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Andrea Pirlo has claimed he turned down offers from the Premier League and Serie A to become Juventus' new U23s manager.

Pirlo was officially unveiled in his new role at the Allianz Stadium on Thursday, as he took charge of the club's reserves following Fabio Pecchia's departure.

The former Italy international racked up 164 appearances for Juve between 2011 and 2015, winning seven major trophies in total including four Serie A titles.

Pirlo went on to spend two years in MLS with New York City FC before hanging up his boots in 2017, and has since taken the necessary steps to move into coaching.

The 41-year-old has opted to begin his management career in familiar surroundings, with ex-Juve goalkeeper Marco Storari also returning to the club in a sporting director role to help him in his first year in the dugout.

Pirlo is now ready to put into practice everything he learned from his former managers, and has already made it his goal to emulate the achievements of modern-day managerial greats Pep Guardiola and Zinedine Zidane.

The World Cup winner says that although he received plenty of interest from other clubs, he always felt that Juve was the best place for him to gain experience.

"I have had many coaches, everyone has taught me a lot: [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Marcelo] Lippi, [Antonio] Conte and [Massimiliano] Allegri - but I think everyone has to go their own way," Pirlo told a press conference at his presentation ceremony.

"My team will have to play well, it will always have to play to win. I hated many things as a footballer, and I don't want to see them as a coach.

"Guardiola and Zidane? Everyone would like to imitate their paths, but you must deserve it.

"I also had proposals from other Serie A and Premier League teams, but I felt this was the right path to start my coaching career."

Pirlo went on to discuss his managerial philosophy, promising to draw on his experiences as a player to create an environment for success. He added: "My team will have to play well, it will always have to play to win. I hated many things as a footballer, and I don't want to see them as a coach."

Over 15 Ethiopia-based Ghanaian footballers have completed a 14-day mandatory quarantine in Prampram following their evacuation.

The players were transported back home earlier this month following a distress call to the Government of Ghana.

Black Stars defender Lee Addy, who starred at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, headlines the returnees who were retained at the Ghana Football Association's Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence national teams' training facility in Prampram.

“On behalf of the players, I would like to thank the Government of Ghana, the GFA, the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) and everybody who contributed for us to be brought back home,” Addy said, as reported by the football's governing body's official website.

“We say a big thank you to the GFA, especially Mr. Alex Asante, the Deputy General Secretary; they have done very, very well.

“I will like to use this opportunity to thank the media, the people who spread the message for the government to come to our aid.

“We thank the Ghanaian public and the Doctors who took care of us upon our return. May God bless us all."

The contingent made headlines in June after being spotted in a viral social media pleading for help from the Government of Ghana as they lamented their difficult conditions of living in Ethiopia due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The video showed the players standing outside the Ghanaian embassy in Addis Ababa, with claims of failing to get desired help from the consulate for a flight back home.

“We paid for our ticket cost but the government played a major role in terms of organization. We the senior players paid for some of the players who couldn’t afford the cost,” Addy told OTEC FM upon their return earlier this month.

“Three players were left behind because they needed to negotiate with their clubs for contract renewals. We came straight to Prampram with some students who were also stranded in Addis Ababa and South Africa.

“We are pleased with what the government and the GFA have done for us, in fact, we didn’t expect them to help us this way."

Ex-Asante Kotoko and Medeama shot-stopper Muntari Tagoe, Kweku Andoh, Latif Mohammed, Rahim Osman, Tuffour Frimpong and Aaron Amoah were among 22 players stranded in Ethiopia.

Football enthusiasts have taken to social media to celebrate Victor Osimhen following his permanent signing to Napoli.

The Nigeria international joins Gennaro Gattuso's team on a five-year contract for a reported fee of €50 million from Lille.

The move to Italy comes on the back of Osimhen's impressive debut campaign in Ligue 1 where he scored 13 goals for the Great Danes, who finished the 2019-20 campaign in the fourth place.

The transfer has led well-wishers, including the 21-year-old's former team Lille, the world football governing body, Fifa and the Nigeria national team to send congratulatory messages.

India international winger Nikhil Poojary is looking forward to Hyderabad's upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season with Albert Roca as the head coach.

The club had a horrendous debut season in the ISL, finishing at the bottom of the table with 10 points.

