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Football has now returned following a three-month suspension starting in March due to the outbreak of Covid-19 globally, with club action resuming in September.

Due to the high threat that Covid-19 still poses, however, safety measures will be firmly in place following the start of the domestic season, with no fans allowed in the stadium for matchday one and all Premier League players and club staff members required to get tested for the virus regularly.

Goal has what you need to know about Covid-19 testing within the Premier League.

How often do Premier League players get tested for Covid-19?

Following the buildup to the initial restart of the Premier League in June, each player and member of club staff had been tested twice a week for coronavirus, according to the Independent.

Every Premier League club had been given 80 tests to enable the testing of 40 player and staff per week.

Now, however, it is understood that testing has been reduced from twice a week to once a week closer to the start of the 2020-21 season, report FourFourTwo.

The Premier League are expected to take another review of their Covid-19 policy at the end of September, and will re-evaluate testing measures before implementing further changes to testing.

A slew of players had tested positive following their return to club training after their summer break, with some players going on holiday or international duty.

Manchester City pair Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte had both tested positive for the virus.

Additionally, regular temperature checks and the filling out of medical questionnaires are required on a regular basis.

What happens if a Premier League player tests positive?

Players or club staff who have tested positive for coronavirus will self-isolate and quarantine for a period of 10 days.

“If a player tests positive, it’s only him and his family who need to isolate, not anybody else,” confirmed the Premier League’s medical advisor, Dr Mark Gillett.

Covid-19 testing protocol lies in accordance with UK government guidelines.

Similarly, if players or staff members show symptoms of Covid-19 but test negative, they will still need to self-isolate.

The Premier League official website release the results of their administered tests on a weekly basis, but do not name specific individuals who have tested positive.

What is the testing procedure for Covid-19?

Covid-19 testing procedures involve a nasal swab taken from the back of the throat through the nasal airways.

These samples from players and club staff are sent to The Doctors Laboratory, a private facility in London, where the analysis is completed and delivered to the Premier League.

Results will be made available within 48 hours.

James Rodriguez says he was attracted to Everton by their ambition to win trophies and is aiming to help end the club's long wait for silverware.

The 29-year-old completed a surprise switch to Goodison Park on Monday for a reported fee of  £20million ($25.7m) after falling out of favour at Real Madrid.

He has won an array of team and individual honours, including two Champions Leagues, and was one of the stars of the 2014 World Cup as Colombia reached the quarter-finals.

That is in stark contrast to Everton's recent exploits, the Merseyside club having gone 25 years since beating Manchester United in the FA Cup final for their last major trophy.

However, with midfield pair Abdoulaye Doucoure and Allan also being brought in, James insists Everton can achieve something special under Carlo Ancelotti.

"I've come here to this top club to achieve big things," he said ahead of Sunday's trip to Tottenham.  "I think the club means business.

"A club that's serious about wanting good things to happen. It's got a lot of history and is a big name. I'm here to do well and I think we're able to do that together.

"There's a lot of serious-minded people in the club at all levels who are determined to achieve, and that will mean winning trophies. 

"It won't happen overnight – it's a long-term project. But I've seen signs we can make progress. Trophies are definitely more than a possibility."

Ancelotti played a key part in James' decision to join Everton, with the pair having worked together at Madrid and Bayern Munich.

"He has influenced me a lot. It's great to be back having a chance to work with the manager once again," James said. 

"We enjoyed a great season together in 2014 and got on well as a manager and player. It's been such a good choice to reunite with the manager."

Everton endured another underwhelming campaign last time out, finishing down in 12th place despite a mini revival when Ancelotti replaced Marco Silva in December.

But the veteran Italian coach, who like James boasts a number of major honours, believes he now has a strong enough squad to compete for a place in the top six.

"The goal we want to achieve is to fight for the first positions in the Premier League, to be able to reach Europe for the next season," he said. 

"The goal is quite clear, we have this desire, this ambition, and I think we can achieve it.

"Our fans want a club and a team that is competitive in the Premier League and so I think that we can satisfy this desire this season and we're going to do our best for this.

"The players that arrived understood that we have a project with ambition for the future. 

"This is also the reason they decided and are happy to come here and be here now. They are going to work to give their best for the club."

