🚨 Liverpool cement lead at the top, UCL frustration for Arsenal, Tuchel's transfer issues at Bayern, deadline to resolve Chelsea star's future, Endrick clarification, and more
Today's round-up, featuring Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and much more!
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Today’s top stories:
Arsenal conceded a late screamer as Porto earned a surprise win
Plus more from Man Utd, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich
Arsenal
Arsenal were not at their best and Porto’s Galeno struck this beauty late on to take a first leg lead in this Champions League tie. FT Porto 1-0 Arsenal [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Mikel Arteta: “I am very disappointed the way we gave the game away at the end. Not managing that situation well enough. You get punished in the Champions League. If you cannot win it, then... you don’t lose it. We really dominated the game but we lacked purpose.”
Bukayo Saka’s performance against Porto looked a real concern…
Albert Sambi Lokonga: “I’m not far from my best level — but I’m not there yet. I’m working every day to recover my body after I play. Arsenal? You can see how big the club is.”
Atletico Madrid
Guido Rodriguez was on Atletico Madrid’s list recently, and he could be on the move as a free agent this summer - more exclusive insight from Fabrizio Romano’s column here.
Barcelona
Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for Barcelona last night with this low finish, though they couldn’t hold on to their lead. FT Napoli 1-1 Barcelona [Pictures from TNT Sports]
It was a big night for Lamine Yamal as he became the youngest player ever to play in a Champions League knockout stage game, aged 16 years, 223 days.
Thomas Tuchel to Barcelona? Fabrizio Romano takes a look at the links here.
Lucas Bergvall replies to rumours about his family using Barcelona’s interest to get a bigger offer from Tottenham: “They can write and say what they want. I know what is right for my career. I try not to put so much energy into it.”
Bayern Munich
Official: Thomas Tuchel will leave Bayern at the end of the current season. A decision has been made by both the club and the head coach. It’s over for Tuchel at the Allianz Arena - he’ll leave in June.
Tuchel: “We have agreed that we will end our collaboration after the end of this season. Until then, my coaching staff and I will of course continue to do everything we can to ensure maximum success for FC Bayern.”
Liverpool and Bayern remain both keen on appointing Xabi Alonso as manager at the end of the season. Discussions will follow. There’s no formal release clause in his contract at Bayer Leverkusen but he will be allowed to leave in case he decides to try a new chapter.
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen: “Our goal is to carry out a sporting realignment with a new coach for the 2024/25 season. Until then, every individual at the club is expressly challenged to achieve the maximum possible in the Champions League and Bundesliga.”
Jurgen Klopp’s agent plays down any chance to join Bayern as replacement for Tuchel. “Jurgen Klopp will not coach any club or national team for a year after this current season. That remains unchanged.”
Chelsea
Conor Gallagher’s future continues to attract headlines, and could there be a deadline for him to sign a new Chelsea contract? Latest details in Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive column here.
Mauricio Pochettino has big concerns about this recent Chelsea signing…
Crystal Palace
Fulham
Fulham’s Tony Khan on Joao Palhinha potential summer exit. “I’d want him here for as long as possible, but if an offer came along that would make sense for everyone I think that’s something you have to consider with every player at the right time.”
Hull City
Jaden Philogene is on the list of multiple clubs in Premier League and more European leagues ahead of the summer transfer window. The talented 22 year old winger will be one to watch, as his current Hull City deal expires in June 2026.
Liverpool
Harvey Elliott put some gloss on the score-line with this lovely finish for Liverpool against Luton. FT Liverpool 4-1 Luton [Pictures from beIN Sports]
Liverpool and Bayern remain both keen on appointing Xabi Alonso as manager at the end of the season. Discussions will follow. There’s no formal release clause in his contract at Bayer Leverkusen but he will be allowed to leave in case he decides to try a new chapter.
THREE Bayer Leverkusen players are well-liked by Liverpool and one has been approached before…
How realistic was it for Liverpool to sign Kylian Mbappe? Neil Jones reveals the truth here.