In a live Instagram chat on Friday, the winger said. "We had a good pre-season but the first game was a bubble buster for us. I think it was one of those seasons where everything went wrong for us."

Brown was sacked midway through the season and former Saudi Arabia assistant Albert Roca was brought on board as the Englishman's replacement. Caretaker coaches Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Xavier Gurri saw out the rest of the season and Hyderabad signed out with a 5-1 win over NorthEast United but failed to avoid a bottom-placed finish.

With Roca set to take over the first team from the upcoming season, Poojary feels that the onus will be on the players to meet the expectations of the former Bengaluru head coach. 

"We all know what kind of impact Roca had on BFC (Bengaluru FC). The way the team (Bengaluru) played that season (2017-18 ISL runners-up) was surreal. They finished way above (at least eight points) everyone else [in the league phase] and we know where he was. He was (assistant coach) with (Frank) Rijkaard in Barcelona and he has trained some top players like Deco.

"So I think we have to meet his expectations to do well. For him to have the same impact he had at Bengaluru, we have to meet his expectations. Otherwise, it won't match. I am excited to play for him and learn whatever I can," Poojary concluded.

Bayer Leverkusen will be powerless to resist selling Kai Havertz to Chelsea if the Blues' billionaire owner Roman Abramovich wants the German at Stamford Bridge, according to the Premier League club's former manager, Avram Grant.

Havertz, 21, has been a revelation in the Bundesliga ever since making his breakthrough as a 17-year-old in the 2016-17 campaign.

The midfielder, who has been played in an increasingly attack-minded role over the past two years, has scored 29 Bundesliga goals since the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

Already a Germany international, Havertz is widely expected to leave Leverkusen in the coming weeks, with Chelsea said to be his most likely destination.

The financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic, combined with Chelsea's recent deals for Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, have led to suggestions the club might not be willing to meet Leverkusen's apparent €78million (£70m/$90m) asking price.

However Grant thinks the Blues will sign anyone if the owner wants them.

Speaking to Stats Perform News, Grant said: "Abramovich didn't have a problem with money before! When he wants something, he buys it.

"He doesn't do things to save money. Whether they have more or less money, I don't think it's important.

"What I think is important is that they started to use the academy. They spent so much money on it and they didn't give anyone a chance [before]. My policy at Chelsea was that we wanted one third of the squad as under-21 players, because you cannot invest a lot into the academy and not give them a chance.

"Now, not as a policy, they gave them a chance, and Frank has done a great job. Michael Emenalo, a director, was always complaining that we invested a lot of money in them [academy players] but we don't give them a chance.

"When you have a good young player, they can develop a lot and there are a lot of good talents at Chelsea, and we're in a good phase for the coming years.

"With a good signing they can compete with Liverpool or Man City. [Havertz] has the quality. We need to wait and see [if he's the one to bridge the gap]."

The signings of Ziyech and Werner, from Ajax and RB Leipzig respectively, have been widely applauded, particularly given they were both secured well before the conclusion of the season, but Grant urges caution, highlighting that many big signings in a short period does not always guarantee success.

"On paper they look like good signings and that they can make the team stronger, but we need to wait and see," Grant said. "We've seen years ago, Tottenham bought a lot of players but they bought too much and many didn't perform well - eventually Harry Redknapp saved them and did a very good job.

"I think you need to be careful when you sign a player, whether they will be good for the squad, but I'm sure they've checked this. It's not only about quality."

Bayer Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes says that the club has not received an offer for Kai Havertz amid widespread reports that Chelsea are chasing the German star. 

The Blues have been heavily linked with the German midfielder in recent weeks, having already completed deals for his compatriot Timo Werner as well as ex-Ajax star Hakim Ziyech.

Havertz's performances this season helped capture the attention of Frank Lampard's side, with the 21-year-old providing 12 goals in 30 games to guide Bayer to fifth place in the Bundesliga. 

Chelsea have had discussions with Havertz's representatives and will next look to agree on a fee after establishing that he wants to move to Stamford Bridge.

The midfielder had been tipped to make an early exit this summer, departing Bayer Leverkusen before the club's return to the Europa League, much like how Werner's deal was pushed through ahead of RB Leipzig's Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid.

However, director Rudi Voller said that there is no chance of the club selling Havertz before Leverkusen's European run is complete, saying that the midfielder's participation is "set in stone".

