🚨Marcus Rashford turns down Saudi move, Man City eye Ligue 1 star, Ronaldo to PSG? latest on Dani Olmo, & more

Plus all of the other stories making the news in the world of football...

the Daily Briefing

Jan 03, 2025

(Photos by Alex Livesey, Yasser Bakhsh and Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Hello everyone and welcome to your latest Daily Briefing! Thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy :-)

Today’s top stories:

Arsenal

“Ethan Nwaneri he gives us all the right reasons to start as he’s training very well,” Mikel Arteta has said about the 17-year-old’s prospects of playing over the coming weeks. “We could’ve signed a player from any country, but he would be playing. He deserves to play.”
Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is a player Arsenal are monitoring should he leave Germany in the future. [Daily Mail]

Aston Villa

Aston Villa remain in talks with Borussia Dortmund over the signing of Donyell Malen. The Premier League club’s initial proposal was rejected but the player is keen on a move to England.

Atalanta

Ben Godfrey can leave Atalanta in January as he’s no longer a key part of their project.

Barcelona

Dani Olmo’s position has not changed so far; despite links with clubs in England, Italy and Germany, he’s currently waiting for Barcelona to sort out their financial situation. The player wants to play for Barça and he’s not entertaining talks with any other club at this stage.

Lamine Yamal has returned to first-team training at Barcelona after recovering from an injury suffered in December.
“When I signed for Barcelona, I didn't imagine winning only a La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup after four years,” Frenkie de Jong has told Voetbal about his time with the Catalan club. “I expected at least double, so that disappoints me. Things happen on the road you can't predict.”
Frenkie de Jong has opened the door for an exit from Barcelona with comments on his future: “People think I want to stay at Barça forever because life outside football is so good here, and it is good, but it's less important to what happens on the pitch”.
“If I’d feel that I can't contribute enough, or the team can't compete, I’d be gone.”
“My contract renewal is an issue for the papers here [in Barcelona], but for me, it’s not,” Frenkie de Jong said further about his future with the La Liga giants. “I want to play football and after that, I will see what the club wants to do with me, and then I will decide what I want to do, together with my agent and family.”
“Like with Lamine Yamal, I see Alejandro Balde staying at Barcelona for many years,” the defender’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has said about the 21-year-old’s future. “He’s a Barça player through and through.”

Bayer Leverkusen

Alejo Sarco has signed for Bayer Leverkusen as part of a deal with Vélez. The player’s contract is until 2029.

Borussia Dortmund

Aston Villa remain in talks with Borussia Dortmund over the signing of Donyell Malen. The Premier League club’s initial proposal was rejected but the player is keen on a move to England.

Chelsea

“He has developed a lot. He is on his way to being a great footballer,” Boca Juniors president Juan Roman Riquelme told ESPN about Aaron Anselmino’s future at Chelsea. “He is going to be a player for the Argentina national team. He is going to compete with the centre-backs.”
Chelsea are one of several Premier League clubs interested in Wolves forward Matheus Cunha. [CaughtOffside]

Hoffenheim

Gift Orban has joined Hoffenheim from Lyon as part of a deal worth €9m plus €3m in add-ons. The player has signed a deal valid until 2029.

Juventus

Juventus manager Thiago Motta on Danilo: “Danilo is no longer part of this project, we have been clear. It is a decision taken for the good of all.”

Liverpool

Real Madrid maintain their stance on the Trent Alexander-Arnold deal. If they cannot sign the right-back in January, the La Liga champions will push to bring him to Spain as a free agent in July. Official contacts between Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid are expected soon.
Mohamed Salah has spoken about working with Arne Slot: “Before I worked with Arne Slot, I didn’t expect he was this good… then we started working and I’m not surprised at all.”
“He’s great with details, great with small things, doesn’t have an ego when he makes a mistake… he’s great on tactics.”
“Best in the world? It’s tricky! People have different preferences,” Mohamed Salah told TNT Sports when asked about potentially winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or. “I always see myself as the best and I want to give my best for the team.”
Mohamed Salah: “I want to win the Premier League title more than the Champions League this year.”
“Vinicius Jnr is a very good player, that’s why,” Mohamed Salah told TNT Sports when asked why he voted for the Brazilian as the best player in the world. “He’s improving every year and hopefully he can continue… I voted for him because he deserves it”.
Liverpool are showing an interest in Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. [Football Insider]

Lyon

Gift Orban has joined Hoffenheim from Lyon as part of a deal worth €9m plus €3m in add-ons. The player has signed a deal valid until 2029.

Manchester City

Manchester City have added RC Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov to their list for January. The Premier League champions are well informed on the player’s situation as several top clubs are interested in the 20-year-old star.
Man City have enquired about the possibility of signing AIK Freetong defender Juma Bah. [Africa Foot]

Manchester United

Marcus Rashford has no interest in moving to a Saudi Pro League club during the January transfer window. The player will not even consider it an option.
Antony is open to leaving Man United in January with Real Betis a possible option for the winger. [CaughtOffside]

Monaco

Monaco have agreed personal terms with Sturm Graz striker Mika Biereth who is the French club’s preferred option for the role. The 21-year-old wants to move to the Ligue 1 outfit with talks now underway between clubs over a transfer fee.

Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain sources play down reports linking Cristiano Ronaldo to the French club. Talks have not even taken place.

“New signings? We are always open to improving the squad,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said during his latest press conference. “So of course, we will try to do it if we can improve the team, but it’s difficult as top players are not available in January.”

Real Madrid

Real Madrid maintain their stance on the Trent Alexander-Arnold deal. If they cannot sign the right-back in January, the La Liga champions will push to bring him to Spain as a free agent in July. Official contacts between Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid are expected soon.
Carlo Ancelotti on potential incomings at Real Madrid in January: “January signings? It’s not easy to talk about this topic now. We will see.”
“David Alaba is close to playing games, he will be ready on January 20,” Carlo Ancelotti has stated about the fitness of Alaba. “We will rotate more now, especially in defence.”
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois on the current football calendar: “The other day I was laughing with Fede Valverde. I said: ‘Your next holidays will be in 2027. You know how mad that sounds’”.
Man United defender Diogo Dalot remains on Real Madrid’s transfer list should the La Liga club fail to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold in 2025. [iNews]

Roma

AS Roma boss Claudio Ranieri has commented on the rumours that he called Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti to discuss his current job: “All the reports about me calling Carlo Ancelotti to become next Roma manager starting from next season are not true.”

Saudi Pro League

Paris Saint-Germain sources play down reports linking Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo to the French club. Talks have not even taken place.
Marcus Rashford has no interest in moving to a Saudi Pro League club during the January transfer window. The player will not even consider it an option.
Al Nassr have appointed Majed AlJamaan as their new CEO.

St. Pauli

St Pauli are set to sign Gambian talent Abdoulie Ceesay from the Estonian club Paide. The agreement is done and also documents were signed on Thursday.