🚨 Mbappe sends PSG through, Arsenal eyeing Osimhen alternative, TRUTH about PL star's Man City links, Liverpool eyeing Bundesliga stars, & more
Today's round-up, featuring Arsenal, Liverpool, City, PSG and more...
Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks for reading, and enjoy!
Today’s top stories:
AC Milan
AC Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani: “There are no talks now ongoing for Joshua Zirkzee deal… and even if there were talks, I’d never tell you!” However, behind the scenes, AC Milan had contacts for Zirkzee and he remains on the list as one of the potential main targets this summer.
Official: AC Milan talent Kevin Zeroli has signed a new long term deal until June 2028, confirmed.
Arsenal
Ivan Toney to Arsenal transfer no longer looks likely - Ben Jacobs explains why.
Alexander Isak is appreciated by Arsenal but the deal has complications, according to Ben Jacobs in his exclusive column.
Victor Osimhen Arsenal transfer interest appears to have cooled - Fabrizio Romano explains why in his latest exclusive column.
Could Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal now be the more likely striker signing?
Gabriel Heinze to join Arsenal’s coaching staff? Fabrizio Romano has the latest on this potential move.
Jorginho’s agent Joao Santos: “In my opinion, they (Juventus) don’t need a player like Jorginho. If Giuntoli ever needed a midfielder like Jorginho, though, he can always contact me.”
On Jorginho-Fiorentina links: “First of all we need to understand if they are actually thinking about Jorginho. It’s an ambitious project, a club that wants to aim for the Champions League, for us there would be no problems. At the moment, however, Fiorentina has not contacted us.”
Martin Odegaard has been training with the Arsenal squad today ahead of the Bayern Munich game. He looks fine and ready after a small issue on Sunday.
Aston Villa
Unai Emery has interest from top clubs, so could he join the managerial merry-go-round this summer? Fabrizio Romano has the latest in his exclusive column.
Atletico Madrid
Angel Correa briefly put Atletico Madrid in front in the tie against Borussia Dortmund, but it wasn’t enough as they were sent crashing out of the Champions League. FT Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Atletico Madrid (5-4 on aggregate) [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Barcelona
A night to forget for Barcelona as their former player Ousmane Dembele scored to knock them out of the Champions League. FT Barcelona 1-4 PSG (4-6 on aggregate) [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro: “I have no doubts. One day, Xabi Alonso will be Real Madrid manager. No doubts at all, zero doubts! The only doubt is when he will sign for Real Madrid. But it will happen, trust me. I am sure.”
Leverkusen CEO Carro: “Florian Wirtz will stay with us next season. The plan is clear, together with his father. There’s interest from many clubs, we can’t plan too long in football... but he’s staying. He could win the Ballon d'Or one day.”
Bayern Munich
Kieran Trippier to Bayern Munich - could they try again for the Newcastle full-back? Latest info from Ben Jacobs’ column here.
Julian Nagelsmann will decide on Bayern Munich and a possible return before the Euros this summer, says Fabrizio Romano.
Could Kim Min-jae leave Bayern already? Fabrizio Romano takes a look at links with a return to Napoli.
Harry Kane: “Bundesliga has been a great experience for me. I really like playing in Germany. If we make the step tomorrow, we’ll only be a couple of games away from Wembley…I want to show my best performance tomorrow.”
Thomas Tuchel confirms: “Manuel Neuer and Leroy Sane can play (vs Arsenal). Due to the situation with Gnabry and King Coman out, Leroy will probably have to grit his teeth for as long as possible.”
Julian Nagelsmann is ahead of Roberto de Zerbi and Ralf Rangnick as Bayern’s favourite candidate as reported last week. German Federation pushing to extend his contract until World Cup 2026 but Bayern are trying and working on it. De Zerbi and Rangnick are alternative options on the list.
Borussia Dortmund
A great strike by Marcel Sabitzer to send Borussia Dortmund through after a thrilling tie with Atletico Madrid! FT Borussia Dortmund 4-2 Atletico Madrid (5-4 on aggregate) [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Brentford
Ivan Toney could leave Brentford on a free transfer in 2025 as the asking price could be too high for him this summer - more info in Ben Jacobs’ column here.
Chelsea
Ivan Toney to Chelsea transfer no longer looks likely - Ben Jacobs explains why.
Levi Colwill to PSG transfer talk isn’t dying down - latest from Ben Jacobs’ column.
Mauricio Pochettino: “I never judge players when they sign, we always expect the best. But Cole Palmer hasn’t surprised us. The way he’s performing is fantastic. He is showing the club made a great decision to sign him.”
Juventus
Jorginho’s agent Joao Santos: “In my opinion, they (Juventus) don’t need a player like Jorginho. If Giuntoli ever needed a midfielder like Jorginho, though, he can always contact me.”
Liverpool
Goncalo Inacio to Liverpool under Ruben Amorim? Ben Jacobs takes a closer look at this story in his exclusive column.
Omar Marmoush to Liverpool? Fabrizio Romano says the Reds have been monitoring him and other Eintracht Frankfurt players.
Niko Kovac has denied links with the Liverpool manager job as Ruben Amorim remains the frontrunner: “There’s no truth to Liverpool links emerged in the recent days. It’s not true.”
Manchester City
Jude Bellingham: “Man City interest last summer? I spoke to a lot of clubs but as soon as Real Madrid came in, it was a no brainer. I didn’t even need to think. Real Madrid project, the future plans, the players… I jumped at the decision to join them. No other way.”
Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City? Fabrizio Romano addresses the rumours in his exclusive column.
Manchester United
Ivan Toney to Manchester United could be one to watch in the summer, according to Ben Jacobs in his exclusive column.
Manchester United are now pushing in talks to extend Kobbie Mainoo’s contract by this summer after initial discussions in February. INEOS want Mainoo to be one of the faces of the new project. His new deal would see a salary increase for Mainoo plus several add-ons.
Could Raphael Varane leave Man Utd for a Premier League rival?
Napoli
Could Kim Min-jae leave Bayern already? Fabrizio Romano takes a look at links with a return to Napoli.
Newcastle United
Newcastle United have no intention of selling Alexander Isak this summer amid interest from Arsenal, with the departure of Bruno Guimaraes or Miguel Almiron more likely, according to Ben Jacobs.
Kieran Trippier to Bayern Munich - could they try again for the Newcastle full-back?
PSG
This was the moment Kylian Mbappe sealed the win for PSG last night as they progressed into the Champions League semi-finals! FT Barcelona 1-4 PSG (4-6 on aggregate) [Pictures from TNT Sports]
PSG are not looking to sign Vinicius Junior, but they have other names on their radar, including top strikers and this surprise Chelsea name - more details in Ben Jacobs’ exclusive column.
Real Madrid
Vinicius Junior is expected to stay at Real Madrid - latest details from Ben Jacobs’ column.
Xabi Alonso to be Real Madrid manager one day? Fabrizio Romano takes a look at the story in his exclusive column.
Jude Bellingham: “Man City interest last summer? I spoke to a lot of clubs but as soon as Real Madrid came in, it was a no brainer. I didn’t even need to think. Real Madrid project, the future plans, the players… I jumped at the decision to join them. No other way.”
Werder Bremen
Werder Bremen have suspended Naby Keita until the end of the season. The club have also handed the midfielder a substantial fine. The 28-year-old will no longer train with the team or be part of first-team dressing room. Keita joined on free transfer after his chapter at Liverpool.