Rolfes echoed a similar sentiment, saying that the club has not received an official offer just yet and, even if there was one, Leverkusen would expect Havertz to finish the season.

"So far we have no offer," Rolfes said in a press conference. "We know about the interest of clubs, but there is no official offer.

"We have said several times that we will end the season with our entire squad. And that includes Kai. That goes without saying for us."

He added: "He is focused. Kai is relaxed with the speculations, is focused, in a good mood.

“He makes a good impression. The holiday did him good like the other players.”

Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, also a German international, hailed Havertz as a "great talent", having previously been dubbed Agent Rudiger for his role in the recruitment of Werner earlier this year.

The Blues are set to face Arsenal in the FA Cup final this weekend before continuing their Champions League campaign against Bayern Munich.

Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, will continue their Europa League journey with their round of 16 second-leg against Rangers, having won the first leg 3-1 with Havertz scoring from the penalty spot.

Former Ghana international Sola Ayew has hailed nephews Jordan and Andre for their outstanding performances in the 2019-20 football season.

While Jordan grabbed headlines on the books of Premier League side Crystal Palace, Andre was arguably the toast of Swansea City fans in the Championship.

Interestingly, they both finished the term as their clubs' top scorer.

“It [Jordan's performances] is not surprising to us at all, looking at what he's doing in the Premier League. He has the qualities to do more than what he's even doing now,” Sola told Nkunim FM.

“The family is solidly behind him, we pray against injury and hope he can do more.

“As for the performance of Dede Ayew, I think we need not to waste time on it because we all know the qualities of him, what he has done and what he can do."

Jordan netted nine times in 37 appearances to help Palace to a 14th finish in the Premier League.

In the process, he broke the record as Ghana's top scorer in the English top-flight, his 25 strikes going one strike clear of Anthony Yeboah's haul.

His outstanding showing did not go unappreciated as he won Crystal Palace's Player of the Year, Crystal Palace Players' Player of the Year and Goal of the Year honours at the club's end of season awards on Tuesday.

“I’ve worked so hard to get into the team and I think the first season I came into this team wasn’t the best but the club had faith in me, the club wanted me to stay and I wanted to stay as well,” Ayew said after picking up his prizes.

"I had the desire to have a better season and things have gone so well. I’m just grateful."

Andre, on the other hand, scored 15 times in 44 matches to help Swansea reach the Championship play-off semi-final.

With seven assists to his name also, the 30-year-old contributed to 22 goals for the Jack Army, who finished sixth in the regular season.

“I’m very happy with the season. I’m happy with the squad I’ve had around me and the players who have given me", Ayew recently said, as reported by his club's official website.

Jordan and Andre are both products of French side Olympique Marseille.

Dimitar Berbatov says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has proven his managerial credentials at the highest level, while turning Manchester United into a consistent side once again.

United secured a third-place Premier League finish and Champions League qualification by beating Leicester 2-0 at the King Power Stadium on the final day of the season.

Solskjaer's men started the campaign slowly and slipped way off the top-four pace heading into the new year, but results improved drastically following the winter arrival of Bruno Fernandes.

The Red Devils won nine of their last 14 fixtures to leapfrog Chelsea and Leicester in the table and picked up the joint highest number of points in the league along with Manchester City after returning from lockdown in June.

Questions were asked over Solskjaer's credentials during his first few months in the Old Trafford hot seat, but his belief in the club's younger players and smart recruitment in the transfer market has reaped rewards in 2020.

Berbatov has credited the Norwegian for overseeing a return to Europe's premier competition, which he believes will be crucial in attracting more top talent to the club this summer.

The former United striker also hailed Solskjaer for lifting the mood in the dressing room, telling Betfair: "I'm happy for everyone at the United after they hit their target of qualifying for the Champions League. They deserve it. They had to beat Leicester and they did it. I'm happy for Ole and the team, this will be huge for the club and for everybody.

"There will always be doubters, but overall people will realise managers need time to build. There are obstacles, of course, but in the future things can improve, and Ole has shown that.

"It will be more difficult now with the Champions League, and you will still get criticism next year when you lose, but for now, we should be happy with the work he has done. I think the players love him, and that's shown by how they've played.

"He's made United consistent, which they haven't been for so long, and he brought it when it counted the most. They were smart, consistent, and they got results.

"You can buy players now because everyone wants to play in the Champions League, and Ole has shown what a good manager he is."

