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Kalidou Koulibaly remains an option that Manchester City should consider, claims Richard Dunne, telling Pep Guardiola he still needs a “leader” to replace Vincent Kompany at the heart of his back four.

Long-serving stalwart Kompany departed the Etihad Stadium during the summer of 2019. At that stage, Guardiola opted against dipping into the transfer market for a suitable successor.

Questions have been asked of that recruitment call, with defensive lapses having cost City dear at home and abroad in the 2019-20 campaign.

Nathan Ake has now been acquired to help plug those leaks while John Stones, Aymeric Laporte and Nicolas Otamendi are still on the club’s books – but there could be further additions to come.

Dunne believes the Blues should move for Napoli centre-half Koulibaly, while RB Leipzig star Dayot Upamecano should be another in Guardiola’s thinking.

The former Citizens skipper told Sky Sports: “Defensively they have got numbers, they have got Stones and Otamendi, who have been playing, and [Eric] Garcia has been there.

“Whether they are the ones that they want, I don’t know. The way they play football, Stones and Otamendi certainly fit that bill perfectly.

“They have spoken about Koulibaly for a while and they are looking for a leader, they are looking for someone to replace Vincent Kompany. It’s been a problem when Vince was here and he was injured, they missed a centre-back of that style.

“If they do go for him [Koulibaly], it’s a good signing. He’s a bit older than the usual age bracket of signing players and we’ve seen in the Champions League how good Upamecano has been, so maybe he’s a player that might be of interest to them.

“I’m sure if he doesn’t get another centre-half that he’ll be happy with what he’s got because he likes how the players play. If he does, then great.”

Dunne added on the calls for Guardiola to address issues at the back: “I don’t think it can be pinpointed on the centre-halves, there were defensive-minded lapses – and they might come from a midfielder at times.

“It’s difficult because City have so much of the ball, to switch from attacking to defensive mindset so quickly is tough. They do get caught out from time to time but you watch the games and you think they’re amazing.

“If they could just change those lapses then they would be unstoppable. Maybe they do need that little bit of experience, someone who can organise the defence.”

City ended the 2019-20 campaign with just a Carabao Cup success to show for their efforts, but the countdown is now on to the new season and Guardiola will be looking for his side to compete across multiple fronts once again.

Serge Gnabry has been praised by Bayern Munich icon Oliver Kahn after his “world-class” goal in the Champions League semi-final win over Lyon.

Bayern had been unexpectedly put on the back foot against the Ligue 1 side before a stunning run and finish from Gnabry gave them the lead.

Gnabry scored a second soon after, putting his side on their way to the Champions League final and moving to nine goals in the competition this season.

"His goal can be called world class with a clear conscience,” Kahn told reporters. “He is a player who has developed in the last few months.

“His performance curve goes up from year to year. He is far from reaching the top, but he is really good, he gives top performances.

“It also has to do with the coach, with the coach's communication. That is one of Hansi [Flick’s] strengths. He can deal with different types of players, he always finds the right words. As a coach, you always have to deal properly with people’s characters, with the players. That is bringing us success at the moment.”

Bayern are in relentless form going into Sunday’s final against Paris Saint-Germain, still unbeaten in 2020 and having won their last 20 games in all competitions.

Flick’s side have scored 23 goals in their last five matches, with a squad seemingly boasting the perfect blend of experience and youth.

Younger players like Gnabry and Alphonso Davies have snatched headlines in recent weeks but Kahn was also keen to pay tribute to the older heads.

"I've made a lot of comparisons thanks to my own experience,” he said. “It's impressive how goal-oriented these players are. They want to win the Champions League. They'll do everything for that, but you have to have a clear framework for that.

“We have Manuel Neuer as the captain, who can lead players. Thomas Muller has grown into a role; he speaks a lot. Joshua Kimmich is very aggressive, he does everything for success.

“The extraordinary thing is that many of them have already won everything, but they don’t get tired of it.”

