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Montreal Impact have announced the acquisition of Nigeria youth international Ibrahim Sunusi from 36 Lion FC.

The 18-year-old penned a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee with the Major League Soccer outfit – which will keep him at Saputo Stadium until 2023, with an optional year in 2024.

Also, the contract will be made formal upon reception of his international transfer certificate and medical examination.

"The club is very happy to have completed the transfer of this young player, who is already part of his country’s U23 squad despite his young age," sporting director Olivier Renard told the club website.

“It’s a great addition to the squad, especially considering several European clubs were very interested in him as well. Sunusi Ibrahim is a fast and powerful striker who can also play on the wings."

Sunusi - who was linked with a move to English Championship Watford - shot into the limelight with Nigeria Professional Football League side Nasarawa United. There, he finished as the joint-top scorer of the abridged Nigerian top-flight season having scored 10 times in 22 league outings in the 2018-19 campaign.

On the international scene, the teenager featured for Nigeria in their quest to qualify for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring his only goal against Zambia.

With this move, he becomes the fourth African in Thierry Henry’s squad after Kenya international Victor Wanyama, Uganda’s Mustafa Kizza and Senegal’s Clement Diop.

Reacting to this development, grassroots exponent Samuel Olatunji-Okuku claims the move is a testimony that several talents abound in Nigeria, while appealing to the league organisers to keep doing more towards making the league beautiful.

“Sunusi joining MLS ide Montreal Impact is a testimony that there are plenty of talents in our domestic league against what so many people feel,” the Tripple 44 boss told Goal.

“I congratulate the young man on his move and I strongly believe that he will grab this opportunity with both hands. This will also serve as a big motivation for many players in Nigeria that they can be snapped up by top clubs outside the country if they keep working hard.

“For the League Management Company, my appeal to them is to keep doing more to upgrade the standard of the league. I have a feeling that one day that clubs like Manchester United, Barcelona and Chelsea will comb the NPFL to sign many more talents.”

Ghana are out of the ongoing Wafu Zone B Cup of Nations in Togo following a 3-1 loss to Cote d'Ivoire on Tuesday.

John Batigi was on target for the Black Starlets but goals from Abdramane Konate, Charles Likpa Miezan and Cedric Franck Emmanuel Don settled the Group B matchday three fixture at Stade de Kegue in Lome. 

The result sees Ghana finish third and bottom in the three-team group, behind leaders Cote d'Ivoire and runners up Nigeria who qualify for the semi-finals. The Starlets and Nigeria played out a 1-1 draw in their opening game.

The tournament champions, first runners-up and second runners-up will in turn qualify for the Africa U17 Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco later this year.

Konate opened the scoring for Cote d'Ivoire in the ninth minute, the effort lasting as the only goal until the end of the first half.

Just two minutes after the break, Miezan guided the ball into the net to double the lead.

In the 51st minute, Ghana halved the deficit as Batigi beat Cote d'Ivoire goalkeeper Issa Fofana.

Emmanuel Don, however, restored the Ivorians' lead, converting to make it 3-1 after Togolese referee Vincentia Enyonam Amedome pointed to the spot.

Ghana tried to find a way back into the game but found the Ivorian defence hard to break as the referee whistled to bring the match to an end.

The Black Starlets are unable to make the final of the competition for a second straight tournament after reaching the stage at Niger 2019. At the last tournament, they finished as losing finalists.

With Ghana unable to go all the way to book qualification for the 2021 U17 Afcon in Morocco, they are set to miss out on the continental gathering for the second straight edition.

The four semi-finalists at the Afcon ought to be representing the continent at the U17 World Cup later this year but the latter tournament has been cancelled due to safety concerns over the coronavirus pandemic.

Ghana are two-time winners (1995 and 1999) of the U17 Afcon and two-time champions (1991 and 1995) of the U17 World Cup. 

NorthEast United have sacked their Spanish head coach Gerard Nus after just 11 matches in the 2020-21 Indian Super League (ISL) season. Khalid Jamil has been appointed as the interim coach and he is already in quarantine in Goa. 

The club made the announcement just hours after their 1-1 draw against Bengaluru on Tuesday, a result that extended the club's winless run to seven matches.

The statement from the club read, "NorthEast United Football Club announces with immediate effect the departure of head coach Gerard Nus. The club has decided to part ways with the Spanish National after taking into consideration a contrast in the team's current tactics and the club's philosophy and vision.

"The club would like to thank Mr Nus for his hard work and commitment during his time at NorthEast United and wish him the best for all his future endeavours.