Milan have revealed their brand-new home kit for the 2020/21 season.

PUMA have tapped into the essence of the city, capturing the elegance and grandeur of Milan with their new take of the famous red-and-black stripes.

The shirt will get its first official, on-pitch unveiling on August 1 as the Rossoneri host Cagliari in the final game of the Serie A season.

Featuring vertical stripes that are wider than the 2019/2020 edition, it also has completely black sleeves.

However, the real unique and distinctive feature of the jersey is represented by the printed tone-on-tone, inspired by the striking patterns and architecture of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the most iconic sights in Milan.

"The AC Milan jersey is symbolic, representing the pride and belonging of millions of fans around the world,” said Casper Stylsvig, Milan’s Chief Revenue Officer.

“The new design pays homage to the tradition, culture and iconic architecture which is synonymous with our beautiful city. AC Milan is built on innovation, community, integrity and inclusiveness, and PUMA have effectively captured these core values within this elegant new design."

Milan’s new threads are a suggestive blend of football and culture, tradition and modernity, confirmed David Bremond, PUMA's Head of Product Line Management Teamsport said.

"AC Milan is more than a football club; it represents the culture of the city. We wanted to create a jersey that respects the traditions of the club and speaks to the fans inside and outside of Italy. We have incorporated the iconic architecture of Milan into this jersey, to truly represent not only the city but the culture that influences it."

The new AC Milan Home kit is available from July 28th at puma.com, PUMA stores, AC Milan official stores, store.milan.com and at select retailers worldwide.

Four London clubs will be involved in two major finals over the coming days—live on SuperSport—as Chelsea and Arsenal meet in the FA Cup final, and Fulham and Brentford compete for the right to play in the Premier League next season.

There are subplots aplenty ahead of Saturday’s showpiece between the Gunners and the Blues, the 139th edition of the FA Cup final.

Notably, the match represents an opportunity for two rookie coaches—Mikel Arteta and Frank Lampard—to win the first silverware of their nascent managerial careers.

Lampard has enjoyed a successful first season at Stamford Bridge—particularly considering the club’s transfer ban—as he oversaw qualification for the Champions League at the first time of asking.

However, the ex-England midfielder has yet to solve the capital club’s defensive issues; they conceded eight goals across their last two away games—at Sheffield United and Liverpool—and it’s an area Lamps needs to address ahead of Saturday’s showdown.

Up front, Olivier Giroud has come out fighting in the media this week following the club’s signing of Timo Werner.

The former RasenBallsport Leipzig man and Tammy Abraham represent stiff competition for Giroud, but the Frenchman has rolled back the years in 2020, and has reaffirmed why he is such an effective leading man for the Blues.

The Gunners have their own superstars in offensive areas, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang coming off the back of a Premier League season in which he’s netted 22 goals—second only to top scorer Jamie Vardy.

Auba will be disappointed to have missed out on the Golden Boot he won last term, but considering the upheaval at the Emirates Stadium this term, his haul represents an excellent achievement.

He’s a striker at the top of his game, and he’s now supported by a cast that includes exciting younger players like Nicolas Pepe, Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka.

On their day, the North Londoners have the quality in the final third to put the Blues’ defence to the sword, although they’ll also be wary of their own vulnerabilities at the back.

While the Gunners were outclassed by Manchester City in the first game back after the restart, they improved dramatically by the time the two clubs met again in the semi-final.

Arsenal ultimately won 2-0—their best performance under Arteta—and will be hoping to channel this showing on Saturday.

If the Spaniard wins the cup, it would not only represent an awesome achievement so early into his career, but he’d also become the first person to win the oldest competition in the world game as both captain and head coach.

SuperSport Fixtures

Saturday 1 August – Arsenal vs Chelsea (FA Cup)

Sunday 2 August – Atalanta vs Inter Milan

Sunday 2 August – Juventus vs Roma

Sunday 2 August – AC Milan vs Cagliari

Sunday 2 August – Napoli vs Lazio

Tuesday 4 August – Fulham vs Brentford (EFL Championship Playoff Final)

Another major final involving two London clubs will take place on Tuesday, when a gruelling Championship season comes to an end with the playoff final between Fulham and Brentford.

It’s been a tough season for both of these two, each of whom flirted with automatic promotion but were forced to contest the playoffs after missing out to Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.

