đš Man Utd agree Wilcox compensation, Poch sorts Chelsea indiscipline, Tuchel update, Haaland injury blow and more
Today's round-up, featuring Arsenal, Barcelona, Liverpool, West Ham and more...
Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks for reading, and enjoy!
Todayâs top stories:
Plus more from Inter, Liverpool and Real Madrid
AC Milan
AC Milan plans remain clear and have not changed: Stefano Pioli, expected to be sacked at the end of the season. Formal steps to follow in the next weeks to part ways with the manager.
Arsenal
Arteta: âJurrien Timber looks really good in training. Itâs too soon for him to play but he will be tested again in the U23s and then we see. I see him as a right and left-full-back. We will use him in different ways.â
Arsenal travel to Wolves on Saturday evening, and with Man City having FA Cup commitments, the Gunners could again leapfrog Pep Guardiolaâs side, albeit they will have played a game more. Mikel Arteta was in fighting mood at his pre-match press conference [pictures from Sky Sports News]:
Arsenal ready to offer âŹ45 million for 22-year-old Liverpool target [Bolavip]
Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid are on the hunt for central defenders, including one long-term Man United target. Matteo Moretto has an exclusive on who the Rojiblancos are after.
Atlético Madrid make contact with Bayer Leverkusen over defender [Diario AS]
Barcelona
Barcelona star spent Wednesday night hanging out with royalty [Sport]
Matteo Moretto has more on the huge twist in the Ronald Araujo to Bayern Munich story.
KoundĂ©: âAraĂșjo understood that GĂŒndo didnât want to go against him after they spoke with each other, so the topic is closed. I donât think Ilkay wanted to cause any harm. Weâre all moving in the same direction, the dressing room is full of desire.â
Bayern Munich
Could Roberto De Zerbi be set to swap Brighton for Bayern after Julian Nagelsmann turned the job down? Christian Falk has more.
Amadou Onana is a surprise target for Bayern. Find out why in Christian Falkâs exclusive.
Thomas Tuchel was asked what if Bayern wanted him to stay beyond this summer after Nagelsmann signed a new deal with Germany? âIâve an agreement with the club to part ways in June, it has been communicated and it stands.â
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Chelsea
Chelsea and Ian Maatsen are expected to part ways in the summer, as revealed in March. No changes as Chelsea are planning to make a profit and Maatsen wants to play regularly. Borussia Dortmund are very happy with Maatsen. Release clause: ÂŁ35m.
Christopher Nkunku is back in partial team training, whilst Enzo FernĂĄndez is part of the Chelsea squad for the FA Cup game.
Pochettino on Nkunku: âWe have to assess day-by-day. In the last few days, Nkunku has had the possibility to be involved in part of the training session. We need to see the reaction and how he evolves.â
Data shows that Chelsea might stick with Pochettino says Si Phillips.
Pochettino: âCole Palmer is far away from what we expected in the beginning... I need to be honest. His numbers are a consequence of his job. He's performing in a very good way.â
Pochettino on penalties chaos: âWe were talking a lot after Monday. We had a meeting with all the players, staff, sporting directors. I explained that if happens again like this, the message is clear. Discipline is important. Now we move on.â
Pochettino was asked about his feelings if the FA Cup semi-final goes to penalties [pictures from Hayters]:
Everton
The Premier League confirm Everton's appeal against a two-point deduction will be decided before the end of the season [pictures from Sky Sports News]:
âI do fear for himâ â Sean Dyche let down by Moshiri and Kenwright at Everton [Stan Collymore]
Germany
OFFICIAL: Julian Nagelsmann has signed a new deal as the German national team head coach until World Cup 2026. âThis is a decision of the heart. It is a great honour to be able to coach the national team and work with the best players in the country. With successful, passionate performances weâve the chance to inspire an entire country, also the two wins against France and the Netherlands in March really touched me. We want to play a successful home Euros together⊠then Iâm really looking forward to the challenge of a World Cup together with my coaching staff.â
Hammarby
Liberian talent Divine Teah turns 18 and he's set to sign a professional deal at Hammarby. He'll put pen to paper on a four-year deal. Contract valid until 2028 for Teah, on the radar of several clubs in England and France for the future.
Inter
Inter are again showing their strong interest in Nacho as a free agent, after they tried to sign him one year ago - but itâs not easy. Nacho wants to keep all his options open. Several clubs, including those outside Europe, are interested, and heâs expected to leave Real Madrid in June.
Zilliacus: âTime for Suning to sell Interâ [The Italian Football Podcast]
Lille
Yusuf Yazici leads Lille's scoring record in European competitions with 12 goals. There are several clubs interested in signing him as a free agent with his contract due to expire in June.