"Khalid Jamil has been appointed as the new interim head coach for the remainder of the current season."

The Highlanders had started the campaign on a high under Nus as they had remained unbeaten in their first five matches with wins against Mumbai City and East Bengal. But after that their form took a dip. They have not won a single game in their last seven outings which prompted the club to make a decision. 

Khalid Jamil had started the season as Nus' assistant but was later replaced by Alison Kharsyntiew who took charge on December 6. 

Jamil had also served as NorthEast head coach last season for the last three matches after Robert Jarni had parted ways with the club 

The Highlanders are currently in the seventh position on the league table with 12 points from 11 matches. They next face Jamshedpur on January 17.

Mesut Ozil's agent says the Arsenal midfielder is a “Fenerbahce fanatic” and is hopeful a move to the Turkish club can be completed soon.

Ozil has no future at Emirates Stadium having been frozen out of the senior squad by head coach Mikel Arteta this season.

He has not featured for the north London club since March, despite maintaining he is fit and available for selection, and has been left out of the club’s squad lists for the Premier League and Europa League.

It is now a question of whether he departs during the January window or when his contract expires at the end of the season, with Arteta telling reporters last week that Ozil will remain at the club if they do not receive a good offer for him this month.

In a Twitter question and answer session on Monday, Ozil said that he had no plans to retire and wanted to move to Fenerbahce or Major League Soccer, revealing that he was a fan of the Turkish club as a child growing up in Germany.

The 32-year-old fuelled rumours of a move still further by posting an image of himself  on Instagram playing for Real Madrid against Fenerbahce’s fierce rivals Galatasaray in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2013.

Fenerbahce president Ali Koc has confirmed that talks have taken place with the Gunners over a possible transfer, with coach Erol Bulut saying last week that he expected a decision on Ozil’s future to be made within days.

The player’s agent, Erkut Sogut, is also hopeful a deal can be struck this month, reiterating Ozil’s passion for his boyhood club. However, he also urged caution and stressed that an agreement is not imminent.

"Ozil is not an ordinary Fenerbahce supporter. He's a fanatic. He would only come to Turkey to play for Fenerbahce. I hope it will happen,” Sogut told beIN Sports Turkey.

"This transfer needs a process. It would be wrong to say certain things before something happens, but I hope it will happen. I always say that. Everyone understands what Ozil wants to do after his latest tweets."

If anyone has been keeping count, it’s been roughly 54 weeks since right-back Tariq Lamptey made his Premier League debut.

The circumstances were, in a word, peculiar.

At the Emirates Stadium, a London derby was unfolding. In the red corner, Arsenal, who were a goal ahead courtesy of a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 13th-minute opener from a corner. In the Blue, a Chelsea side that had been blown away for the opening half-hour, and who were in desperate need of some intervention from the bench.

The first act of staunching the bleeding came in the form of a change of shape, effected by the introduction of midfield metronome Jorginho. However, it was the second throw of the dice that effectively flipped the dynamic of the game: off came Fikayo Tomori, who had manfully filled in when shunted to right-back after the reshuffle, and in came a fresh-faced, debuting 19-year-old.

The effect was immediate and blinding, like an abrupt flash of lightning singing the retina.

Suddenly, from a position of uncertainty, Frank Lampard’s Chelsea began to overload their hosts on the right flank. Lamptey’s sheer athleticism and fearlessness asked very different questions of the Arsenal defence, forcing back Bukayo Saka and more or less negating his influence on the attack. At the other end of the pitch, the debutant would not be found wanting either: his brilliant interception as the Gunners broke stopped a dangerous foray dead in its tracks, signalling his maturity and reading of the game.

Ultimately, Chelsea would turn the result around with two goals in the final 10 minutes, and even though Lamptey directly contributed to neither, he now finds himself the subject of reported interest from Arsenal: clearly, the impression he did make was big enough, and has stuck ever since.

Sure, it has helped that, since then, Lamptey has reached out and seized his destiny at Brighton and Hove Albion.

His willingness to take that plunge, as opposed to waiting in line behind Reece James at Chelsea, not only speaks highly of his own self-assurance and boldness, but has raised his profile a thousandfold.

His speed and eagerness to get forward have found a natural home at Graham Potter’s Brighton, where the back three system enables Lamptey to dash forward with abandon. The glee with which he responds to this imperative, tearing into opposing left-backs time and again, has already seen him score once, lay on another, and win two penalties this season.

While there have been chastening moments, such as in the late November win over Aston Villa, when he was sent off, his current absence due to a minor hamstring strain has severely handicapped a struggling Brighton. The Seagulls have not won any of their last four games since Lamptey went off injured against Fulham on the 16th of December, and have yet to find a suitable replacement for him within the squad—an unprecedented degree of impact for a 20-year-old inside his first year at a new club.

With Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain long-term admirers of Hector Bellerin, Arsenal appear set to move for the Ghana-eligible defender.

He is a target that would significantly boost the Gunners’ attacking play under Mikel Arteta, especially as a number of serious injuries have notably robbed Bellerin of the searing acceleration he once possessed.

However, considering this, as well as the fact Arsenal would still have both Cedric Soares and Ainsley Maitland-Niles – both of whom are part of the rotation at right-back – under long-term contracts, one wonders whether both Barcelona and PSG might not be better served cutting out the middle man entirely and going for Lamptey himself.

He certainly offers the sort of gamechanger level ability (with room to grow even further still) that would make him an immediate hit at those clubs, and he has already displayed the singlemindedness to uproot himself at a young age and adapt in a new environment.

A potential link-up with Mauricio Pochettino in the French capital, considering the work the Argentine manager did burnishing and elevating the talents of Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier, would be interesting in the utmost.

It really should come as no surprise that he is spoken of in these terms: his gifts are genuinely that significant.

It remains to be seen whether he will be ready for the trip to Manchester City on Wednesday, especially as Potter has been keen to avoid aggravating the hamstring issue, and rightly so. However, it is against the bigger sides in the league he has most appeared to flourish, with star turns against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham already this term.

As such, were he to be selected here, it would be only logical to forecast fireworks. If anyone can test the Citizens newfound defensive solidity, Lamptey can.

National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) commissioner Lisa Baird announced on Tuesday that Sacramento will join the league in 2022 as an expansion franchise.

The league will grow from nine to 10 teams this year, with Racing Louisville joining and the Utah Royals moving back to Kansas City after a change in ownership.

It is now set to grow to 12 teams the following season, with Los Angeles-based Angel City FC already confirmed to be joining NWSL in 2022 and now joined by a second California franchise.

"Today we’re formally announcing two new clubs are joining the NWSL in 2022," Baird told reporters on Tuesday. "Angel City announced in July, and today I’m pleased to report that Sacramento will be joining as well and bringing the NWSL to 12 markets in the United States."

Baird would not confirm the ownership group of the new Sacramento franchise, with an official announcement from the league yet to be made.

Looking ahead, Baird said she didn't have a target in mind for further expansion but was wary of diluting the level of play by adding more teams too quickly.

"I don't think there’s a specific number [of teams we want to add] but there’s a principle, which is we want to continue to have the best standard of play in our league," Baird said.

"We want to have the best quality players, we want to have the best pipeline, the best resources, stadiums. The quality of the play has to remain the best in the world. That’s going to be our No 1 principle, and that will drive expansion more than anything else."

Baird also confirmed that the league will not share the results publicly of the league's investigation into the culture in Utah.

Reports have alleged the Royals facilitated a toxic work environment, and the team's previous head coach Craig Harrington was fired in November after the Salt Lake Tribune reported that players complained he was being “verbally abusive.”

The club's former owner Dell Loy Hansen found himself in trouble for comments made over players at MLS side Real Salt Lake, which he also owned, refusing to play a match this summer to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old black man, in Wisconsin.

Hansen was forced to sell the team, eventually resulting in its relocation back to Kansas City.

Kenya striker Michael Olunga suffered a losing start to life in the Qatar Super League after his new club Al Duhail SC lost 3-1 against Al Saad on Tuesday.

The towering striker was handed a start after signing for the club on Monday and featured for the first 65 minutes before he was withdrawn with his team trailing 2-1 at that time.

Reports had emerged on Monday that Olunga had signed for the club and with no official unveiling, he was thrown straight into the starting line-up as they faced the Xavi-led side, who also had in their ranks Santi Carzola, formerly of Arsenal.

It was Olunga’s Duhail who took the lead in the 6th minute when captain Almoez Ali dusted himself after being fouled inside the box to convert from the penalty spot, sending the keeper the wrong way.

Saad responded almost immediately as Baghdad Bounedjah levelled matters with a fine finish in the 14th minute and added the second in the 50th minute before banging home the third and the winner in the 87th minute for his hat-trick of the night.

Olunga had a strong start in the first half as he missed a sitter in the 20th minute after his glancing header went wide. He was once again involved after he created space and beat three defenders ahead of him but his final shot was saved by the keeper.