Nicolas Pepe is no £72 million ($95m) flop, claims Lille owner Gerard Lopez, saying Arsenal got themselves “one hell of a deal” in landing the Ivorian winger at that price.

The Gunners smashed their transfer record when snapping up the highly-rated forward in the summer of 2019.

Having seen Pepe star in Ligue 1, big things were expected of the 25-year-old in English football. He was, however, to find the going tough during his debut campaign at Emirates Stadium, with eight goals and 10 assists recorded in 42 games in all competitions.

Arsenal have seen questions asked of their willingness to invest so heavily in Pepe, with little return enjoyed so far.

Lopez, though, believes a proven performer will come good in time and is eager to point out that the Gunners got themselves a bargain as there were bigger offers on the table for Lille to consider.

“Arsenal did one hell of a deal,” Lopez told talkSPORT. “They got a player that other people wanted and they got a player who one club were offering more money for.

“It was Pepe’s management team that asked us to go to Arsenal and so we accepted slightly less money than we would have got somewhere else.

“Some people know that, I know publicly some agents have said that but something that needs to go on record – we didn’t sell him to the highest bidder.”

Lopez added on a player he expects to thrive now that Unai Emery has been replaced by Mikel Arteta at Emirates Stadium: “The second thing that is important is that talent is always there and you can’t take it away from people.

“He’s a young player and a player that functions on people believing in him. Giving him opportunities but also responsibilities.

“I’m not going to question tactically how he was played for half a season.  What I’m going to say is that, in his case, the best is yet to come.

“When he came to us, the six or seven first months were not even average. You could see glimpses of talent. He suddenly got into his stride in the second half of the season and he really came into it in the second season.

“I have no doubt that he can do the same thing. I watched him play in the cup game, for example. Yes his goal was not given but it was one of the top goals he can make.

“I watched him throughout the season, every time he gets the ball something happens. He’s very tough to stop, especially when he’s in the last 30 or 40 metres. You either have to foul him or he’s going to make a pass or create a goal opportunity. That kind of talent is very rare. Players who on their own can dismantle or make something happen.

“I wasn’t kidding when I said Arsenal got a good deal. Other people were willing to pay more and if he delivers, he can deliver, he can be a player who will be key to them finishing higher up the table.”

Victor Moses revealed Inter Milan players want to win the 2019-20 Europa League for their manager Antonio Conte.

The Italian tactician has never won the highly coveted European trophy either as a player or as a coach despite his numerous accolades he has gathered during his career.

The former Nigeria international starred under Conte at Premier League side Chelsea, winning the Premier League and FA Cup titles.

 Moses reunited with the Italian tactician in January after cutting short his 18 months loan with Turkish Super Lig side Fenerbahce.

The forward has made 19 appearances across all competitions, including four in the European tournament since his arrival at San Siro.

Moses, who won the Europa League title during his time at Stamford Bridge, is hoping to help Conte clinch the diadem for the first time in his career.

“He’s a passionate coach who plans ahead. He wants us to give 110 per cent in every game,” Moses told Inter Podcast. 

“Then you see his reactions during the games, along with those of his staff. We want to play and win for him, but in the end, we want to enjoy our football.

“In the end, we are here to play football, that’s the most important thing. We are professionals."

Having already landed in Germany for their Europa League final against Sevilla at RheinEnergieStadion, Moses stated he is enjoying the atmosphere in the country ahead of the all-important clash.

 “These days are quite different. But we are enjoying the days in Germany, also because we are winning. I like to relax and spend time for myself. As a footballer, you need it," he added. 

Moses’ loan deal is expected to end at the end of the 2019-20 season but Inter Milan are believed to be interested in securing his signature permanently.

The forward had 38 caps and 12 goals for the Nigeria national team before his retirement from international duty after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Moses was a prominent figure for the Super Eagles as they won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa under the guidance of Stephen Keshi. 