Asked if supporters can expect any more arrivals before the window closes next month, Ancelotti said: "With these three signings we did a fantastic job. 

"The market will be closed on October 5. There are going to be some opportunities and we can look for this. But honestly, I'm satisfied with the squad in this moment."

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Junior Khanye is against the potential appointment of Gavin Hunt as Ernst Middendorp’s successor.

The Soweto giants announced the German tactician’s departure on Wednesday and media reports suggest the four-time Premier Soccer League (PSL) winner is leading the race to get the job.

However, the retired player wants Maritzburg United manager Eric Tinkler to take over and restore confidence at Naturena.

“If Chiefs appoint Hunt, they will be missing the point because there is nothing he will do for the club,” Khanye was quoted by Isolezwe.

“He will sign a lot of players as he did at Wits but end up not winning trophies. Out of all those players, we don’t know if they will be able to stand the weight of the Chiefs jersey because not any player can be able to wear it.

“I think players are born to wear that jersey. The skill and hard work are not enough at Chiefs. You need to be brave, be able to stand against the challenges, and the hunger to win trophies.”

On the other hand, speculation is rife that the likes of Highlands Park coach Owen Da Gama and Hunt are earmarked for the role, but the legend wants the Team of Choice boss.

“Chiefs must open their pockets and get Eric Tinkler. He must be assisted by Dan Malesela. The two coaches can be able to restore Chiefs’ style,” he added.

“They can also bring back confidence to the players. Tinkler has proven his worth. He has shown that he knows what he is doing – Chiefs need that calibre.

“Firstly, Chiefs must be humble and bring back Farouk Khan to head the development sides. He will be the one that can hire coaches that will work with different age groups such as Zipho Dlangalala, Sam Mbatha, Mandla Mazibuko, and Simon Ngomane.

“All these coaches learned a lot from Ted Dumitru on how to play and retain the ball.”

Although a number of coaches are linked with the coaching hot seat at Naturena, it remains to be seen if Amakhosi will eventually hire a South African manager.

In addition, they have also parted ways with Middendorp’s assistant and Bafana Bafana legend Shaun Bartlett whose departure was announced on Thursday.

Namungo FC striker Blaise Bigirimana has stated he wants to take the Golden Boot from Simba SC forward Meddie Kagere.

The Rwanda attacker has been dominating for the past two seasons and scored 23 and 22 goals respectively to finish on top of the best scorers' table. The Burundi attacker has now set a target of winning the Golden Boot this season and dislodge his compatriot from the top.

"In the last two seasons, Kagere has been the top scorer [in the Tanzania Mainland League]," Bigirimana told Mwanaspoti.

"This time around I want to win it as well; I have the ability and potential to do so and I have been training to get prepared for it.

"With enough cooperation from my teammates, scoring will not be a problem for me. I will also work harder in training to convince [the technical bench] to give me a starting berth in the team on a regular basis."

The 28-year-old was on target when Namungo FC played Coastal Union in their 2020/21 Tanzania Mainland League season-opening game, a match the hosts won by a solitary goal.

Meanwhile, the club's head coach Thierry Hitimana has revealed his team will miss up to four key players in their next assignment.

Namungo managed to get maximum points in their opening game, but the tactician states the current condition of his charges is worrying him.

"Edward [Charles Manyama] and Hashim Manyanya are nursing ankle injuries while Carlos Protus has a thigh injury," Hitimana revealed to Mwanaspoti.

"Stephen Duah was injured in the Community Shield game against Simba SC [where Namungo lost 2-0].

"These [injured] players are worrying me since they are key players in my first team and I will miss them in our next game against Polisi Tanzania."

Namungo had a relatively good 2019/20 season where they finished fourth in the league. They graced the FA Cup final where they narrowly lost to the league champions Wekundu Wa Msimbazi.

However, by reaching the Cup finals, they secured their ticket for the Caf Confederation Cup competition this season.

Eight clubs will compete in the finals of the maiden African Women's Champions League which commences in 2021, according to the Confederation of African Football (Caf) on Thursday.

The development was among the outcome of several decisions reached by the Caf Executive Committee during its meeting on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.

In June, Caf decided to launch the Women's Champions League as part of its strategic plan to grow the women's game but stakeholders were concerned as to what the format will look like.

