🚨 Manager reveals Man Utd "dream", Arsenal deal advancing, Sesko to Chelsea, plus superb Messi goal for Inter Miami
Announcement imminent at Chelsea, advanced talks at Arsenal and more in today's round-up.
Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest Daily Briefing - thanks for reading and hope you all enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
Plus more from Chelsea, Liverpool & don’t miss Charles Watts’ column!
Al Ittihad
Marcelo Gallardo is still expected to part ways with Al Ittihad as he will leave the club at the end of the season. Talks are ongoing to agree on termination of his contract with Al Ittihad, who are looking at a new manager for next season.
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta contract update - all the latest details in Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive column.
Fabio Vieira to leave Arsenal? Charles Watts thinks another midfielder’s exit is more likely - more info in his latest exclusive column.
Lautaro Martinez to Arsenal rumours are doing the rounds again, but how much truth is there to the speculation? Charles Watts has more info in his latest column.
Are Chelsea copying the Arsenal and Arteta blueprint by hiring Enzo Maresca? Charles Watts takes a look in his exclusive column.
Bukayo Saka will keep this other in-form Premier League talent out of the England XI at Euro 2024, says Charles Watts in his exclusive column.
Benjamin Sesko to Arsenal rumours are hotting up, but Chelsea and Man United are still involved, according to Fabrizio Romano in his latest column.
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Barcelona
Official: Hansi Flick has been unveiled as the new Barcelona manager, replacing Xavi in the Nou Camp dugout.
Flick: “I’m proud to be at Barca, it’s a wonderful and incredible club really. We share the same vision, possession and quality football. Barca has La Masia, one of the best academies in the world; so our mission is to improve all the players.”
How close was Flick to Chelsea and Bayern? Fabrizio Romano has the details in today’s exclusive column.
There's verbal agreement in place between Barcelona and Marc Casado over a new deal valid until June 2027. Talks started in April as revealed, now waiting to get the agreement signed as soon as details are finalized.
Bayern Munich
Vincent Kompany has landed in Munich in order to sign his contract until June 2027 as new Bayern manager. Deal done and now officially announced.
Bayern director Max Eberl: “I can reveal that Vincent Kompany made it clear to us how much the job at Bayern appeals to him and that he absolutely wants to take it on. Vincent Kompany is hungry and has everything he needs. We trust him, he’s gonna be a top coach.”
Kompany: “I’m looking forward to the challenge at FC Bayern. As a coach, you have to stand for who you are as a person: I love having possession of the ball, being creative and we also have to be aggressive on the pitch and brave. I’m now looking forward to the most basic things: working with the players, building a team. When the foundation is in place, success will follow.”
How close was a Hansi Flick Bayern return? Fabrizio Romano takes a look in today’s exclusive column.
Alphonso Davies transfer update - Fabrizio Romano on why this story has gone a little quiet recently.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund will approach Chelsea after the Champions League final to negotiate for Ian Maatsen. The opening proposal will be under £35m clause value but with different structure. Maatsen is very happy at Dortmund and among priority targets for BVB.
Mats Hummels on his future after Wembley: “There are three options: BVB, retirement or another club. Retirement is currently the least likely option. USA are out of the question for me. If I move, I would stay in Europe for sure.”
Bournemouth
Bournemouth have triggered the €16m buy option clause to make their deal for Enes Unal permanent. The Turkish striker is staying at the club on a four-year contract.
Is Man City's Title Tainted?
Brighton
Deniz Undav has sent a clear message to Brighton: “We never know what’s next in life… but I hope to stay at Stuttgart. My desire is clear, I want to stay at Stuttgart and have strong season there so we will see what happens.”
Burnley
Maxime Esteveis attracting interest for the summer transfer window after Burnley’s relegation. The France Under-23 centre-back is on the shortlist of two Premier League clubs after playing all 16 consecutive games since he joined the club in February.
Chelsea
Borussia Dortmund will approach Chelsea after the Champions League final to negotiate for Ian Maatsen. The opening proposal will be under £35m clause value but with different structure. Maatsen is very happy at Dortmund and among priority targets for BVB.
Benjamin Sesko to Chelsea remains one to watch, and he’s rejected TWO other offers, according to Fabrizio Romano in his exclusive column.