The winger has also previously featured on loan for Liverpool, Stoke City, West Ham United and Fenerbahce since joining Chelsea in the summer of 2012 from Crystal Palace.

Indian Super League (ISL) club Hyderabad have brought in Thangboi Singto and Shameel Chembakath as their technical director and reserve team head coach respectively,  Goal has learnt. 

Singto was with Odisha FC last season and was not only the assistant coach of the first team but also took care of the club's youth development. The former Shillong Lajong head coach has also had stints with NorthEast United and Kerala Blasters and will now take on a similar supervisory role at Hyderabad for the 2020/21 season. 

Shameel, who is an AFC A License holder, had a successful stint at Kerala Blasters as the head coach of their reserve team and the U-15s. He has decided to move on and join Hyderabad for a fresh challenge and has signed a long-term contract. In addition to being the head coach of the reserves. he will handle the U-18 team as well.

Hyderabad appointed Albert Roca as their head coach after a disappointing debut in the ISL last season. They finished at the bottom of the table and could only win two matches. The team will be hopeful of assembling a competitive squad for next season. 

The club has also recently announced a multi-year partnership with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. The partnership was officially launched during Dortmund's Virtual Asia Tour. 

Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes is likely to decide between Arsenal and Napoli in the next 24 hours, according to club president Gerard Lopez.

The 22-year-old has excelled in Ligue 1 this season and has long been linked with a move to one of Europe's elite sides.

Speculation in England has suggested Arsenal are confident the former Brazil youth international will choose to head to Emirates Stadium for 2020-21.

Lopez expects Gabriel to make a decision soon after suggesting Lille have received at least two satisfactory transfer bids, reportedly in the region of €24 million (£21.5m/$28.5m)

When asked about interest from the Gunners, Napoli and Manchester United, Lopez told talkSPORT on Thursday: "That and a couple of more clubs. I think he's narrowed it down.

"I think it's fair to say that Arsenal are a high interest to him, Napoli is a high interest to him.

"We've given him plenty of time to make up his mind. We've always said, 'Look, if we have an agreement with two clubs or three clubs and the agreements are the same then we are not going to create a bidding competition', and that choice, I don't think I'm giving up too much if I tell you that that choice is probably today or tomorrow.

"I'm unable to tell you what that choice is. We've given him some recommendations but we don't like to talk about it in public because we don't want people to feel bad. We've talked about where he should go, but at the end of the day he and his environment make a choice and we support that."

Lopez added that he did not want to "speak for the player" about his preferred destination.

Gabriel's team-mate, Jose Fonte, has meanwhile claimed the player has been asking questions about the Premier League and life in England.

The former Southampton and West Ham centre back told talkSPORT yesterday: “Everybody’s dream is to play in the Premier League and he’s been asking me questions about the Premier League and asking questions about clubs in the Premier League, so I tried to give him the best and honest opinion.

“Hopefully he’ll make his decision and he’ll be very successful, I have no doubt about it.”

Gabriel made 34 appearances in all competitions last season.

Ugandan star Brian Nkuubi has reportedly left Ugandan Premier League (UPL) champions Vipers SC.

Nkuubi has been part of the Vipers family for the last five years since he was signed from Kira Young.

The midfielder renewed the contract in 2018 and his exit from St Mary’s Stadium, Kitende could see him join his long-time suitors Uganda Revenue Authority (URA FC).

Further reports in the country claim Derrick Ochan, Zaga Tumwesigye and Farouk Musisi have been released by the Venoms.

Musisi was signed in 2019 from Konkola Blades of Zambia but his three-year deal could be terminated before it expires.

His reported exit has been linked with the inability to successfully dislodge Aziz Kayondo in the first team during the absconded season.

The arrival of Disan Galiwango and Dan Birikwalira further made Musisi’s future at the league champions even bleaker.

