Looking for Soccer News?

Antonio Rudiger says Chelsea have achieved their goals ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup final against Arsenal but admits that he is not satisfied with his own standards on the pitch.

The Blues secured qualification for the Champions League with a win against Wolves on July 26 following a season disrupted by the global coronavirus pandemic.

However, they conceded 54 goals throughout the Premier League season - their worst total since Roman Abramovich took control at Stamford Bridge in 2003 - and are 3-0 down on aggregate in their Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich.

"For me personally, first of all I do not want to give any excuses," Rudiger says. "It has been a tough season with everything going on. Just in the performances, there were some good games and also bad games. It has been up and down.

"Me, personally with my season, I am not that happy. But at the end of the day as a collective, we achieved our goals and this is what matters. We still have two games to go and this is what I am focused on. Everything else I will analyse myself and go on to next season.

"If I reflect on the way we had to get to this final, it was tough. The season was tough for everyone. I had injuries, the coronavirus pandemic, it was really difficult. But we are there now and we want to do everything to win that trophy."

Having undergone knee surgery in April 2019, Rudiger missed the early part of Frank Lampard’s first season as Chelsea manager and it took time for him to fight his way into the club legend’s plans.

It is clear Chelsea have issues to solve on the defensive front with Kepa Arrizabalaga, individual defenders and Lampard all copping criticism throughout the campaign.

And Rudiger admits the team need to collectively find a better balance in the upcoming games against Arsenal and Bayern.

"It is definitely something we need to work on," he added. "I think it has more to do with consistency. On our day, yes, we can beat everyone. Then when it is not our day, we can also lose against everyone. This is the balance we have to find.

"It is like life, to find the goal in the middle is difficult sometimes. It is something we have to work on. We are aware of that, I am aware of that. We still have two games for this season and we have to finish them on a high."

Rudiger can make it three trophies in three years since joining Chelsea with a win on Saturday following his £30 million ($39m) move from Roma under Antonio Conte.

As well as seeing his side run out 4-1 winners against Arsenal in the Europa League final last year, Rudiger also won the FA Cup in 2018. He was named man of the match in a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Wembley, clinching his first club silverware as a professional.

"It was my first club trophy and it was a special day, a special moment and I was really very happy," he says.

"I also liked the ceremony and everything before the game. It was huge! Wembley, full crowd, half-blue, half-red, it was just amazing and a perfect day.

"The man of the match was not so important for me because the trophy is more important and we won it after a very difficult season. We ended the season well.

"You have to always enjoy these types of moments, these types of pressures because there are a lot of footballers in the world but not everyone gets to win the trophies.

"To do it in England, in this league, is tough. So you have to enjoy every moment and, if you are there, try to grab it with both hands.

"This is what I expected when I came here to Chelsea, to play for titles. For me, I don’t see this as a small cup - a title is a title. If I am there I want to win."

The 27-year-old also praised the Premier League for supporting the 'Black Lives Matter' movement; Rudiger reported racist abuse in a game against Tottenham earlier this season but police were ultimately unable to find the evidence necessary to prosecute a criminal offence.

"The authorities who came with the idea to take a knee and put Black Lives Matter on the jerseys and everything, I have to say thanks very much for your support," he says.

"In that case, I see positives because I really hope that people care and you can see people care.

"This is an ongoing story. I believe it will never have an end. But if you see that authorities are taking actions and doing something, it makes you happy. This is who I am, I am a positive guy. I always try to look at the positive.

"But on this specific thing, racism, I am sorry but I cannot be any more positive. It is not only about me. It is about the players and other people. I want people to live free.

"Accept that some people are black, others are white, it does not matter. I really feel sorry for those people. It seems like an education issue."

Mikel Arteta is convinced Saturday’s FA Cup final will not be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s final game for Arsenal.

The Gunners skipper - who has just one year left of his contract - goes into the Wembley showpiece with speculation raging about his future.

Inter and Barcelona are believed to be keeping close tabs on his situation, with many believing Arsenal will be forced to sell their top scorer if they lose to Chelsea on Saturday and fail to qualify for Europe for the first time in 25 years.

Speaking ahead of the cup final, however, Arteta - who has always maintained his belief that the striker will decide to extend his contract - insists he is not thinking about the possibility of Saturday being Aubameyang’s final appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

“No, I don’t have those thoughts,” said the Spaniard - who also raised the possibility of the 31-year-old staying put even if he doesn’t put pen to paper on a new deal.

“Don’t forget he still has a contract here with us. We want to keep him and do it more long-term. But at the moment he is with us and I think he should be really proud of where he is as well.”

Arteta knows exactly what it’s like to lift the FA Cup for Arsenal, having won it twice during his days as a player in north London, in 2014 and 2015.

Aubameyang now has the chance to follow suit this weekend and Arteta believes the experience of winning the cup as skipper could further convince the former Dortmund star to extend his stay in north London.

“Absolutely. I think that has a strong link with everything that you want to experience as a player,” said Arsenal’s head coach.

“Winning a trophy helps to really believe and make you feel 'wow, I want more of those moments as well'.

“If you are wearing the armband and you are able to lift that cup, it is such a moment and this is going to help for sure.”

