Liverpool

Liverpool boss Arne Slot spoke about Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah in his news conference earlier today. Here's what he had to say.

We have been in the thick of it this morning as we build up to the midweek Premier League action.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, Newcastle's Eddie Howe and Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler have all spoken, with more managers on the way later.

Here's a recap of today's top stories so far:

• Slot said he is 'focused on Trent Alexander-Arnold's recovery' rather than transfer talks
• Howe expects Anthony Gordon to return to training 'in the next few days'
• We have also had more team news from Liverpool,Newcastle and Brighton

We have been talking about Alexander-Arnold's potential move to Real Madrid at length today and if you want more on the same, we have got plenty of analysis for you if you tune into The Football News Show.

Jay Bothroyd
Former Wolves striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Matheus Cunha needs the support of the players. He needs the support of the manager. The manager probably won't be happy that he spoke that way either. So it is a strange one.

I don't think teams will be put off by the price that Wolves might ask for him. I think all Wolves fans know that he's going to be leaving, so it's not a shock.

The way he started speaking about it now is a bit disrespectful to Wolves as a club.

Wolves

Mark Chapman was joined by Joe Hart, Chris Sutton and Rory Smith on the Monday Night Club to discuss Matheus Cunha's potential departure from Wolves.

Here's what they had to say on the Portuguese forward, and his unfortunate predilection towards red cards...

Jay Bothroyd
Former Wolves striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

The timing was poor. I mean, everyone knows that [Matheus Cunha] wants to leave. He's a quality player. He's going to go to a bigger club.

But why would you say it now? It just doesn't make sense to me. This should be a period where he should be getting his head down, you know, helping contribute to the team, getting results.

There's some big games coming up.

Wolves

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking to the media yesterday, Wolves head coach Vitor Pereira said he has no immediate concerns about Matheus Cunha as the club look to secure safety in the Premier League.

"He is committed. This is the present. The future, I don't know," Pereira said.

"He knows his potential. He is a top player. It's normal he has the ambition to fight for titles. It's natural. It happens with other players. But the most important thing is to be committed and help the team to achieve our targets. At the end of the season we will see."

Cunha, who has earned 13 international caps with Brazil, joined Wolves on loan in 2023 before making the move permanent that summer.

The former Atletico Madrid player has a £62.5m release clause in the four-and-a-half-year deal he signed in February.

Wolves

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves play West Ham tonight but the spotlight has been on their star striker Matheus Cunha yet again.

This time, the Brazilian is in the news after he seemed to imply he wants to leave the club as a "next step" in his career.

“I had a lot of offers but I wouldn’t feel well if I had done it,” Cunha in an interview with the Observer.

“I couldn’t leave the club in the middle of the season, in a difficult situation, in the relegation zone. Now, we’re close to achieving our goal. But I’ve made it clear that I need to take the next step. I want to fight for titles, for big things. I have potential.”

But the 25-year-old has since taken to social media to say the interview was misinterpreted.

"Of course the point was talking about Wolves, to show everyone how happy I am to be here," he said.

"Ambitious players, of course we want to play for something more, to put this club in another level, and of course me and my team-mates will give our all to achieve this goal."

Rory Smith
Chief Soccer Correspondent for The Athletic on Monday Night Club

Image source, Getty Images

On manager Mikel Arteta's influence at Arsenal...

It's been floated previously that [former sporting director] Edu was forced to look elsewhere because Mikel Arteta was the driving force in Arsenal's transfers.

But I don't know any club that follows the old-fashioned way where it is just one person's opinion and the scouting department and the lawyers will do what the manager tells them.

I am sure Andrea Berta will have some input into recruitment process but I think he has been brought in much more as someone who can give them that presence in those big deals - a respected voice around European football. I think that's his appeal more than anything.

Listen to Monday Night Club.

Joe Hart
Former Man City goalkeeper on Monday Night Club

On whether new Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta will have the power to take decisions on Mikel Arteta's future...

It's strange because Mikel Arteta is so set at Arsenal and usually the sporting director will be alongside him. But Edu leaving has put them in a very funny situation.

They need a new sporting director and they can't bring one in behind Arteta's back, because they are all united and committed to Arteta - the whole club and the hierarchy are.

It's an unusual circumstance. But definitely, if push came to shove, the sporting director is not being paid to be close with the manager but to make those difficult decisions of hiring and firing.

Listen to Monday Night Club.

Rory Smith
Chief Soccer Correspondent for The Athletic on Monday Night Club

Image source, BBC Sport

On what new sporting director Andrea Berta will bring to Arsenal...

