🚨 NEW Arsenal deal progressing but another Gunners star could leave, Chelsea "confident" of signing GK, shock Lewandowski links, & more
All today's headlines and UCL news clips, featuring Arsenal, Man City and more!
Good morning everyone and welcome to another Daily Briefing! Thanks as always for reading, and hope you enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
Plus UCL news clips and more transfer news!
Champions League round-up
Arsenal eventually finish off Olympiacos
Arsenal continued their strong start in the Champions League with another 2-0 victory to follow their win in Bilbao last time out.
Gabriel Martinelli tapped home from close range to make it 1-0 early on, and the Gunners were then a little wasteful with their chances.
Bukayo Saka eventually drilled home a second to make sure of the result, but should the Olympiacos goalkeeper have done a little better?
FT Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Manchester City left frustrated in Monaco
Manchester City endured a frustrating evening away from home in the Champions League despite two fine goals by Erling Haaland.
The prolific Norwegian striker scored with his first touch of the ball and later added a well-placed header to give City the advantage.
In between those two goals, Monaco responded with a screamer from outside the box, and they later grabbed a late equaliser from the penalty spot.
FT Monaco 2-2 Manchester City [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Newcastle earn biggest Champions League win
Newcastle United earned their biggest ever win in the Champions League as they thrashed USG 4-0 away from home.
Nick Woltemade got the final touch on a deflected Sandro Tonali strike for the opener, before Anthony Gordon fired home two penalties.
Harvey Barnes added the fourth to cap a memorable night for Eddie Howe’s side as they picked up their first three points of this season’s league phase.
FT USG 0-4 Newcastle [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Champions League scores in full
USG 0-4 Newcastle
Qarabag 2-0 Copenhagen
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Barcelona 1-2 PSG
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 PSV
Borussia Dortmund 4-1 Athletic Bilbao
Monaco 2-2 Manchester City
Napoli 2-1 Sporting Lisbon
Villarreal 2-2 Juventus
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta on Martin Odegaard’s form: “Yeah, he was phenomenal. I think he influenced the game in a manner that is very important for us. He created some big chances for his teammates, he should have scored a goal as well … so it’s good to have him back at this level.”
Bukayo Saka could be set to earn as much as £300,000 a week to become Arsenal’s highest earner if he signs a new contract at the Emirates Stadium. (talkSPORT)
Arsenal are ready to sell Gabriel Jesus as long as they receive a fee in the region of £30-35m this January, with AC Milan among the clubs monitoring his situation. (Ekrem Konur)
Barcelona
Marcus Rashford is proving to be a real positive for Barcelona, with the loan signing from Manchester United now on three goals and four assists in just nine appearances this season.
Deco on Chelsea’s bid for Fermin Lopez: “We didn’t want to sell Fermin, easy answer. Selling Fermin means weaken the squad. The only way was if Fermin asked us to leave the club, and it never happened. So we are very happy.” (Mundo Deportivo)
Robert Lewandowski is reportedly attracting interest from AC Milan. (Sport)
Bayern Munich
Nicolas Jackson on his future at Bayern: “I’m very happy here, everyone welcomed me very well. I feel at home. We’ll see what the future brings.” (Bild)
Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen on Michael Olise links with other clubs: “Regarding the interest of other clubs, we’re very relaxed.”
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Chelsea
Chelsea are confident of signing AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan once he becomes a free agent next summer. (AS Roma Live)
Deco on Chelsea’s bid for Fermin Lopez: “We didn’t want to sell Fermin, easy answer. Selling Fermín means weaken the squad. The only way was if Fermin asked us to leave the club, and it never happened. So we are very happy.” (Mundo Deportivo)
Is Enzo Maresca being told NOT to play this Chelsea forward? Read the full details here from Simon Phillips!
Fulham
Rodrigo Muniz has signed a new long-term contract with Fulham until June 2030 after the club rejected approaches from English and Italian clubs during the summer transfer window. (Fabrizio Romano)
Liverpool
Joe Gomez could still leave Liverpool this January after coming close to joining AC Milan in the summer, with Premier League clubs now also interested. (Mark Brus, the Daily Briefing)
Liverpool could face competition from Chelsea and Arsenal for the signing of Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo. (Fichajes)
Liverpool centre-back Giovanni Leoni on his injury: “Surgery done. I will be back soon!” (Instagram)
Manchester City
Erling Haaland: “I’m ****** off, I think everyone should be. It’s not good enough. Right now I don’t think too much of personal records. I’m just, as I said, ****** off.” (BBC Sport)
Pep Guardiola: “Football you have to win and it’s down to the result. If you analyse the game, in many things it was really good … Many players did really good and we concede almost nothing. They defend so deep, so tight, we didn’t expect it with the way they have played.” (Press conference)
Manchester United
The mood inside Manchester United is “dire” as the club are still unsure about sacking Ruben Amorim due to a fear that there wouldn’t be much to be gained from yet another change in manager. (Mark Brus, the Daily Briefing)
Manchester United legend Michael Carrick would be tempted to return to Old Trafford amid some doubts over Ruben Amorim’s future and a desire from inside the club to hire someone with experience of English football. (talkSPORT)
Ruben Amorim on what he’s learned about English football: “It was really hard! It’s a completely different reality. I played maybe 7-8 games against English teams in the UCL and UEL but to play this league is completely different.”
Napoli
Kevin De Bruyne: “I have no issues or problems with Antonio Conte, at all. I’m a winner and I want to make the difference on the pitch, but there are zero problems with the coach.”
Newcastle United
Eddie Howe on Nick Woltemade transfer fee: “People will always discuss transfer fees. For a player, it’s just about committing to what you’re being asked to do. He is very good in that respect off the pitch. He does not seem unsettled. He has come into another country and there is very little fuss.
Howe on Woltemade’s performance: “He was excellent today. A lot of times he’s the pass before the wingers receive the ball, and so almost their involvement has relied on his ability to play that pass. He’s going to need crosses to score, that would be one major source of his goals. I’m pleased he’s got the goal today because that will help him feel even more embedded into our team.”
PSG
Luis Enrique on PSG’s win over Barcelona: “I have no doubt that Barca will be there (as UCL contenders), and I hope we are too. I really like the way Barca play, and there are very few teams with such a clear identity, just like ours. There are others I won’t name, but Barca are without question among the top candidates—just as we are. But this is only the beginning. The real competition starts in the knockout rounds, and that’s where we’ll see how every team responds.”
Real Madrid
Federico Valverde statement: “I have read several articles damaging my reputation. I know I’ve had bad games, I’m aware of it. I’m not hiding, and I face the criticism head-on. I’m truly sad. People can say many things about me, but under no circumstances can they say that I refuse to play. I have given everything and more for this club, I’ve played while fractured, injured, and I’ve never complained or asked for a break. I have a good relationship with the coach, which makes me feel confident enough to tell him which position I prefer on the pitch, but I always, always made it clear that I’m available to perform anywhere, on any trip, and in every game. I’ve left my heart and soul in this club and I will continue to do so, even if sometimes it’s not enough or I’m not playing as I’d like. I swear on my pride that I will never give up and will fight until the end, playing wherever I’m needed.” (Instagram)