Arsenal go into Saturday’s final as underdogs, just as they were when they met Chelsea at Wembley in 2017.

They finished 10 points behind their west London rivals in the Premier League and know that beating the Blues is their only route back into the Europa League next season.

For Arteta, Saturday’s final provides him with an opportunity to win a trophy in his first season in charge at the Emirates and he is well aware of the lift a piece silverware would give to the club after what has been a difficult couple of years.

“It would be absolutely great,” he said. “We’ve worked so hard since I joined here to try to bring this club back to winning titles, so if we can achieve that I will be delighted.

“But not for myself - for the players and the club. They’ve been through some very difficult moments in the last few seasons and as well for our fans, because they really deserve some joy and nice moments.”

Harun Shakava has revealed what made him the captain of Kenyan Premier League (KPL) giants Gor Mahia in January 2018.

Shakava was given the armband after Musa Mohamed left to join KF Tirana of Albania and the defender has revealed why he was chosen over the other players.

“I joined Gor Mahia when I was just 19 years in 2014 under Bob Williamson. Patience at Gor Mahia made me captain because a number of players came and went,” Shakava told MKV TV.

“I was pushing hard and I knew my time was coming although things were tough. I played more than 300 games for Gor Mahia and maintaining fitness at that level was not a joke.

“I pushed hard despite the situation that defines the Kenyan football knowing what I wanted in the end.”

Shakava also explained how pressure has come to define the life of any player at K’Ogalo and how participation in continental matches moulded them into who they are.

“Before I was even made the captain, you have to understand that all games for Gor Mahia come with incredible pressure,” he added.

“The pressure from fans makes it even harder unlike in other teams where there is less pressure from fans.

“If you look at the level of Caf football and compare it with our local football, of course, there is a whole difference. If one plays in Caf for three or four seasons, he would develop a strong mentality in football.

“That is what made a lot of Gor Mahia players grow and that is why they played with incredible confidence when facing Kenyan rivals.”

Shakava left Gor Mahia after five years where he won the KPL titles in 2017, 2018 and in the transitional season of the 2018/19, and joined Nkana of Zambia.

He credits Gor Mahia for giving him the stage to showcase his abilities and went ahead to explain the difference between the Kenyan league and the Zambian one.

“Gor Mahia are a big team that is known well across Africa and scouts will always want to watch an outstanding performer at the club,” Shakava concluded.

“The Zambian football is above the Kenyan competition but in management, state of pitches, many teams have sponsors and enjoy a considerable number of fans but not in talent-wise.

“But when you come to Kenya and in a game for example involving Mathare United and KCB you are likely to get three or four people.

“There is also great speed involved in Zambian football more than it is in Kenya and the league is also more physical.”

Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack has revealed the exit of midfielder Bernard Omondi is a huge blow to the club ahead of the new season.

The diminutive winger joined Gor Mahia from Nzoia Sugar in 2017 but has now ditched the champions to sign for Wazito FC on a three-year contract, ahead of the new Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season.

Polack has now told Goal how his efforts to keep the player at the club bore no fruit, but wished him well in his future assignment.

“It is a huge blow to the club, losing Omondi, who was very young and ready to learn, he was one of the most disciplined players in our ranks and I can assure the fans I did all my best to have him stay but it all ended in vain,” Polack told Goal on Friday.

“I talked to him, I think on three or four occasions and asked him not to leave, I told him things will improve at the club now that we have a new sponsor but he could not listen, his mind was set, he wants to take care of his family and you know the financial situation at our club cannot guarantee him that.

“He had run down his contract and to be honest, the club was willing to extend it, we had discussed to have him stay, but he opted against renewing the deal, I can only wish him well in his next move, who knows, he might return again and play for us.”

The 24-year-old winger becomes the third player to leave K’Ogalo after young custodian Peter Odhiambo left and has been linked with a move to Wazito, and winger Dickson Ambundo was released after running down his contract.

“We can only be able to keep the players who are happy here,” Polack continued.

“I spoke to Odhiambo to stay but he asked for playing time which I cannot guarantee him here, and so that is why he left.

“For Ambundo, his contract had also run down, and both parties agreed to end the relationship, none was keen to renew the same.”

While Gor Mahia have already lost three players, they have only managed to sign keeper Levis Opiyo from promoted side Nairobi City Stars.

Kaizer Chiefs football manager Bobby Motaung has distanced the club from media reports that the management is considering sacking Ernst Middendorp at the end of the season.

While Middendorp took Amakhosi from the ninth position last season to top of the PSL standings this term, a section of the club supporters still doesn't think he's the right man for the job. 

However, Motaung said the future of the 61-year-old mentor has never been discussed by the club's hierarchy, describing the reports as a rumour.      

"Unfortunately we’ve not even had that discussion as a club," Motaung told TimesLIVE.

"So, it’s a rumour that you find and talk which is out there‚ which we don’t know of.

"So, at this moment, I don’t want to entertain the coach’s issues because there is nothing – we have never had a discussion. We have not sat down and discussed his future."

The 50-year-old administrator reiterated that Middendorp still has a contract with Amakhosi which will come to an end in June 2021.    

