🚨😡 Onana's ANGER, Tonali's ban confirmed, Bellingham ready, Tielemans JOY, Arsenal contract talks, Paqueta stunner & more UEL goal highlights
Today's headlines, featuring Aston Villa, Man City, West Ham and much more!
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Today’s top stories:
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Arsenal
Arsenal are planning talks with Amario Cozier-Duberry over a new deal in the next weeks/months as his contract will expire on 30th June, 2024. Discussions are currently ongoing. Several Premier League and European clubs are monitoring the situation.
The latest contract update on Ben White can be found exclusively here, where you can also read about Arsenal’s position on Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Gary Neville makes incredibly bold Premier League title prediction that’ll upset Man City fans [X via CaughtOffside]
Aston Villa
Aston Villa put on a real show in their Europa Conference League tie at AZ Alkmaar, running out 4-1 winners thanks to goals from Leon Bailey, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins and John McGinn.
Unai Emery on Tielemans scoring first Aston Villa goal (below): “Youri’s a very good player and I am 100% sure he will give his best performances with us. He needs more time to be comfortable in our structure.”
[Footage courtesy of TNT Sports]
14 goals in 15 appearances in all competitions for Ollie Watkins. On fire. Aston Villa extended his contract two weeks ago — perfect timing.
Dibu Martínez: “Unai Emery is one of the top 5 managers in the world right now. Aston Villa wants to win the Champions League and win a trophy. I'm not here to waste time. We will win something. Since I joined, we’ve move forward. I'll try to help put Aston Villa in the Champions League.”
Journalist predicts Aston Villa’s asking price for Ollie Watkins [Give Me Sport via CaughtOffside]
Barcelona
Xavi: "I'm very happy for Fermín. He works very well, he has skills and also helps us a lot. Personally, I like him. If he believes in himself, he can be a Barça player for many years. He's dynamic, he has a great shot, he plays with both feet..."
Which Barcelona superstar is interesting Chelsea? Find out here and whether the Blues have a chance of landing him.
Barcelona consider transfer move for Ligue 1 ace as duo could leave [Todo Fichajes via CaughtOffside]
Bayer Leverkusen
Three assists, one goal on Thursday night - total four goals and seven assists this season with Bayer Leverkusen. Florian Wirtz, playing at a fantastic level again under Xabi Alonso after breaking his ACL one year ago. Top player, top talent.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton’s 2-0 win over Dutch giants, Ajax, in the Europa League included another goal from on loan Barcelona ace, Ansu Fati.
[Footage courtesy of TNT Sports]
That’s three goals for Ansu as a Brighton player now. Barça’s Bojan Krkic was in the stands to follow his development.
Roberto De Zerbi gives worrying Solly March injury update [Football Daily via CaughtOffside]
Celtic
Celtic gem Matt O’Riley, MOTM on Wednesday; having a great season with 6 goals, 4 assists as CM. He also got a Denmark call up. Celtic, in a strong position as they just renewed his contract one month ago — it’d be a Scottish record transfer fee for any club interested.
Chelsea
David Datro Fofana has now been suspended for one week by Union Berlin after he refused to shake hands with the head coach Fischer after the Napoli game. Fofana joined Union Berlin on loan from Chelsea in July.
Supporters raging as Wolves v Chelsea match confirmed for Christmas Eve [Express and Star via CaughtOffside]
Why has Noni Madueke's 23/24 season not gone to plan so far? Read more from Si Phillips here.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Eintracht Frankfurt believe they signed a future star in Hugo Larsson. The 19 year old midfielder is doing really well after joining in the summer from Malmo. Eintracht paid just €11.5m despite strong competition... top clubs are now following him for the future.
Everton
Abdoulaye Doucouré is set to sign a new deal at Everton very soon. Agreement until 2025 (option until 2026) is on the verge of being sealed. Deal at final stages, set to be completed.
Everton facing huge points deduction as Financial Fair Play punishment [The Telegraph via CaughtOffside]
Feyenoord
Santi Gimenez after his goals on UCL debut: "I’m here in front of the camera, but my mum and my dad deserved to be here. They supported me since I was a kid. They trusted my dreams. I just wanted to say thanks to my family. Let me just tell them: I love you."
Inter Miami
Lionel Messi is poised to win the Ballon d’Or for a record eighth time. All the details and why Erling Haaland was just as deserving can be found here.
