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Arsenal hope to conclude a deal with Norwegian winger George Lewis soon after Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea.

As revealed by Goal in May, the 20-year-old has been in talks over a move to north London having impressed during a two-week trial in March.

Lewis, who was born in Rwanda, is a free agent having spent the past few years playing in the lower leagues of Norwegian football.

He started his career in the youth ranks of Tromso IL before moving to third-tier side Tromsdalen in 2017 - where he signed his first professional contract.

A brief move to Fram Larvik, who also play in Norway’s third tier, followed in 2019, before he took a break in a bid to try and earn himself a move to Europe.

Lewis spent time with Ipswich and Bournemouth before being invited for an initial one-week trial at Arsenal. Having impressed with his versatility in attacking areas, he was kept on for a further seven days and the Gunners have since been pursuing a permanent deal for the winger.

There have been suggestions that the move has now been finalised, with Lewis - who has been described as "outstanding but raw" by a former coach - posting a picture on social media of himself in London within the past fortnight.

But Goal has been told that is not the case and that there are still some details to be ironed out, with the club waiting on the outcome of Saturday’s FA Cup final before making firm decisions on any potential transfers.

Lewis is still in London, however, and sources close to the deal are confident it will go ahead, with the young attacker due to link up with Steve Bould’s Under-23s squad once the paperwork has been finalised.

He is right-footed and his favoured position is on the right side of the attack, but he can play across the frontline and is comfortable coming inside off the left wing.

“He’s very quick and direct,” Jonathan Hill, Lewis’ former coach at Tromsdalen, told Goal.

“He likes a stepover and has a range of tricks. He can beat a player - whether he can beat a Premier League full-back is a different thing.

“I gave him his professional contract so I thought he had something because he’s got good pace, but he needs to improve his decision making and I’m sure that will improve working with players of Arsenal’s standard.

“I really wish him well. He’s a really nice guy and this could be the thing that gets him going.”

Paulo Dybala says Juventus are “already thinking about a 10th” successive Serie A title, but the battle for a Champions League crown is about to provide a welcome distraction for Maurizio Sarri’s side.

The Bianconeri have maintained their dominance of the Italian top-flight in 2019-20.

Juve did suffer the odd wobble when getting back to within touching distance of a crown they have held since 2011-12, but got over the line with two games to spare.

The intention of all of those in Turin is to return even stronger next season, with plans in the process of being drawn up that will allow a squad which already includes the likes of Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo to become even stronger.

There is, however, the small matter of European glory to settle before the current campaign comes to a close.

Juve trail Lyon 1-0 in the last 16 of that competition, but will take in the second leg of that contest on August 7.

Dybala is not expected to play any part in a meeting with Ligue 1 opposition, having picked up a thigh injury, but he is determined to help the Bianconeri capture a first continental title in 24 years.

“It can be hard to maintain concentration and ambition, but every victory is special,” the Argentina international told The Guardian.

“I think that’s the most important thing. I like to win, my team-mates like to win, and the club likes to win, and it’s that desire that makes us winners – but of course, it helps that we have the strongest players in the world in every position.

“We’re proud of ourselves, to win nine titles in a row is incredible, and we’re already thinking about a 10th.

“First though we need to turn our attention to the Champions League.

“It’s been such a long season already. The first game against Lyon was five months ago and so many things have happened in between, but we know what we can still achieve.

“It’ll be strange to play in the Champions League without fans, and to play just one tie in each round, but first we have to win in Turin. For now, that’s all that matters.”

While events on the field remain Dybala’s main focus, the South American is also looking to make important contributions off it.

The 26-year-old forms part of Juan Mata’s ‘Common Goal’ initiative and is aware of the need to put his public profile to good use.

Dybala said: “Sometimes I look at society and I see things that I would like to change. It sounds ridiculous, but I would love to be able to change the world in just a small way.