"The coach has a contract. He still has one more season to go and we have not even sat down to said, 'the coach must leave' or anything [like that]," Motaung continued.

"And we don’t know anything. These are just rumour and rumours. We don’t know anything. We have not had those discussions."

Calls for Chiefs to sack Middendorp grew louder in June when Bidvest Wits announced the sale of their PSL status to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila boss Masala Mulaudzi because Gavin Hunt was linked with the position currently held by the German tactician. 

Hunt previously denied being interested in replacing Middendorp at Naturena, saying it was embarrassing because he respected the fact that Chiefs had a coach. 

Middendorp, however, could find himself under immense pressure to keep his job beyond the current season should the Glamour Boys squander their lead and lose out on the league title. 

This because they have already missed out on the Telkom Knockout Cup and Nedbank Cup. 

The Soweto giants haven't won a major trophy since the departure of Stuart Baxter in 2015 but Middendorp has given them a glimmer of hope so far this term. 

Kerala Blasters' Malayali talents Sahal Abdul Samad and Rahul KP are set to extend their current deals at the club, Goal can confirm. 

Fan-favourite midfielder Sahal had signed a three-year contract last year that would have ended in 2022 but the new deal will see him tied down for three more years till 2025. Fleet-footed winger Rahul KP impressed in his debut season for the club and has managed to secure an extended deal as well. 

Sahal's popularity rose during the 2018-19 season, at the end of which he bagged the Indian Super League (ISL) and All India Football Federation (AIFF) Player of the Year awards. He has two assists and a goal in 37 ISL appearances and although the 23-year-old was not as prominent under coach Eelco Schattorie last season, he is widely considered as a hot prospect who can turn out to be one of the best midfielders in the country.

And that makes the extension deal a no-brainer for the Kochi-based club. 

Sahal is extremely highly-rated with praises coming in from all quarters including legends like Bhaichung Bhutia, IM Vijayan and more. Sahal has already made his national team debut, with Igor Stimac considering him a key part of his plans for the Blue Tigers.

It must also be noted that several ISL clubs were interested in Sahal through the summer.

20-year old winger Rahul, who played eight games for Blasters after joining from AIFF's developmental side Indian Arrows, is another one of Blasters' talented young footballers. He was part of Luis Norton's India national team that took part in the U-17 World Cup in 2017 and has since done well for Arrows in the I-League.

His pace on the ball has impressed many of his teammates including veteran forward Mohammed Rafi who had told Goal , " I have never seen a better speedster than him (Rahul KP). He is so fast. If he trains and is used well, he can be a really good player."

With key local talents tied down for a few more years, Blasters' attempt at restructuring the squad under the tutelage of sporting director Karolis Skinkys and head coach Kibu Vicuna, is on the right track. 

The reduction in the number of foreign players on the field to just four, a change the ISL is likely to adopt from the 2021-22 season, it makes sense for the Blasters to tie down their best Indian talent on longer deals.

East Bengal recently confirmed the signing of Goan coach Francisco Bruto Da Costa for the upcoming 2020-21 season.

Da Costa, who has an AFC Pro License, has the experience of working in Indian Super League (ISL) clubs NorthEast United FC (2016) and Kerala Blasters (2018-19) as an assistant coach to Portuguese manager Nelo Vingada.

The Goan had also followed Vingada to Malaysia and served as his assistant at the Malaysian national team. He is only the third Indian coach after Syed Nayeemuddin and Shyam Thapa to be associated with a foreign national team.

“The club had approached me a couple of months back to discuss in general about the club and also regarding players. Finally, on July 29, I decided to sign the contract and join the club," he told Goal.

“East Bengal is a big club. For me, it is not important whether they play in ISL or I-League. That was never the question. East Bengal has achieved a lot over the years and they have a very rich history. It was an honour and privilege to join such a club especially in their centenary year,” said Da Costa.

Managing a Kolkata club isn’t everyone’s cup of tea considering the immense pressure and expectations of the fans. But the Goan manager suggested that he thrives under pressure.

“I enjoy pressure situations and I am really looking forward to working in Kolkata. Since childhood, pressure works as a motivation for me to work even harder. So I was very happy to take up this great challenge.”

If East Bengal decides to rope in another foreigner as head coach, Francisco feels he is ready to work under him.

“If East Bengal management decides to bring a foreign coach I won’t mind,” said the young Indian coach. "My job has always been to contribute to the game and I will continue to do the best I can. My target is to make East Bengal successful.”

He went on to discuss the prospects of East Bengal playing in the ISL, though the top-tier league has indicated that they will not be extending the number of participating teams for the upcoming season.

“It is always nice to play in the top tier. There are certain things that have to be done and if everything is done, then definitely East Bengal will be in ISL. But the decision will depend on the AIFF, FSDL and the East Bengal management. I have no say in this. But it would be nice to see East Bengal play in the ISL.”

Francisco Bruto has a vast experience of working at the youth level. He had previously managed India U14, U17 and U19 teams and was also in charge of the AIFF Elite Academy for a few years.

He suggested that he has already discussed his plan regarding East Bengal’s youth system with the club and is looking forward to meeting the youth coaches.