The African football governing body confirmed eight clubs will take part in the finals with one each emerging from the six zones, and an additional team picked from a wild card to join the hosts.

Caf also confirmed the zone with the hosts will produce two teams for the maiden edition but one in future editions of the event.

"Each of the Six Caf Zones will organize qualifiers to determine the finalists for the eight-team tournament," Caf wrote on its website.

"The breakdown is as one team from each zone, one team from the host country and one additional team.

"For the maiden edition, the zonal union of the host country will have two representatives. 

"However, for subsequent editions, the host country will have only one representative whilst the Zonal Union of the defending champion will qualify two teams.

"Format of the competition, the eight qualified teams will be drawn into two groups of four teams each in accordance with the regulations.

"The competition will be held annually and during the second half of the year."

In a related development, Caf has also confirmed the African Women's Cup of Nations, previously staged in November-December, will now be held in July for the 2022 edition.

The latest could cause a possible clash of women's tournaments, with the annually held Champions League scheduled for the same period of the year.

The Premier League has denied blocking a collapsed Saudi Arabian-backed takeover at Newcastle, labelling the club's recent accusations "incorrect".

Magpies owner Mike Ashley had reportedly brokered a £300 million ($387m) agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Amanda Staveley's PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben Brothers back in April.

However, the consortium pulled out of the deal two months later having grown frustrated over the lack of urgency from the Premier League in approving their bid. 

Ashley criticised the top-flight and chief executive Richard Masters over the failed deal and confirmed that the club will be seeking legal advice over possible next steps during on Wednesday night.

Newcastle released the following statement via their website: "Newcastle United can confirm that the Premier League has rejected a takeover bid made by PCP Capital Partners.

"The club and its owners do not accept that Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and the Premier League have acted appropriately in relation to this matter and will be considering all relevant options available to them."

The Premier League have now responded by shifting the blame back towards the PIF investors, insisting they failed to submit all necessary information to move forward with the proposed takeover.

English football's top governing body released an official statement on Thursday, which reads: "The Premier League was disappointed and surprised by the Newcastle United Football Club statement regarding its potential takeover by PCP Capital Partners, the Reuben Brothers and the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF).

"The club’s assertion that the Premier League has rejected the takeover is incorrect.

"The Premier League Board has, on a number of occasions, given its opinion about which entities it believes would have control over the club should the consortium proceed with the acquisition. That opinion is based on legal advice.

"This means the potential takeover could proceed to the next stage should the relevant entities provide all appropriate information. They would then be subject to a suitability assessment by the Board. As an alternative, the Board has repeatedly offered independent arbitration as a way forward since June.

"It is also incorrect to suggest these decisions were taken by any individual; they were agreed unanimously by all Premier League Board members."

Liverpool youngster Ben Woodburn is set to join Sparta Rotterdam on a season-long loan deal.

The 20-year-old is ready to move to the Eredivisie side in a bid to relaunch his career following spells with Sheffield United and Oxford in the past two seasons, although Goal understands the final details of the switch are yet to be confirmed at this stage.

Woodburn became the youngest goalscorer in Liverpool’s history when netting against Leeds in the League Cup in November 2016, aged just 17 years and 45 days.

At that point, the attacking midfielder was viewed as one of the brightest prospects to emerge at the club in many years. He had made his Premier League debut as a late substitute against Sunderland three days previously, and would finish the 2016-17 campaign having made nine appearances in total, including a first league start away at Stoke in April 2017.

He would make two further appearances the following season, and would mark his senior international debut for Wales in stunning fashion, netting the winning goal in a World Cup qualifier against Austria in Cardiff. 

For the 2018-19 season, Woodburn was loaned out to Sheffield United, then in the Championship. He would, however, struggle to win a regular place at Bramall Lane, making only eight appearances before returning to Liverpool in January. 

He was called up, due to an injury crisis, for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona, and was an unused substitute as Jurgen Klopp’s side produced one of the greatest comebacks in history.

Woodburn departed on loan once more last summer, joining League One side Oxford, but after a promising start at the Kassam Stadium - in which he made 13 appearances and scored once - he suffered a broken foot which kept him sidelined for a number of weeks.

