The German giants, who sacked Nuri Sahin after just seven months in charge earlier this month, have been on the hunt for a successor and appear to have found their man.

A recent Arsenal star is reportedly on the verge of linking up with one of Brazil's biggest clubs. He spent five seasons in total with Arsenal, including one on loan.

IAN LADYMAN AT VILLA PARK: Ollie Watkins will have had quieter days. A bid for his services made by Arsenal and rejected by his club Aston Villa may have just put him off his warm-up a little.

LEWIS STEELE AT THE PHILIPS STADION: With 12 first-team heavyweights left in England, Liverpool's travelling party to the Netherlands represented an ensemble cast of fringe players and teenagers.

Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia features on a list of Celtic loan options if they fail to land Kieran Tierney before the transfer deadline.

ISAAN KHAN: Does Mikel Arteta want a striker? Well, having had a bid rejected for Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins earlier in the day, Arteta stuck Kai Havertz - his only recognised striker - on the bench.

Mail Sport's racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Thursday's action at Southwell, Wincanton and Chelmsford City. 

The 2023 champions went into half-time 1-0 down and needed some magic from Mateo Kovacic and Savinho, as well as a Bruges own goal, to reverse their fortunes after the break.

MANCHESTER CITY 3-1 CLUB BRUGES - OLIVER HOLT AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM: We need not have worried. Pep Guardiola need not have worried as they came from behind to win.

The Gunners secured direct passage to the last 16.

The Premier League champions live to fight another day in Europe

Liverpool youngster Amara Nallo was sent off late on, just over three minutes into his debut.

Manchester City 3-1 Club Brugge: Pep Guardiola’s men came from behind to triumph at the Etihad Stadium and secure their place in the next round

Aston Villa 4-2 Celtic: Morgan Rogers’s hat-trick sent Villa straight into the Champions League last 16 but transfer questions remain over Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran

Midfielder set to have medical in London on ThursdayChloe Kelly hits out at lack of future at Manchester CityBarcelona have accepted a bid from Chelsea for Keira Walsh and the England midfielder is expected to undergo a medical in London on Thursday. The transfer fee is understood to be in the region of €550,000 (£460,000), which would make the deal the …

If Paris Saint-Germain were grasping for a playoff safety net just over a week ago, they ended up flinging themselves into it gleefully. Perhaps the new-look Champions League really does serve the big guns as intended: the illusion of serious jeopardy had been vivid before the sprawling final match-day kicked off but PSG, having given the neutrals their fun, …

Liverpool lost their 100% record in the Champions League but one suspects Arne Slot will be over the disappointment before he arrives back on Merseyside. It will take Amara Nallo much longer to recover.The 18-year-old defender was handed his Liverpool debut in the 83rd minute at PSV Eindhoven, one of several young faces to appear in the group finale as Slot …

Bayern and Real Madrid head to playoffs despite winsLeverkusen and Lille in last-16 spots ahead of AtalantaReal Madrid and Bayern Munich both won their final league phase matches but finished a point short of a direct place in the last 16 – leaving their managers worried by the possibility of facing Manchester City in the Champions League playoffs.Real …

What was it Mikel Arteta had said? “We’ve got some player there.” You certainly have. With four minutes left in Arsenal’s last Champions League match of a hugely impressive first phase, Ethan Nwaneri began his long, slow walk around the pitch at Montilivi. As he went, they waited for him with open arms on the away bench and, in the small main stand, …

Aston Villa had done their bit, albeit not without a struggle, and now all they could do was wait. Morgan Rogers, fresh from completing his hat-trick in stoppage time, was among the Villa players huddled around the phone of the fitness coach Moisés Del Hoyo praying Atalanta would not find a winner in Barcelona and divert Villa’s course. Everyone was …