Vipers are streamlining their squad in preparation for their upcoming participation in the Caf Champions League. They were declared champions after Fufa cancelled the league due to the coronavirus pandemic after 24 matches had been played.

Meanwhile, Premier League side Onduparaka FC have unveiled Kennedy Atibuni as their third signing.

Musema Bony and Jerry Jakisa are the first two signings made by the West Nile club and Atibuni, 22, has been handed a three-year contract.

The midfielder is a graduate of the Arua Public Secondary School where former Onduparaka stars Mohammad Shaban and Andama Denis Koko horned their skills.

Onduparaka coach Vialli Bainomugisha said he hopes Atibuni will quickly fill the void in the attacking midfield department.

“We know we have attacking midfielders in the team but adding more gives us added advantage and each of them including Kennedy has a lot to prove and offer our team this coming season,” Bainomugisha is quoted by Sports Nation as saying.

“We all hope he will fit in the boots of some of the big attacking midfielders this club has had.”

The Arua club is strengthening the squad with the hope of doing better during the 2020/21 season which is set to start on October 17.

They finished eighth in the previous campaign.

Yaya Toure believes questions should be asked of Pep Guardiola on the back of another Champions League failure by Manchester City, with the Blues legend suggesting it may be “time to change”.

A highly-decorated Catalan coach was appointed in 2016 with the intention of delivering long-awaited European glory to the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola had previously conquered the continent at Barcelona, but has been unable to replicate that success at Bayern Munich or City.

Domestic silverware has continued to roll in, with title triumphs enjoyed in Germany and England.

It is, however, nine years since Guardiola last hoisted aloft the Champions League trophy, with his current employers suffering a surprise quarter-final defeat to Lyon in 2020.

Toure feels pressure should be put on those calling the shots after seeing the Blues fall short once more, with it easy to argue that changes in approach and personnel may be required.

The legendary Ivorian, who spent eight years with City between 2010 and 2018, told Football Daily: “The manager has been signed for that, just to bring this trophy and when you see Liverpool maybe and other clubs who [have won it] without doing a lot of work in the transfer market, it's quite strange and disappointing.

“Of course, he's been brought to the club to get a massive trophy for them and at the moment it's not been delivered in the way they want.

“Everyone knows Pep is a great manager but at the moment when things are not going their way, sometimes it's the time to change the way they do things. We'll see.”

Toure knows all about Guardiola’s methods having worked under a demanding coach at Barcelona and City. The pair did not always see eye to eye, with Toure having gone as far as to claim that Guardiola’s standing as one of the finest coaches of all time is “a myth”.

He said in 2018: “Pep likes to dominate and wants to have obedient players who lick his hands. I do not like this kind of relationship. I respect my coach but I am not his thing. 

“Like all players I have bickered with my coaches, but at a certain point men who do not understand each other reconcile. This is not possible with Pep, who is very rigid.

“The other players will never admit it publicly but some have already told me that they ended up hating him. Because he manipulates and plays a lot with your head.

“We always looked at each other weirdly. He was spinning around me without saying anything, watching me, gauging me but not talking to me. Yet he knows that I speak Catalan, Spanish and English. It should be enough to communicate. 

“Apparently no. Every time we passed each other, he seemed embarrassed. As if I made him a little self-conscious. As if, also, he had understood that I knew him perfectly.”

Kylian Mbappe is ‘guaranteed’ to win the Ballon d’Or as he is already among the best three players in the world alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Louis Saha.

Still just 21, Mbappe has enjoyed another spectacular season with 30 goals and 19 assists in 36 appearances, and he has been a key figure in Paris Saint-Germain’s run to the Champions League final.

In Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, PSG will be facing the man who had been tipped by many to win his first Ballon d’Or this season – only to see the award cancelled by organisers France Football.

Messi and Ronaldo have monopolised the award in the last decade, winning 11 of the last 12 titles between them, but Mbappe is widely expected to follow in their footsteps.