Fulham, relegated last term, have impressed with their attacking football under another inexperienced coach—Scott Parker—this season, and in Aleksandar Mitrovic, they boast a potential match-winner.

While they were defeated by Cardiff City on Thursday evening in the second leg of their playoff, they progressed 3-2 on aggregate, and that loss may well ensure that there’s no chance of complacency heading into the final match of the season.

It’s a fixture worth a reported £170 million—considering the riches on offer in the Premier League—which would represent a meteoric rise for Brentford, who haven’t been in the top tier for 73 years.

The Bees bounced back to defeat Swansea City in their semi-final second leg—the final match at their historic Griffin Park ground—and are in fine fettle heading into the showpiece encounter.

Brentford have endured a rocky ride in recent weeks, and will be taking little for granted.

Their eight-game winning streak came to a screeching halt with three defeats against Stoke City, Barnsley and Swansea City.

They missed out on automatic promotion—ceding the initiative to the Albion—but made amends with that excellent second-leg showing against the Swans.

Can they now defeat their near-neighbours to reach the big time?

Finally, on Sunday, Serie A reaches its conclusion with the final round of league fixtures.

There are some fascinating ties as well, with high-flying Atalanta hosting Internazionale, champions Juventus at home against AS Roma, and Lazio set to go away to Champions League hopefuls Napoli.

The most intrigue is in Bergamo, where Atalanta and Inter are contesting second place in a battle between two sides who will already be gearing up for next season’s UCL campaigns and...who knows…perhaps a title challenge.

Atalanta return to the Champions League for the second consecutive season, and are currently on a 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

They’ve never finished higher than third in the top flight, and will surely be desperate to end the season in their best ever league position.

Lazio’s victory over Brescia in midweek means that they too can leapfrog the duo into second place, and are currently on a three-game winning streak.

Could they deny Atalanta a first-ever second-placed finish?

N'Golo Kante and Willian are in contention for Chelsea's FA Cup final clash with Arsenal on Saturday, but Frank Lampard refused to be drawn on who will start in goal.

Chelsea manager Lampard seemed uncertain in terms of team selection ahead of Saturday in regards to who will play in goal – Kepa Arrizabalaga is the usual first-choice, but his form has been underwhelming, with Willy Caballero replacing the Spaniard against Wolves, and the veteran Argentina international is a regular in cup competitions.

"It's difficult because we have competition in the squad," Lampard said. "I have changed it at times, we consider the games as we go – for big games, it becomes more difficult.

"I know how much players want to be in these games, but people off the bench have made a huge difference in recent games.

"It [leaving players out for a final] is difficult for me, difficult [for the players] to take, but players have to be positive."

France international Kante has endured a frustrating season for the Blues, with numerous injury issues and fitness problems putting him on the sidelines.

The latest was a hamstring issue suffered early this month and he has not featured since, only returning to training prior to the final Premier League game of the season, but the midfielder is in the squad for Saturday's showdown at Wembley, while Willian – absent from the win over Wolves last weekend with an unspecified problem – could also be involved.

Lampard did not have such good news regarding Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who will not feature.

"Yes, N'Golo Kante and Willian are in the squad," Lampard said in Friday's pre-match news conference. "We will see if they're fit enough to be involved, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek has picked up a small problem and is out of the game."

Brazilian winger Willian has enjoyed a prominent season at Stamford Bridge, racking up nine goals and seven assists in the league and arguably rediscovering his best form despite uncertainty over his future.

The 31-year-old, whose current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, has reportedly rejected a new two-year contract at the club because he wants an extra season on top of that.

Since football resumed in June, Willian has scored three goals and set up another two and his attitude has not surprised Lampard.

When asked if he expected the Brazilian's professionalism despite a somewhat awkward situation, Lampard said: "Yes, I've known Willian for many years as a player and I have coached him.

"If anyone wants to know the mentality of him, then that has been shown since restart. He has given everything. I would expect nothing less than he's shown already."

Lampard and his Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta will be aiming to win the first piece of silverware in their managerial careers on Saturday.

Max Aarons is paying little attention to the transfer talk he is generating, with the Norwich defender prepared to leave links to the likes of Bayern Munich and Tottenham in the hands of others.

The England U21 international has seen his stock rise considerably across the last two seasons. In 2018-19 he helped the Canaries to promotion into the Premier League, before then impressing in what was a testing campaign among the elite for those at Carrow Road.