Despite arriving in Qatar on Sunday, Olunga never looked tired or jetlagged as he was involved in all the team’s attacking moves and he was almost getting his first goal for the club after he raced to tap home a through ball from Almoez but Saad's defender reacted quickly to hit the ball out for a fruitless corner.

He was then withdrawn in the 65th minute and will be hoping to earn another start in their next league assignment.

The former Gor Mahia striker recently clinched the Golden Boot in the Japanese J-1 League after notching 28 goals from 32 matches while in the 2019 season, he finished with 27 league goals as Reysol ended the J2 season as champions, winning promotion to the first division.

Lionel Messi has overcome a knock to be available for Barcelona's Supercopa de Espana semi-final against Real Sociedad, as Ronald Koeman looks to take a step closer to his first trophy as coach.

Messi had, according to Koeman, some "discomfort" after Barca's resounding 4-0 win at Granada on Saturday, the Argentinian scoring twice as both he and the team appeared to be finding their feet again.

That was the Blaugrana's third La Liga win in a row – all of which came away from home – and they are unbeaten in eight across all competitions since the 3-0 home defeat by Juventus on December 8.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Barca's improvement has coincided with Messi finding some joy in his game again – the club captain has scored seven times and set up another two in his past seven games, racking up more goal involvements than any other La Liga player over the same period.

In his 10 previous league games this term, Messi had only contributed to four goals in total – none of which were assists – suggesting his mind was elsewhere following an attempt to leave the club, but he and Barca are looking significantly improved as they head into the Supercopa, with their star man fit for Wednesday's semi-final.

"There are several players with discomfort, one of them is Messi, that is why we withdrew him in Granada," Koeman said on Tuesday.

"It seems that everyone is available for tomorrow, also [Ronald] Araujo, although a preparatory session is missing. It is a match against a strong team and we can take the next step."

Koeman recognises Barca have looked more like their old selves in recent weeks, particularly in attack. Since December 9, the four men with the most chances created in La Liga are Barca players.

"The team is better offensively, we have more players coming from the middle of the field," Koeman said. "We have players in attack who do damage, and defensively the team is working well. We have gained in confidence.

"Lately the team is focused on every game - we have improved in this regard. When we don't have the ball, the team is quite compact. We are improving our game.

"Midfield players give us a lot of threat, but at the beginning of the season we already played with Messi as a false nine. The difference is that the team is more confident and we find free men between the lines."

Wednesday's contest against La Real in Cordoba will be Koeman's first semi-final in charge, with the winners set to play Real Madrid or Athletic Bilbao in the final.

While the Dutchman sees it as a great opportunity for silverware, he does not think victory in this competition will instantly mean Barcelona are back to the levels expected of them.

"For us it is important, Barca is made to win. It is not the most important trophy, but we have to play the semi-final and we will give our best," he said. "We will play with our best team to be in the final. We want to take the first step to reach it.

"I don't think that winning the trophy means being better. Soccer is fickle and things can change quickly. It [winning the trophy] would give us confidence, of course, but we have to go step by step, the first thing is to win the semi-final against Real Sociedad."

Every footballing great has their nickname - Cristiano Ronaldo is known as 'El Bicho', while Carles Puyol has been called 'El Tiburon'.

Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers to have ever graced the pitch, also has his fair share of affectionate nicknames and monikers - and Goal has what you need to know about them.

One of Messi's most famous nicknames is that of 'La Pulga', which means 'the flea' in Spanish.

Messi has been known as 'La Pulga' ever since he was a child, having been diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of 10.

His small stature and modest height earned him the nickname of 'the flea', but his reputation as a promising footballer even at his early age meant that he was known for his small size but huge talent.

Barcelona were able to provide Messi with the proper treatment which was completed by the time he turned 14 and the rest, as they say, is history. Messi is one of the most celebrated players in Barcelona history and considered a club talisman.

Spanish outlets went a step further and began calling him 'La Pulga Atomica' [the atomic flea] as a means to describe how, despite being physically unimposing, still manages to have significant upper-body strength that allows him to physically dominate his opponents in challenges - while his quick footwork allows him to excel at dribbling.

His short, strong legs - he is not traditionally long-limbed or legged as other successful footballers are - allow him to accelerate across the pitch in quick bursts.

Another nickname for Messi is 'Leo', a shortened form of his full first name that is informally used by football figures, team-mates and pundits alike.

Messi was supposedly named after the singer Lionel Richie, the musician behind the well-known tracks "Hello" and "Truly".

A less official nickname is, of course, the 'GOAT' (Greatest Of All Time), but that is a tag shared by former rival at Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo.

Football fans will also refer to Messi as 'the Messiah', a pun combining the words 'Messi' and 'Messiah' to truly illustrate his god-like prowess and skills on the pitch.