“Kylian Mbappe is guaranteed to win the Ballon d’Or and it is only a matter of time until he is officially the best player in the world,” Saha said on the Football Index Podcast.

“He’s just returned from injury and he is destroying teams in the latter stages of the Champions League at will with the quality of his runs and his movement.

“To be doing this at his age, I am speechless.”

Despite Mbappe’s youth, he has achieved an astonishing amount in his career so far.

He has scored at least 20 goals in each of the last four seasons – topping 30 in the last two – and won every domestic title on offer in France, as well as the World Cup.

Adding a Champions League title to that list would hardly hurt his chances of being considered the best in the world, but Saha believes Mbappe is already right up there.

“For me, Mbappe is already definitely in the top three players in the world right now,” he said.

“There is obviously a massive difference between him and Messi and Ronaldo, but this is because they have done it for 10 years.

“I do think that when Messi and Ronaldo end their careers, Mbappe will be their successor who dominates.”

Mbappe and PSG’s date with destiny against Bayern Munich is on Sunday, August 23, at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.

Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati and promising Manchester City defender Eric Garcia have been included in Spain’s senior squad for the first time.

Luis Enrique has revealed his selection for upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Germany and Ukraine.

A number of youngsters will be given an opportunity to see competitive minutes in those fixtures.

Ferran Torres, who has just completed a big-money move to City, is another to have been given the nod.

Wolves winger Adama Traore has also been selected by Enrique, with the jet-heeled 24-year-old seemingly set to commit his international future to Spain.

He has remained eligible for Mali, but outings of any kind against Germany or Ukraine would see him tied to the country of his birth.

It could be that he figures alongside a few other graduates of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy system.

Established stars such as Sergio Busquets, who remains at Camp Nou, and Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara – who is readying himself for the 2020 Champions League final – have got the nod.

As has 17-year-old sensation Fati, who has enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough year in Catalunya.

Having made his first-team debut at Barca at the age of 16 in August 2019, a meteoric rise to prominence has been enjoyed.

Fati has taken in U21 outings for Spain, having been born in Guinea Bissau, and is now seemingly set to nail his colours to the Roja mast.

Garcia will also be taking a notable step up from the youth ranks as he joins the senior set-up.

Uncertainty reigns when it comes to the 19-year-old’s future at club level, with Pep Guardiola having revealed that the talented centre-half will not be signing a new contract at the Etihad Stadium.

That is leaving the door open for a return to his roots at Barca to be made, with the Blaugrana eager to buy into his potential.

International experience would see Garcia’s stock rise even further, with the youngster joining the likes of Sergio Ramos, Jesus Navas, Dani Carvajal and Pau Torres in Enrique’s defensive ranks.

Dani Olmo and Marco Asensio are among the others to make Spain’s latest squad, while Premier League pair David de Gea and Kepa Arrizabalaga will once again be battling it out to fill a No.1 spot between the sticks.

Goalkeepers: De Gea, Kepa, Simon

Defenders: Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Torres, Llorente, Gaya, Reguilon, Garcia

Midfielders: Fabian, Thiago, Busquets, Rodri, Merino, Olmo, Oscar Rodriguez

Forwards: Rodrigo, Oyarzabal, Traore, Asensio, Fati, Torres

Former Barcelona winger Gerard Deulofeu has taken aim at his old side, criticising new manager Ronald Koeman and saying the club has ignored its youth system.

Deulofeu, who came through Barca’s La Masia youth system, played under Koeman at Everton in 2016-17 but was sent out on loan to AC Milan. After leaving Goodison Park, Koeman took charge of the Dutch national side before being announced as the new Barca boss on Wednesday.

"I can tell you about Koeman from my personal experience, and I have very little to tell you about Koeman," Deulofeu told Catalunya Radio.

"He provided me absolutely nothing. I wasn't happy, I asked to leave and I went to Milan. We'll see how he does at the Camp Nou."