“The truth is that football is a powerful weapon. For whatever reason, the things we say are heard around the world, and lots of people pay more attention to footballers than they do to presidents and prime ministers and important politicians.

“I think we have to use the power we are given to send positive messages, and to be strong role models.

“I believe that if everyone in football came together we could give so much and achieve so much, to help people in need and to fulfil the ambitions of so many children.”

Gor Mahia head coach Steven Polack has confirmed Boniface Omondi has left for Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Wazito FC.

The former Nzoia Sugar winger was a regular starter in Polack’s first season in charge and his departure means the duo will now serve opposing sides in the 2020/21 season.

The former Asante Kotoko tactician said he tried to convince Omondi to stay but he was not successful at all in his attempts.

“I talked to the boy [Boniface Omondi] and told him personally that I wanted him in the team. But it seems his mind was fixed and I understand him because he has a family to take care of and wants a team that pays salaries,” Polack told Goal.

“His contract had already run down anyway and his mind was fixed elsewhere, he wanted to play in a team where he can get paid.

“You know the situation at Gor Mahia is not good financially, I tried to convince him to stay but he told me he has to go.

“I wish him well for the future.”

Omondi is the second player to leave Gor Mahia after goalkeeper Fredrick Odhiambo parted ways with the record KPL champions by mutual consent in July.

Gor Mahia have already signed goalkeeper Levis Opiyo whose contract had ended with the declared National Super League (NSL) champions Nairobi City Stars.

The Green Army are expected to face an intense battle to keep most of their key players as the likes Kenneth Muguna is expected to attract a lot of interests too. The captain had also signalled his readiness to leave.

Charles Momanyi and his centre-back partner Joash Onyango have already been linked with KCB as their contracts are set to end soon.

Omondi has joined Wazito who have already confirmed the departure of 12 players.

Augustine Otu, Piscas Kirenge, Issifou Bourahana, Paul Acquah, Victor Ndinya, Teddy Osok, Derrick Otanga, Lloyd Wahome, Paul Kiongera and goalkeepers Steve Njung’e and Kevin Omondi were the players released.

Wazito president Ricardo Badoer recently said the club will sign young players who are eager to help the team and that they will not go for established names as they did in the 2019/20 transfer window.

They have not yet confirmed any new signings although reports indicate they have already agreed to sign three players from Western Stima.

Olivier Giroud has acknowledged that Timo Werner "hasn’t been recruited to sit on the bench", but he is embracing the extra competition for places at Chelsea instead of becoming downbeat.

Chelsea announced the £47.5 million ($59m) signing of Werner from RB Leipzig on June 18, as they won the race for his services ahead of a whole host of top European clubs.

The Germany international committed to a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge, and will be expected to slot straight into Frank Lampard's starting line up next season.

Chelsea are hoping that a man who scored an impressive 95 goals in 159 appearances for Leipzig can transfer that prolific form to the Premier League, but his arrival could see Giroud and Tammy Abraham forced into the background.

Abraham finished the season as Chelsea's top Premier League scorer with 15 goals, while Giroud has scored seven in all competitions since the resumption of the season in June.

The former was Lampard's first-choice frontman before the coronavirus outbreak stopped play in March, but the Frenchman has led the line over the past two months to help the Blues secure a top-four finish and a place in the FA Cup final.

Although Giroud is aware that regular minutes will be harder to come by after Werner's arrival, he is confident that he will remain a good option for Lampard due to his ability to hold the ball up in the final third.

The 33-year-old told L'Equipe: "When the teams play a defensive way against us, it’s not bad to have a tall striker like me that can make the link. But I am not naive.

"Werner hasn’t been recruited to sit on the bench. But I will do everything I can to give headaches to the coach when it comes to making his choice."

Giroud went on to insist that he expected Chelsea to bring in a player of Werner's calibre, and that he is ready to challenge the German for a coveted role in the team. 