“I would love to contribute to the youth setup of East Bengal. It will be nice if I can share my experience and knowledge with coaches in the youth system to bring success to the club. I would like to be part of it.

“I have already spoken to the club regarding the structure of the youth development programs but I have not got into details. As and when I go there I can get into more details because it is difficult to do anything from so far away.”

The Goan coach also revealed that he will travel to Kolkata to take over as East Bengal’s new coach as soon as the pandemic situation improves across the country.

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said the Bundesliga club would be happy for Jadon Sancho to stay in 2020-21 as Manchester United reportedly try to negotiate a blockbuster transfer.

Sancho has been tipped to swap Dortmund for United and the Premier League giants are nearing a deal for the England star after securing their Champions League status, according to growing speculation.

Dortmund, however, are apparently unwilling to lower their asking price for Sancho as the German side seek £109 million ($143m) from United.

Zorc addressed the rumours regarding Sancho on Thursday, saying: "Jadon is an outstanding footballer with a quota that I have never seen at this age.

"I think it would even stand up to being one of the largest in the industry if you look at its age.

"I would be happy if he would still play with us this season. And that's the current state of affairs.

"First of all we have to stick to the facts - and they are so, that we still have a contract with him until 2022."

Sancho left Manchester City for Dortmund in 2017 in pursuit of first-team football, and quickly established himself in the Bundesliga.

The 20-year-old scored 17 Bundesliga goals and supplied 16 assists in 2019-20 as Dortmund finished second behind champions Bayern Munich, while he netted 20 goals across all competitions.

Amid question marks over Sancho's future, former Manchester United forward and current Lyon captain Memphis Depay has reportedly emerged as a possible replacement for the Englishman at Dortmund.

Goal  has learned that  a formal bid for Sancho has yet to be submitted to Dortmund , with the Bundesliga outfit valuing the former Manchester City trainee at £120 million ($154m).

Woodward has warned it will not be "business as usual" in the transfer window this summer due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and sources have dismissed claims that United will spend more than £100m ($129m) on any player.

It is understood, therefore, that United are looking to negotiate an initial deal for Sancho worth around £80m ($103m), with add-ons then included to potentially increase the final fee.

Dortmund are willing to part with Sancho and have already started planning for life without the 20-year-old, but there will have to be compromise from both sides if a deal is to be agreed.

Jesse Lingard, whose future is in doubt at Old Trafford, believes the Dortmund star would be a good addition to Solskjaer’s side as they push to compete for the Premier League next season.

“Jadon is a brilliant player. It is obviously up to him," Lingard said last Thursday. “I've seen him with England, I've seen his qualities and I feel like he'd be a great addition to any team.”

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed Thiago will not sign a new contract and is expected to leave the club.

The midfielder joined the German giants from Barcelona in 2013 and has one year left on his current deal.

Thiago, 29, has recently been linked with a move to Premier League champions Liverpool, and Bayern have accepted that his departure is imminent after sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic's failed attempts to convince him to sign an extension.

"Actually, the conversations Hasan had with him were always very productive. And at some point it actually seemed that [a deal would be reached]. But then Thiago informed Hasan that he would like to do something new again, and so it is," Rummenigge told Sky Sport in Germany. 

"We will have to accept that. We have a contract that is still valid for one year and if he agrees with any club and that club should pay a transfer of a certain amount.

"I don't want to make any public comment about the amount that we have in mind. Then we will deal with it, but we will not, as I have already said, hold a summer sale. 

"I'm not angry at all, I like him. I think he's a great footballer, a fine footballer and he's a good character too. And one shouldn't forget either: At 29, he is at an age where, if he wants to do something new, he has to do it now because if you are in your 30s, it will be more difficult to make transfers."

Rummenigge expects transfer fees to drop as clubs struggle to deal with the financial consequences of the coronavirus and feels the big clubs will suffer more than smaller ones.

"I think I have a very good network with many colleagues - regardless of whether it is Real Madrid, Barcelona, ​​many English clubs, France, Italy - and I can say very clearly: Everyone groans, everyone suffers. Everyone has reduced income," he added.

"I can also say one thing: the bigger clubs have bigger revenue reductions than the smaller ones. Of course, that is in the nature of things, because of course the income is also a bit more questionable for all of us and we used to have higher income."

Neeskens Kebano scored for the second fourth game in a row as Fulham booked their place in the Championship promotion play-off final even though they lost 2-1 on Thursday night to Cardiff City but won 3-2 on aggregate.

The Cottagers took control of their destiny from the first leg after sealing a 2-0 win in the Welsh capital with Anglo-Nigerian Josh Onomah and Kebano each finding the back of the net.

The Bluebirds tried to initiate a comeback here when Curtis Nelson scored in just the eighth minute of play.

It did not take long for Fulham to respond with DR Congo international Kebano equalising a minute later by tapping in Bobby Reid’s well-worked cross on the right flank.

Lee Tomlin made it 2-1 to Cardiff just two minutes after the restart, but that would be the end of their efforts in making a return to the top-flight since the 2018-19 season when they finished 18th, two points shy of safety.

Kebano was injured at the start of the second half and was replaced by 25-year-old Franco-Mauritanian striker Aboubakar Kamara.  