Liverpool
Nico Kovac is on Liverpoolâs list of replacements for Jurgen Klopp. Find out more in this brilliant Christian Falk scoop.
After some poor performances, Jurgen Klopp was asked how he was going to lift his Liverpool team for the final few games of the season [pictures from Hayters]:
Jurgen Klopp â100% sureâ Liverpool will win all their remaining games [Sky Sports]
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Manchester City
Itâs clear that Manchester City want Bayernâs Jamal Musiala, but whatâs the latest? Christian Falk has his finger on the pulse as always.
Pep Guardiola: âErling Haaland felt something, a muscular issue. We will see. Kevin De Bruyne felt his hamstring, he was so tired, but he feels well now.â
Pep Guardiola on Cole Palmer: âHe was asking for two seasons to leave Man City. I said: stay. He wanted to leave. What can we do? Heâs an exceptional player with super potential... I didn't give him the minutes he deserves that he now has at Chelsea.â
Asked about the scrapping of FA Cup replays from next season, Pep Guardiola expressed his sorrow for so-called smaller clubs [pictures from Sky Sports News]:
Chelsea monitoring situation of Man Cityâs top summer target [The Guardian]
Deal sealed for Manchester City to sign 15 year old winger Timeo Whisker for the Academy. Itâs all completed with Cardiff City for Timeo to join, City beating several Premier League clubs to the signing.
Guardiola on Bernardo Silva: "Itâs fine, he missed the penalty... he didnât want to. It happens. But being there, responsibility for everyone, when that happens, I'll never judge. I have big respect."
Pep Guardiola: "I admire Liverpool. Whatever happens this season, I admire Liverpool. When I said Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool always has been there, itâs just that. Theyâre the team that faced us, the real, real contender that faced us face to face, goes against you, for six/seven years."
Manchester United
Manchester United have agreed compensation to appoint Jason Wilcox as their new technical director. Deal completed now, heâs joining from Southampton, and the former Man City Head of Academy will be a key part of the INEOS project. Talks continue for Dan Ashworth too.
Jason Wilcox starts as Man United technical director with immediate effect, involved to plan for the summer transfer window. Wilcox will work on recruitment and Academy, a key figure of the future structure with Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada. He was never close to joining Liverpool.
Kobbie Mainoo posted this on his Instagram account to thank all the fans for their birthday wishes⊠and show his love for Man United since day one:
Erik ten Hag on Garnachoâs liked tweets after the last game: âHe apologised for it. After that, we move on. Alejandro is a young player and has to learn a lot.â
Ten Hag: âSanchoâs performances changing my mind? No. We know Jadon is a fantastic football player, so that is not a surprise for us⊠That is not the issue. He made his contribution to the result for Dortmund. A great performance, for sure.
Erik ten Hag was asked about Casemiroâs importance to the team and what winning the Carabao Cup last season meant to him [pictures from Hayters]:
Casemiro: "I suffered watching Real Madrid against City, I'm a big Real fan. Of course I was happy. For Real Madrid because my friends are there, and for Manchester United too.â
Casemiro reveals: "When talks were at final stages with Man United on personal terms, Florentino PĂ©rez did not want me to leave. He didnât want to talk to me about leaving Real Madrid. I had to talk to other people at the club."
Casemiro: "When everything was done with Man United, I entered Ancelottiâs office... he started crying. He told me: âCase, I donât know... I just want you to know that I love you. I didnât want you to leave.â It was the only moment where I doubted leaving Real Madrid."
Manchester United & Arsenal would directly benefit from Nagelsmannâs Bayern fire sale [Christian Falk]
Napoli
Jonathan David is wanted by Napoli but is a deal close? Matteo Moretto has an exclusive on potential Premier League interest.
Montella emerges for Napoli job joining five more candidates [Gazzetta dello Sport]
Real Madrid
Los Blancos flop, Arda GĂŒler, is likely to go out on loan this summer, but where to? Matteo Moretto has an exclusive update.
Real Madrid talent Nico Paz has decided to sign for DC Global as the new agency to take care of his future with Lisandro Pirosanto. Paz is currently under contract at Real Madrid until June 2027.
Nacho has informed Real Madrid of his intention to leave at the end of the season. His contract expires in June and heâs now planning to leave as a free agent.
Real Madridâs main centre-back target remains Leny Yoro. Madrid already had contacts with Yoroâs agent, Mendes, to understand about the competition from PSG. Lilleâs final decision on price tag will be key.
Real Madrid starter misses training two days out from El ClĂĄsico [Diario AS]
West Ham
James Ward-Prowse had a few sincere words to say about David Moyes when asked directly after their loss to Leverkusen [pictures from Hayters]:
German media attack West Ham man calling him a âloserâ [BILD]