Having gone back to Melwood for his rehabilitation, and on the brink of returning to Oxford, Woodburn then suffered a recurrence of the injury during training with Klopp’s squad, which meant he did not feature again until football returned following the coronavirus lockdown in July.

He was able to play during the League One play-offs, scoring a vital penalty as Oxford beat Portsmouth in the semi-finals, but he was only an 89th-minute substitute in the final as Karl Robinson’s side were beaten by Wycombe.

Portsmouth and Ipswich were among those who were keen to sign Woodburn this summer, but it is Sparta who look to have won the race, offering the chance of regular football in a league which Liverpool believe will suit his style of play.

Woodburn, who has been at Anfield since the age of six, has been training and playing with Barry Lewtas’ under-23 squad at Kirkby during pre-season. He played an hour of the 4-0 win over Huddersfield B at the Academy earlier this week, but is understood to be keen to get out and play having seen his last two loan spells fall flat after bright starts.

Liverpool are expected to loan out another youngster, goalkeeper Kamil Grabara, with Greek outfit PAOK favourites to land the Poland under-21 international. 

Scottish defender Tony Gallacher is another who could depart, with MLS side Toronto FC interested, while Canadian forward Liam Millar is another who will look to secure a temporary move before the transfer deadline. 

Hakim Ziyech's official Chelsea debut will have to wait for at least a couple of weeks after Frank Lampard confirmed the new signing has a knee injury.

Media reports began circulating on Wednesday suggesting Morocco international Ziyech was a doubt for Monday's trip to Brighton and Hove Albion for the Blues' Premier League opener.

Ziyech arrived from Ajax in pre-season after a £33 million (€35m/$42.5m) deal had been agreed last term, with the forward boosting his reputation in 2018-19 after several impressive performances en route to the Champions League semi-finals.

However, Chelsea fans will have to wait a bit longer to see him in competitive action, as Lampard confirmed the reports he has sustained an injury. Ziyech's fellow new signings Thiago Silva and Ben Chilwell are also not yet ready for their debuts.

"Ziyech took an injury to his knee in the friendly against Brighton and he won't be fit," Lampard said in Thursday's pre-match news conference. "We are working on him and hope it will only be a matter of weeks, a couple of weeks, we hope, but we'll have to wait and see on that.

"Chilwell is working towards fitness. He won't be fit for Brighton. He has developed and improved this week and going in the right direction, which is good news for us. Thiago Silva is in London but won't be training until the weekend, so I doubt very much that he's in contention for the Brighton game.

"Out of the new ones, that's where we are at. Billy Gilmour is a longer-term injury, but other than that we are in decent shape."

Regarding Cesar Azpilicueta and Christian Pulisic, who were both forced off in the FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal in August, Lampard added: "I missed them off earlier – yes, I am certainly very happy to have them both back.

"Yesterday [Wednesday] was their first day fully training with the team, so they're in contention for Monday.

"I have to be careful and I have a squad to pick from, but the way they're training and their attitude to come back, it looks like they are over their injuries. I just have to make sure I manage them both back in their own ways."

Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani says the club are aiming to challenge the Premier League's top six within the next three years.

The Whites returned to the top-flight after a 16-year absence by winning the Championship last season, having narrowly missed out on promotion in 2018-19.

Marcelo Bielsa has worked wonders since taking the top job at Elland Road two years ago, instilling fresh belief into a squad that had previously been devoid of confidence while successfully implementing his own philosophy on the pitch.

Leeds will mark their return to the top-flight with a glamour fixture against reigning Premier League champions Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, and Radrizzani is hoping that they can start building towards a bright future by avoiding an immediate return to English football's second tier.

The Italian businessman wants to see the Whites gradually make their way up towards the top half of the table over the next few years, as he told the Associated Press: "I hope we can stay in the Premier League for two years.

"After that first cycle of two years, I think we will be ready to step up and close the gap with the bigger teams. Obviously, my objective, if I look at a period of three, five years, is to be just behind the top six."

Leeds have spent over £50 million ($65m) on new players during the current transfer window, with £30m ($39m) spent on club-record signing Rodrigo, who moved to Elland Road from Valencia last month.