"Werner’s transfer is an additional motivation and it was inevitable that the club recruits a striker," said the France international. "Chelsea is a great club, that spends money to strengthen the squad, and I was expecting someone to come."

Giroud added on the possibility of extending his stay in west London beyond 2021: "I still have a year of contract here. If I stay here afterwards, that’s fine. Otherwise, it will be another challenge.

"But I can still play in a good league for two years. I don’t set any limits."

Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Sthembiso Ngcobo says playing at Orlando Stadium used by bitter rivals, Orlando Pirates, will not affect the Premier Soccer League (PSL) log leaders.

The Soweto-based stadium has been chosen as Amakhosi’s home ground when the 2019/20 PSL season gets underway next month.

Gauteng clubs were not given their normal home grounds to avoid having an advantage over their PSL counterparts from other provinces.

‘Mapholoba’ also believes coach Ernst Middendorp’s troops have to ensure they lift a trophy and avoid being seen as a generation that has failed to bring silverware at Naturena.

“I don’t see it as a disadvantage at all. In fact, I think it is a good thing for them. Imagine them taking photos inside that change room after they have won the league,” Ngcobo told Phakaaathi.

“The players will want to have that memory so this should push them to work even harder to get the league.”

The former Free State Stars, AmaZulu and Bidvest Wits hitman has urged the current generation to focus on their own race and not look at the reigning PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who are four points behind but with a game in hand.

“It is uncommon for the club to be without a trophy for so long and the players know that it will forever reflect badly on their generation if they don’t win anything,” he added.

“They have a serious chance this time around and they must not let it slip.

"I know Sundowns are more experienced but if they focus on their own race, they can do it.”

Meanwhile, Amakhosi have 48 points at the summit after playing 22 matches compared to 21 matches for coach Pitso Mosimanes’ troops when the season was halted in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Soweto giants are set to face Gavin Hunt’s Clever Boys in the league on two occasions as they look to end the trophy drought they have endured since the 2014/15 campaign.

Chiefs will host Wits, Stellenbosch, the Brazilians as well as Chippa United at Orlando Stadium but the Chilli Boys were also allocated Orlando Stadium as their home venue.

With Sundowns set to face Wits in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals next weekend, their league match against the Buccaneers will be staged at Dobsonville Stadium, a home ground they share with Highlands Park for the remainder of the season.

Mesut Ozil's agent says there is a "90 per cent chance" that he will leave Arsenal in 2021, but has ruled out the possibility of the German midfielder being sold this summer.

Ozil was frozen out of Arsenal's squad by Unai Emery in the first half of the season, but found himself swiftly restored to the starting XI under his successor Mikel Arteta, who took the top job at Emirates Stadium in December.

Unfortunately, the coronavirus outbreak disrupted the 31-year-old's progress, and Arteta decided to shuffle his pack following the three-month lockdown.

Ozil has not featured in any of Arsenal's 12 fixtures since last month's Premier League restart, with his future at the Emirates once again being called into question now that the transfer market is open for business.

Arteta has insisted that a mercurial performer has been left out for purely tactical reasons, and that there is a still a place at the club for a player of his quality.

Despite the Spaniard's endorsement, Arsenal have been tipped to cash in on man currently earning a reported £350,000 per-week in wages, amid rumours of interest from Fenerbahce and a number of clubs in MLS.

Ozil's current contract is not due to expire until next year, and the Gunners have offered little indication that they will be prepared to extend his stay in north London.

However, Erkut Sogut does not believe his client will be making his way through the Emirates exits prematurely, as he told Turkish publication Fanatik: “I do not think there will be a change in the case of Mesut Ozil until the summer of 2021.

“He has a contract. There is no change. He will remain in Arsenal.”

Sogut went on to admit that there is little chance of Ozil remaining at Arsenal beyond 2021, while citing a number of possible next destinations for the playmaker.

The Arsenal outcast's agent added: “90 per cent [he] will leave Arsenal in 2021. Mesut to Asia, America or Turkey? Yes, maybe.”

