Inter Milan
Inter CEO Beppe Marotta: “Lukaku’s future? He loves Inter and this city — but now he’s Chelsea player, so decisions are up to them. We will discuss Lukaku’s future with the coach and the board, we’ll see… but he’s top professional and loves Inter. This is crucial.”
Juventus
Juventus CFO Francesco Calvo: “It’s pretty obvious that Massimiliano Allegri will stay — he will be our coach, he’s signed four year deal and we’re not even at the half of that. Eleven trophies, also two Champions League finals speak for Allegri.”
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp on Chelsea: “I feel a little bit for Chelsea but it’s also good to see that you can’t just bring top players together and it works out. You cannot have two dressing rooms. You have to create relationships.”
Klopp: “We have no chance to enter into the top four, of course not. Brighton played one of the best football games this weekend I’ve ever seen in my life, I’ve to say. Roberto De Zerbi, wow.”
What a game we saw as Liverpool snatched a late 4-3 win over Tottenham – and Jurgen Klopp pulled his hamstring celebrating!
Manchester City
Kevin De Bruyne missed Manchester City’s win at Fulham, with Pep Guardiola saying: Pep Guardiola: “Kevin De Bruyne is not with the squad as he doesn’t feel good. He has some injury and could not travel. Timescale for a return? No, I don’t know.”
Erling Haaland was on the score sheet yet again, though…making it 50 goals in all competitions this season, and a record-equalling 34 in the Premier League, level with Andrew Cole (93/94) and Alan Shearer (94/95), who both did it when it was a 42-game season.
Manchester United
The Glazers will decide the future of Manchester United and we know they have always wanted £7bn to sell the club. The feeling is that Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS group have made the best proposal, but Sheikh Jassim is confident as well.
Erik ten Hag is keen to plan for the club and know the situation in the transfer market. He’s done a fantastic job this season but he wants to build and do even better in his second season, so it’s important for him to know when this situation will be clear. They have been able to do some things like extend Alejandro Garnacho’s contract, and they are in advanced talks over a new deal for David de Gea and want to renew Marcus Rashford and Diogo Dalot as well.
United have also made some decisions on outgoings – Eric Bailly will come back from his loan at Marseille but will be on the market, the same for Alex Telles after his loan with Sevilla. So, these players know their futures, but it’s still not time to decide yet on the budget for new signings. It will be crucial for United to know what kind of budget they are working with, but they want to go for a new striker in the summer – they wanted Darwin Nunez last summer and then went for Wout Weghorst on loan in January. Harry Kane is now one of the top names on their list, as well as Victor Osimhen, but there are no negotiations. The Kane deal depends on Tottenham, and they also need to wait for Napoli to set a price for Osimhen. The situation is open, but a new striker is a priority for United and Ten Hag.
For sure, United also have to make a decision on Marcel Sabitzer, because they could also do something in midfield. They have discussed targets like Manu Kone and Alexis Mac Allister, but they can’t attack the situation just yet because it depends how much of their budget they’ll have left for a midfielder after signing a striker. If the owners will fund both these moves it will be a crucial step. Keep an eye on centre-back as well – at the end of the season Ten Hag will have a conversation with Harry Maguire, while Victor Lindelof also wants to play more, but he has chances to stay. One player United admire in defence is Kim Min-jae of Napoli – he has a release clause of a bit less than €50m, which becomes active in July, but Napoli are keen to extend his contract. United have scouted him several times, but again a centre-back signing will also depend on the budget, so let’s see how much the new owners want to spend, and when the takeover will be done.
PSG
Marquinhos will extend his contract with PSG. It was never in doubt; there’s full agreement valid until June 2027, and it’s considered only a matter of time before we see an official club statement. The Brazilian centre-back is happy and never wanted to leave Paris.
Tottenham
Harry Kane: “I feel like we lost a bit of what the values are at this club over the last few years. It’s about finding a way to get back on the same page again, even with our fans. We want to improve. That goes from the top right through the club.”