🚨Several European clubs REJECT Super League, HUGE blow for Chelsea star, Man United transfer complete, Tottenham like Ajax midfielder, and more

Today's football headlines, featuring the Super League, Man United, Chelsea, Barcelona and more.

Dec 22, 2023

Good morning everyone and welcome to another Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading and hope you enjoy today’s post!

Ajax

Stanis Idumbo Muzambo has decided to leave Ajax as a free agent next summer. Tottenham are among six clubs showing interest in the player.

Arsenal

Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery wants to keep Clement Lenglet for the rest of the season and says he will play against Sheffield United on Friday.

Atalanta

Atalanta have confirmed their rejection of the Super League.

Atletico Madrid

Atlético Madrid released a statement on Thursday rejecting the opportunity to join the Super League.

Atletico Mineiro

Atletico Mineiro have had a bid worth more than €5m accepted by Nottingham Forest for Gustavo Scarpa.

Barcelona

Vitor Roque is not planning to travel to Barcelona on Thursday ahead of joining the La Liga club in January. The player will fly to Spain right after Christmas together with his family.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery wants to keep Barcelona loanee Clement Lenglet for the rest of the season and says he will play against Sheffield United on Friday.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Man United loanee Mason Greenwood.

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel has said that the Bundesliga club are working on signing new players. "We're working on new signings. We will hopefully improve the squad in winter," the German coach said. “It's not going to be easy because the January window is always more difficult than the summer. But at the same time, we'll trust the quality we have.”
Tuchel continued to talk about new signings, stating: "Maybe we'll need two new players, or if it's someone that can play several positions, then maybe one would be enough if we are spared injuries.”
Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee has a €40m release clause in his current contract. Bayern Munich can sign him back for 50% of this fee and have a 50% sell-on clause in his contract.
Bayern Munich have rejected the chance to join the Super League, releasing a statement to say that “the door remains closed”.

Bologna

Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee has a €40m release clause in his current contract. Bayern Munich can sign him back for 50% of this fee and have a 50% sell-on clause in his contract.

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke confirms that the club will not be joining any Super League.
Borussia Dortmund have decided to continue with Edin Terzic as their manager following a meeting on Thursday.

Brighton

Danny Welbeck produced a sensational header in the 82nd minute to draw Brighton level with Crystal Palace on Thursday night. FT: Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton [Pictures from Sky Sports].

Chelsea

Chelsea captain Reece James is set to undergo hamstring surgery in Finland. The defender is not expected to return to action until April.
Chelsea have rejected the Super League by stating: “Our position does not change.”
Roméo Lavia is getting closer to a return having been involved in Chelsea training at Cobham on Thursday.
Chelsea will reportedly refuse to sell Conor Gallagher to Tottenham.
Chelsea have enquired about Torino defender Alessandro Buongiorno.

Crystal Palace

Michael Olise swings in a delicious cross for Jordan Ayew to head Crystal Palace in front against Brighton. FT: Crystal Palace 1-1 Brighton [Pictures from Sky Sports].

Eintracht Frankfurt

Donny van de Beek's move to Eintracht Frankfurt has been completed between all parties involved. The Man United star will join the German club on January 1. Official announcement soon.

European Super League

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice has ruled that UEFA and FIFA acted against competition law by blocking the formation of the European Super League in 2021 and sanctioning the clubs involved.
Following the announcement, the new Super League format was released. It consists of 64 teams, three divisions (Star, Gold and Blue), 14 games will be played per season and it will consist of league and knockout phases.
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez commented on the Super League decision. “From Real Madrid, we welcome with great satisfaction the decision taken by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which is responsible for guaranteeing our principles, values and freedoms,” Pérez said. “In the coming days, we will carefully study the scope of this resolution, but I do anticipate two conclusions of great historical significance.”
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin commented on the Super League decision: "We will not try to stop them. They can create whatever they want.”
La Liga clubs, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla and Real Sociedad have all released statements on Thursday rejecting the opportunity to join the Super League.
Manchester United followed with a statement which stated that the club is “fully committed” to UEFA competitions.
Other Premier League clubs that have confirmed their rejection of the competition are Man City, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Bayern Munich have rejected the chance to join the Super League, releasing a statement to say that “the door remains closed”.
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke confirms that the club will not be joining any Super League.
Roma, Inter Milan and Atalanta are the Serie A clubs that have all confirmed their rejection of the Super League.
Napoli are one club that could be keen on joining Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Super League.
The Ligue 1 clubs that have rejected the chance to play in the Super League are PSG and Monaco.
The Premier League released a statement on Thursday rejecting the concept of the Super League. It read: “Today’s ruling does not endorse the Super League and the Premier League continues to reject any such concept”.

Fulham

Tosin Adarabioyo has not been offered a new deal by Fulham. The player will take his time to decide his future as several clubs are interested in signing him as a free agent.

Galatasaray

Angeliño is looking at potential new clubs as the defender could leave Galatasaray in January. There are several clubs interested in Europe’s big leagues.

Inter Milan

Inter Milan have confirmed their rejection of the Super League.

Manchester City

“Our position has not changed since 2021 - we are out of the Super League,” said Man City in their statement regarding the Super League.
Man City striker Erling Haaland will play no part in the Champions League winners’ Club World Cup final against Fluminense on Friday in Saudi Arabia.

Manchester United

Manchester United released a statement on Thursday regarding the Super League news which stated that the club is “fully committed” to UEFA competitions.
Donny van de Beek's move to Eintracht Frankfurt has been completed between all parties involved. The Man United star will join the German club on January 1. Official announcement soon.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Man United loanee Mason Greenwood.
Manchester United are reportedly interested in bringing Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo to Old Trafford.

Monaco

Monaco have rejected the chance to join the Super League.

Napoli

Napoli are one club that could be keen on joining Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Super League.

Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest have accepted a bid in excess of €5m for Gustavo Scarpa to join Atletico Mineiro.

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG will not participate in the Super League according to a club statement.

Premier League

The Premier League released a statement on Thursday rejecting the concept of the Super League. It read: “Today’s ruling does not endorse the Super League and the Premier League continues to reject any such concept”.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid will spend Christmas top of La Liga thanks to a 92nd-minute winner from Lucas Vazquez against Deportivo Alaves. FT: Alaves 0-1 Real Madrid [Pictures from Viaplay].
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez commented on the Super League decision. “From Real Madrid, we welcome with great satisfaction the decision taken by the Court of Justice of the European Union, which is responsible for guaranteeing our principles, values and freedoms,” Pérez said. “In the coming days, we will carefully study the scope of this resolution, but I do anticipate two conclusions of great historical significance.”
Barcelona and Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Man United loanee Mason Greenwood.