Enzo Maresca’s contract at Chelsea until June 2029 will be signed soon, while the club will also pay compensation for the staff. At least five assistants will leave Leicester City to be part of Maresca’s team at Stamford Bridge, including former Blues goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
Maresca will be involved in key Chelsea transfer decisions, including on the future of Omari Hutchinson - more info in Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive column.
Ronald Araujo to Chelsea? The Barcelona defender is one of the big names being linked with the Blues at the moment, while the Jean-Clair Todibo transfer could also be one to watch.
What next for Andrey Santos after his impressive form on loan at Strasbourg? Fabrizio Romano has an update in his exclusive column.
Inter Miami
What a goal by Lionel Messi from long range! FT Inter Miami 1-3 Atlanta United [Pictures from X/MLS]
That’s now 11 goals and 12 assists in 13 games this season for Lionel Messi after today’s goal - 23 G/A in 13 games all competitions. It’s also the first time he has lost a match he scored in since Argentina vs Saudi Arabia, World Cup 2022.
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town are completing all documents review in order to seal Kieran McKenna’s contract extension soon. There’ll be an important salary increase for the manager after the club’s promotion to the Premier League.
Juventus
Juventus keep working on Teun Koopmeiners deal, already approved as top target by Thiago Motta. Koopmeiners is keen on the move and open to staying in Italy. No proposal has been made to Atalanta yet; Juve want to complete some outgoings before, including Soule.
Lazio
Daichi Kamada is on the verge of signing new deal at Lazio as the verbal agreement is now in place. Lazio are waiting for Kamada to sign, as he also received a proposal for Crystal Palace but he’s happy to continue at Lazio with Igor Tudor as head coach.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp: “We should be really happy that we have these owners. I wouldn’t have survived a year at Liverpool (with different others in charge). Sack him, sack him... then finally they play football where people think they might be back and they sack the manager anyway.”
Wesley Gassova has been linked with Liverpool, but there’s also growing talk of West Ham moving for him - all the latest details in Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive column.
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Manchester United
Thomas Tuchel is ready to take the Manchester United job as the club continue to internally review Erik ten Hag’s position - more info in Fabrizio Romano’s column.
Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United could be a transfer to keep an eye on, but there’s a lot of interest in the young forward - latest info in Fabrizio Romano’s column.
Wayne Rooney: “My dream is clear. I've always said I’d love to manage Everton or Manchester United one day.”
Newcastle United
Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Jeff Hendrick, Loris Karius and Kell Watts will all leave Newcastle United as free agents this summer.
Olympiacos
What a moment as Olympiacos scored this late goal to win the Europa Conference League final! FT Olympiacos 1-0 Fiorentina [Pictures from TNT Sports]
PSG
Kylian Mbappe on why he extended his contract at PSG in 2022 instead of joining Real Madrid: “It was more than staying at PSG, it was a World Cup in Qatar… there were many things around these things. It was a big decision, a difficult decision but I don’t regret anything.”
Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid announcement could be just days away, as it should be made official before the Euros - more in Fabrizio Romano’s column.
Mbappe: “My next club will be official soon, it’s matter of days. I can’t wait for that, I’m happy. We have to wait just for some days.”
Rodrygo: “Some of my words were taken out of context. I’m very happy at Real Madrid, it’s a dream to be here, I'm not planning to leave at all. Now, let’s focus on the 15h UCL.”
Reims
Former Reims manager Will Still is open to a new project after leaving the club at the beginning of the month. Still has signed with Unique Sports Group as new agency, and he’s ready for a new opportunity.
Stuttgart
Deniz Undav has sent a clear message to Brighton: “We never know what’s next in life… but I hope to stay at Stuttgart. My desire is clear, I want to stay at Stuttgart and have strong season there so we will see what happens.”
Tottenham
Emerson Royal to leave Tottenham this summer? There’s interest from top clubs in Serie A.
West Ham United
Wesley Gassova to West Ham could be one to watch but he’s also been tracked by a host of other top clubs - more info in Fabrizio Romano’s exclusive column.
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I can see Tuchel at Man Utd, don't think they'll go down the Chelsea route and bring in someone inexperienced