🚨 Real Madrid monitoring Ancelotti successor, Darwin Nunez HORROR miss, Ajax star to leave in January, Arsenal statement receives criticism, and more
Today's football headlines, featuring Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool and much more!
Happy Monday everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - your essential round-up of today’s biggest football headlines. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Today’s top stories:
AC Milan
Could AC Milan be in the market for this Arsenal defender in January? More from Fabrizio Romano here.
Ajax
Steven Bergwijn is again an option for Saudi clubs for the January transfer window. There’s serious interest in Bergwijn from Saudi since last summer, not new — but also Premier League clubs considering to bring him back. Everything is still open - more info from Fabrizio Romano here.
Arsenal
Arsenal statement on VAR and Arteta’s words. “Arsenal Football Club wholeheartedly supports Mikel Arteta’s post-match comments after yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors on Saturday evening. We’d also like to acknowledge the huge effort and performance from our players and travelling supporters at St James’ Park. The Premier League is the best league in the world with the best players, coaches and supporters, all of whom deserve better. PGMOL urgently needs to address the standard of officiating and focus on action which moves us all on from retrospective analysis, attempted explanations and apologies. We support the ongoing efforts of Chief Refereeing Officer, Howard Webb and would welcome working together to achieve the world-class officiating standards our league demands.”
It’s fair to say Jamie Carragher wasn’t too impressed by Arsenal’s response to the incident at Newcastle - does he have a point? [Pictures courtesy of Sky Sports]
Jakub Kiwior may have a new suitor for January - Fabrizio Romano takes a look here.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are prepared to discuss new five year contract for 2006 born striker Rory Wilson. Villa want to extend his stay beyond summer 2025 - more info here.
Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso’s impressive work is attracting interest from top clubs - more from Fabrizio Romano here.
Boca Juniors
Jorge Almiron has decided to leave Boca Juniors — as he’s set to part ways with Boca with immediate effect. The manager will leave following Copa Libertadores final defeat.
Borussia Monchengladbach
Juventus and Everton are both keeping a close eye on talented young Swiss striker Winsley Boteli (17). Scouts are monitoring the teenager who recently signed with Chris Mandiangu as new agent. He’s currently the top scorer of the U19 Bundesliga.
Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino on the Chelsea project: “With a young team it is tougher to perform. You put pressure on the young players from the beginning... For sure Chelsea is going to get the results because performances are good. I hope [Spurs] will be the game that can give us the possibility to grow quickly. Sometimes one result, one performance, one goal, one thing is the trigger to change things completely.”
Pochettino on his long-term future: “Hopefully, I can stay at Chelsea until I die! 20 or 25 years, but you never know in football...It Tottenham is a club, for sure if I’m not working… so maybe if they want me one day — why not?”
Pochettino on feeling with Chelsea fans: “Same feeling as I had with Spurs fans? After four months I can’t lie... I hope we can arrive on the same level that I had at Tottenham. It would mean we're doing really well. Of course, I expect one day to be on the same level.”
Juventus
Juventus somehow won this game 1-0 … the most Mourinho result ever by a non-Mourinho team?
Liverpool
Liverpool looked to be heading for defeat away to Luton before Luis Diaz came off the bench to score a dramatic late equaliser. FT Luton 1-1 Liverpool [Pictures courtesy of Sky Sports]
Jurgen Klopp: “It’s wonderful to see Lucho scoring, wonderful moment but it does not change the situation. We just want his dad to be released.”
We can’t not show this Darwin Nunez miss from close range - how did he fail to find the back of the net from this great chance? Is there a more frustrating player in the Premier League? [Pictures courtesy of Sky Sports]
Ryan Gravenberch: “When Klopp called, he gave me his plan and then things went quite quickly. That was really the most important thing I wanted.” And when asked if Jurgen Klopp keeps his promises better than Bayern he responded laughing, saying: “Actually, yes!”
Jurgen Klopp: “Stefan Bajcetic’s quality, potential, talent... everybody could see and it’s incredible. What a player! But the body was not ready yet. That’s it. We just have to put the brake in again and wait until it's all fine and then Liverpool have a wonderful player.”
Luis Diaz official statement. “Here’s not the player speaking. Today’s Lucho Diaz, the son of Luis Manuel Diaz. Mane, my dad, hard working man, family pillar… he’s now kidnapped. I ask ELN to release my father as soon as possible. I also ask the international associations to work on that in order to guarantee his freedom. Every second, every minute we’re more worried. We’ve no words to describe our family’s terrible feelings, and it will be the same as long as he’s not back at home. I beg you to release my father right now, respecting his integrity. I want to thank to all Colombians and also the international community for your support.”
📰 Liverpool have entered the running for Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid Florian Wirtz as a potential replacement for Mohamed Salah (Daily Star)
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola: “Doku is incredible, he even creates something for our crowd When he takes the ball and goes, everybody is excited, myself too! Oh, something is going to happen! And it happens. I think he’s happy, very happy at City.”
Manchester United
On this day 37 years ago, Sir Alex Ferguson was appointed Manchester United manager - the rest, as they say, is history. The greatest manager ever?
What’s the latest on the situation between Marcus Rashford and Erik ten Hag? Fabrizio Romano with all the info here.
PSG
Warren Zaire-Emery is expected to be called up by Didier Deschamps for the France national team this month. The plan is clear as he’s performing at top, top level.
Real Betis
Guido Rodriguez is nearing the end of his contract, so who’s showing an interest in him? Fabrizio Romano with the latest details here.
Isco was still available as free agent in July after he didn’t play one single minute for nine months. …then he joined Betis as a free agent and has been MOTM in 12 Liga games against Villarreal, Atletico, Athletic Bilbao, Rayo, Cadiz, Getafe, Osasuna, Mallorca. What a signing!
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti: “Jude Bellingham has a problem in his shoulder. He will undergo exams tomorrow. I hope he will play on Wednesday.”
Roma
After missing a penalty earlier in the game, Romelu Lukaku scored a 94th minute winner to give Roma a dramatic comeback win over Lecce. FT Roma 2-1 Lecce [Pictures courtesy of beIN Sports]
Sporting Lisbon
Stuttgart
Serhou Guirassy’s release clause means he’s attracting plenty of interest - Fabrizio Romano with all you need to know here.
Tottenham
Tottenham considered this big name before hiring Ange Postecoglou - more from Fabrizio Romano here.
📰 Spurs are keeping tabs on Celtic and Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi ahead of January (Sun)
For all the very latest transfer news, read caughtoffside.com
Ten Hag will remain for the season in my opinion. Sir Jim’s biggest mistake would be to come in and sweep clean immediately. A period of assessment and reflection is required initially