Norwich are now preparing for a return to the Championship, having suffered relegation, and their most exciting young talents are attracting plenty of interest. Aarons falls into that category, with the 20-year-old right-back considered to be ready for another step up the ladder.

He is aware of the mounting speculation, with Bundesliga champions Bayern said to have joined the race for his signature, but the youngster is not about to let transfer rumours become a distraction.

Aarons told The Athletic: “It’s kind of natural that, as a 20-year-old playing in the Premier League, there will be things out there in the press. I just leave that to the people off the pitch, like Stuart [Webber, Norwich sporting director] or the club to deal with.

“I’ve just tried to focus on finishing the season well in myself and now going away, relaxing over the weeks we have off, and then coming in strong for pre-season.

“Anything else that happens or takes place, it’s not really in my hands. All I can do as a professional footballer is try to develop my game and come back sharp, come back strong and come back ready for a big season.

“I’ve got four years left on my contract here, so I’ll be coming back ready to go, ready to attack next year.”

Aarons has offered no indication that he will be pushing for a move, with the Norwich academy graduate prepared to go again in the second tier if Norwich keep the exit doors closed.

He added: “This season has not gone the way anyone wanted it to but going back to the Championship, we’ve got more than enough in the team as it is at the moment.

“Everyone knows what we can do and even on a Premier League level, when we are right at it and every player was playing well, we have beaten teams. The Championship needs a different approach but no one can doubt the massive amount of quality we have.”

Napoli have confirmed the signing of Nigerian international forward Victor Osimhen from Lille.

The striker, who scored 18 goals in 38 appearances for the Ligue 1 side in the 2019-20 season, moves to Naples in a deal reported to be worth €50 million (£45m/$59m).

Osimhen had been linked with several top European clubs following his impressive goal scoring season, including Arsenal and Liverpool, however he will appear in Serie A in the 2020-21 campaign.

The 10-cap international - who has scored four goals for his country - first moved to Europe in 2017 with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, before moving to Charleroi in Belgium, initially on loan and then in a permanent transfer.

He hugely impressed in Belgium with 36 goals in 37 appearances, earning him a €14m (£12.5m/$16.5m) move to Ligue 1, where his impressive scoring form continued.

Osimhen will spearhead Napoli's attack next season, as they look to return to the Champions League having missed out this year. The Neapolitan side will finish only seventh in Serie A, although they have guaranteed qualification for the Europa League group stage by winning the Coppa Italia.

Big things are expected of the highly-rated 21-year-old, with Osimhen capable of making a similar impact at Napoli as Diego Maradona once did, according to the head of Nigerian football, Amaju Pinnick.

Pinnick told Radio Kiss Kiss last week: “I think Victor Osimhen is an excellent signing for Napoli. I’ve followed them from when they had Maradona. Naples is a proud city and also in football terms.

“Osimhen’ i a source of pride for African football. He’s someone who is disciplined but focused on objectives, and if he wants something, he knows how to get it. He made the right decision for his career. I already believe he’ll receive the right support from the club and its fans.

“Napoli are the right club for him to achieve important results, and Osimhen will always give his best. I’ll say it now: Victor will do everything possible to match and even break the records set by a legend like Maradona.

“I talked to Victor just a few minutes ago, he’s very excited about his new experience and new club. Napoli is a big name in world football. It’ll be a new challenge for him and he told me: ‘President, I’ll make Naples proud'.

“If he gets the right support, I guarantee he’ll stick to his word and make you all proud. Believe in him and he’ll help the team achieve their objectives. I’ll come to Naples next season to watch some of their games. Osimhen is young and could stay at Napoli for a long time."

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has hailed the ‘stunning’ performances of Joe Aribo during their pre-season matches.    

The midfielder found the back of the net in their victories over Motherwell and Coventry City and delivered impressive displays against Lyon and Nice.

Ahead of Rangers 2020-21 Premiership opening game against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, the Liverpool and England legend has showered encomium on the Super Eagles midfielder.

“During pre-season, we have been very considerate. Joe Aribo has been stunning,” Gerrard said in a pre-match conference.

“Defensively we have looked solid and looked threatening going forward. Brandon Barker was looking great and a real threat during these matches also.”