Ozil has racked up 254 appearances for the Gunners since joining the club from Real Madrid in 2013, scoring 44 goals and laying on 77 assists.

The former Germany international has also picked up three FA Cup winners' medals during that time, but is unlikely to feature when Arsenal attempt to win the trophy again in a final meeting with Chelsea at Wembley this weekend.

It’s never an easy task trying to second-guess a Pep Guardiola team, owing to the Manchester City manager’s propensity to spring the odd surprise in his selection from time to time.

This was a source of frustration for fantasy managers intermittently during the concluded season as, upon selecting Raheem Sterling, chasing his best goal return in the Premier League, or Kevin De Bruyne, desperate to supplant Thierry Henry’s assist record (he equalled it on the final day) in their fantasy teams were then left exasperated by the City trainer’s rotation.

Even though the aforementioned point feels like a deviation from the argument at hand, it is an indicator of just how unpredictable the former Barcelona boss can be with his starting picks. Still, regardless of how unsure the casual observer can be, assumptions can be drawn from whoever Pep selects from the off.

It is for this reason Riyad Mahrez, one of City’s top performers in 2019/20 ought to be worried for his place when the Manchester outfit host the 13-time European champions Real Madrid in the second-leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep largely rotated his side following their domestic restart in June, wisely giving every member of the squad minutes on the pitch, enough game time to stay match fit whilst resting them strategically to avoid burnout in the process. It worked to an extent as the Citizens finished top of the post-lockdown Prem table with eight wins from 10 after the restart, scoring a staggering 34 times and conceding just four.

Mahrez, for his part, scored four times and set up one in the last six weeks despite Pep’s tendency to tweak his XI, but there was a feeling the Algeria winger would be called on for the really important games of their season.

He featured from the start in their comfortable 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final success over Newcastle United and having been retained for the semi-final defeat by Arsenal, both line-ups gave an insight into what the City boss considered his best team for the important games.

The only changes at Wembley saw Ederson, the club’s number one, replace Claudio Bravo, while Eric Garcia, an injury returnee, replaced the unreliable Nicolas Otamendi at the back. The Brazil goalkeeper was always going to feature against Real at the Etihad, so the one outfield change reflected the consistency of Pep’s thinking for crunch games.

However, since that 2-0 defeat by Arsenal, Mahrez has been left out from the XI against Watford and on the final day at home to Norwich City.

In isolation, this may be ignored and brushed off as the Barca legend tinkering with his side as usual, yet, two of the players excluded against the relegated teams have been conspicuous.

The Algeria attacker, after underperforming against Mikel Arteta’s side and previously in the Newcastle fixture, didn’t start at Vicarage Road or in their last match of the season on Sunday and was replaced by the precociously talented Phil Foden in both games. Perhaps an even more noticeable absentee was Benjamin Mendy, whose tendency to blow hot and cold has been a source of frustration for Cityzens since 2017 and especially this season.

Interestingly, Guardiola didn’t turn to Oleksandr Zinchenko, whose form has been sketchy as well, rather opting for Joao Cancelo in their last two fixtures.

Indeed, the decision to leave out Mahrez and Mendy since the Arsenal loss has been magnified by the little rotation that’s taken place in other areas of the pitch.

While it would be unfair to wholly blame the FA Cup loss on both players when the team generally performed poorly, the North African was particularly sterile in possession at the Home of Football and the Frenchman’s failure to step up with the rest of the defenders meant Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was played onside for the Gunners’ second goal.

The left-back also allowed Nicolas Pepe cut in on his stronger foot to cross for the Gabon star’s opener, so the choice to drop two of the side’s major under-performers since that defeat has been seismic.

Putting trust in the ever-improving Foden at Mahrez’s expense and not resorting to the off-form Zinchenko has equally been notable especially with Zinedine Zidane’s side on the horizon.

