Looking for Soccer News?

Rio Ferdinand has revealed he played while drunk for West Ham against Arsenal when he was a teenager.

The former England international has revealed how he was part of the travelling party to Highbury for a game at the start of the 1996-97 season, but was not initially in the matchday squad.

With him not in the squad, and despite potentially being only 17 at the time, Ferdinand said he went up to the bar and started drinking - only to be summoned down to the changing room after Paulo Futre stormed out of the ground.

Futre, a signing from AC Milan for the start of the season, expected to wear the No.10 jersey and was so offended by being allocated a different number that he left the ground before kick-off.

This resulted in Ferdinand being drafted into the squad, much to his shock and surprise.

“I was at West Ham and I was in the squad and did not get changed, so went up to the bar and had three brandy and cokes,” Ferdinand told The Mo Gilligan Podcast. “Then the kit man came and said ‘you’ve got to get changed’... as I had a brandy and coke in my hand.

“So I was like, oh. I put it down and have had three brandy and cokes and need to go play at Highbury. What’s going on?

“My first appearance at Highbury; I was 17, 18. So I went downstairs and was asked, ‘Are you alright?’ - I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine’ and I was right, I’m buzzing! 

“Next thing, Paulo Futre walked out as he left because he wasn’t No.10. He looked at the numbers saw he wasn’t No.10 and walked out. 

“[West Ham manager] Harry Redknapp was like, ‘We’ll sort it out next week, Paulo, we’ll change it, we’ll sort it.’ 

“Paulo just got in a taxi and went home. He left Highbury before a ball had been kicked.

"So I was brought down into the squad and then I came on. I was on the bench thinking please don’t bring me on. Three brandy and cokes, I can’t come on this pitch. I can’t come on and make an example of myself.

“So I went on for about 15 minutes.”

West Ham were beaten 2-0, with Ferdinand entering the play with the Hammers already two behind.

Liverpool's frustrating run continued as they slipped to a 1-0 Premier League defeat against Southampton, handing further impetus to Manchester United and the chasing pack.

Having drawn their final two games of 2020 to West Brom and Newcastle United, Liverpool were downed by an early goal from their former striker Danny Ings at St Mary's.

They remain top, above United on goal difference having played a game more ahead of a crunch clash between the two old rivals at Anfield on January 17.

Ings' earliest goal of his Premier League career came after Liverpool switched off from a James Ward-Prowse free-kick.

Southampton might have added to their lead before half-time, but although Jurgen Klopp's champions dominated after the restart, they could not avoid a second league defeat of the season.

Liverpool were boosted by the return of Thiago Alcantara, yet it was the Spain international's foul that resulted in Southampton's second-minute opener.

Ward-Prowse's clever free-kick caught the visiting defence cold and, with Alisson stranded, Ings delicately lofted in his 50th Premier League goal.

Making his first Premier League appearance since May 2019, Fraser Forster was beaten by Roberto Firmino moments later, but the Brazil forward dragged his effort wide.

Moussa Djenepo succumbed to a hamstring injury with half-an-hour played and his replacement Nathan Tella was inches away from a first senior goal when he curled wide of the right-hand post.

Liverpool wanted a penalty when Giorgino Wijnaldum's shot struck Jack Stephens' arm from point-blank range, but Andre Marriner remained unmoved.

Stephens made another vital block in the 58th minute, lunging across to deny Sadio Mane as Liverpool turned the screw.

For all Liverpool's dominance, however, Forster did not have a save to make until the 75th minute, as he got down to Mane's scuffed shot.

Jordan Henderson’s last-ditch clearance from Yan Valery’s effort kept Liverpool in the contest late on, but Southampton nevertheless held firm to end a four-match winless run and reduce an emotional Ralph Hasenhuttl to tears of joy at full-time.

What does it mean? Blunt Reds fall flat as Southampton make history

Liverpool mustered 16 attempts, yet only one of those was on target, and for the third game in a row Klopp's team failed to turn their dominance into all three points.

The Reds are just four points clear of Southampton, who are up to sixth, and became the first team in Premier League history to beat all seven winners of the competition in the season following a title win.

Ings only getting better

Since Hasenhuttl took charge of Southampton in December 2018, Ings has been directly involved in 39 Premier League goals, scoring 31 times and providing seven assists.

Ings endured an injury hit spell at Anfield but came back to haunt his old club and end a run of four games without a goal.