European champions Lyon have completed the signing of highly-rated youngster Catarina Macario, dealing a huge blow to the NWSL.

Macario signs on a two-and-a-half year deal after announcing earlier this month that she would forgo her final year of college at Stanford to turn professional.

The 21-year-old, who was born in Brazil but recently acquired American citizenship, was expected to be the No.1 pick in the NWSL Draft this week, a pick held by Racing Louisville.

Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have all been linked with Macario this month. However, the exciting young talent will instead begin her professional career with Lyon, who won their fifth successive Women’s Champions League title back in August.

Macario picked up the Hermann Trophy, awarded annually to the best male and female soccer players in the United States, in both 2018 and 2019 – an accolade previously won by players such as World Cup winners Christen Press and Crystal Dunn.

She also scored 63 goals in 68 games for Stanford during her college career and won two NCAA College Cup titles.

“It is a pleasure to start my professional career at OL and to find myself surrounded by the best players in the world,” Macario said. “OL represent victories, titles, trophies and I can't wait to arrive in Lyon and be part of this team.

“I know a lot of American players have worn this jersey before me. It is a great pride to be able to perpetuate this heritage and to be able to contribute to the success of the team. I hope I can progress to become a better player.”

Macario will become the 11th American to represent the club, with the likes of Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe among those to have done so before her.

She will join up with her new team-mates later this month, following the conclusion of the USWNT training camp which ends on January 22.

Lyon are currently second in the Division 1 Feminine table, one point behind rivals PSG, who beat them 1-0 at the end of November.

However, Jean-Luc Vasseur's side remain favourites for the title, having been crowned champions of France every year since their first triumph in 2007.

The club are also through to the last 16 of the Women’s Champions League, a competition they have won for the last five years running, after beating Juventus 6-2 on aggregate in December.

Arsenal defender Rob Holding has signed a new long-term contract at Emirates Stadium.

The 25-year-old has put pen-to-paper on a three-and-a-half year deal through to the summer of 2024, with the option of a further year.

The former Bolton defender reportedly came close to leaving the club on loan over the summer but has established himself in the Gunners first team under Mikel Arteta this season, making more Premier League appearances than any other central defender so far.

“Since I started as manager, I have been hugely impressed with Rob’s contribution to the club and the dressing room, on and off the pitch. The quality of his work every day on the training pitches is excellent and he is translating this into consistently high performances in matches," said Arsenal boss Arteta.

Technical director Edu added: “We are very happy to have signed Rob on a new contract extension. He is 25 years old, so is still coming into the peak of his career, and we are delighted that he’ll be with us during these important years.

"Rob has shown great quality and maturity on and off the pitch in recent months and is developing well. We are looking forward to Rob continuing his progression in the years to come.”

Holding has made nearly 100 appearances for Arsenal since joining from Bolton ahead of the 2016-17 season and was part of the Gunners side that beat Chelsea to lift the FA Cup at the end of that campaign.

However, the following year he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that would keep him out of action for nine months.

He returned to fitness in September 2019 and won his second FA Cup medal at the end of last season as the Gunners once again overcame Chelsea at Wembley.

Despite that success Holding was rumoured to be considering his future at the club during the close season as he wanted guaranteed first-team football. Newcastle were tipped to sign him on loan but Arteta ruled out a move, with Holding since becoming a regular in the side.

"We all know Rob’s quality, which he has shown in his displays during the intense moments of those two FA Cup final victories," added Arteta. "We are all very happy that Rob has signed a new contract, he is very popular with all the players and staff, and we’re looking forward to watching him continue to grow with us in the coming years.”

Simba SC assistant coach Selemani Matola has explained the reason Namungo FC took control of the second half of their Mapinduzi Cup semi-final clash played in Arusha on Monday.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi qualified for the final of the tournament after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Namungo in the match played at Amani Stadium.

Meddie Kagere and Miraji Athumani scored the goals for the Tanzania Mainland Premier League champions, to set up a Kariakoo derby final against rivals Yanga SC, while Ghanaian Stephen Kwame Sey grabbed a consolation for his team.

However, Simba did not find it easy against Namungo, who were seeking revenge having lost to the same team 2-1 in the final of the domestic cup last season as they put up a spirited fight in the second half, and almost forced the match into penalties.

Matola, who is standing in as the coach of the side after the exit of Belgian Sven Vandenbroeck has now told Goal they were overpowered by Namungo after the two injuries to Tadeo Lwanga and Joash Onyango, which forced them to shift their style of play in the second half.