Whether those changes provide the perfect insight into Guardiola’s thinking before they play Los Blancos or whether the move to utilise the young Englishman and Portuguese full-back out of position was done to jolt a reaction out of the African champion and world champion remains to be seen.

For Mahrez, his impact in the first meeting at Santiago Bernabeu was crucial to securing a huge 2-1 advantage, while his ability to pull a rabbit out of the hat will be important to claim the club’s Holy Grail and end Guardiola’s nine-year wait for another UCL win.

The coach will know this, too, and he’ll hope his maverick Algerian can return to his best as Man City chase European success after their domestic failures this season.

Uganda national team assistant coach Abdalla Mubiru is confident Fahad Bayo made the right call to join Ashdod FC and will succeed at the club.

The Uganda international joined the Israeli side after he scored 12 goals for eventual champions Vipers SC after joining them from Buildcon FC in 2019.

Mubiru hopes Bayo’s high school teammate Timothy Awany will help him settle fast at Ashdod. Mubiru, Bayo and Awany worked together at Kibuli SS from Homeland College in Lugazi and later on went to win a National Schools crown.

“If he is to progress further in his career then this is the right age and time,” Mubiru said of Bayo’s move in an interview with Daily Monitor.

“He played alongside [Timothy] Awany and was one of those that helped Allan Okello settle into our high school team.

“There comes a time when a player establishes himself in this case like Bayo has done as a centre forward. He makes life difficult for the opposition with his movement with or without the ball.”

Meanwhile, Vipers striker Muhammad Shaban has promised fans better performances when the 2020/21 season begins.

Shaban has been injured since April 2019 as the club went ahead to win the UPL title after 24 matches.

“The fans should forget the old me,” Shaban told the club’s website.

“There is a different Shaban coming, a better one who will play with more purpose and drive. I have kept them waiting because of injury but I am going entertain them.

“I promise to do my best for both club and country if I am recalled again, InshAllah [God willing].”

The 22-year-old is confident signing for Vipers will ensure he will rejoin the national team.

“Yes, yes because I am working tirelessly to see that I come back as a different player, not the previous one,” he added.

“I want to hit the ground running and get more playing time as soon as the 2020/21 football season kicks off.”

Shaban also explained how he felt when he missed the chance to represent Uganda in the African Cup of Nations in 2019 despite being a member of the 2017 squad.

“Every player dreams to don the national stripe and play for their birth countries and for me it was the injury that ruled me out,” the forward concluded.

“Though I was very happy watching the boys playing good football and we deserved to go further than the Round of 16.” 

Shaban has played for Onduparaka FC, KCCA FC and Raja Casablanca before.

Liverpool have become so successful because “nine signings out of 10 have been bang on”, says Stan Collymore, with Jurgen Klopp implementing a “special brand” of football at Anfield.

Long-term vision has been shown by those on Merseyside since appointing a German coach in October 2015.

Champions League and Premier League trophies were always the ultimate goal, but there was an acceptance that it was going to take a lot of hard work on and off the field in order to hit those targets.

Klopp has now delivered on his remit, with major silverware collected on a regular basis of late, with a star-studded squad taking up a position at the top of domestic, continental and global games.

Shrewd investment has carried the Reds to this point, with considerable value found in deals for the likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson.

Collymore believes those dealings should be recognised, with the Reds having raised the bar when it comes to delivering both substance and style.

“Liverpool have blown Pep Guardiola’s men [Manchester City] away with Jurgen Klopp’s special brand of the game,” the former Reds striker told The Mirror.

“The fact Liverpool finished second in the Premier League last season and first this time out - with an aggregate of 196 points - is simply stunning.

“It’s consistency personified and my old club deserve huge congratulations for that.

“Klopp and the Anfield executive team have been 9/10 in terms of their recruitment these past few years – and by that I mean nine signings out of 10 have been bang on.

“Even those who haven’t quite been on it in the way they’d have hoped, such as Naby Keita, have shown enough promise to suggest they could be big enough players for next season.