Trials and tribulations for Trent

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been a pivotal part of Liverpool's success under Klopp but turned in a display to forget on the south coast.

Having failed to deal with Ward-Prowse’s delivery for Ings' winner, the full-back gave away possession on 38 occasions – 10 more times than any other Liverpool player – before he was taken off after 77 minutes.

Key Opta facts
- Liverpool have failed to score in back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since May 2018, having found the net in each of their 21 previous league games.
- After having eight shots on target in their 7-0 victory over Crystal Palace, Liverpool have mustered just seven attempts on target across their past three winless Premier League matches.
- Ward-Prowse has provided four assists in the Premier League this season – only in 2014-15 (six) did the England international supply more in a single top-flight campaign.
- Forster kept his first Premier League clean sheet since October 2017. This was his 13th appearance in the competition since that shutout in a 1-0 win over West Brom.

What's next?

Liverpool were thrashed 7-2 at Aston Villa earlier in the season, and Klopp's side will be out for vengeance at Villa Park in the FA Cup on Friday. Southampton host Shrewsbury Town a day later.

AC Milan are not resting on their healthy position in Serie A, with the Rossoneri making a move for Strasbourg defender Mohamed Simakan.

The full-back has been on the Rossoneri’s list of targets for some time, and Goal can confirm that Serie A leaders Milan have made their move - with a €15 million (£14m/£18m) bid being put to the club from Alsace.

If the deal comes to fruition, it will be the culmination of a chase that dates back to last summer when Milan attempted to persuade Strasbourg into a sale only to be knocked back.

It is clear why Milan made the move for Simakan, given club legend and current technical director Paolo Maldini spoke in glowing terms of the 20-year-old.

“You and the scouting department have to know what you want and they can tell you what had worked statistically in the last five years compared to the previous five years," Maldini told DAZN. "Let’s talk about defence, for example.

"A defender is easy enough for me to read, but while before we used to ask for a player who could fit well in the department, now I would go and get a player who is strong in one-on-one situations, then we can teach him how to fit in the back four. The hard thing to teach is strength in one-on-one situations and concentration.

"At this moment, especially for our way of playing but also the situation of football in general, I would go and get a strong defender in one-on-one. That’s why we tried to sign Mohamed Simakan from RC Strasbourg.

"The French league is not very tactical, as a result the defenders develop the ability to defend well one-on-one. Whether it’s Simakan or someone else, our idea is to sign this kind of player. Maybe tactically with things to learn, but with physical strength and good defensively one-on-one."

While Milan have made their move, it is far from certain that the deal will come off as the bid could flush out rival clubs.

RB Leipzig hold an interest in the defender and may be tempted to up a price that would make Simakan the most expensive sale in Strasbourg history alongside Youssouf Fofana, who was sold to Monaco in 2019.

Premier League football was suspended for three months following the Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020, with social distancing enforced to slow the spread of the virus.

The league resumed in the summer of 2020, but the tail end of 2020 has seen the highest infection rates across the UK - along with a newer, more infectious strain of the virus - and hospitals becoming increasingly overcrowded.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now announced a new Tier 4 national lockdown across England. But will the Premier League and top-level football continue?

Both the Premier League and FA Cup are expected to continue during England's Tier 4 national lockdown, as they have been classified as "elite" sport and granted an exemption from the rules.

Johnson announced stricter lockdown measures for England on January 4, moving the country to the highest coronavirus alert level of Tier 4 beginning the morning of January 6.

Johnson stated in his briefing that it had become "clear that we need to do more" to bring the new Covid-19 variant "under control" and help the vaccination distribution in the UK.

The lockdown is expected to remain in place until at least February.

This means that the tightest lockdown restrictions since March will be enforced and schools are set to shut, though elite football will still be played - albeit behind closed doors once again.

The UK’s four chief medical officers stated that the alert level should be moved to the highest level, warning of the NHS being severely overwhelmed.

They said: “Cases are rising almost everywhere, in much of the country driven by the new, more transmissible variant. We are not confident that the NHS can handle a further sustained rise in cases and without further action there is a material risk of the NHS in several areas being overwhelmed over the next 21 days.”

Though the number of Covid-19 positive cases within the Premier League have increased in the past weeks, with several fixtures such as Manchester City vs Everton postponed due to coronavirus outbreaks within the camps, top level football will remain unaffected.

Rigorous testing and plans for social bubbles have contributed to the Premier League insisting that they will not have to suspend the season for a second time.