“We thank God for the win against Namungo, from the first day I knew it will not be an easy game, and I even said it before the match [they are not an easy team], we knew they have a strong team and knew they will come to give us a strong opposition,” Matola told Goal.

“I thank my players because they took the advantage of their good display in the first half to score the two goals which disjointed Namungo, in the second half after picking two injuries [Tadeo Lwanga] and Joash [Onyango], it forced us to change our game plan and when you look at our bench we have a slim squad so we needed to change the system of play, we had to use two strikers and asked one to drop back and help the team to defend.

“It was the reason Namungo got the chance to control the game in the second half and managed to push us to the end even after they scored their goal, at first we were level in terms of strength and power but the changes we did in the second half, changed the game in their favour but we thank God we came out on top and play in the final.”

On meeting their sworn rivals Yanga in the final on Wednesday, Matola said: “A final is a final, there is no easy final if you check now, we had many teams in this tournament but now we have remained two [against Yanga], and I know the game will not be easy, we will plan ourselves, we know the difficulties of playing against them, and our aim is to win the title.”

The last time the two teams met in the final of the tournament was in 2011 when Simba emerged winners after a 2-1 win.

Fenerbahce have made progress in their pursuit of Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil, says the club's president Ali Koc.

The Turkish giants are one of the leading candidates to sign the Germany international, with coach Erol Bulut saying last week that he expected a decision to be made within days.

However, MLS side D.C. United have also been touted as a possible destination for the 32-year-old, whose contract at Arsenal expires at the end of the season.

Ozil is keeping his options open as he admitted on Monday that he wants to join either Fenerbahce or play in the United States before he retires, adding of the Super Lig side: “I grew up as a Fenerbahce fan as a kid in Germany."

Koc says his side are still working on striking a deal with the former Real Madrid and Schalke star, but insists it is far from wrapped up. 

"It is still a dream," he told reporters after his side's 3-0 win against Erzurumspor in the Super Lig on Monday.

"We can confirm that we have made some progress in this matter. But nothing is perfect yet.

"It is important that Mesut discuss things with his current club."

He added: "Not a single person from Fenerbahce made a statement. There are issues between Mesut and Arsenal.

"It is a subject that we are closer to than before. Nothing is finished. It may or may not go through. The news reports that an agreement has been made weakens our hand."

Ozil has not played for Arsenal this season, having been left out of the squad for the Premier League and Europa League.

While the attacking midfielder has not yet decided where he will end up, he has ruled out the prospect of joining Arsenal's north London rivals Tottenham, insisting he would rather retire than become part of Jose Mourinho's squad.

Spurs boss Mourinho dismissed Ozil's jibe when asked for his reaction on Tuesday, responding: "Who told him that Tottenham would be interested in signing him?"

Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013 and has made 254 appearances in all competitions and won the FA Cup four times.

Kenya striker Michael Olunga has finally completed his transfer to Al Duhail SC.

While the Qatari club and his former club Kashiwa Resyol in Japan are yet to make the transfer official, Olunga has been named in the starting 11 to face Xavi-managed Al-Sadd on Tuesday, January 12.

According to the line-up published on Duhail’s website, Olunga will start as a lone striker and will wear jersey number 26.

On Monday after a photo of the former Gor Mahia striker leaked on the internet, a source close to the player confirmed to Goal the deal to Duhail was as good as sealed since the player had already landed in Qatar.

“He has already arrived in Qatar and what remains now is for him to be unveiled,” the source told  Goal . “He has discussed everything including contractual terms and he is happy to move to the Gulf after almost three years in Japan.”

Last week it was reported in Japan that Kashiwa Reysol had already accepted a transfer fee of 7 million Euros (approximately Ksh890m) from the Qatari club.

The former Gor Mahia striker recently clinched the Golden Boot in the Japanese J-1 League after notching 28 goals from 32 matches while in the 2019 season, he finished with 27 league goals as Reysol ended the J2 season as champions, winning promotion to the first division.

Al-Duhail formerly Lekhwiya SC, is a Qatari sports club that plays in the Qatar Stars League. The club is based in the Duhail district in the city of Doha and plays its home games at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium and is the first team in Qatari football to win the first division title on its debut season.

They are currently sitting second on the 12-team table with 27 points from 13 matches, eight fewer than table-toppers Al Sadd, who are on 35 points.

On Tuesday, Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama waded into the transfer issue by saying he will support any move Olunga makes in this transfer window.

Wanyama, who currently features for Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer (MLS) and was in the same situation before leaving Tottenham Hotspur, has now said Olunga is mature enough to make a good decision.