“And that recruitment, along with the German’s vision, has laid the platform for their success.

“Klopp has to be my manager of the year for the way he brought the Reds back from the disappointment of losing out on the title to City by just a point last season.

“He clearly told his men after winning the Champions League final that they needed to blow their opponents away in the first 10 or 15 games of this season.

“And even though it’s much easier said than done, they managed to carry out his instructions.”

Klopp has seen his efforts recognised with the LMA Manager of the Year award for 2020 and is now in the process of mulling over further moves into the transfer market – with plenty calling on Liverpool to add even more depth to their title-winning ranks.

Gianfranco Zola has compared Chelsea’s moves for Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner with his own experiences working alongside Maradona, with the Blues legend pointing out that better players are always required in order to raise collective standards.

When piecing together his own illustrious career, Zola found himself on the books at Napoli when an all-time great was acquired by the Serie A outfit.

Maradona arrived in 1984, two years before guiding Argentina to World Cup glory and Napoli to a couple of Italian top-flight titles, with the South American snapped up to inspire those around him.

He did just that, with Zola going on to become an icon in his own right, and Chelsea are hoping to see their summer signings make a similar impact in 2020-21.

Frank Lampard has snapped up Ziyech and Werner, with the promise of more arrivals to come, and those at Stamford Bridge are already being billed as potential challengers for the Premier League crown next season.

Zola told the Daily Mail of the role that fresh faces could play: “I would have not been the player I was if I didn't train with Diego Maradona.

“He was so influential on every aspect of my game. I promise you — I would have been another Gianfranco Zola if I hadn't trained and played with Maradona every day.

“I don't think John Terry would have been the player he was if he hadn't had Marcel Desailly or Frank Leboeuf in front of him with us at Chelsea.

“What makes you better is not playing every single game in a modest championship. What makes you better is playing 10 games in a very competitive league.

“Because of players like myself, Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and so many others, the game in England is at such a high level.

“If you want to be involved you have to be as good. And then, if you are good enough, you will become very good.

“There is a common mistake people make. They say, ‘We need to play the young English boys’. Of course, but only if they are good.

“How can you measure that? If they are playing with good players and if they can fit into the level of the good players. That's why, because of the level of the Premier League, England has so many talented players.”

Chelsea have shown considerable faith in home-grown stars during the 2019-20 campaign.

The likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Billy Gilmour have flourished on a senior stage, with Zola now looking for the FA Cup finalists to take the next step and deliver tangible success.

He added: “Chelsea are doing well considering they have a lot of young players in the team and they lost a very influential player in Eden Hazard.

“Chelsea is a very demanding club. They need to be in the Champions League and they need to win trophies because that is what the club has been doing for some time.”

Lampard’s side are set to take in an FA Cup derby date with London rivals Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to understand descriptive comparisons between players from different eras.

One is a matter of convenience. Outlining the nuances in a footballer's game can be quite onerous, and can often involve language that is inscrutable to the layman. Also, it helps to establish what the benchmark is for relative terms like 'speed' and 'dribbling': saying a player is quick will likely elicit the question 'as quick as so-and-so?'

The other is a matter of accessibility. There is a lot of football played in the world, and few have a handle on all of it. It can be useful, in this scenario, to liken a player to a well-known icon of a previous era as a sort of shorthand.

The comparison between Victor Osimhen and Didier Drogba falls into the later category to a degree, but really there is a simpler root to it: the first person to make the connection, Osimhen's former teammate Nicolas Penneteau, did so simply because of the Nigerian's move to Ligue 1.

It was in the French top flight, of course, that Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Drogba cut his teeth and announced himself to the world. Osimhen has followed in the same vein, and so perhaps Penneteau's intuition was correct.

Except there are more than a few points of divergence.

