Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - thanks for reading and hope you enjoy! :-)
Today’s top stories:
Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji score in comfortable Man City victory [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Real Madrid are also through to the quarter-finals after this Vinicius goal
Arsenal
Arsenal youngster Mika Biereth is looking very impressive on loan - what are Mikel Arteta’s plans for him?
Kieran Tierney could leave Arsenal for a Premier League rival in a permanent move this summer…
Atletico Madrid
Cesar Azpilicueta’s contract will be extended until June 2025 - one more season at Atletico Madrid. It’s all agreed, it’s already signed and sealed, as Atleti wanted the former Chelsea defender to stay.
Barcelona
Has Paulo Dybala really offered himself to Barcelona? Fabrizio Romano has the latest info in his column.
Barca president Joan Laporta: “I’d give Ronald Araujo a lifetime contract here at Barcelona!”
“Do you hope to stay at Barca beyond this season?”. Joao Cancelo’s response: “Yes, yes — I do!”
📰 Barcelona have reportedly made contact with Mikel Arteta in an attempt to convince the Arsenal manager to replace Xavi (Sun)
Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso is yet to decide on his next move and could he even be persuaded to stay at Bayer Leverkusen?
Bayern Munich
Mathys Tel has signed a new deal at Bayern valid until June 2029, with a salary rise also part of the agreement. His agent Gadiri Camara is in Munich right now to get it sealed. He was never close to Manchester United — as Bayern confirmed plans to keep Tel to his agent in meeting one week ago.
Tel after signing new deal at Bayern until 2029: “This contract extension means a lot to me. I've already learnt a lot at Bayern, both on and off the pitch. I want to score and set up goals, play with heart and energy for Bayern, give my best for club and fans.”
What could the Mathys Tel deal mean for Bayern’s option to re-sign Joshua Zirkzee?
Bayern director Max Eberl: “I haven’t spoken to Alphonso Davies about new deal yet. But I always have hope, the story is still open. I won’t give it up.”
Harry Kane: “Hopefully we can use this as a turning point for the rest of the year. Tuchel leaving? It’s an unusual situation. As players we have a responsibility to achieve every win in every competition, not only for the coach but also for the club.”
Thomas Tuchel says he thinks he broke his toe after giving his pre-match team talk ahead of Bayern’s win over Lazio: “It hurts. It's painful. After my last speech before the match I kicked the door. It was the wrong technique. It feels like I broke it!”
Borussia Dortmund
Marco Reus will be a free agent this summer, so where could he move to next? Fabrizio Romano addresses some rumours in his column.
Brighton
Brighton CEO Paul Barber: “We don’t want to lose De Zerbi, he’s one of the best in the world. Roberto loves Brighton and all people involved here — but at some point in the future he may choose to take that skill base that he has elsewhere.”
Bristol City
Tommy Conway has been called up by the Scotland Under-21 team. At the moment, there’s still no agreement over a new deal with Bristol City, but no final decision made yet. Several clubs are monitoring Conway in the Premier League and other top leagues as current contract expires in June 2025.
EXCL: De Zerbi to Chelsea or Man Utd? Plus Man City exploring swoop for Bayern star, Arsenal could battle Spurs & Liverpool for winger, and more
Chelsea
Chelsea have been scouting Nico Williams for a long time and considered him alongside Michael Olise and Cole Palmer in the summer.
More here on Chelsea’s interest in Nico Williams, who has a release clause this summer.
Olise to Chelsea could be in doubt as the player is expected to favour another move…
Arne Slot for next Chelsea manager? Reports suggest he’s in line for the Blues job if Mauricio Pochettino is sacked.
No changes on Raheem Sterling’s future despite fresh stories; no contacts with Al Hilal, no even talks so far. His full focus is on Chelsea.
Liverpool
Liverpool vs Manchester City - will this be a title-decider?
Xabi Alonso is expected to favour Liverpool over two other clubs, says Neil Jones in his exclusive column.
Could Joshua Kimmich and Nicolo Barella Liverpool transfers be on the cards? Neil Jones takes a look at the links in his column.
Richard Hughes remains a strong candidate for a role in the new Liverpool board. Interest has been there since months ago; now he’s confirmed his plan to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season. It will depend on other appointments in Liverpool’s structure but Hughes is on the club’s list.
Manchester City
What a finish this was by Manuel Akanji as Manchester City beat FC Copenhagen. FT Man City 3-1 Copenhagen [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Liverpool vs Manchester City - will this be a title-decider?
“Do you hope to stay at Barca beyond this season?”. Joao Cancelo’s response: “Yes, yes — I do!”
Manchester United
Michael Olise transfer latest - Man United are reportedly VERY confident of beating Chelsea to this signing!
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: “The summer before I got to Man United I rang them and said: you’ve got to sign Erling Haaland. He will be top. Absolutely top class. That was June, July 2018… they said: nah, we’ve got enough reports. Molde sold him to Salzburg but after he didn’t play for them for three or four months, I said to Man United: just sign him now! He had a release clause for €20m. It would have been a bargain.”
Jude Bellingham could’ve joined Manchester United, but Fabrizio Romano has praised his career choices in his exclusive column.
Mathys Tel was never close to Manchester United, despite links. He’s now set to sign a new Bayern Munich contract until 2029.
📰 Roberto De Zerbi, Gareth Southgate and Thomas Frank are being considered for the Manchester United job (ESPN)
PSG
Despite yesterday night’s “no comment” on the story, PSG are 100% aware of Kylian Mbappe’s decision to leave and it won’t change. Formal communication is expected as soon as Mbappe will complete his agreement with Real Madrid, which is now progressing very well.
Mbappe denies any issues with Luis Enrique. “My relationship with the coach is good. There is no problem even if people might think there is. I have many issues but the coach is not one of them.”
Real Madrid
Vinicius Junior scored his 15th goal of the season - he’s now on 22 goals and assists completed in all competitions. FT Real Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Aurelien Tchouameni: “Mbappe? I didn’t tell him anything! I wasn't aware of his departure. I was taking a nap, I woke up, bam Twitter, little popcorn! I’m going to ask the president if he wants to come.”
Bayern director Max Eberl: “I haven’t spoken to Alphonso Davies about new deal yet. But I always have hope, the story is still open. I won’t give it up.”
Fabrizio Romano has the latest on Real Madrid’s Alphonso Davies transfer stance in his exclusive column here.
Jude Bellingham has been suspended for the next two games by La Liga after what took place at the end of the Valencia-Real Madrid game.
Carlo Ancelotti: “We could have both Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois as part of the squad for the Champions League quarter finals.”
Roma
Paulo Dybala has been linked with one of Europe’s biggest clubs, so what’s the situation with his release clause this summer?
West Ham United
Marco Reus to West Ham? The Borussia Dortmund star is out of contract this summer and Fabrizio Romano takes a look at his situation in his exclusive column.
🚨 WATCH Haaland's clinical finish, Alonso to Liverpool latest, Chelsea eyeing €50m star, Dybala Barcelona links, Mbappe on Enrique, and more