The Paris Saint-Germain academy graduate’s goal was his only shot on target while he produced 35 touches, 10 accurate passes at (62.5%) and won six of 11 total duels.

Kebano has now had a hand in six goals (five goals, one assist) which began on the penultimate round of the regular season in a 5-3 win over Sheffield Wednesday before playing a 1-1 draw with relegated Wigan Athletic and then finally the first leg of the playoffs against Cardiff.

Fulham are also looking to make it to Premier League since the 2018-19 campaign when they finished 19th.

They will come up against Brentford who saw off Swansea City also by the same 3-2 aggregate scoreline in the other semi-final.

The Bees were beaten 1-0 in the first leg in South Wales courtesy of a fantastic Andre Ayew strike, but clawed their way back in their last game at Griffin Park with 3-1 win, Chelsea-linked Said Benrahma providing an assist for the second goal.

Brentford are looking to get back in England’s top tier for the first time in 74 years.

Yanga SC forward Bernard Morrison has been arrested in Tanzania for allegedly being in possession of marijuana, according to reports in the South African media.

The 27-year-old was stopped by police in Dar es Salaam when officials, in a routine check on the roadblock, allegedly found an illicit substance, as per Kick Off.

The Ghanian was taken into custody, but Goal has since learned that he was released on bail, although the ex-Orlando Pirates attacker is due to be tried for substance possession.

Morrisson was signed by disgraced former Yanga SC coach Luc Eymael at the beginning of the season, and while he struggled in South Africa, the West African settled quickly for Wanachi and became an instant hit.

His goal on March 8 against Simba SC in the Kariakoo Derby won maximum points for the Jangwani-based side, although it's not been entirely plain sailing for the attacker, who has been accused of ill-discipline on occasion. 

The latest incident was failure to report back to the camp after his team lost 4-1 against Wekundu wa Msimbazi in the FA Cup semi-final.

It was during this match when Morrison’s conduct came under scrutiny after he was substituted for Patrick Sibomana, and instead of going to the bench, the player threw a tantrum close to the technical bench and headed straight to the dressing room, where he changed and duly left the stadium.

Yanga have always insisted Morrison, who has been linked with a transfer move to Simba, has two years on his contract remaining but the player insisted he had run down his deal and was free to leave.

It is, for this reason, that Yanga information officer Hassan Bumbuli reportedly told the player to go ahead and leave if he felt he had come to the end of the deal he signed after joining from Amabhakabhaka of South Africa.

The Ghanaian forward had been in and out of the team since the top flight resumed on June 13 until its completion.  

"If people are not there perhaps they are thinking beyond the club, maybe their mind is not at the club and what can we do?" Eymael asked Goal in an earlier interview. "We have to live with that and work with those players who are ready to play.

"The issue with Morrison is now a complicated one; I don’t know his whereabouts the same as the players who have shown up for training since the derby, I can only let the management do their work and give us the way forward."

The 27-time champions have not yet commented on the issue.

Bayern Munich are optimistic they will reach an agreement over a contract extension for David Alaba and that he will ultimately stay with the club for the rest of his career, according to chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Alaba, 28, joined Bayern's academy in 2008 and has since gone on to enjoy a glorious association with Die Roten's senior side, winning a total of nine Bundesliga titles.

Ever since his breakthrough campaign in 2011-12, when he made 30 league appearances, Alaba has rarely struggled to hold down a place in the side.

The recently concluded 2019-20 campaign posed an entirely different challenge, as a defensive injury crisis led to the Austria star featuring as a centre-back.

He took to the task with aplomb, allowing teenage sensation Alphonso Davies to shine at full-back.

But Alaba has just a year left on his contract and is reportedly admired by the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Barcelona.

While Thiago Alcantara appears unlikely to renew with Bayern, Rummenigge remains relaxed about reaching an agreement with Alaba, whom he compared to club icon Franz Beckenbauer.

"First of all, I have to say about David that he had a great season," Rummenigge told Sky Germany.

"It was born out of necessity that he had to play at centre-back because we had several injuries, and then Hansi [Flick, Bayern coach] put him in this position.

"He did it with flying colours. We haven't had a 'chief' in defence for some time now, one who really takes the reins in hand and sets the tone there and simply acts as the head of the defensive unit - he did that.

"This has been seen especially in these coronavirus times. In these empty stadiums, his instructions showed how well he organised it at the back. Even with his style of play he is a very, very important player for us, we don't need to talk about that.

"I am nevertheless optimistic that at the end of the day we will find a solution that David will even end his career here.

"I have always said that, for me, David is actually something like Franz Beckenbauer. He is the first player to play again at this level like Franz back then.

"I think David knows what he has at Bayern, and we know what we have in David."

The Covid-19 pandemic severely disrupted the 2019-20 football calendar, pausing all play for three months, but with matches having returned and most European leagues seeing out their seasons, this also means the return of the summer transfer window.

Originally, the 2020-21 summer window was supposed to begin on June 10, closing on September 1. Due to Covid-19, however, it was forced to open on July 27, a day after the end of the Premier League season and it will end on October 5, 2020.

Goal is on hand to bring you all the comings and goings across the Premier League through the season.