Barca presidential candidate Victor Font has already said that if he wins next year's election, Koeman will not remain as manager, however successful he is.

Deulofeu now looks to be on the hunt for a new club once again, following current side Watford’s relegation from the Premier League.

When the 26-year-old left Everton permanently in 2017, it was for a brief return to Barca. Now, after two frustrating spells at Camp Nou, he says he isn’t bothered by the club’s most recent crisis.

"The truth is that Barcelona's [situation] does not bother me," he said. "In fact, right now, I don't care."

Deulofeu was once one of La Masia’s most prized assets, but his relative fall from grace in recent seasons has been a familiar story.

Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig are among the academy products to have broken into the first team in recent months but Barca’s ageing first team bears little resemblance to the golden generation that reached its peak under Pep Guardiola.

Big-money signings like Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann have failed to shine while the core of the team – the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique – are in their 30s.

"At Barcelona, they have not had patience with La Masia for years,” Deulofeu commented.“If you give [the youngsters] time, they learn the style of the first team.

"There are players, many of us have come from there, but not patience. Now there will be changes, but they are years behind."

Simba SC chairman Mohamed Dewji has revealed why Senzo Mazingiza quit the club as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

The South African left Simba after serving them for less than a year and joined Yanga SC and Dewji believes he did not achieve what he was tasked to.

“Our main priority has always been to cut cost but at the same time make sure the revenue goes up. When we have Simba Day, we know its revenue as well as revenue from SportPesa sponsorship,” Dewji told a local Radio station on Thursday.

“We also know how much the Mohamed Enterprise sponsorship's revenue is and above that any office is always tasked to bring a report indicating revenue has gone up.

“Before we convened a meeting to discuss him [Mazingiza] and his report, he saw there was a problem that was coming and it was a huge one. So, some are saying he has left with critical files and secrets but we have no problem.”

The chair also stressed the exit of the administrator is not going to affect the club’s operations.

“We have no problem you know why? We believe in ourselves, we have our short-term, medium and long term targets,” he stated.

“We have not trembled a bit and in due course, we are going to unveil a new CEO.”

Dewji also welcomed their newly-designed logo which does not carry their slogan ‘Nguvu Moja’ anymore.

“Our slogan will remain with us and I am happy about the new logo,” he added.

“Big clubs worldwide now have clear logos. You know the lion in our previous logo was small, looked timid and it also looked old.

“We had over 1000 logos that were designed by professionals after critical research and got feedback from them.”

Dewji also responded to claims that he was planning to stop sponsoring the Tanzanian giants.

“Can a sane person really think that TSh20 billion is too much for Dewji?” he said while answering the question on the huge amount of money he has pumped into the club.

“Let me assure our fans that I am not going to leave. Some people are just trying to cause friction by making such statements but because Simba are a big institution that is expected.

“We have no time with them and we are marching forward.”

After signing key players, Simba are expected to mount a successful competition in the Caf Champions League and on the domestic front.

Sean Dyche guided Burnley to another top-half finish in 2019-20, with the Clarets continuing to silence their critics as they slug it out with the Premier League’s big-hitters.

There had been rumours of change being on the cards at Turf Moor – on and off the field – but a club that prides itself on stability and consistency still has all of its established pieces in place.

That should help them to hold their own once again during the 2020-21 campaign, with the Lancashire outfit onto a fifth successive season among English football’s elite.

Burnley were supposed to open the new season with a glamour home date against Manchester United, but that game has been postponed due to the Red Devils' involvement in Europa League competition.

Leicester will therefore be the Clarets' first foes, with three of their opening four games set to see them head out on the road.

A trip to Leeds comes on Boxing Day, while the New Year will be opened at home to Fulham.

Dyche's side will complete their schedule away at Sheffield United, a week after they have played host to Liverpool.

Check out Burnley's full Premier League schedule for 2020-21 below.