Inter Milan
Inter financial results report that they received €14.8m as a final, official fee from Chelsea for Cesare Casadei. Talented Italian midfielder joined on a permanent deal in 2022. They also received €50.2m final fee from Man United for André Onana.
Liverpool
Liverpool ran riot in their Europa League tie against Toulouse, eventually finishing up 5-1 winners with goals from Diogo Jota (below), Wataru Endo with his first for the club, Darwin Nunez, Ryan Gravenberch and Mo Salah.
[Footage courtesy of TNT Sports]
Anfield briefly brought to silence by ‘strange’ moment [Liverpool ECHO via Empire of the Kop]
Mohamed Salah has now scored 43 goals for Liverpool in major European competitions… the most of any player for an English club. Historical.
Manchester City
Erling Haaland has now scored 37 goals in just 33 Champions League appearances. Haaland is now 20th in the all-time top goal scorers list in the competition and he's just 23. Sometimes it's easy to forget what this boy is doing.
Guardiola on Haaland: "People expect him to score four goals. People just want him to fail. I'm sorry, he will score goals all his life. He has already scored a lot of goals in the Premier League, more than people who are getting a lot of compliments..."
Pep Guardiola has found his long-term De Bruyne replacement for Man City [Sport via CaughtOffside]
Manchester United
The FA have been investigating Alejandro Garnacho’s social media post in which he used gorilla emojis over a picture of Andre Onana's penalty save against Copenhagen.
Onana replies: ‘People cannot choose what I should be offended by. I know exactly what Garnacho meant: power and strength. This matter should go no further. AO24’
Harry Maguire’s situation at Man United could be changing. Find out why here.
A clear destination emerges for Man United’s Jadon Sancho in January [The Athletic via CaughtOffside]
Newcastle
Sandro Tonali has been banned from football for 10 months due to the gambling addiction scandal, plus he will have to spend another 8 months participating in a gambling rehab plan. He will return in August 2024.
The inside story on Sandro Tonali’s ban from the game can be read about exclusively here.
Eddie Howe confirms he would love to sign a Champions League midfielder [Goal via CaughtOffside]
Nice
French Federation confirm that OGC Nice fullback Youcef Atal has officially been suspended for 7 games after a social media post voicing support for Palestine. The sanction takes effect from Tuesday, October 31, 2023 at 12:00 am.
Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique on Zaire Emery: "What can I say? Look at his level, the way he plays every single match, the way he trains… He doesn’t look 17, he looks 34. Unbelievable."
RB Leipzig
Xavi Simons keeps shining for RB Leipzig as he has now scored his first Champions League goal... and also an assist for the Dutch gem. The club are super happy with his performances... and so are PSG as they loaned him out to the best team possible in the summer.
Real Betis
Official and confirmed. Sokratis Papastathopoulos has signed in as a new Real Betis player on a free transfer. Contract valid until June 2024.
Real Madrid
“I will be ready and available for El Clasico,” Jude Bellingham announces to TVE. No serious injury for the midfielder.
Arsenal eyeing La Liga duo [Football Transfers via CaughtOffside]
Saudi Pro League
Alvaro Medran, one to watch in the next months as he's one of the stars in the Saudi League and his contract expires in June. He could sign for a new team in two months, several clubs are showing an interest in him.
Sadio Mane is the new owner of a French football club after helping buy players this summer [ESPN via CaughtOffside]
Sevilla
Óliver Torres has signed with a new agency. He will now be represented by ROOF. Documents signed with the midfielder who will be out of contract in June 2024.
Inside Spain: Jude Bellingham’s first Clasico, Real Madrid conspiracy and replacing Michael Jordan [Football Espana]
Union Berlin
David Datro Fofana has now been suspended for one week by Union Berlin after he refused to shake hands with the head coach Fischer after the Napoli game. Fofana joined Union Berlin on loan from Chelsea in July.
West Ham
West Ham’s unbeaten run in Europe came to an end after they lost 2-1 to Olympiacos on Thursday night in the Europa League. Lucas Paqueta’s late consolation is worth watching again though.
[Footage courtesy of TNT Sports]
West Ham fans fuming at Michail Antonio’s comments about Bowen’s future [CaughtOffside]
For all the very latest transfer news, read caughtoffside.com