For one thing, the former Ivory Coast international took a much more scenic route in passing through France, playing for three different clubs in his senior career over a six-year span. For another, in leading them to the final of the Uefa Cup in 2003, he achieved a much higher level of success with Marseille than Osimhen managed with Lille. Also, by the time Drogba eventually moved on to bigger things at Chelsea, he was already 26.

But perhaps the biggest difference between the two is the most obvious one: their playing styles are nothing alike. At least not yet.

Indeed, some of Drogba's biggest strengths – hold-up play, aerial dominance – remain distinct weaknesses for the younger Osimhen, even though he began to show marked improvements in terms of bringing others into play toward the end of the French league season.

A closer approximation for the 21-year-old, taking into account his speed, stride, predatory instincts in the box, and shooting technique is probably a player most frequently cast in the role of Drogba nemesis and adversary: a young Samuel Eto'o.

Considering the Cameroonian was the superior forward, Emmanuel Amuneke's claim that his former protege could eclipse Drogba becomes all the weightier. At 21, far from commanding a near record fee for an African player, the former Chelsea man was struggling to find his feet at Le Mans.

However, even with the benefit of a significant head start, Osimhen would do very well to match what Drogba did in his playing career.

The latter's arrival in Chelsea in 2004 heralded the beginning of an era of unprecedented success for the London club, and despite not always being prolific, Drogba came to be identified as one of the lynchpins of the team by dint of his penchant for decisive contributions.

His record in club finals, scoring 10 in 10 for the Blues as they amassed multiple FA Cups and League Cups, has now passed into legend.

Chelsea's rise also effectively interrupted the eight-year status quo at the summit of the English top flight, and also introduced a new force on the European stage.

This is the challenge to which Osimhen must stand up at Napoli, a club with a long-standing lust for the Scudetto. With the likes of Dries Mertens, Jose Callejon, Allan and Kalidou Koulibaly coming to (either or both) the ends of their primes and their affiliation with the club, the time is right for a rebuild of sorts.

As such, Osimhen is being signed essentially as a figurehead for Aurelio De Laurentiis' next shot at the title. If the Neapolitans are to achieve it, they must end the nine-year status quo at the summit of the Serie A table.

For that to be remotely realistic, they will need their new striker to lead the charge.

If he can consistently affect the big games, all the better; this is an area where Napoli have consistently fallen short in recent times.

Admittedly, the challenge is a lot more daunting for the Nigeria international. Chelsea at least had the benefit of a billionaire owner immediately elevating them financially, and a Uefa Champions League-winning manager transforming them on the pitch. For all that he has already guided them to silverware, Gattuso is no Jose Mourinho.

Still though, the path to legend status has never been easy. Drogba himself, by his own admission, needed to adapt to the demands at Chelsea.

Osimhen, to this point in his career a quick study, will need to do the same, and do so quickly, in order to be spoken of in the same breath.

Manchester City can "deal with" Real Madrid without Sergio Aguero, says Ilkay Gundogan, who has challenged his team-mates to "step up".

Aguero is currently in the middle of a rehabilitation programme as he continues to recover from surgery on the knee injury he picked up during City's 5-0 win over Burnley on June 22.

The Argentine striker has already returned to the gym for light individual training, but Pep Guardiola has confirmed that he will be unavailable for next month's crucial showdown with Madrid at Etihad Stadium.

The Blues beat the Blancos 2-1 in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie at Santiago Bernabeu back in February, thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and Kevin de Bruyne.

Guardiola opted to start Jesus ahead of Aguero in the Spanish capital, a risk which paid off as Madrid struggled to cope with City's high-intensity approach in and out of possession.

The Brazilian could be asked to lead the line again in the return, but Gundogan also believes a positive result can be achieved with a false nine.

Although the Germany international admits that Aguero's presence will be missed, he is confident that City have enough strength in depth to reach the quarter-finals on August 7.

“It is definitely disappointing to not have Sergio available,” Gundogan told the club's official website.