Leeds wonderkid Archie Gray has been linked with the Reds, but what are sources saying about the potential deal?
Jurgen Klopp’s agent plays down any chance to join Bayern as replacement for Tuchel. “Jurgen Klopp will not coach any club or national team for a year after this current season. That remains unchanged.”
Brazil manager Dorival Junior: “Alisson, Matheus Cunha and Brighton’s Joao Pedro will miss friendly encounters in March due to injury.” All of them are set to be ruled out for almost one month.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola: “Never, ever criticise your top scorer, he will shout you down. Sooner or later, Erling Haaland is there. He comes from two months out, had an incredible, tough week last week, he lost his grandmother… and he’s now back to scoring goals.”
Guardiola on Kevin De Bruyne fitness: “De Bruyne has ‘niggles’ in his hamstring but it's all good, he’s fine. I just didn’t want to take any risk with him… he’s ok, he just told the doctors he was not feeling 100% and we did not want to risk anything.”
Manchester United
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has admitted he’d like to build a new stadium for Manchester United [Pictures from BBC Sport]
Ratcliffe on previous interest in buying Chelsea: “There is no comparison between Chelsea and Manchester United. The scale of Manchester United is incomparable to any of the London clubs to be honest with you...”
Ratcliffe on Erik ten Hag: “What I would say, if you look at the last 11 years, Man United have had quite a few coaches. Nobody has been successful in that Manchester United environment. That would say to me that there's something wrong with the environment.”
Ratcliffe on Mason Greenwood: “It’s a new decision to make for us. He's Man United player. We need to look at facts, judge fairly and take into consideration what the values of the club are. Then we come out of that with a decision on Greenwood.”
Thomas Tuchel wants to return to the Premier League. Manchester United is the club he always was interested in. After parting ways with Bayern in the summer, he is now ready to take on a new challenge.
Bad news for Manchester United as Luke Shaw “will be absent for a few months” with a muscular injury, the club have confirmed.
Vinicius Junior to Man Utd? Reports of a mammoth bid on the way!
📰 Man United are keen on signing Bayern Munich striker Mathys Tel, but could face competition from Arsenal (Bild)
Napoli
Victor Osimhen showed why he’s a man in demand with this fine finish to bring Napoli level against Barcelona. FT Napoli 1-1 Barcelona [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Newcastle United
Sir Jim Ratcliffe sends a message to Newcastle over the Dan Ashworth saga: “It’s a bit silly, personally. I wont get dragged into that. What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years. It’s absurd and stupid.”
Porto
Galeno has now scored five goals in the Champions League this season plus three assists in the group stage. Porto were smart enough to increase his release clause up to €60m back in January.
Real Betis
Guido Rodriguez remains one to watch for the summer with many clubs interest, current deal expires in June. Betis president Angel Haro: “Our proposal to extend Guido Rodriguez’s contract has expired. If he wants to stay, we will have to negotiate again with new terms.”
Real Madrid
There is absolutely no chance for Endrick to stay at Palmeiras on loan until December. “No way, impossible”, the clear reaction from sources. Palmeiras have not even requested that to Real Madrid as they know there’s no chance.
More on the Endrick situation here in Fabrizio Romano’s column.
Vinicius Junior to Man Utd? Reports of a mammoth bid on the way!
This Real Madrid youngster is attracting interest from big names in Europe…
Tottenham
Conor Gallagher continues to be linked with Tottenham, and could there be a deadline for him to sign a new Chelsea contract? Latest details in Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive column here.
Lucas Bergvall replies to rumours about his family using Barcelona’s interest to get a bigger offer from Tottenham: “They can write and say what they want. I know what is right for my career. I try not to put so much energy into it.”
West Ham United
📰 West Ham are eyeing up a summer move for Dominic Solanke after his fine form for Bournemouth this season (Telegraph)