The Yorkshire based outfit have also been linked with the likes of Edinson Cavani and Julien Draxler, but Radrizzani is wary of disrupting the harmony within the dressing room by making too many changes.

Asked if there will be any further arrivals at the club this summer, the 46-year-old added: "For sure we can invest more, but I think we need to be sensitive about how to go because it´s not always guaranteed that money brings results.

"You have seen last season Aston Villa invested and didn't get relegated in the last game. So good for them, but they were very close. On the other side, Sheffield United invest less and were nonth. So, football is not just about money, it´s about the project and the style to play, the cohesion of the players, the motivation, the mental approach to the game.

"We work at the moment to select players that fit with our system and they fit with the demanding process that Marcelo Bielsa has in place. We chose a lot of hard workers, commitment and discipline, respect. So we identify players that match with this characteristic. We need to be very careful."

Radrizzani went on to dismiss any possibility of qualifying for Europe or emulating Leicester's 2015-16 title winners in the near future, as he added: "It´s impossible. It would be wrong to do it because there is no foundation to do that.

"So obviously, there are teams that have done an unbelievable story like Leicester, but Leicester is an example also of stability and sustainability over time. I think we need to be realistic about what our possibilities are now, and our objective is to stay in the Premier League."

French Ligue 2 side Amiens have announced the signing of Molla Wague on a season-long loan from Nantes.

The 29-year-old midfielder teamed up with the Canaries in 2019 after ending his two-year stay with Italian club Udinese.

The Mali international only featured in nine Ligue 1 games for Christian Gourcuff’s men last campaign and has joined the Unicorns to enjoy more playing time.

“Amiens SC is pleased to announce the arrival at the club of Molla Wague, in the form of a loan, from FC Nantes,” read a statement from the club website.

“He will bring his experience to Luka Elsner's squad for the coming season.”

Wague started his career with Les Andelys academy and played for Romilly Pont Saint-Pierre, Rouen and Caen youth teams.

The midfielder was promoted to the Vikings senior team in 2010 and featured 49 times for the side before leaving for Spain to join Granada in 2014.

Wague did not make a single league appearance for the Nasrids as he spent his time on loan with Udinese and Leicester City.

The 29-year-old signed for the White and Blacks permanently in the summer of 2017 but also spent most of his time away from the club on loan.

Wague featured for Championship clubs Watford and Nottingham Forest before he permanently signed for Nantes.

The midfielder featured for France U19 team before he switched his allegiance to Mali, making his international debut in 2013.

Wague has since made 39 appearances for the West Africans and was part of the side to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The midfielder could make his debut for Amiens when they take on Paris FC in their next league game on September 12.

Memphis Depay has plenty of talent but he's not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, says Louis Van Gaal, who is not certain that the Barcelona target would adapt to life at Camp Nou.

Depay has managed to rebuild his damaged reputation at the highest level since leaving Manchester United to join Lyon in the summer of 2017.

The Red Devils forked out £31 million (€34m/$40m) to bring the Netherlands international to Old Trafford from PSV two years prior, but he only managed to score seven goals in 53 appearances for the club and failed to nail down a regular spot in the starting XI.

The 26-year-old has rediscovered his best form at the Groupama Stadium, recording 57 goals and 43 assists in 139 outings to help Lyon fight for the Ligue 1 title and success in the Champions League.

Depay's goals helped Rudi Garcia's men reach the semi-finals of Europe's elite competition last season and he is now being sounded out for a potential switch to La Liga.

The former United winger confirmed that Barca have registered their interest in his services after the Netherlands were beaten 1-0 by Italy in the UEFA Nations League on Monday. 

Garcia and Lyon sporting director Juninho have insisted that no formal offers have been submitted as of yet, but the latter has also admitted a prized asset could be sold if a suitable bid is forthcoming before the transfer window closes.

Van Gaal, the man who lured Depay to Manchester back in 2015, has questioned whether the Dutchman is ready to step up to another level at Barca, having seen him struggle to live up to expectations at the Theatre of Dreams. 

The ex-United and Netherlands head coach told TuttoMercatoWeb: "There's always a question mark. Depay is an interesting player, especially when he's free to play, but we have to consider adapting to a new culture and a new team, and the first year is always the hardest. Look at [Matthijs] De Ligt or Frenkie de Jong.

