Good morning everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Daily Briefing - your essential round-up of the biggest football headlines, all delivered straight to your inbox and completely ad-free. Enjoy!
Today’s top stories:
Kylian Mbappe’s superb brace sends PSG through [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Liverpool delighted with their smart transfer business in midfield
AC Milan
AC Milan could command a record fee to sell Theo Hernandez, says Fabrizio Romano in his exclusive column.
Arsenal
Pedro Neto to Arsenal could be one to watch, but Wolves want HUGE money to sell, according to Ben Jacobs.
Mikel Arteta on Thomas Partey: "Thomas is available now to play a certain amount of minutes and he needs to build that. It was his first minutes after four months and like everybody you have to earn the right to play the minutes."
Could this Arsenal star be a summer target for West Ham?
Barcelona
Frenkie de Jong’s Barcelona future has been discussed in Ben Jacobs’ latest exclusive column.
Oriol Romeu: “The feeling is getting better and better, and I’m optimistic that the end of the season will be good. I want to enjoy the last 2-3 months, compete and live beautiful experiences.”
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen are NOT happy with the speculation over Xabi Alonso’s future - more detail here in Fabrizio Romano’s column.
Alejandro Grimaldo: “My childhood’s idol is Leo Messi. He’s the best player of all time, in my opinion. I grow up in La Masia, I saw Messi there at Barca. As a full-back, I always loved Marcelo from Real Madrid.”
Grimaldo: “Xabi Alonso is special. He’s going to mark an era as a manager. In the game vs Stuttgart, we did very bad in first half...Xabi Alonso told us: I don’t care about the result. It doesn’t matter. What I want is to see our style, our football.”
Bayern Munich
Harry Kane was in superb form in the win over Lazio - he has now scored 33 goals in 33 games in all competitions this season. FT Bayern 3-0 Lazio [Pictures from TNT Sports]
Joshua Kimmich is being eyed by Manchester City and others as his Bayern future looks a serious doubt…
Could Harry Kane’s Bayern future really already be uncertain?
During the meeting with Mathys Tel's agent last week, Bayern also touched on a potential new deal to be discussed in the coming months. It’s nothing urgent or imminent as Bayern have priorities like Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich; but just to confirm he's a key part of their future project.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge on future Bayern manager: “We have not decided yet, we are taking our time. We have to go to next UCL round, that is important; then now for sure Bayer Leverkusen are gonna win the Bundesliga title.”
Rummenigge on Bayern’s €40m buy-back clause for Joshua Zirkzee: “It’s up to Max Eberl, I don’t want to enter into his job. I don’t know if we will activate the clause for Zirkzee or not. It will be part of our summer strategies.”
Bournemouth
Bournemouth confirm that Simon Francis will become the club's first-team technical director in the summer. He’s replacing Richard Hughes who’s set to leave the club, and who is appreciated by Liverpool.
Brentford
Ivan Toney transfer may no longer be a priority for Chelsea, but what about Arsenal?
Brighton
Roberto De Zerbi is attracting plenty of interest - more info from Ben Jacobs’ exclusive column here.
Chelsea
Ben Jacobs reveals Chelsea’s list of manager targets as Mauricio Pochettino faces an important run of games…
Victor Osimhen to Chelsea may now be the Blues’ priority as they made this interesting decision in January…
Chelsea could be a ‘dark horse’ in the race to sign Alphonso Davies this summer, says Ben Jacobs in his exclusive column.
Chelsea’s owners have begun work on a new stadium – but not for the Blues…
Inter Milan
Simone Inzaghi on his future: “I'm happy here at Inter, I feel good with board and fans. About my contract, we're gonna meet after this season to discuss the extension but the relationship is really great. Talks will be good.”
Alexis Sanchez to get a new contract with Inter?
Liverpool
Could Liverpool face competition from Chelsea for this top manager?
How Bayer Leverkusen have responded to the Xabi Alonso to Liverpool speculation…
Pedro Neto to Liverpool? Wolves may have to sell because of FFP and the Reds can’t be ruled out…
Liverpool rebuilt their midfield last summer and feel they got one bargain in particular, says Fabrizio Romano.
Manchester City
Manchester City are exploring a potential transfer deal for Joshua Kimmich, according to Ben Jacobs.
Joao Neves has also been monitored as a midfield target for City, says Fabrizio Romano.
Erling Haaland on his future: “I'm really happy at City, really happy with all people I’m surrounded by — manager, board, directors…I say this now: tomorrow you never know what the future brings but I am happy. You can write this but also everything I said before!”
Haaland on new contract talks with Man City: “My focus is mainly now on the pitch. There's a lot of games… two days ago a derby, now Champions League, Sunday is Liverpool — I think I should focus on that.”
Manchester United
Manchester United have some big-name managers in mind in case they decide to replace Erik ten Hag, who is now at a crucial point in his Old Trafford reign…
Casemiro could be one to watch amid interest from Saudi, and have Man Utd already been scouting his replacement?
PSG
What a goal by Kylian Mbappe as PSG booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals! FT Real Sociedad 1-2 PSG [Pictures from TNT Sports]
PSG like this Barcelona star, according to Ben Jacobs in his latest column.
PSG are NOT telling Luis Enrique to use Kylian Mbappe less often, so what’s really going on? Fabrizio Romano has the latest info in his exclusive column.
Luis Enrique confirms: “Apparently the immediate future of Kylian Mbappe will not be here, so we will have to test tactics with other players.”
Kylian Mbappe: “I always want to play and do my best in Champions League, I just try my best. Luis Enrique? It’s all very good with him. Great relationship, no issues. People can think different about it but really, all very good.”
PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi: “I can’t confirm Kylian Mbappe departure, it’s always the club communicating our stuff. He’s under contract here but we are building something for the future.”
PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi on Luis Enrique: “The coach is the one who decides, we are behind him. Every technical and tactical choice is up to him.”
Warren Zaire-Emery turns 18 on Friday and Paris Saint-Germain plan to have all documents signed soon for his new professional contract. It's all ready on verbal basis, one of the first steps of the new PSG era with WZE as part of present and future project.
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
Real Madrid
Eduardo Camavinga on Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid: “I tell you the truth; I haven’t spoken with Kylian. He’s a PSG player and I don’t know what will happen next season.”
Carlo Ancelotti on his future: “I love my job and I love it at Real Madrid, I love to manage things here — happiness and difficult moments. I’m very happy because I’m at the best club in the world.”
Tottenham
Tottenham are among the clubs in the race for the Pedro Neto transfer, but he could cost huge money…
🚨 WATCH Mbappe's superb brace, Kane sends Bayern through, Osimhen to Chelsea, Neto to Arsenal, bargain Liverpool business, and more