🚨 Here we go for Chelsea deal! Watch Bruno Fernandes' stunning hat-trick, plus major Arsenal updates and Tyler Dibling asking price

Mar 14, 2025

Good morning everyone and welcome to another Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy your *free* Friday edition! :-)

Today’s top stories:

Raheem Sterling after winning the man of the match award against PSV: “I still believe within myself that I’ve still got a lot to play here.”
William Saliba’s Arsenal future - what can we make of the defender’s recent comments about his contract in a press conference?
Leroy Sane to Arsenal? Charles Watts responds to the rumours and explains his concerns about this potential deal…
Will Arsenal sign Bruno Guimaraes *and* Martin Zubimendi this summer? Charles Watts takes a look at the situation…
How big a concern is Martin Odegaard’s Arsenal form? Charles Watts believes there’s a good reason for his recent dip.

Unai Emery on keeping Marco Asensio on permanent deal: “It depends. of course we are happy with him. We are protecting him because he’s not feeling 100%… he wanted to start the match but I decided to protect him.”

Julian Alvarez: “It hurts to be out after giving our best until the end. We’ve still showed our values as a team. Thanks to our fans for making every game special. Congratulations to Real Madrid.”
UEFA’s official statement on the Julian Alvarez penalty. “Atletico de Madrid enquired with UEFA over the incident, which led to the disallowance of the kick from the penalty mark taken by Julian Alvarez at the end of yesterday’s UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid. Although minimal, the player made contact with the ball using his standing foot before kicking it, as shown in the attached video clip. Under the current rule (Laws of the Game, Law 14.1), the VAR had to call the referee signalling that the goal should be disallowed. UEFA will enter discussions with FIFA and IFAB to determine whether the rule should be reviewed in cases where a double touch is clearly unintentional.”

Official, confirmed: Inigo Martinez has officially signed a new deal with Barcelona valid until June 2026.

Official, confirmed. Joshua Kimmich has signed a new long-term deal to commit his future to Bayern Munich until June 2029.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored a superb goal for Chelsea as they edged past FC Copenhagen in the Europa League. FT Chelsea 1-0 FC Copenhagen [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Major breaking report from Fabrizio Romano last night as he revealed: “BREAKING: Chelsea agree deal for Portuguese top talent Geovany Quenda, here we go! Medical DONE for Quenda after secret blitz, he will join Chelsea in 2026. Club to club agreement completed with Sporting and Quenda said yes to Chelsea project & Enzo Maresca’s plans.”
Enzo Maresca: “We are on the same page as the fans because this club has always won trophies in the past. We need to do our best to achieve our target this season. It’s normal the fans look for trophies.”
Maresca on Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: “I very happy with Kiernan. He's much better now as he understands his role. It is not easy to work every day and not play. He is important for us and hopefully he can get more opportunities in the Conference League and even Premier League.”

Jose Mourinho: “I hope everything that's happened to me in European competitions is not a consequence of the Budapest final and I hope it’s just random. Since that final, since my suspension the things that happened to us - we didn’t play Champions league because of a penalty on 120th minute penalty that only the fourth official saw. Today we come here and the VAR is considered one of the best VARs, he didn’t see one of three penalties. I just hope it’s random. I paid for the suspension and I hope that it’s over. I pray that this is just bad luck.”

Arne Slot: “Alexander Isak is such an important player for Newcastle, he’s an unbelievable threat. He has the speed that, for example, the attackers of PSG had on Tuesday as well.”
Malick Fofana to Liverpool? Sources suggest the Reds are among the clubs in for the €50m-rated Lyon wonderkid this summer.
EXCLUSIVE - Liverpool are eyeing a transfer move for one of the Bundesliga’s biggest talents - full story here!
Cody Gakpo on nearly joining Manchester United: “There was nothing concrete that I have heard about. Maybe there was some interest, but it was not to the point that I could sign or something, so that I’m not aware of that.”

Olympique Lyon fans for Nico Tagliafico who’s out of contract in the summer: “Tagliafico, a warrior who we want to stay at the club.”

Bruno Fernandes sealed his hat-trick with this superb finish in a big win for Manchester United in the Europa League! FT Man United 4-1 Real Sociedad [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Ruben Amorim: “When we need it, Bruno Fernandes is ALWAYS there. He’s a perfect captain for our team and we need to help him to win titles, because he deserves a lot.”
Bruno Fernandes: “This club is all about winning. We need to win games. We have a long way to go but we are confident, with the right mentality, we can win games.”
Amorim: “Ayden Heaven starts because when you prove yourself in training and in matches, you are an option to play. He is doing very well and we are excited to see him.”
Tyler Dibling to Manchester United? They’re one of a number of top clubs on alert as he looks set to leave Southampton for €40m!

Mar 13

Napoli have reached a verbal agreement to sign Empoli talent Luca Marianucci for next season. The 2004-born Italian centre-back has agreed to sign a five-year contract at Napoli. A verbal agreement is all done for a transfer fee of almost €10m. The clubs still need to sign all the relevant documents to get the deal sealed.

Arne Slot: “Alexander Isak is such an important player for Newcastle, he’s an unbelievable threat. He has the speed that, for example, the attackers of PSG had on Tuesday as well.”

Antony scored once again for Real Betis, making it four goals and three assists since he joined the La Liga club on loan from Manchester United in January.

Ferland Mendy has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the hamstring of his left leg, Real Madrid confirm. He’ll be back after the international break.
Luka Modric: “I am sure that I can play every 3 days. Ancelotti decides… but I really feel good so I have no problem playing 1, 2, 3 or more games in a row. I feel good and I’m always ready to help. That’s it.”

What a superb team move this was as Wilson Odobert scored in Tottenham’s win over AZ Alkmaar! FT Tottenham 3-1 AZ Alkmaar [Pictures from TNT Sports]