"The Premier League has not discussed pausing the season and has no plans to do so," the league said in a statement on December 30.

"The League continues to have confidence in its Covid-19 protocols to enable fixtures to be played as scheduled, and these protocols continue to have the full backing of Government.

"With the health of players and staff the priority, the League is also fully supportive of how clubs are implementing the protocols and rules."

It currently remains unclear, however, how the lockdown will affect non-elite football across England.

"I can say yes to the Premier League, I think, with authority," Johnson had told reporters in October after the announcement of the second lockdown about whether or not sport would be allowed to continue.

Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, confirmed that top-level sporting activity would not be forced to stop.

"The changes mean people should work from home where possible," Dowden explained on Twitter at the time. 

"But where this is not possible, travel to a place of work will be permitted - e.g. this includes (but not exhaustive) elite sport played behind closed doors, film & tv production, telecoms workers."

Henry Onyekuru has no regrets over his decision to join Everton in 2017, despite his desire to join Arsenal.

Having impressed in his third season with the Pandas where he finished the 2016-17 Belgian First Division A campaign as joint top-scorer with 22 goals, the Nigeria international was snapped up by the Toffees for £7 million.

However, he was immediately loaned to Anderlecht following his inability to secure a work permit which would have seen him realise his dream of playing in the Premier League.

After completing loan spells in Belgium and Galatasaray – where he won the 2018-19 Turkish Super Lig title, he was sold permanently to Ligue 1 giants Monaco where he has struggled to find his feet. Looking back, the 23-year-old disclosed he is not disenchanted teaming up with the Goodison Park giants despite offers from ‘top clubs’.

"The first dream is to play in the Premier League, it may not have worked out at Everton but I have no regrets about it," Onyekuru told BBC Africa Sport.

"When I received offers from top clubs in England I knew back then that I needed a work permit to play.

"That it didn't happen then has nothing to do with my talent but red tape that's beyond my control.”

"I really wanted to go to Arsenal because I spoke to some people there as I was very young then,” he continued.

"It was obvious that I was not going to play without a UK work permit. So, I went to Everton and played in the Champions League through a loan move to Anderlecht.

"It was important for me to get more playing time and experience that I had hoped would help boost my chances of earning the permit.

"I can't say I regretted this because I got to play against Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich in the Uefa Champions League, this doesn't happen to everyone."

At Monaco, Onyekuru seems to have fallen out of the pecking order under manager Niko Kovac having featured in just four games in Ligue 1 of the 2020-21 campaign. According to Foot Mercato, Al Ain are ready to table a loan deal in January with the option to buy the Nigerian at the end of the season.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) confirmed that Orlando Pirates have qualified for the Caf Confederation Cup play-off phase following the withdrawal from the competition of their first-round opponents Sagrada Esperanca.

Esperanca said they will not be able to travel to South Africa due to a new super-infectious coronavirus strain which has driven a wave of new infections.

This will see the first round, second leg that was scheduled for Orlando Stadium on Wednesday being cancelled, with Pirates having won the away leg 1-0 courtesy of a Thembinkosi Lorch strike.

In the play-off round, Pirates will now meet a team that will drop from the Caf Champions League as they bid to reach the group stage and re-establish themselves as a major force in African football under German coach Josef Zinnbauer.

“Within the framework of the organisation of match 58 Orlando Pirates vs GD Sagrada Esperança counting for the 2nd preliminary round of the Total Caf Confederation Cup 2020/21, we would like to inform you that the club GD Sagrada Esperança has withdrawn from the competition,” Caf wrote to Pirates.

“Therefore, we hereby inform you that the club Orlando Pirates is automatically qualified to the next round, namely the additional second preliminary round.

"Furthermore, the mission of the designated officials for the above-mentioned match is cancelled. A letter will be communicated to the Angolan Federation incorporating further details regarding the withdrawal.”

Angola has closed its borders to travellers from Australia, Nigeria, South Africa and the UK due to the Covid-19 variant.

Kaizer Chiefs have, however, been handed an exception which saw them travel to Angola for a Champions League first round, second leg date with Primeiro Agosto on Tuesday.

While Agosto accepted to host Chiefs, Sagrada Esperanca vice-president Bruno dos Santos issued a letter explaining his club's withdrawal.

“The risks related to team's stay in South Africa would be very high for the health of athletes, taking into account the magnitude of the contagion level and extreme lethality of the new version of the Covid-19 virus, which is prevalent in that country,” read part of the letter (translated from Portuguese).