"Depay has talent, but he's not Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo."

Van Gaal went on to discuss Ronald Koeman's recent appointment as Barca's new head coach, expressing his belief that a fellow countryman is taking on a difficult job given the ongoing speculation surrounding Messi's future at Camp Nou.

The 69-year-old added: "I think he is a good coach, a former Barcelona player and this gives him more credit. It won't be easy because you can never know about the Messi problem."

Picking the best forwards in fantasy football can be the difference between beating your friends and finishing mid-table in your custom leagues.

There are no prizes for guessing that the trick is to pick strikers who score but there is a knack to using your budget wisely in order to maximise points.

As the 2020-21 Premier League season gets under way, Goal takes a look at the best fantasy football forwards, as well as a few bargain options.

Check out the top 100 funniest fantasy football team names!

Contents

Best Premier League fantasy football forwards

The best fantasy football forwards are those who score goals in great numbers, but also those who provide assists for their team-mates.

Bonus points are given to the players who have the most positive influence on a match, so a striker who is key to how his team attack is likely to score even better.

Anthony Martial | Man Utd | £9m

A midfielder in the game last season, Manchester United Anthony Martial has been converted into a striker for FPL in 2020-21.

The France international became the Red Devils' focal point in attack and enjoyed the best ever season of his career, scoring 17 goals and laying on nine more for his team-mates.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hasn't recruited a new striker to the club, so the signs are that he has full faith in Martial to continue his improvement. 

At £9 million to begin with, he is somewhat cheaper than other options and could well represent good value.

Sergio Aguero | Man City | £10.5m

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is the most expensive striker (along with Harry Kane) in the game at £10.5m to begin with, but he has done more than enough to justify that price tag.

He is one of the top scoring forwards in Premier League history and is generally favoured by Pep Guardiola to lead the City line ahead of Gabriel Jesus when fit.

City score goals - they hit over 100 last season, which was significantly higher than Liverpool's tally - and Aguero usually gets a lot of them. Not only does he score himself, he also contributes his fair share of assists.

However, a note of caution: beware the Guardiola habit of rotating his players - the Catalan occasionally likes to mix up personnel even when the usual starters are fit.

Harry Kane | Tottenham | £10.5m

There is little doubt that Harry Kane is the best Number 9 in the Premier League, if not the world, and he is the most expensive striker in FPL (along with Aguero).

While he has endured a drop in his usual return of close-to-30 goals a season, much of that is down to injury - he has missed nearly a quarter of each of the last two campaigns.

Kane's forte is scoring goals through his clever box play, but the Spurs captain is also adept at finding the net from distance. However, unlike Aguero, he is not known to assist many goals.

Nevertheless,with the likes of Matt Doherty joining the ranks, Kane will be hoping his goalscoring chances increase again in 2020-21.

Jamie Vardy | Leicester City | £10m

Last season's Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy has shown little sign of slowing down and, despite the fact that he will turn 34 during the campaign, should continue to score with regularity for Leicester.

Vardy posted an overall points tally of 210 in FPL last term and that was down to the fact that he was directly involved in 30 goals - 23 strikes, seven assists.

Like Aguero, the Foxes front-man has been one of the most consistent points-getters in the game for over five seasons and that is reflected in his price tag.

Timo Werner | Chelsea | £9.5m

Germany international Timo Werner has been brought to Chelsea as the main striker and there will be a lot of pressure on him to hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge.

He scored 28 goals in 34 Bundesliga appearances for RB Leipzig last season and showed signs in pre-season of his predatory prowess.

Werner will rely on the like of Hakim Ziyech, Mason Mount, Pulisic and Co. to keep the supply coming and if they get the passes to him, he will certainly score double figures.

Raul Jimenez | Wolves | £8.5m

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has shown himself to be one of the best strikers in the Premier League and, while he scores plenty of goals, his all-round play marks him out as unique.

The Mexico international scored just under 200 FPL points in the last two campaigns and was directly involved in 24 goals in 2019-20 (17 goals, seven assists). 

Jimenez scored much better than Harry Kane, Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus last term, yet is cheaper.