Portuguese giants Sporting CP have announced the signing of Zouhair Feddal from La Liga club Real Betis.

The 31-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Estadio Jose Alvalade outfit with an option of extension following his successful medicals with the side.

Feddal has been with the Green-and-Whites since 2017 when he joined from Deportivo Alaves and featured in 53 league games during his time with the side, including 17 last season to help Manuel Pellegrini’s men maintain their La Liga status.

The Morocco international is delighted to join one of the most popular clubs in the world, Sporting CP, and looks forward to contributing his quota to the success of the Portuguese outfit.

"I want to say to the Sportinguistas that I am very happy to be here and to belong to this great club,” Feddal told the club website.

“The only thing that I can promise is my commitment, hard work, dedication and that I will fight to the end. That's something that I will never lack, and I hope that we can achieve our objectives.

"I know that Noureddine Naybet and Mustapha Hadji played here. This is a very well-known club in Europe and in Africa.

“Sporting CP are one of Portugal's big clubs, and I'm sure that we will reach our targets. I know that I'm at a club that aims to win, and I want to win big things.

"I will adapt to what the coach wants. I'm available for whatever he needs, and I have to show all of the Sportinguistas that I'm here to do good things and to help Sporting CP"

Feddal started his career with Moghreb Tetouan and played for the youth teams of Vilamalla, Peralada, Monaco and Mataro.

He made his senior debut for Vilajuiga after joining the side in 2008 and later featured for Terrassa, Teruel, San Roque, Espanyol, FUS Rabat and Parma before he signed for Levante in 2015.

The defender made 28 league appearances for the Spanish club during his one-year stay before he moved to Alaves.

Feddal has featured 20 times for the Morocco national team since he made his debut against Togo in a friendly in 2012.

The centre-back will hope to help Sporting compete for the Primeira Liga title in the 2020-21 season after finishing fourth in the last campaign.

Brighton are prepring for a fourth successive season among the Premier League heavyweights, with the Seagulls having shown that they have what it takes to compete with the very best in the business.

They are yet to push their way towards the top-half of the division, having secured another 15th-place finish in 2019-20, and the south coast outfit are still being forced to look anxiously over their shoulder at times.

Graham Potter is, however, a highly-regarded coach and those at the Amex Stadium believe they can start to build on the impressive foundations that have been put in place.

Brighton will start their 2020-21 campaign with a long trip to the North East to take on Newcastle.

Manchester United and Liverpool will visit the Amex in the early months of the season, while arch-rivals Crystal Palace will be tackled at Selhurst Park in October.

Boxing Day will be spent on the road at West Ham and the New Year welcomed in at home to Wolves.

Meetings with Manchester City and Arsenal to wrap things up mean that the Seagulls will want to have plenty of points on the board by then.

Check out Brighton's full Premier League schedule for 2020-21 below.

Aston Villa avoided relegation in dramatic fashion during the 2019-20 campaign and will be hoping that consolidating a standing among the Premier League elite proves a little easier this time around.

Dean Smith’s side took their battle to beat the drop down to the final day last season, with the securing of a 17th-place finish sparking scenes of wild celebration for the West Midlands outfit.

Once a staple part of the top-flight calendar, the Villans are determined to re-establish themselves and start setting their sights a little higher than merely avoiding a trapdoor that leads back to the Championship.

They had been due to start the new season with the most testing of trips to Manchester City, but that game is already having to be rearranged due to the Blues' involvement in the latter stages of the Champions League.

Smith's team will instead kick off at home to Sheffield United, with four of their opening six games due to be staged at Villa Park.

Local rivals Wolves and West Brom will be faced in December, with Crystal Palace paying a visit to the West Midlands on Boxing Day.

A tricky end to the season is due to see the Villans take on Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea, meaning that safety may need to be secured long before the final sprint towards the finishing post.

Check out the full Aston Villa fixture list for the 2020-21 Premier League season below.