“In football, it is always difficult to try and advise someone who has played the game and knows what’s next in his move,” Wanyama said as quoted by  Standard Sports .

“But Olunga is a mature player and he knows what’s next for his career. All of us have ambitions and they cannot be the same. So, I’m supporting him in every step he is going to take and I wish him all the best in whatever move he is going to take.”

Forward Innocent Wafula has announced his departure from Ugandan Premier League (UPL) champions Vipers SC.

The player was part of the Venoms squad that put up a consistent battle to topple former champions Kampala Capital City Authority Football Club (KCCA FC) from the summit of the Ugandan top-tier in the abandoned 2019/20 season. However, the 26-year-old has now opted to go for another challenge elsewhere.

"It has been an incredible two years that has come to an end," Wafula posted on his official social media account.

"I take this opportunity to say thank you to Vipers Sports Club, the fans, players and coaching staff for the amazing moments we shared together.

"It has been a learning curve in my career and I am [really] grateful to have been here. 

"As I leave to begin another journey elsewhere, the memories we shared together will stay with me. Thank you and all the best."

Wafula ditched Gor Mahia in January 2019 and penned a three-year deal with Vipers 

The utility player fell out with K’Ogalo and the former Chemelil Sugar player finally ditched the Kenyan Premier League heavyweights for the Ugandan league.

He became the first signing for Vipers in the aforementioned transfer window

In the Ugandan Premier League, the Venoms have started the 2020/21 season with two wins and a draw from the three matches they have played. They have scored eight goals in the process and conceded five and as a result, they are placed in eighth position with seven points.

The reigning champions started their campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Wakiso Giants. They made a return to winning ways in their home fixture against Airtel Kitara. They won the game 2-1.

Their last game was away to Busoga United where they managed to win 5-3.

Promoted side The Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) FC lead the race with 12 points from the five games they have played. They are followed by URA who have a point less from the same number of matches. 

Police FC are in third position with 10 points from five games as well. 

Marc Roca is not seeking a move away from Bayern Munich in the January transfer window despite speculation surrounding his future.

The defensive midfielder, who joined Bayern from Espanyol in a €15 million (£14m/$18m) deal last October, has been linked to a return to Spain, with reports in his homeland claiming Valencia want to land him on loan.

Goal and SPOX has learned that Roca, who has played only 20 minutes of Bundesliga football and featured twice in the Champions League this season, feels settled in Munich and would rather stay at the club for the time being.

Bayern have not held discussions with any potential suitors for the 24-year-old.

A source close to the Spain Under 21 international said: "Everyone who knows Marc knows that he is a tireless worker who does not give up. He has been in Munich for only 13 weeks and just moved into his new apartment in December. Do you think he just wants to move on now? No chance!"

Roca, who made 121 senior appearances at Espanyol before moving to Germany, could be called into action again on Wednesday when the Bavarian side take on Holstein Kiel in the second round of the DFB Pokal. He played the full 90 minutes when they beat Duren 3-0 in the previous round in October.

Despite his lack of playing time, Roca insisted last month that he is happy at Bayern 

"I am very happy to be here," he told Marca. "It is a new experience and I am looking forward to learning, improving and continuing to grow. I can't be in a better place, so I'm super happy."

Roca is not the only Bundesliga midfielder Valencia are interested in signing. Goal and SPOX can confirm that Schalke captain Omar Mascarell is also on their list of candidates.

Mascarell, who joined the Gelsenkirchen side from Real Madrid in 2018, is the captain of the club and has made 14 appearances this season. 

Schalke are second bottom of the table with just seven points from 15 matches, having picked up their first Bundesliga win of the campaign on Saturday when they beat Hoffenheim 4-0.

Chelsea starlet Billy Gilmour admits to using Cesc Fabregas as inspiration in his game, with the talented teenager looking to follow in the footsteps of a World Cup winner.

The highly-rated 19-year-old midfielder grew up watching a player who collected major honours with Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and Spain.

Fabregas is still going strong with Monaco at 33 years of age and has cemented a standing as one of the finest playmakers of his generation.

Many have looked to him for advice and guidance, with Gilmour among those seeking to become as productive in the middle of the park.

The Scot told Chelsea’s official website of a former Blues star that has been singing his praises on a regular basis: “When I was watching Cesc, it was all about his forward passes to the striker, whether that was a lofted pass, a clipped ball or just a simple through ball.

“He was one of the best at doing that, especially at Chelsea, and I want to add that more to my own game, but it comes first of all from being aware of what’s around you.

“He speaks a lot about the boys because he obviously used to be here but it’s always nice seeing a top midfielder like that comment on your game.”