Roberto Firmino | Liverpool | £9.5m

Roberto Firmino may not have scored double figures last season, but the Brazil international contributed to a total of 18 goals for Liverpool last season (nine goals, nine assists).

While Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are the goal-getters for the Reds, Firmino remains crucial in creating those opportunities.

He has never scored less than 150 FPL points in the last five seasons - so don't let his lack of goals put you off.

Danny Ings | Southampton | £8.5m

Danny Ings had an incredible season for Southampton last year and posted a tally of 22 goals in the Premier League as he challenged for the Golden Boot.

It was his best ever campaign in the Premier League and he showed lots of confidence to maintain his form throughout the season.

His price has shot up for FPL 2020-21, but if he can pick up where he left off it will be a worthwhile selection.

Best Premier League fantasy football bargain forwards

Aleksandar Mitrovic | Fulham | £6m

Fulham front-man Aleksandar Mitrovic is an international-class striker and returns to the Premier League having hit 26 goals in 40 Championship appearances last season.

When Mitrovic was last an option in FPL, he scored 134 points, having been directly involved in 15 goals, but he hasn't always had such joy in front of goal in the league.

Now 25, he has matured somewhat as a player and will be eager to rectify his previous disappointing experiences in the Premier League.

Michail Antonio | West Ham | £6.5m

Michail Antonio is always good for goals and assists in FPL, but he has evolved into a centre forward who will be keen to build on last season's tally of 10 strikes - the first time he has broken double figures.

His price has gone up somewhat, so it will be important to keep an eye on his early performances, but he could well turn out to be a bargain.

Patrick Bamford | Leeds United | £5.5m

Former Chelsea youth Patrick Bamford scored 16 goals for Leeds United last season as they secured promotion to the Premier League and he will be expected to step up in 2020-21.

Spain international Rodrigo (£6m) has been recruited to take some of the pressure off but, as he beds in at Elland Road, Bamford is likely to lead the line at the beginning of the season.

Neal Maupay | Brighton | £6.5m

Former France Under-21 international Neal Maupay bagged double figures in his maiden Premier League season and will be aiming to improve on that in 2020-21.

His exploits for Brighton have seen his price rise somewhat, but Maupay has demonstrated a capacity to score lots of goals at every club he has played for.

With Brighton's new system under Graham Potter taking hold, it bodes well for his chances of getting on the scoresheet more often.

Yanga SC are hoping their five new foreign players will be ready in about two weeks to get back to full fitness and help the team perform in the Tanzania Mainland League.

Carlinhos, Tuisila Kisinda, Yacouba Songne, Michael Sarpong and Mukoko Tonombe are the new players Wananchi brought on board for the new campaign. 

"We had a chance to see some of the players we signed in our last game [against Tanzania Prisons], and we all agree they proved they deserved to be in our team," club chairman Mshindo Msolla told Mwanaspoti.

"They are quality players, they know they have a huge debt to pay and they are desperate to perform for Yanga.

"I overheard coach [Zlatko Krmpotic] saying he needs 10 to 15 days with the new players. So let us be patient and continue motivating them to help the team win and not to do something which will demoralize them."

The administrator has also urged the fans to give the technical bench time to prepare the team better for future assignments.

"We have good coaches and players as well, the only concern is that they met late," Msolla added.

"Both players and the technical bench need some time together in their bid to build a team. All we should do is give them time and avoid unnecessary criticism which will negatively affect the playing unit. 

"There are some players who did not get a chance to play [against Tanzania Prisons], but in no way does it imply that they are not good. It is just that they were not match fit after missing competitive football for some time."

The official also appreciated the impact the team sponsors have had on rebuilding the team for the 2020/21 campaign.

"I take the opportunity to thank GSM for the big job they have done in making the signings possible in cooperation with the management; we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."

The Jangwani Street-based charges are targeting their first league title in four seasons.

After getting a point last weekend in their league outing, Wananchi will be aiming at getting all the three points when they host Mbeya City on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp has defended Liverpool's transfer policy, insisting the club cannot suddenly decide to "behave like Chelsea" after gradually putting together a title-winning team.

Liverpool stormed to their first league title in three decades last season, finishing 18 points clear of Manchester City after being crowned champions with a record-breaking seven games left to spare.

