Good afternoon folks and welcome to my latest Daily Briefing! To get this to your inbox five mornings a week, click here to subscribe!
Arsenal
Benfica left-back Alejandro Grimaldo was offered to Arsenal last summer but they decided to proceed with Oleksandr Zinchenko as their priority target. Now many clubs are following him as it’s a big opportunity on the market but there are no negotiations ongoing yet; also Juventus have sent their scouts to follow Grimaldo in the last few months.
Barcelona
Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste: “Xavi is a manager we love, there’s no doubt on that. He’s gonna going to give us all the titles we need.”
In other news, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is being considered as a future candidate for the Barcelona job (Sport)
Bayern Munich
A new contract for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting will be discussed in the next few months as Bayern Munich hope to keep him. He’s been a key player this season, man of the match again last night in the win over Inter Milan, and he’s considered a top professional.
Chelsea
Raheem Sterling has spoken about wanting to play in his preferred position for Chelsea after a quiet spell of form. I think it’s normal to have this kind of situation as Graham Potter arrived just 40 days ago and it takes time to understand all the player’s priorities. For sure the manager change was not easy for some players but they are all keen on working with Potter for present and future, including Sterling. There’s no problem.
Chelsea tried to hijack PSG’s deal to sign Nordi Mukiele in the summer. The Blues were keen to include Mukiele as part of the deal to let Timo Werner return to RB Leipzig. Still, Nordi decided to join PSG and it never changed. I don’t think he will change again in January, he’s part of the PSG project and there are no negotiations ongoing.
Chelsea remain interested in signing Arsen Zakharyan. He was a target for them in the summer and they still rate the Dynamo Moscow star highly as a talent for the present and future. Zakharyan has been very clear: “I only want to join Chelsea.”
Graham Potter on Denis Zakaria loan deal: “He’s been really good, trained well, supported his teammates. He’s disappointed not to play, like everybody is. He’s in the frame, in the squad, available. We will wait and see.”
Armando Broja on his future: “New long term deal at Chelsea is massive opportunity for me and my family. This is my boyhood club. I want to keep trying to improve as a person and player. There is not many better clubs to learn than Chelsea.”
Kalidou Koulibaly on his aims at Chelsea: “We can win the Premier League this season, I want to make history. I arrive with a coach who wanted me at all costs, and then he leaves. Both Tuchel and Potter play with three-man defences, I was used to a four with Napoli. But you never stop learning.”
Inter Milan
Inter Milan CEO Beppe Marotta on Milan Skriniar new contract and PSG links: “I feel really confident, optimistic to reach an agreement with Skriniar and get it done within Nov 13. We have clear indications to say that — and you know, Skriniar is key player for us.”
Juventus
Juventus scouts are following the performances of Benfica left-back Alejandro Grimaldo in the last few months. The Spaniard was offered to Arsenal in the summer, but they chose to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko instead.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s agent Marc Kosicke: “I can assure that Jurgen Klopp has no intention of resigning. Jurgen enjoys the full backing of the people in charge, they are in contact. He loves Liverpool, he didn’t extend his contract until 2026 for nothing.”
Manchester United
I’m aware there have been reports about Marcus Rashford being unsettled at Manchester United last season. He’s certainly back to full confidence now, with Erik ten Hag making it clear he wanted Rashford as a key player for his project from day one. Overall, Ten Hag is doing an excellent job, with Rashford and with the club, and that stability is really important. United’s project is now a lot more clear than it was a year ago and that has helped Rashford.
In other news, David de Gea would be prepared to accept a pay cut to extend his stay at Manchester United (Athletic)
Napoli
A number of top clubs were offered the chance to sign Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before he ended up at Napoli, but were unsure about paying the asking price for someone not from one of the historically great footballing nations, according to his agent Christian Emile.
It was another fine performance from him against Liverpool last night, by the way, watch his cheeky nutmeg on Trent Alexander-Arnold by clicking here.
I think there are many players being unfairly overlooked, many clubs are not proceeding in negotiations before of their track record or their nationality. I hope it will change in the next years as football is now a global game.
Honesty, I’m not aware of talents in “strange” countries now as I’m not an agent or a scout but there are lot of talents as always in South America, I personally like Andrey Santos of Vasco da Gama who’s already on PL clubs list.
PSG
Nordi Mukiele chose Paris Saint-Germain over Chelsea this summer. He remains a key part of the PSG project and there are no ongoing negotiations for him.
Sergio Ramos on extending contract with PSG: “I feel very good. I’m only thinking about playing and showing my best level, nothing else. New deal? We’ll see what happens at the end of the season.”
Mohamed Simakan on PSG interest: “Paris Saint-Germain were interested in signing me, it’s true. Luis Campos spoke to my agents. I’ve decided to stay as stability is key for me — it was agreed with RB Leipzig board.”
Real Madrid
Toni Kroos on his future: “I will retire here at Real Madrid, I just don’t know when — I don’t want to play for any other club. We have arranged a chat with the club in 2023 to discuss about my future, so I will decide next year.”
Tottenham
What a goal it was by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to ensure Spurs went through to the next round of the Champions League as group winners! Watch it here.
Wolves
Leo Campana will leave Wolves to join Inter Miami on a permanent transfer. Buy option clause will be triggered — fee will be $2.7m.
Fabrizio Romano’s World Cup Dream Team
It’s nearly time for the start of the 2022 World Cup, and my Dream Team is nearly complete.
Today I’m adding Kylian Mbappe to my front three. The PSG and France forward is one of the best players in the world and will surely be a star of his generation. An easy choice for my World Cup XI…