The letter also mentioned the need to “fundamentally preserve the lives of the athletes.”

The Sagrada Esperanca management also reiterated their willingness to participate in Caf fixtures, but only “in perfect health security conditions.”

Sagrada’s withdrawal will extend a period of inactivity for Pirates, who face a congested fixture schedule in the upcoming days where they will be playing almost after every three days.

Juventus defender Alex Sandro has tested positive for coronavirus, the Serie A club announced.

The Brazil international - who played in Sunday's 4-1 league victory over Udinese in Turin - underwent a test after displaying what Juve described as "mild symptoms." The club confirmed the positive test on Monday.

"Juventus announces that following the appearance of some mild symptoms, a check was arranged for the player Alex Sandro, which revealed his positivity to Covid-19," a statement read.

"The player has already been placed in isolation. 

"The club is in contact with the health authorities for the definition of an effective implementation of the protocols needed to allow the training and competition activities of the team."

Alex Sandro featured for 83 minutes against Udinese before being replaced by Gianluca Frabotta, at which stage the hosts were 3-0 up in the game.

The 29-year-old has made seven league appearances under Andrea Pirlo during the 2020-21 campaign, as well as featuring three times in the Champions League group stage.

Juve travel to San Siro to face AC Milan - the unbeaten Serie A leaders - in midweek, followed by a home game against Sassuolo on Sunday.

Pirlo is already likely to be without Alvaro Morata for the trip to Milan, with the Spain international troubled by a thigh problem that kept him out of the win over Udinese.

The win over Udinese kept Juve within 10 points of leaders Milan and Pirlo’s side have a game in hand.

While the season is not even at the halfway stage, defeat at the hands of Milan would leave Juve with a mountain to climb in their bid to win Serie A for a 10th season in a row.

Former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey - who had a goal disallowed on Sunday - could well play a key role in Milan, after drawing praise from Pirlo after the win over Udinese - provided he pulls through training without any problems.

“When he’s in good shape, Aaron is a very important player,” Pirlo said. “He’s intelligent, he knows which positions to find on the pitch. Unfortunately, he had so many problems in recent years that he needs a lot of rest between games.”

Ghanaian winger Issah Abass has left Bundesliga side Mainz 05 for Eredivisie outfit FC Twente on loan.

The 22-year-old joins the Tukkers in a deal which expires at the end of the season.

He moved in search of more playing time, having so far made only two appearances - both as a substitute - for the German fold this term.

"FSV Mainz 05 will loan Abass Issah to FC Twente Enschede until the end of the current season," Mainz announced on their official website on Monday.

"The Ghanaian offensive player should get more match practice at the club of the Dutch Eredivisie.

"Issah has made three competitive appearances at Mainz this season."

Abass joined Mainz from Slovenian side Olimpija Ljubljana in 2018.

Last season, he was sent out on loan to Dutch outfit Utrecht, where he made 15 league appearances, starting 10 of the matches and twice putting his name on the score sheet.

"Abass is a young and ambitious player, so he asked to be given the chance to play more minutes," Mainz sports director Martin Schmidt explained the winger's departure.

"His previous loan to FC Utrecht had a good experience in the Eredivisie, so we granted his request."

Abass left Ghanaian side Asokwa Deportivo for Olimpija in 2017, where he netted seven times in 34 league outings over three seasons.

"It's great that we have Issah Abass in the selection. Abass is a strong and fast striker who can also play on the sides. He is an energetic boy with a very good drive. As soon as the work permit is in place, he can join the group," FC Twente director Jan Streuer told his club's official website on their signing of the Ghanaian attacker.

Abass will be hoping to impress in the Netherlands to convince Mainz to give him more playing time next season.

The forward will also have an eye on the Ghana national team, his club predicament having so far worked against his favour in his chase for a first senior call-up.

A former Ghana U17 star, the winger has also represented Ghana at U23 level, featuring at the 2019 Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Egypt. 

Barcelona star Ansu Fati has undergone regenerative biological treatment on a knee injury as his recovery remains on track.

The winger was ruled out for approximately four months in November after having surgery on a tear to the internal meniscus of his left knee.

Barca confirmed on Monday that Fati's recovery is "following a very satisfactory course."

