🚨 Man United eye £40m star, Olise to Liverpool UPDATE, Chelsea want Spanish goal machine, Arsenal thrash Atletico, & more
NEW details on Man United's striker plans, Liverpool's pursuit of Olise, and much more!
Good morning everyone and welcome to another Daily Briefing! Thank you as always for reading, and hope you enjoy :-)
Today’s top stories:
Gyokeres scores twice in big Arsenal win
Plus more from Chelsea, Man City & Tottenham
Champions League round-up
Arsenal thrash Atletico Madrid
After a goalless first half, this close game suddenly exploded in the second period as Arsenal scored four in the space of 13 minutes.
First, Gabriel Magalhaes (who else?) headed in a Declan Rice set-piece, and moments later Gabriel Martinelli finished well after a lovely run and pass by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Viktor Gyokeres then got in on the act as he bundled in the third, and shortly afterwards he poached another from close range after a headed assist by Gabriel, from, yes, another set-piece.
FT Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid [Pictures from Prime Video Sport]
Erling Haaland scores yet again in Manchester City win
Erling Haaland just can’t stop scoring at the moment, and he fired in the opening goal away to Villarreal last night.
Bernardo Silva added a second with a fine header, but Haaland’s form right now is something else, with the Norway international scoring 15 goals in his first 11 games of the season.
FT Villarreal 0-2 Manchester City [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Newcastle too good for Jose Mourinho’s Benfica
Newcastle played some fine football and earned a well-deserved win over Jose Mourinho’s Benfica last night.
Anthony Gordon opened the scoring before a brace from Harvey Barnes sealed all three points, but how about that Nick Pope assist with the long throw down the pitch?
FT Newcastle 3-0 Benfica [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Champions League scores in full
Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
Barcelona 6-1 Olympiacos
Bayer Leverkusen 2-7 PSG
Copenhagen 2-4 Borussia Dortmund
Kairat 0-0 Pafos
Newcastle 3-0 Benfica
PSV 6-2 Napoli
USG 0-4 Inter Milan
Villarreal 0-2 Manchester City
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Arsenal
Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s big win over Atletico Madrid: “It was a tough match. After the goal they opened up a bit and it was a little easier for us to find the spaces. I’m very happy with the result. At this level in the Champions League you really need to step up and we certainly did that in every phase of the play. Very happy.”
Arteta also praised Viktor Gyokeres after he ended his goal drought with a brace against Atletico Madrid…
Viktor Gyokeres: “The support from my teammates means a lot, they’re amazing. I think the group we have and the spirit is something different and something very special. I’m more hungry now.”
Arsene Wenger on Arsenal’s credentials: “I believe this year they are really equipped to deal with any problems. I think they have the most complete squad. Compare them with Liverpool, I watched them against Chelsea and (Dominik) Szoboszlai was at right-back and (Ryan) Gravenberch was centre-back. Arsenal would not be in that kind of position.”
Aston Villa
Aston Villa have tied Matty Cash down to a new contract and are also in advanced talks over a new deal for John McGinn. Talks are also at an early stage over a new contract for Morgan Rogers after Villa fought to keep him at the club during the summer transfer window. (Fabrizio Romano)
Barcelona
Marcus Rashford: “The match against Real Madrid is a big game, this is why I came here. I’m looking forward to it.”
Barcelona’s La Liga game against Villarreal will now NOT be played abroad after massive backlash to the decision.
Bayern Munich
Vincent Kompany has signed a new two year extension to his contract as manager of Bayern Munich. “I’m grateful, honoured. It feels like I’ve been here much longer and that I understand the club well,” he said. (Bayern official)
Bayern director Max Eberl says there is no release clause in Michael Olise’s contract. He said: “The contract is valid until June 2029, no release clause is included and Olise is on his way to becoming one of the world’s best players” (11 Freunde DE)
Michael Olise has interest from Liverpool, but is “going nowhere” in a big boost for Bayern. (Christian Falk, CF Bayern Insider)
Chelsea
Chelsea are keen on Ivan Toney ahead of the January transfer window, but Saudi club Al Ahli have no intention of letting the England striker go. (CaughtOffside)
Samu Aghehowa to Chelsea could be one to watch again as the Blues remain very keen on the in-form Porto striker. (Fichajes)
Chelsea are interested in a potential transfer move for Strasbourg full-back Guela Doue. (Fichajes)
Enzo Maresca: “Liam Delap is very close to returning. He’s not working with us yet, but he’s improving and getting close.”
John Terry says he wants to become Chelsea manager one day: “It’s my one last dream I have at the football club. I’ve done everything at Chelsea. And for me now, the one thing that is missing is being the manager of the football club.”
Liverpool
Liverpool are considering making a move for Antoine Semenyo in the January transfer window, with the Reds tempted by his £75m release clause at Bournemouth. (iNews)
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola on Rayan Cherki: “Cherki is one of the huge talents I’ve ever seen in my career. Technically, individually is TOP. The question is how he settles and reads the game. Every time the ball comes to him the situation is better. He doesn’t feel pressure.”
Manchester United
Jean-Philippe Mateta is a target for Manchester United as the Crystal Palace striker’s future looks in serious doubt ahead of January. The Frenchman is open to a new challenge and could cost around £40m. (Mark Brus, the Daily Briefing)
Robert Lewandowski to Manchester United? The Barcelona striker looks set to be available on a free transfer next summer, and Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim is supposedly weighing up a move. (Daily Star)
Newcastle United
Newcastle are another club eyeing Jean-Philippe Mateta as they continue to look a little light up front following Alexander Isak’s exit and Yoane Wissa’s injury. (Mark Brus, the Daily Briefing)
Nottingham Forest
Sean Dyche has been confirmed as the new Nottingham Forest manager to replace Ange Postecoglou. The former Everton and Burnley boss has signed a deal until summer 2027. (Official)
Real Madrid
Endrick is expected to leave Real Madrid on loan this January. He wants to play more ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and Real are also open to a loan deal after initial talks. (Fabrizio Romano)
As previously reported, Endrick is a target for Manchester United and other major clubs in the Premier League and elsewhere in Europe. (Mark Brus, CaughtOffside)
Xabi Alonso on Franco Mastantuono: “Mastantuono has just recently arrived… and he’s just 18 years old. We need to invest in him and help him. We’re delighted to have him with us. I trust Franco.”
Alonso: “Kylian Mbappe helps us a lot… not just with goals. His influence is almost as important in terms of his teammates following him. He’s in a fantastic moment, as now everything fits together in his head, and that’s why he’s performing so well.”
Tottenham
Tottenham are also among the clubs eyeing the potential Jean-Philippe Mateta transfer as he’s expected to leave Crystal Palace for £40m. (Mark Brus, the Daily Briefing)
Tottenham are leading the race for another striker in the form of Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic, who is likely to be on the move and who has interest from the Premier League. (TuttoJuve)