Jump to...

Arsenal

Arsenal summer signings:

Arsenal summer departures:

Arsenal contracts expiring:

Aston Villa summer signings:

Aston Villa summer departures:

Aston Villa contracts expiring:

Return to top

Brighton summer signings:

Brighton summer departures:

Brighton contracts expiring:

Burnley summer signings:

Burnley summer departures:

Burnley contracts expiring:

Chelsea summer signings:

Chelsea summer departures:

Chelsea contracts expiring:

Crystal Palace summer signings:

Crystal Palace summer departures:

Crystal Palace contracts expiring:

Everton summer signings:

Everton summer departures:

Everton contracts expiring:

Leeds

Leeds summer signings:

Leeds summer departures:

Leeds contracts expiring:

Leicester City summer signings:

Leicester City summer departures:

Leicester City contracts expiring:

Liverpool summer signings:

Liverpool summer departures:

Liverpool contracts expiring:

Man City

Manchester City summer signings:

Manchester City summer departures:

Manchester City contracts expiring:

Manchester United summer signings:

Manchester United summer departures:

Manchester United contracts expiring:

Newcastle United summer signings:

Newcastle United summer departures:

Newcastle United contracts expiring:

Sheffield United summer signings:

Sheffield United summer departures:

Sheffield United contracts expiring:

Southampton summer signings:

Southampton summer departures:

Southampton contracts expiring:

Tottenham summer signings:

Tottenham summer departures:

Tottenham contracts expiring:

West Brom summer signings:

West Brom summer departures:

West Brom contracts expiring:

West Ham

West Ham summer signings:

West Ham summer departures:

West Ham contracts expiring:

Wolves

Wolves summer signings:

Wolves summer departures:

Wolves contracts expiring:

When the full-time whistle went to signal the end of Arsenal’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, a roar could be heard echoing around an empty Wembley Stadium.

It came from Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez, who had dropped to the turf in his penalty area and put his hands over his face.

While his team-mates celebrated in the centre circle, Martinez briefly lay there on his own, overcome by emotion, thoughts of his family flashing through his mind, as well as the decade long journey he had been on to get that point.

“I was emotional,” said the Argentine keeper. “Not because we beat City, but more because of how much I have been fighting to play in a final with the club I love.

“I was delighted, for what I have been through. Obviously you have to deal with frustration and lack of game-time, but I always believed that I could do it, and I had done it - but I still think that’s not enough. Obviously you need to beat Chelsea to complete what you have been fighting for. I have been fighting 10 years to win trophies, not just to reach a final.”

Martinez’s road to the FA Cup final has been a long one. He was spotted by Arsenal while playing for Argentina U17s and after he impressed during a trial, a £1.1 million ($1.5m) deal was swiftly wrapped up with Independiente to bring him to England.

He was just 16 at the time and the prospect of leaving his family behind was a daunting one, but it was a decision he felt he had to make, not just for himself, but for the loved ones he was leaving behind.

“I was scared,” Martinez recalled. “When I was on the plane, I said to my agent, 'I am only going to trial and see what happens. I am not going to stay.'

“In my mind, there was no way I was going to leave my family. It was not a poor, poor background but my family struggled a lot in financial terms.

“I arrived back in Argentina and a week after I had the offer from Arsenal. They called my agent and my family and I thought it was all about signing a new contract for my club in Argentina because they wanted to offer me one at the time, but it was actually to sign for Arsenal.

“I saw my brother and mum cry, saying, 'Please don't go', but I had also seen my dad crying late at night because he could not pay the bills. So I had to be brave at the time, because I said “yes” for them. Now I don't regret anything. I have a wife and a kid here and I have a future in London.”

Whether that future is with Arsenal remains to be seen. That will decided after Saturday, but for now Martinez’s focus is purely on beating Chelsea and getting his hands on the FA Cup.

“As a club we have won it 13 times and to win it again is something the club needs, especially with what we have been through this season,” he said. “We have changed managers like we have never done before since I have been here.

“We had problems with fans and players like we never had before. It has been a tricky season so for the fans and the club to win a trophy, after Covid-19 and everything, it’s something that the fans will be really excited to see. We have to give them something and we know that. We are more than ready for the final.”

Saturday’s Wembley showpiece will be Martinez’s 12th successive appearance for Arsenal, his best run since arriving at the club more than a decade ago. It will also be his 23rd of the season in all competitions.

He has seized his opportunity since stepping into the void left by the injured Bernd Leno, and even though the German is back in full training once again, it will be Martinez who keeps his place this weekend - something Mikel Arteta confirmed immediately after last Sunday’s 3-2 win against Watford.

It’s an example of hard work paying off. Martinez has never doubted himself. He’s had loan spells at Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Wolves, Getafe and Reading, but through them all he’s maintained belief that one day he would make the grade in north London.

Before he left Argentina he made a promise to his father, Alberto, that he would become Arsenal’s No.1 and it’s a promise he’s been determined to keep.

“Talent is not enough,” he said. “It’s a mental game. You have to deal with frustration when you don’t play, you have to deal with the pressure. There are no excuses.

“A second-choice goalkeeper can sometimes say ‘oh it’s a lack of games, it’s different when you train compared to when you play’ but there is no excuse if you do everything right.