After failing to win a single piece of silverware during his first three seasons at Anfield, Klopp has managed to deliver four trophies in the space of two years, including the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup.

The Reds have invested heavily in the likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson along the way, but have been able to balance the books consistently through player sales and a staggered, thoughtful approach to recruitment. 

Aside from the addition of Kostas Tsimikas, who moved to Merseyside from Olympiacos for £11 million ($14m) last month, Liverpool have been quiet in the current transfer window, while their Premier League rivals have strengthened significantly to try and bridge the gap at the top of the league.

Chelsea have turned the most heads with the way they've conducted their business, bringing in six new players in total, but Klopp is adamant that the Reds do not need to change their approach in order to maintain their recent success.

The German head coach told BBC Radio Five Live: "Clubs are in different situations and we are living in uncertainty in the world. For some clubs, it seems to be less important how uncertain the future is because they are owned by countries, owned by oligarchs and that is the truth. We are a different kind of club.

"We reached the Champions League final two years ago, won it the following year and won the Premier League by being the club we are, we cannot change that overnight and say 'now we want to behave like Chelsea'.

"We always want to improve the squad but there are different ways - one way is to sign new players and the other way is to work together, improve the things you were good in and try to nullify the things you are not good in. That is football. No one wants to talk about training and only about signings."

Asked if there will be any further new arrivals at Anfield this summer, Klopp responded: "I have been at Liverpool for nearly five years and if something is going to happen it will happen. There are so many rumours in the newspapers and it is funny when we read our name.

"We were quite good with this in the past by staying calm and we made the right decisions, whether that be keeping the same group or bringing someone in for a specific position."

Liverpool will kick off their latest campaign at home to newly-promoted Leeds United on Saturday, and Klopp is confident that his side will be ready to pick up from where they left off in 2019-20 despite the quick turnaround between seasons.  

"It was a short summer and pre-season is important and so far it has been all good. A few players are still on international duty, so hopefully they come back healthy. The games are coming thick and fast and we have to be ready for them," he added.

"There is not too much change and people say 'everybody wants to beat us now because we are champions' but I did not see a team last year who did not want to beat us with all they had.

"We won the Champions League the year before so everybody wanted to beat us then. It is about us and to prove that we have to be ready for a fight in each game.

"We have a tough start against Leeds United, who have waited 16 years to get back into the top flight. They have a world-class manager and it is a historical game so it will be very, very tough.

"Then we go to Chelsea, then Arsenal is coming, so it is a tough start."

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed he's been keeping an eye on new signing Donny van de Beek since 2015 after a memorable Europa League clash. 

Solskjaer was in charge of Norwegian club Molde at the time when his side took on Eredivisie giants Ajax, who boasted a young Van de Beek in midfield. 

Just a month after making his senior debut, the Dutchman headed home his first career goal as he opened the scoring against Molde in a fiery group clash that ended 1-1.

While Van de Beek was just a teenager at the time and still looking to secure regular first-team football, Solskjaer noted that his newest signing at Old Trafford left quite an impression.

"The first goal he scored was against me and my Molde team in the Europa League in 2015 - we drew 1-1 at the Amsterdam Arena and he scored a fantastic header," Solskjaer told BBC's the Football Daily podcast. 

"He actually headbutted my centre-back at the time as well, so he was brave! I've liked his infectious attitude. I've spoken to Edwin van der Sar, other players that know him, you just use the people you know and trust to scout that character. 

"When someone scores against you, you'll always remember it...I just remember a cross and he beats my centre-back and it loops over our keeper in the beginning of the game."

Though the Red Devils continue to pursue a deal for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, Solskjaer believes their acquisition of Van de Beek will be key as he brings a new edge to their midfield. 

"When we signed Bruno [Fernandes] we knew we needed that kind of player, now we've signed Donny and he's a type of player I felt we needed in the squad. He's the type of person that will fit the culture, fit the team and improve us next season and for years to come," Solskjaer said. 

"He's a versatile player, a very intelligent player, he's got loads of energy, enthusiasm, developing all the time. He scores goals and we need to add those from midfield. We need goals throughout the squad because we didn't score enough [last season] to be challenging at the top. 

"He can see space and arrive at the right time, the timing of his movements is fantastic."