“First-team player Ansu Fati has undergone a regenerative biological treatment by Dr. Ramon Cugat under the supervision of the club's medical services, with the evolution of his injury following a very satisfactory course,” the club said in a statement on their official website. “Ansu was injured last November in the match against Betis, and was successfully operated on for the injury to the internal meniscus of his left knee by Dr. Cugat.“

The club provided no update on when he might return to action, with initial reports at the time of the injury suggesting he could be sidelined for four months.

Fati scored five goals and provided two assists in 10 games in all competitions this season before suffering his injury against Real Betis.

The Spain international is expected to be back in contention to play in March, meaning he will likely miss at least the first leg of Barca's Champions League last-16 encounter with Paris Saint-Germain, which takes place on February 16. The second leg is slated for March 10.

Barca lost two of their first three La Liga games after Fati's injury but have since won four and drawn twice in six top-flight fixtures.

They sit fifth in the Liga table, 10 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, having played a game more.

While Fati remains sidelined, Samuel Umtiti could be back in contention to face Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday.

The France international defender was absent from the squad for the win over Huesca on Sunday on account of a stomach complaint, but he was pictured training with the squad in Monday’s recovery session.

Coach Ronald Koeman will not take any chances with the defender, given the injury problems in the squad, but provided he comes through a full session on Tuesday Umtiti is likely to be included for the game with Athletic.

Former Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu will consider venturing into coaching when he hangs up his playing boots, the midfielder has revealed.

Currently unattached, the 30-year-old is on the lookout for a new club after parting ways with Hellas Verona last year.

Last week, he announced his retirement from international football with Ghana, another indication that his career is nearing its end.

“Coaching is an option but I would love to be a scout for a club. If I can be a scout for [former side] Udinese [on whose books he was from 2010 until last year] in Africa, it will be very wonderful,” Badu told Joy FM.

“I have a good relationship with Udinese so I can speak to them and see how it goes. I know a lot of coaches in a lot of clubs.

“Coaching is my second option. I am not ready to be a CEO of a club because I don’t have experience at that level.”

Badu joined Verona ahead of the start of last season on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

He made 10 appearances for the side in Serie A, his time in Verona heavily weighed down by health and fitness issues.

"Right now I am no more with Hellas Verona. I cordially agreed to terminate my contract and so I'm a free agent and free to join any club,” Badu told Joy Sports on Saturday.

“After all the Covid stuff, I decided to come home and rest small and find a team in January.

“My lowest point and biggest disappointment [in my career so far] was not winning the Africa Cup of Nations.

“Another of my biggest disappointments was when Udinese lost a penalty shoot-out to Braga because we lost out on qualifying for the Uefa Champions League.

“But in terms of my career with the Black Stars, it has to do with not winning the Nations Cup.

“The most painful was the defeat to Ivory Coast because we took a two-goal lead and still lost but as for the defeat to Egypt in 2010, it’s not regrettable.”

Badu also previously played for Bursaspor in Turkey and Berekum Arsenal and Asante Kotoko in Ghana. 

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena is refusing to regard their 2-0 lead as an advantage over Jwaneng Galaxy ahead of Tuesday’s Caf Champions League first round, second leg match at Loftus Versfeld.

The away victory three days before Christmas Day left Downs in a commanding position ahead of the home fixture, in which they can afford a one-goal loss and still proceed to the group stage of the competition.

But Mokwena is wary of complacency creeping into their camp which could see their visitors from Botswana causing a major upset.

“We are going into the Caf fixture with a lot of confidence. Of course an important three points against a direct opponent [Orlando Pirates] for the championship in the domestic competition,” Mokwena told the Sundowns media team.

“But that chapter is closed and we have to try to mentally make sure that we are in the right space as we try to prepare for it. Two-nil is always a dangerous scoreline particularly if you are only halfway through.

"We take it [first leg] as 45 minutes with the next 90 minutes being the next 45 minutes to see us into the group stage.

“We have to make sure that mentally we approach the game with the right character and personality of the team. That has been our focus of course. But again you have to make sure that you are prepared technically and tactically for the game.

“We have to guard against complacency. We are not in a favourable situation. Of course, when you are in a favourable situation, you find a lot more comfort and comfort breeds complacency.

"You don’t to be in that space where you are complacent and you approach the game with negligence.”

Mokwena acknowledged that Sundowns have established themselves as one of the strongest sides in Africa and expectations are weighing heavily on their shoulders.