Aribo has been a key member of the Gers since teaming up with the side last summer after turning down a contract extension with Charlton Athletic.

The 24-year-old scored eight goals and provided eight assists in 45 appearances across all competitions during his debut season with the side.

The 2019-20 Premiership campaign was abruptly ended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus across the world with Rangers finishing as runner-up behind champions Celtic.

Aribo will hope to help the Ibrox Stadium outfit hit the ground running when they take on Aberdeen on Saturday.

The midfielder has four caps for the Super Eagles since he made his debut for the West Africans against Ukraine in a friendly in September 2019.

Aribo will be expected to play a key for Nigeria during their Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.

Manchester United are preparing to send up to four Under-23  squad members out on loan before the start of the new season.

Midfielder James Garner has attracted the interest of Championship duo Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday, with the 19-year-old having been given his first senior start against Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League in October.

He also came off the bench against Norwich City in the Premier League a few days after that game, with United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer giving him more minutes against Partizan, AZ and Astana in Europe as well as Colchester in the Carabao Cup.

However, with competition high in midfield, he hasn’t been able to retain his place in the squad following the arrival of Bruno Fernandes and with Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay having returned from injury.

Garner scored nine goals in 12 appearances for the U-23s last season and showed he is ready for a bigger challenge than Premier League Division Two. 

Another player who United are keen to send out on loan is midfielder Dylan Levitt. He impressed on his first senior appearance against Astana in November and was a regular starter for the U-23s last season, aside from illness keeping him sidelined towards the end of 2019.

The 19-year-old was on the brink of making his Wales international debut before Covid-19 forced the suspension of all football. Like Garner, Levitt is another one who has been tipped for a bright future and he too looks ready to benefit from a season on loan in the Championship.

Matej Kovar is also in the loan category. The goalkeeper has travelled with the first team but has yet to make an appearance for Solskjaer’s side. He kept five clean sheets in 11 starts in the league last season and pulled off some impressive stops during United’s run in the EFL Trophy.

With so many ahead of him in the pecking order his pathway to the first team is blocked but he could benefit from the test of a higher-calibre league.

Solskjaer remains determined to stick with his No.1 David de Gea, with Sergio Romero having struggled for game time. Lee Grant is third choice and the return of Dean Henderson, who has been on loan at Sheffield United, has yet to be factored into the equation.

Ethan Laird, meanwhile, was given his debut in the Europa League against Astana in November and has caught the eye of more than just the United manager. The right-back’s performances, where he has shown he is just as effective pushing forward as he is defensively, saw a number of clubs enquire about his loan availability last year.

He has also been training with the first team but in all likelihood would struggle to force his way into Solskjaer’s squad for next season. The defender, who has just turned 18, suffered a knee injury last year, and it’s possible he could be given more time at Old Trafford to eradicate his injury issues before being sent out on loan.

Should he be allowed to leave on loan, however, it’s likely that he would become a regular starter at an EFL club.

Teden Mengi, meanwhile, is one who will remain at the club to further continue his development, with the 18-year-old having been training with the first team since football resumed following the coronavirus pandemic,

Talks over which players would be heading out took place during lockdown between U-23 coach Neil Wood, head of first-team development Nicky Butt and a number of first-team staff. Discussions were held on what would be the most suitable clubs, managers and leagues for potential loan candidates.

"A lot of factors go into sending the individual out on loan,"  Wood told Goal .  "We sit down and discuss and decide the pathway for each player as to who will benefit from staying and who will benefit from going out on loan."

Bidvest Wits have announced that they have promoted eight youngsters including South Africa youth international Keenan Phillips.

The promising defender was part of the South Africa under-20 team also known Amajita at the 2019 Fifa U20 World Cup finals in Poland.

The Clever Boys released the following statement on Friday as they prepare for the resumption of the 2019/20 season which has been suspended since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Bidvest Wits have promoted eight players from the club’s reserves ahead of the resumption of the 2019/20 Premier Soccer League season."

"The Clever Boys will return to action for the first time in five months on the 8th of August with a Nedbank Cup semifinal clash against Mamelodi Sundowns, before kicking off a run of nine Absa Premiership fixtures in 25 days away to Kaizer Chiefs at Orlando Stadium on the 12th."

"The club’s MultiChoice Diski Challenge team enjoyed a superb campaign and were top of the standings before COVID-19 resulted in the season being called off," a club statement read.

