts after a young fan asks if Man Utd will buy Kylian Mbappé [pictures via @jacob_manunited Tik Tok]
José Mourinho: "I love Manchester United and the fans. I hope everything goes well. I am waiting as soon as possible for Man United to become again the Man United that I fell in love with.”
José Mourinho on the 2017/2018 season at Man Utd: "Maybe there is a chance that we win that league, no? Because if Man City are found guilty in Financial Fair Play and they are breaking the rules... they lose a few points and maybe we win that title."
Man United need to get key Newcastle man at all costs [Stan Collymore]
Man United have scouted a €100m+ target on multiple occasions [Fabrizio Romano]
Newcastle United
Eddie Howe on Dan Ashworth and Man United: “We’ve had no direct contact but he hasn’t said that he wants to stay. Whatever happens, we want a quick resolution.”
Player who left Newcastle for just £10m is now world class [The Guardian]
Eddie Howe spoke about Callum Wilson’s desperation to get back fit again and amongst the goals [pictures from Sky Sports].
Paris Saint-Germain
Kylian Mbappé has told PSG that there's no way back for his decision and he doesn't want to receive any counter-proposal. This is why Mbappé & PSG will communicate together in the next months via an official and formal way, and agree the final terms of his exit at the end of the season.
Paris Saint-Germain already prepared their backup plan without Mbappé since December. There will be at least three big signings this summer. A top player to replace Kylian upfront of course; but also a top midfielder and a top centre-back will join PSG.
What’s holding up the announcement of Mbappé moving to Real Madrid? Matteo Moretto has an exclusive deep dive into what loose ends are left to tie up.
One of the first steps of the new PSG era will be a new contract for Warren Zaïre-Emery. The verbal agreement is already 100% reached with the player and his agent Jorge Mendes, it's just about a final review of the contract and then it will be signed.
Luis Enrique on Mbappé: “I have no information to give you. Until the two parties involved speak publicly, I will not say anything. When the parties speak, I will give you my opinion.”
Kylian Mbappé has informed his teammates at PSG about his decision to leave as a free agent. It was during Friday’s training session. Mbappé didn’t mention his future club to them or a Real Madrid move. He just confirmed he’s set to leave.
All eyes on Rafael Leão as Mbappé’s replacement - another Matteo Moretto exclusive!
Tottenham Hotpsur
Timo Werner says Ange Postecoglou was a massive reason why he chose to move to Spurs [pictures from Sky Sports].
Ange Postecoglou on Tottenham’s injuries: “Pedro Porro picked up a strain at training. Probably a couple of weeks for him. Destiny Udogie picked up a knock, not too serious. Game next weekend, should be back. Fraser Forster – fracture in his foot, probably a couple of months.”
Ange Postecoglou has laughed off speculation that he has been added to Liverpool's managerial shortlist. "I don’t want to say anything about that because I don’t think that’s ever going to enter my brain space for what is my priorities in life and profession. If it’s just people throwing up names, who cares?"
41-year-old claims he would love to manage Tottenham [Daily Mail]
Ange Postecoglou on rumoured fight between Son and Kang-in Lee whilst on international duty with South Korea. “I don't know all the details but what I know of the story is Sonny showing leadership. That's what leadership is all about. Leadership is not about being popular and trying to make everybody happy, it's about when you see something that you don't feel is right then you stand up for it because it's the best thing for the group. I see that in Sonny. Sometimes people are mistaken about Sonny because he's such a positive guy who whenever you see him is smiling and everyone has a real affection for him - but he wants to win.”
Ange Postecoglou paid tribute to Roy Hodgson and wished him a speedy recovery from his current ill health [pictures from Sky Sports News].