“We have to be very responsible and diligent because we are carrying the responsibility of one of the biggest clubs on the African continent with huge expectations and a vision that goes beyond just any other ordinary club,” said Mokwena.

“So for us to be very responsible ans carry that expectation with diligence and a lot of responsibility knowing that we have to serve not just the supporters but the board and the president and represent Mamelodi Sundowns very well. Jwaneng are very difficult, they build from the back.”

Sundowns go into Tuesday’s match high in confidence after edging Orlando Pirates 1-0 in a Premier Soccer League match last Saturday.

Rio Ferdinand has said he does not care if Paul Pogba departs Manchester United in the summer, as he believes the club should go all out for Aston Villa star Jack Grealish.

Pogba’s position at the club has been the subject of speculation for some time, with his agent Mino Raiola saying he sees his client’s future away from Old Trafford.

Those comments came at a time when United were struggling in the Premier League and had just been eliminated from the Champions League.

Since the loss to RB Leipzig in December, United have won four and drawn two of their last six games in the Premier League and are level on points with Liverpool at the top of the table.

Pogba has worked his way back into the fold, but Ferdinand is unfazed if he moves on in the summer and would love to see the Red Devils make England international Grealish their marquee signing.

“I don’t care if Pogba goes or not, Grealish is my man,” Ferdinand said on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE. “I have known him since he was in his early teens. He came to my restaurant and I got him and his dad some tickets for a game.”

Grealish has been involved in some off-field controversies, but Ferdinand feels the attacking midfielder has been working hard on and off the pitch and his performances prove the point.

“He’s a great kid with a great family,” Ferdinand said. “He loves his football. What the young kids don’t see with Jack Grealish is the hunger and hard work behind closed doors - the attention to detail and the way he trains. He has changed his regime and looked at himself and asked what he can do better.

“I have heard from a lot of people that he is diligent in all the work he does off the pitch to get to where he is now. You are seeing results week in and week out.

“He is one of those players that has looked at himself in the summer and thought, 'Yes, I’ve done well last season, I’ve signed a new deal at my boyhood club, and I am going to go again'.

“If I am a manager of a top team in England, a top three or four team, then I would not allow him to stay there, I would go and take him.”

Ferdinand feels Grealish’s style of play is frightening for defenders and compares favourably to the likes of Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.

“As a defender, as much as pace behind you frightens you, it is also the player who can find pockets of space, turn and run at you,” he said.

“[Pablo] Aimar who played at Valencia and Argentina, [Ariel] Ortega, players like that who could run with it and dribble - Ronaldinho and [Lionel] Messi. I am not saying he is in that class yet, but that style of player who runs at you. He is a fantastic player.

“When you talk about big numbers like £100 million or whatever price tag you want to mention, it is not about how good they look, it is about are they putting up the numbers to justify that price tag? 12 in his last 14 games suggests he is and that he is going to go for big, big dough.”

Fenerbahce defeated Kasimpasa 3-0 in Monday’s Turkish Super Lig encounter, with Senegal international Mame Thiam netting a first-half double.

The Yellow Canaries signed out of year 2020 with a 4-1 bashing of Istanbul Basaksehir on December 23, while the Apaches played out a 2-2 draw with the same team four days later.

With both teams chasing contrasting ambitions, it was the visitors who struck first after 14 minutes at the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium.

Senegal international Thiam fired home from close range, after Dimitrios Pelkas headed Mert Hakan Yandas’ cross into his path.

Erol Bulut’s men could have gone two goals up in the 37th minute, but Enner Valencia’s strike was ruled out for offside by referee Halis Ozkahya after VAR replays.

On the stroke of half-time, Thiam completed his double after beating goalkeeper Ramazan Kose thanks to an assist from Pelkas.

The hosts came out stronger in the last 45 minutes, but they were unable to break down the well-organised visitors.

Fenerbahce has several more opportunities to score, but some poor marksmanship prevented them from extending the lead over the next 30 minutes.

Nonetheless, they wrapped up their win in style through Sinan Gumus’ replacement Ferdi Kadioglu, who chipped Ozan Tufan’s pass over onrushing goalkeeper Kose with four minutes left to play.

Thanks to his brace against his former club, Thiam has now scored three goals in 11 Turkish Super Lig games of the 2020-21 campaign. 

He was substituted for compatriot Papiss Cisse with 11 minutes left on the clock while on-loan Aston Villa striker Mbwana Samatta came on for Valencia in the 74th minute.