“My wife was saying to me in lockdown: ‘why do you train so much?’ Because I thought I might have my chance, I might do it, and look, I have it. After two games I was already fitter than when I left.

“So when Bernd got injured at Brighton, if you see straight after that I had to make a lot of saves, and I made it look easy because I was confident I had done the right thing to prepare for each game. I don’t do week in, week out. I do it day by day. That is why it drives me forward.”

Martinez’s form since stepping in for Leno has certainly given Mikel Arteta food for thought this summer.

The German had cemented his place as No.1 with his performances prior to his injury against Brighton, something highlighted by the fact he joins Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka in the running for Arsenal’s player of the year award.

However Martinez has ensured he hasn’t been missed and there are some who now believe that he should keep his place when the 2020-21 campaign gets underway on September 12.

So what does he think? Having enjoyed such an exceptional run in the side, can he see himself dropping back to the bench after Saturday’s final?

“I don’t think anyone wants to be a second goalkeeper,” he said. “Especially if you believe so much in yourself. I never accepted that I am a backup keeper. People say ‘oh you are the backup’ and it hurts your feelings. You work to be the No. 1, that’s me.”

Martinez added: “I am not thinking about next season. We have got a final.

“My agent called me the other day and said ‘how do you feel, what do you think about next season?’. I said I don’t want to talk about next season. I have a contract with Arsenal. I need to play in the final and have my mind clear.

“Whatever happens in the final and next season, it happens. It’s football. I can go anywhere but I have two years contract left in my Arsenal career. Let me win that trophy and ask the question again.”

Arteta’s arrival in December has been huge for Martinez. He got on well with Unai Emery and former goalkeeping coach Javi Garcia, but Martinez was a team-mate of Arteta during the Spaniard’s playing days at Arsenal and the pair were close.

Back then, he knew his friend would go on to become a top coach, but even he has been surprised at the impact he has made since replacing Emery just before Christmas.

“I remember when he was a player he would talk a lot with Arsene Wenger, asking about tactics,” said Martinez. “We always knew Mikel would be a top manager but we never knew how good he was going to be and it's incredible.

“He always gives us a game plan. What we did against City is what we practiced in training. So we start to realise that we need to trust more in the training sessions because it happens in games.

“We all know how good he is. So I don't think anyone would want to leave. Why would you leave when you know something good's going to happen?

“We obviously didn't finish the Premier League season how we wanted but we are in a final and if we can win it we are in Europe, and many players would think "OK, in Europe, with Arteta, with a year of work, we can reach good things here". So I think he can be a real influence in signing some players to stay, even Auba.

“Obviously I don't know what he's thinking but he knows he's got someone leading a team that is going to be competitive next season.”

For Martinez, however, next season feels a long way away. All he cares about right now is Wembley, winning the FA Cup and making his family proud.

Unfortunately his father, mother and brother will have to watch from back in Argentina due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the lockdown in his homeland meaning they won’t even be able to watch the match together in the same house.

Martinez will be thinking of them all this weekend: “I remember the day me and my brother ate and my mum and dad did not,” he said. “I know what they did for me to reach the top.”

Reaching the top may have felt a long way off at points during the past decade, but when Martinez strides out at Wembley on Saturday, that's exactly where he will be.

Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka revealed he was "very, very close" to leaving the club in January and has thanked head coach Mikel Arteta for giving him a second chance.

Xhaka looked set for the exit after he was stripped of the captaincy in November for reacting angrily to supporters who jeered him when he was substituted during a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace the previous month.

The 27-year-old was also dropped from the squad for five matches, but he won back his place and, eight months on, is a regular member of the starting line-up again.

Arteta last week praised Xhaka for winning over the fanbase with his displays on the field, but the former Borussia Monchengladbach star admitted he seriously contemplated leaving.

"Everyone knows what happened with me and the fans - or the fans with me. It was not a good time. It was not a nice time," he told BT Sport.

"But maybe it was the key because I came back stronger than ever, so I learned a lot from this situation. I hope the fans have too.

"I was always saying to myself, but to the fans too, I am a guy that will go 100 per cent each game. The people start to understand me more and more now again.

"I have to be honest, I'm very honest with everyone. I was very, very close to leaving the club. I had, until this moment, had a great, great time in this football club.

"But after this, I was of course a bit down because I did not expect that from the people, from the fans.

"It was never in my mind to leave the club before, but after this happened, of course you think about it."

Switzerland international Xhaka has credited Arteta, who succeeded Unai Emery a little under two months after the incident, for turning around his career in north London.

"When Mikel arrived, I had a very good meeting with him, very good conversations," he said.

"Mikel was the guy. He turned me around and gave me a second chance, and he showed me he trusted me and I have tried to give him everything back."

Arsenal take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday with Arteta seeking his first piece of silverware in management.

And after picking up victories over the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool in the past few weeks, Xhaka has praised the Spaniard for improving the team's fortunes.

"Since Mikel came to this club a lot of things have changed," he said. "He has changed the mentality, the spirit, not only for us players, but in the group.

"Everyone knows exactly what their job is. We have a clear gameplan.

