🚨 Ten Hag's job is SAFE, Sakho walks out, Endrick on FIRE, De Ligt's pain, good news for Palace, HISTORY at Fulham and more
Today's Briefing, featuring AC Milan, Chelsea, Liverpool, and much more!
Good morning everyone and welcome to another Daily Briefing - thanks as always for reading and hope you enjoy today’s updates!
Today’s top stories:
Fulham v Man United will see a slice of Premier League history made
Just look at the quality of these finishes from Endrick - wow!
Plus more from Brighton, Real Madrid and Tottenham
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AC Milan
AC Milan are working on a deal to sign Bournemouth’s Lloyd Kelly in January. The player is considered to be an interesting centre-back for the present day and into the future. Juventus are also being kept informed as Kelly is out of contract in 2024 with no option to extend with the Cherries.
Atlético Madrid
Diego Simeone has had fun with reporters asking about his new deal. “My contract renewal? We’ve to think about Las Palmas,” he said when asked, with a smile. Negotiations are at the final stages and it will be announced soon.
📰 Atlético Madrid star opens up on mental health struggles [Damian Herrera]
Bayern Munich
After being dumped out of the DFB Pokal by third tier Sarrbrücken, Thomas Tuchel now has more problems to deal with as Matthijs de Ligt has an MCL injury and capsule damage to his right knee. It’s a new problem and De Ligt will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton’s Jason Steele has signed a new, extended contract that runs until June 2026.
Chelsea
Ahead of his first return to White Hart Lane since leaving Tottenham, Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino, said: “Reece James is one of the best full-backs in the world, it’s key to have him back. We need our captain to stay fit and help the team. We are going step by step but he’s a key player for us.”
Si Phillips talks about why Raheem Sterling continues to drastically split opinion
Crystal Palace
Some good news ahead for Eagles fans it seems after Roy Hodgson noted: “The club are working very hard to extend Eberechi Eze’s deal, and they are very confident it won’t be too long before they can announce him. We are optimistic we will get Eze to commit his future to the club.”
📰 Premier League club looking at Palace ace who wants Champions League football [TeamTalk]
Fulham
History will be made at Fulham this weekend when Rebecca Welch will become the first woman to be involved as a referee in a Premier League game. She'll act as the fourth official in the match against Man United.
Liverpool
Klopp: “Jarell Quansah was my man of the match. Super game. Strong in the tackles. We gave him the ball a lot. He had a lot to do. Great.” It’s worth mentioning that Quansah attempted the most passes of any player against Bournemouth (97) and found a team-mate 89% of the time.
📰 Liverpool star leaving in the summer is ‘inevitable’ [Football Insider]
The Colombian government have announced that ELN, an armed criminal group, are the ones who kidnapped Luis Díaz’s father. There’s still no further update on his rescue.
Manchester United
After recent, widespread criticism of Antony’s performances, Erik ten Hag spoke to the press after the Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle and said: “The team is not playing well when we don't bring him the balls and I am also responsible for that. There was also a lot of noise and that dropped his levels. He can do better but all the players can do better. I’m a fighter and Antony is also a fighter, he has the confidence. He is brave and I am confident he will bring the performance that he is the right player for us.”
Manchester United have said that any stories doing the rounds which would suggest that they are looking to replace Erik ten Hag with a new head coach are ‘categorically false.’
The recovery period for Lisandro Martínez is a key factor in dictating whether Manchester United will enter the market for a new centre-back in January. “I’m in the process of recovery. It’s the second time that an injury like this has happened to me. I have to be patient,” the defender said.
📰 Agent slams Man United star for big mistake last month [Jon Smith]
Montpellier
An incident at the club’s training ground has seen Mamadou Sakho walk out on Montpellier with immediate effect:
Palmeiras
Brazilian talent Luiz Guilherme has signed a new deal at Palmeiras which is valid until June 2026. The player, scouted by Bayern, Liverpool, Chelsea and more top European clubs for a long time, will turn 18 in February, and aside from his release clause being revised upwards to €55m, he will receive an uplift in salary.
Palmeiras sensationally came back from three goals down to win 4-3 against Botafogo. However, the comeback so incensed John Textor, co-owner of Botafogo, Crystal Palace and Lyon, that he accused the officials of corruption live on TV after the game. *Warning - Explicit language* [Footage courtesy of sportv]
Premier League Injury List - Game Week 11
Find out which players are missing from your club’s fixtures this weekend through injury or suspension right here.
Real Madrid
Rodrygo has signed his new deal at Real Madrid which will see him stay at the club until June 2028, and with an improved salary. His release clause has been increased to €1bn.
No deal has been agreed to sign Gonçalo Inácio from Sporting at this stage. A talented left-footed centre-back who is likely to be available for around the €60m mark, he is also being monitored by many top clubs including Man United, Liverpool and Newcastle.
Real Madrid are more than happy with Endrick on and off the pitch as they prepare for his arrival next July. The youngster was instrumental in Palmeiras’ comeback against Botafogo, scoring two brilliant goals that you can see below. Palmeiras were losing 3-0 and with only six minutes left to play were still 3-1 down - but ended up winning 4-3.
Tottenham Hotspur
James Maddison on Ange Postecoglou: “We spoke about how I would fit into the way he plays but at the end of it he said: ‘Hey, whether you decide to come or not, you’re going to see a really different Tottenham team.’ I loved the confidence.”
📰 Spurs prioritising January move for EPL defender [90Min]
Ange Postecoglou had some warm words of praise and respect for his opposite number ahead of this weekend’s Tottenham v Chelsea clash, former Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino, who returns to White Hart Lane for the first time since leaving the club [Footage courtesy of Hayters]:
Udinese
Slovenian 2007 born talent David Pejičić made his professional debut for Udinese in the Coppa Italia this week, a game which they lost 2-1 to Cagliari. Despite many top clubs being interested in his services, he recently decided to sign a new deal with Udinese.
For all the very latest transfer news, read caughtoffside.com