DR Congo international Marcel Tisserand was in action from start to finish, whereas Moroccan midfielder Nabil Dirar was not listed for action by manager Bulut.

For the misfiring hosts, Tunisian defender Oussama Haddadi, who is on loan from Al-Ettifaq, played for all 90 minutes, but the Guinean duo of Bengali-Fide Koita and Julian Jeanvier, as well as Cote d'Ivoire's Gerard Gohou and Ghana's Gilbert Koomson, were not dressed for action.

With this result, Fenerbahce moved to fourth on the Turkish elite division log, having accrued 29 points from 15 outings.

They welcome Alanyaspor to Sukru Saracoglu Sports Complex in their next outing on Thursday.

Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Majeed Ashimeru has revealed he could soon be making a move to Belgian giants Anderlecht.

While the Ghanaian international did not give too much detail about the proposed move, media reports say the transfer could be a six-month deal with an option of a permanent switch at the end of the term.

He is looking for a way out of Salzburg owing to a struggle for regular playing time. So far this season, he has made only nine league appearances, involving five starts.

"Yes, my agent is working on it [Anderlecht transfer], but the deal has not been completed yet. In the next few days, we will know what the next move is. Right now I am with my family so hopefully soon, I will know if I am going or not," Ashimeru told Citi TV in Ghana.

The Ghanaian also briefly spoke about former Salzburg teammate Erling Braut Haaland, who is lighting up the Bundesliga and Uefa Champions League with Borussia Dortmund.

"Outside the pitch he [Haaland] is a very nice person as well. He loves blacks and was my sitting partner in the bus. He is a really amazing guy."

After developing through the Wafa academy set-up and going on to impress for the side in the Ghana Premier League, Ashimeru signed for Salzburg in summer 2017.

The 23-year-old was then farmed out to second-tier outfit Austria Lustenau for the first part of the 2017-2018 season, where he made 11 league appearances, starting 10 of the games and scoring once.

In the second half of the campaign, he headed for Wolfsberger in the top tier. In the Bundesliga, he played 15 times in the league, starting 14 of the games and finding the back of the net on two occasions.

The following season, Ashimeru moved to Swiss side St. Gallen, making 34 league outings, starting 31 of the matches and registering his name on the scoresheet on four occasions.

His impressive spell in Switzerland earned him a place with Salzburg for the 2019-20, season where he featured 20 times in the league, starting in 15 of the games and scoring twice.

Ashimeru made his first appearance for Ghana against Benin in 2017. Last November, he earned a late call-up for a 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Sudan. 

David Alaba’s wage demands are proving a stumbling block with regard to a move to Real Madrid, Goal can confirm.

Alaba is set to leave Bayern Munich on the expiration of his contract in the summer, and Real Madrid moved ahead of Barcelona in the chase when it was reported that Barca could not match his demands.

The Austrian is keen to take advantage of his free-transfer status, and this is now proving to be a problem for Real as well - despite the player's preference for a move to Spain.

Real want to push through a deal, but his representatives - headed by Pini Zahavi - have told the Spanish champions that Alaba wants a wage of €13 million ($16m/£12m) a season after tax.

Such a wage would catapult Alaba to the top of Real’s wage structure, ahead of Sergio Ramos who is picking up €12 million ($15m/£11m) a season.

Given Ramos is in the final year of his contract with Real, and that talks have reportedly stalled, pushing ahead with a deal for Alaba on such terms would be problematic for the Madrid giants, who are ready to sanction a pay packet worth €10 million ($12m/£9m).

While Alaba is still to commit to a new club, there is always an outside chance that Bayern could persuade him to stay.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said before Christmas that the door remained ajar for Alaba to come back into the fold and sign a new deal, and coach Hansi Flick spoke in glowing terms of the 28-year-old following the game with Mainz on Sunday.

“He is very important to us, on and off the pitch,” Flick said on Sky Germany. “He is very popular and supports young players.

However, board member Oliver Kahn has said the player has turned his back on the prospect of remaining at the Allianz Arena.

"We rolled out the red carpet for David Alaba and went to our limits,” Khan told SportBild. “David and especially his advisor Pini Zahavi did not walk this red carpet.”

The transfer saga is likely to rumble on for some time yet, and Flick will hope it does not prove a distraction as his side attempt to defend their Bundesliga and Champions League crowns.

Bayern are two points clear of RB Leipzig at the top of the Bundesliga and have been drawn against Lazio in the Champions League round of 16.