If you look back at the past 20 years, there are maybe half a dozen examples of sporting directors who have done well at one club, moved to another club and also done well there. It's a very tricky thing to do and doesn't happen very often.

What Andrea Berta has done at Atletico Madrid is really impressive. He signed Jan Oblak, Rodri and Antoine Griezmann among others. They weren't hidden gems, but elite prospects and he got the deals over the line. He helped Diego Simeone put a team together.

But I am a bit reluctant to say that entire Atletico generation was more to do with Berta. I suspect it had more to do with Simeone.

But Berta is really well connected. He has got a great hit list. But my scepticism is whether he can now do in a totally different atmosphere.

The benefit for Arsenal is that he is a dealmaker. He will help them land those top-tier target who they have missed out on a little bit in recent years.

Listen to Monday Night Club.

Joe Hart
Former Man City goalkeeper on Monday Night Club

Image source, Getty Images

On the challenges facing Arsenal's new sporting director Andrea Berta...

Getting people into the building to come and believe in a project that they don't know about is tough. But everyone in that Arsenal building looks very united. They seem to be on the same page.

The players they are trying to bring in will be wanted by the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Real Madrid. That's the level of players they will be wanting. It's convincing these players that they are the missing piece of the puzzle to bring greatness back to Arsenal that will be the biggest challenge.

Listen to Monday Night Club.

Arsenal

During the international break, Arsenal announced Andrea Berta as their new sporting director. Yesterday, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said he was excited to be working with the former Atletico Madrid director and promised a summer spend on new players.

BBC's Monday Night Club discussed what the future - and the next transfer window - could look like for Arsenal with Berta at the helm...

The Football News Show

Speaking to The Football News Show, Spanish football journalist Alvaro Romeo outlines how Trent Alexander-Arnold would fit in at Real Madrid, with the Liverpool defender in advanced talks with the club over a free transfer.

The Football News Show

With Trent Alexander-Arnold being heavily linked with a summer switch to Real Madrid, what would that move mean for his legacy at Liverpool?

Fans Abigail Rudkin and Dan Clubbe tell The Football News Show why he'd not be viewed as a club legend if he left but also how his success and Real, and how Liverpool would cope without him, could soften the supporter's viewpoints.

Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent on The Football News Show

The fact that we've got to the point that we're discussing money, is an indication of how far advanced this proposal actually is.

My understanding of that situation is that at the moment they're currently discussing potential image rights details in that contract that will allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to earn X amount of money.

When it happens, I expect somehow for whether that is purely basic or if that includes image rights for Trent Alexander-Arnold to be earning more than he is at Anfield at the moment.

John Bennett
BBC World Service reporter on The Football News Show

It's one of the main things we can praise Arne Slot for this season, the way he has come in his first season in the Premier League. This whole contract situation, not just with Trent, with Salah and Van Dijk, it had the potential to distract, to derail this season.

Every time he has faced the questions, Arne Slot has dealt with them with a smile. I don't think we're ever going to get an answer that is conclusive. The way the mood is, it feels like it is only a matter of time before we get the announcement that Trent heads to Real Madrid.

Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport senior football correspondent on The Football News Show

This is a narrative that has been playing out, a storyline that has been breaking throughout the season. Liverpool have been going for the title but this is a story that has been ongoing for the period of the entire season really. I don't think it is a secret that Real Madrid have identified Trent Alexander-Arnold as a primary target, over the past few months.

Those discussions have developed and have moved on and last week we ran a story that suggests these talks are now at an advanced stage.

Image source, Getty Images

Arne Slot may not have been in the mood for discussing Trent Alexander-Arnold's future, but our reporters on the BBC's Football News Show certainly were.

Here's what senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel and Final Score reporter John Bennett had to say...

Rob Schofield
BBC Radio 5 Live football reporter at Arne Slot's news conference

Optimism would have been too strong a word to describe the mood this morning but - with the needle moving along on Trent Alexander Arnold's future - Arne Slot was pushed to answer on the reports of a deal with Real Madrid.

The Liverpool manager however kept true to form, giving nothing away on the three contracts expiring at the end of the season.

I asked Slot about planning for the summer but was similarly given very little.

On Trent it appears this will be the Dutchman's approach until perhaps a deal is made public by Real Madrid or, what is looking increasingly unlikely, that Liverpool's vice-captain signs a new contract.

Wrapping up the Premier League, which may happen as early as 13 April, may offer an opportunity to reveal more - but for now it's all business for Slot ahead of the Merseyside derby.