Leicester City narrowly missed out on fourth place in the Premier League last season and they will attempt to go one better in 2020-21.

Newly-promoted West Brom provide the opposition for the Foxes on the opening weekend, with games against Burnley, Manchester City and West Ham completing the first batch of matches for Brendan Rodgers' men.

The Foxes take on Arsenal away on October 24 and that game will be followed by a meeting of minds between Rodgers and Marcelo Bielsa on Halloween as they make the trip to Elland Road to play newly-promoted Leeds United.

Their first league game against reigning champions Liverpool comes on November 21 at Anfield and they will be hoping for an early Valentine's Day treat when they welcome the Reds to the King Power Stadium on February 13.

The festive period, meanwhile, is sure to be a testing month, with seven tough games squeezed in between the start of December and new year.

Among the fixtures awaiting Leicester in that period are a pre-Christmas showdown with Jose Mourinho's Tottenham, which will be followed by a clash against Manchester United on Boxing Day. They will head north then on January 2 to play Newcastle United in their first match of 2021.

Rodgers' side suffered a downturn in fortunes for the post-lockdown season conclusion in 2019-20 and they will be hoping to avoid such a scenario in 2020-21, but the fixtures have not been particularly kind for their season run-in.

Their final three league games of the season in May are against Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Check out Leicester's Premier League fixture list for 2020-21 in full below.

Leeds United are back in the Premier League after a 16-year hiatus and they are set for a baptism of fire against reigning champions Liverpool in their opening game on September 12.

Marcelo Bielsa's side also face Fulham, Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in their opening four fixtures.

The Whites secured promotion to the Premier League by winning the Championship in 2019-20, doing so in classic Bielsa-ball style. However, life in the Premier League will be much more difficult.

Most Leeds fans will be particularly looking forward to their meetings with Manchester United and the first game between the sides will be played at Old Trafford on December 19.

They will welcome the Red Devils to Elland Road in the corresponding match on April 24.

Leeds will have a tough period to navigate at the end of November into December as they play Arsenal on November 21, Everton on November 28 and Chelsea on December 5.

The December festive run-in will see them play West Ham, Newcastle, Burnley and West Brom - as well as Manchester United - with their first match of the new year coming against Jose Mourinho's Tottenham.

When May comes round and the season approaches a conclusion, Leeds will have to navigate games against, Brighton, Spurs, Burnley and Southampton, before bringing the curtain down against West Brom.

Check out Leeds United's full Premier League schedule for 2020-21 below.

Manchester City open the 2020-21 Premier League season with a game against Wolves on September 19.

City were scheduled to face Aston Villa in the opening gameweek, but that fixture has been postponed due to the club's Champions League exploits, which saw them play into the middle of August.

Pep Guardiola's side were, of course, beaten to the title by Liverpool last season and they will be desperate to get as many points on the board as they possibly can in order to set the pace.

After kicking things off against Wolves, City face games against Leicester City on September 26 and Marcelo Bielsa's newly-promoted Leeds United on October 3.

They then welcome Arsenal to the Etihad on October 17, while their first meeting with reigning champions - and their nearest rivals - Liverpool is scheduled for November 7.

The first Manchester derby of the season against cross-town rivals Manchester United will take place at Old Trafford on December 12.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Red Devils will then visit the Etihad for the corresponding derby match on March 6, 2021.

There will be a total of six league fixtures to play in December, including the derby match with United.

Among City's opponents in that busy period are Fulham, West Brom, Southampton, Newcastle United and Everton.

They will ring in the year 2021 on January 2 with a trip south to Stamford Bridge in order to face off against Frank Lampard's Chelsea.

The home game against the Blues will form part of City's final run-in of the season in May, as they welcome them to the Etihad on May 8. 

Games against Newcastle United and Brighton follow on May 12 and 15 respectively, before they wrap up the season at home to Everton on May 23.

Check out the full Man City fixture list for the 2020-21 Premier League season below.