"He prepared us really well against a lot of good teams and yeah, at the moment, it's like we are back with happiness. Coming to training with happiness, we do amazing work."

AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer has shared how his teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic strives for perfection, and joked that the Sweden legend could kill someone who doesn’t pass to him.

The veteran Swede scored a brace and provided an assist in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over Sampdoria at the Luigi Ferraris to take his tally since re-joining the Rossoneri in January to nine goals and five assists in 17 appearances.

He was previously with Milan between 2010 and 2012, scoring 56 goals in 85 appearances, winning the Serie A and Italian Super Cup in 2011.

“He helps you a lot,” Bennacer told Sky Sport Italia. “With him there, you want to do more, you don’t want to lose a ball.

"You must give your best because he is looking for perfection, and if you don’t give it, he’ll kill you.

“He’s like that, but he’s right. It’s right to scream when you make a mistake and not say anything when you do well.

“That’s how you learn and become a player at the highest level.”

Ibrahimovic has also shown he is still agile at 38, having completed the entire 90 minutes on 10 occasions and coming off the bench only twice.

The forward has likened himself to Benjamin Button, a character in a 2008 Hollywood movie who reverses in age and becomes younger over time rather than older.

"People tell me I'm old and tired but I'm just getting warmed up. I'm like Benjamin Button, except I've always been young, never old,” Ibrahimovic previously told Milan TV.

Wednesday’s victory also means Milan are guaranteed to finish in sixth place heading into the final against Cagliari on Saturday and will thus participate in the Europa League next season.

Bennacer is hoping the Rossoneri will be able to do better in the coming season and make it into the Champions League

"We are in Europe and it is nice, maybe they are among the protagonists of this year but I have not done anything in particular,” Bennacer said. “We will try to go to the Champions League next year and to get higher in the standings.

"This year I had a lot of fun with this team.”

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations winner has played 30 times in the Serie A for Milan this season, scoring his first goal in a 5-1 win over Bologna.

The Lombardy giants have remained unbeaten since the restart of league fixtures, winning eight games and drawing three.

Orlando Pirates legend Edward Motale believes his former club will perform well at Ellis Park Stadium when the 2019/20 campaign resumes next month.

The Buccaneers were drawn to play their home games at the 2010 Fifa World Cup venue as one of the Biological Safe Environment (BSE) venues for the remainder of the season.

Bucs have made their traditional home ground Orlando Stadium a fortress in recent times, as they are undefeated at the venue in the PSL this season having recorded seven wins and three draws.

Meanwhile, Pirates' arch-rival Kaizer Chiefs will play their home games at Orlando Stadium in the BSE, and Motale reckons Bucs will not miss the Mecca of South African football.

“It doesn’t matter where Pirates play, even if they were to play in Cape Town, it still wouldn’t make a difference,” Motale told The Citizen. “I understand that players have not played in a long time, but they were given proper training programs to follow at home, so, they should be able to play to their best ability."

However, the former Dynamos FC defender also believes that the pace of play might be a little slow when the season restarts.

“In saying that, I think the games might be a bit slow," he added. "We might not get entertained as much as we want, but the level of competition should be high.”

Motale believes that the most disciplined teams with strict coaches will perform well when the campaign resumes.

“I call the last few games the battle of the disciplined because everyone was training at home," he added, "but at the end of the day, it’s all up to the coach, how he was monitoring his players while they were training at home.

"That is very important.”

Motale's former club, Pirates will be looking to return to winning ways when they take on the Mamelodi Sundowns in their first league match when the season restarts on August 11.

Bucs are winless in their last two matches, having lost to Chiefs, before drawing with Lamontville Golden Arrows ahead of the league's suspension.

Spanish Reto Iberdrola outfit Racing Santander have completed the signing of Ghana striker Princella Adubea for the 2020-21 season.

The Cantabria-based outfit secured the Black Queens striker as a free agent after she parted ways with Spanish Primera Iberdrola side Sporting Huelva following the expiration of her contract.

She enjoyed an impressive spell with Sporting, featuring in 21 matches and scoring once, against Madrid CFF, before the Spanish league cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic in May. 

Thursday's announcement will make the Ghanaian the second African on the books of the club, after Equatorial Guinea's Oluwatobiloba Olarenwaju contract extension two days ago.

She also becomes the seventh acquisition of Cristian Toro's team after Emily Burns, Mo Reira, Elexa Bahr, Gloria Illamayor, Irantzu Ibarrola, and Diana Farias ahead of the new league campaign.

Despite escaping relegation thanks to the league's cancellation, Racing are bolstering their ranks to avoid another disastrous outing, having finished bottom with 33 points from 42 games last season.

The striker helped Ghana to qualify for their fifth U-20 Women's World Cup in 2018, and finished as joint top scorer with 10 goals.

She starred for Ampem Darkoa in Ghana, where she won the Premier League and FA Cup golden boot three times, scoring 38 goals in the two seasons before her 11-month injury layoff in 2018, and was also part of the Black Queens squad that finished as runners up at the 2020 Turkish Women's Cup held in March.

Since arriving in Santander, she has started training with Racing and will be aiming to help her new side to top flight promotion this term.