Wits head coach Gavin Hunt has decided to strengthen his squad having already promoted Rowan Human and Solly Khunyedi during the current campaign.

"With the aim of finishing the top-flight season on a high and taking the number of fixtures in quick succession into consideration, head coach Gavin Hunt has rewarded eight academy players with a chance at first-team football."

"This takes the total number of MDC players that have been promoted to the first team up to 10 for the season. Rowan Human and Solly Khunyedi have both played for the club’s first team during the course of the current campaign," another club statement read.
 
The Clever Boys have promoted Lisakhanya Mlonyeni, Mpho Mathebula, Cuwen Prince, Kabelo Makola, Janovane September, Deon Horn, Malik Mashinini as well as Phillips.

The octet will be hoping to help the Braamfontein-based side secure a top-three finish on the PSL standings in order to qualify for next season's Caf Confederation Cup or Caf Champions League.

Wits are currently placed sixth on the league standings - two points behind third-placed SuperSport United, but the former have three games in hand.

Barcelona have made Eric Garcia their top transfer priority but Manchester City still want to tie down the Spanish defender to a new long-term contract.

The 19-year-old left Barca's La Masia academy three years ago and has since broken into Pep Guardiola's first team at City.

But with his current contract due to expire in 2022, the Catalans want to bring Garcia back to Camp Nou and see him as the long-term successor to Gerard Pique.

Garcia has established himself as a regular in Guardiola's line-up since Project Restart, starting the Premier League clash with Liverpool and FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal.

Moving ahead of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi in the pecking order, he is also expected to start the Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid.

City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain was set to sit down with the player's representatives to discuss a new deal before the Covid-19 outbreak.

According to sources in Spain, Garcia may consider his future if Guardiola decides to leave the Premier League club.

The City boss is currently in the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has so far refused to say whether he will commit to a further extension.

In July, Guardiola said that he was confident that Garcia would sign a new long-term deal but Barca remain convinced they can persuade him to return.

“I don’t have any updates. He has one more year on his contract, if Barcelona want him they must call him," Guardiola said last month.

“We are going to try convince him to stay here for many, many, many years.

“I am confident he will stay, but in the end it is his decision. He knows we want him, but it was the same with Leroy [Sane].

“We want him, but he doesn’t want to stay, we cannot do anything else.

“He knows, his agent knows, his family knows that we want him. If Barcelona want him, they have to call Txiki.”

Germany winger Sane was allowed to join Bayern Munich earlier in the summer for an initial €49m (£44.7m/$55m) when he entered the final year of his contract.

City are looking at bringing in new centre-backs this season, with Bournemouth's Nathan Ake set to join in a €44m (£40m/$52m) deal.

They could also look at bringing in another central defender, with Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly a potential target. 

Bruno Fernandes can help to make Manchester United title challengers in 2020-21, claims Dimitar Berbatov, with the Red Devils needing to “improve again” in a bid to close in on Liverpool and Manchester City.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer guided his side to a third-place Premier League finish in 2019-20, with an impressive run of form since the turn of the year – which was not disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic – seeing Champions League qualification secured.

The challenge now is to build on those foundations, with a side accustomed to challenging for major honours looking to rein in a couple of local rivals who have pulled well clear of the chasing pack.

Berbatov believes United are capable of doing that, with a few minor tweaks required in the transfer market in order for those at Old Trafford to become serious contenders for the domestic crown once more.

The former Red Devils striker told Betfair: “By default, my opinion is United should be challenging for the title, even when going through difficult periods.

“It's been a challenging few years, but the fact remains that United need to be challenging for the title. They need to improve again to challenge Man City and Liverpool next season, but they can do it.

“Every season is different and has its unique ups and downs, the teams you expect don't always end up doing well, but with United you always expect them to be title contenders, especially if they make some signings.”

United have found plenty of value in recent windows, bringing in the likes of Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes, with the addition of a Portuguese playmaker in January considered to have raised the collective standard in Manchester.

Berbatov added: “The signing of Bruno Fernandes lifted the team massively. The team's spirit changed when he came in, he has blended in really well, connecting the back four and the attack.

“To step up and show that responsibility is huge, he's been an amazing signing for them. He's important to United, but important to the players around him also.

“He's been a very pleasant surprise, because usually one player doesn't make such a difference. United need to maintain this level of consistency.”