Gilmour boasts the technical ability of Fabregas and is not short on confidence when it comes to expressing himself on the field.

A big break was passed his way by Frank Lampard last season, with 11 appearances taken in across all competitions, and the challenge now is to earn a regular role in a star-studded squad.

On the qualities that he brings to the table, Gilmour added: “You have to be confident in yourself to go and receive the ball.

“You need to be always checking your shoulders and knowing where you are on the pitch. If you don’t do that, you’re going to get yourself in a lot of trouble.

“The game gets quicker and more tactical in the Premier League so you always need to know where you are on the pitch.

“It’s then about not taking too many chances, making sure you do things full of confidence, receive the ball with both feet and just trust your own ability.”

Ismaila Sarr should remain an option on Liverpool’s recruitment radar, says John Barnes, as the Watford winger would be a “fantastic player to have as part of the team” at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp has been linked with a move to bring another Senegal international onto his books in a number of transfer windows.

Liverpool witnessed firsthand how devastating Sarr can be on his day during the 2019-20 campaign, with the talented 22-year-old inflicting a first defeat of the season on the champions elect.

Watford are understandably reluctant to part with such ability, even after slipping back into the Championship, and will demand a sizeable fee from any deal.

It has been suggested that £40 million ($54m) may be required in order to prise Sarr from Vicarage Road, but Barnes believes that would be money well spent if Klopp looks to land another exciting forward.

The ex-Reds and Hornets midfielder told BonusCodeBets when asked if a move for Sadio Mane’s international colleague should be made: “Yes, if he wanted to be one of the front three, but, and I’ve said this before, we need a centre-back.

“Although a great player and looking forward he’d be fantastic player to have as part of the team, it’s not what we need at this very moment in time.

“If they want to sign him as a long-term investment, then I think that’s great. But right now, this very season, we need to strengthen our defence so to find suitable players for this should be the priority.”   

Liverpool are mulling over centre-half options at present, with injuries having taken their toll on the defending champions.

Klopp’s men are still very much in the hunt for another top-flight crown, but the chasing pack have closed in and Barnes expects a much tougher fight to the finish than the Reds experienced last term.

He added: “Although this season is much more unpredictable than the previous one, Man City is most definitely Liverpool’s biggest threat.

“At the moment, Man United can go on top of us if they get a point, but I think over the season, and of course we're not even halfway yet, a lot can happen and I do think it’ll end up being Liverpool and Man City battling it out.

“Liverpool still terrify teams when they pour forward and they very much got that winning mentality in mind. 

“And if you go to the bookies, they're not going to tell you that Man United are favourites. They're going to say Liverpool and City are still the two favourites and, in my opinion, they very much are.” 

Sergio Aguero has been ruled out of Manchester City’s clash with Brighton on Wednesday with the striker still in self-isolation.

The Argentinian has tested negative for Covid-19 but has been ordered to quarantine after close contact with someone that tested positive.

Aguero, who has made just three starts this season after knee surgery and a hamstring injury, had been set to start City’s FA Cup clash with Birmingham at the weekend. But he is also set to miss Saturday’s clash with Crystal Palace, in addition to the visit of Brighton.

“[He is in] quarantine, self -isolating,” City boss Pep Guardiola said. “After nine or 10 days he will be back.”

City were hit by a coronavirus outbreak in the first-team squad that forced the postponement of the Everton game over Christmas and the closure of the first-team training ground.

But Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus returned at the weekend and Ederson, Ferran Torres and Tommy Doyle are back with the squad after missing the last three games following positive tests.

However, City are without Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake through injury ahead of the visit of Brighton.

While Graham Potter’s side are facing a relegation battle and have won just once in their last 17 league and cup games, Guardiola has warned his players they offer a dangerous threat.

“They are a joy to watch, a joy to analyse,” he added. “At the same time when you see them you are concerned about their quality.

“I said to the players today that we will have to be in the highest standards to complete against them. They have better stats in all the departments except the final third. I am a big fan of Graham Potter.

"They have the courage to play. I like a lot how they play and it will be a big test. That is why I am only concerned about the game tomorrow."

After Brighton, City have home games against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa with the real opportunity to put pressure on Liverpool and Manchester United at the top of the Premier League.

But Guardiola says City cannot afford to look too far ahead, adding: "The momentum arrive and disappear in one instant.

"We cannot forget the teams we beat recently especially in the Premier League and Carabao Cup - two strong teams away and we did well.

"But the momentum can disappear tomorrow so we have to do it again. Especially for the way we are playing."