“We wish him a speedy recovery and to have him back as soon as possible, because he is such an important player for us.

“We have to deal with injuries, as we did in the season with Aymeric [Laporte] not being available. We have to do the same now with Sergio’s situation. I am sure we will be able to do that.

“Other players will have to step up. We have Gabby [Jesus], who is an amazing player, but we also have different players who can play as a false nine.

“I am sure we will be able to deal with it, but of course, we will miss him.”

When quizzed on how he will set up against Madrid after seeing Aguero sidelined last month, Guardiola named Gundogan among those capable of filling a prized asset's boots in the final third.

The 29-year-old insists there are plenty more suitable candidates for the role than him within the City squad, but has pledged to give his all to the task if selected in an unnatural position.

“If needed, I would try to do my best,” he added.

“I still see a few players in front of me for that position. If I have to play there, I will and I will try do my best to help the team in the best possible way, as I always do.

“It doesn’t matter for me. There are positions I prefer to play, but my aim is to always do my best to help the team as much as possible.

“If that is as a false nine, I will try to do that.”

Orlando Pirates media officer Thandi Merafe says the death of the club's famous fan Mandla Sindane has affected all PSL teams.

Nicknamed Mgijimi, Sindane was found dead at his home in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga on Tuesday morning.

Merafe got an opportunity to work with Mgijimi from time to time during Pirates events and she described him as a man who had a great personality.

“We are all saddened by the news of Mgijimi’s passing,” Merafe told The Citizen.

“He was a lovely soul with a great personality and always smiling. It’s very difficult to learn of his passing. He was always following the team wherever we play.

"When we go to Durban, Mgijimi will be there waiting for the team at the airport. When we go to play Chippa [United], he will be there at the airport in Eastern Cape – Cape Town, you will find him there among the supporters.”

Sindane followed the Buccaneers around South Africa and on the continent as he travelled to Zimbabwe to watch the team's Caf Champions League group match against FC Platinum which ended 0-0 in January 2019.

“It’s sad that his passing has united us in football because we have been getting a lot of messages, not only from the club’s fans, but every South African football fan and even across the continent," she added.

"He was loved by many people. It won’t be the same without him because even when we scored a goal, the first person broadcasters will be looking out for would be him with his white overall and white powder on his face.”

Meanwhile, Mgijimi's younger brother, David Sindane, has confirmed that the Bucs die-hard fan's death was from natural causes.

“You know it’s normal for a person to have pains once in a while. And that is why we never really thought today we would lose [him] because of natural death," David told the same publication.

"We are faced with a very serious pandemic at the moment and once someone dies, everyone assumes it’s the virus. I would like to confirm that his death was not due to the virus, but it was a natural death."

Mgijimi is best remembered for his unique white-painted face and white powder which he puffed in the stadium during Pirates matches.

“We have to be honest as a family, his passing has shown us that our brother was loved by so many people and had a very huge impact in their lives," he added.

"We never thought we would get calls from newspapers, TV stations and radios to interview us. We are really glad that he touched so many lives. That is why we are going to celebrate his life.”

Chemelil Sugar patron Moses Adagala maintains that the club has not been relegated from the Kenyan Premier League (KPL).

The Sugar Millers, according to a decision taken by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in May, stand relegated but Adagala disputes the move.

Chemelil Sugar went to the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) alongside the KPL seeking to reverse the decision. The SDT has so far ruled the case will be granted a full hearing.

“I am astonished that you are saying Chemelil Sugar have been relegated but for now we are nor relegated since we are still in court,” Adagala told KTN News TV.

“We are opposed to the federation move to relegate Chemelil Sugar and declare Gor Mahia champions and saying that Chemelil Sugar are relegated, that is not the truth at all.

“What [Nick] Mwendwa did was to cancel the league when Chemelil Sugar had played 15 games while Gor Mahia had honoured 13 matches and so the assertion that the first leg table was used to relegate teams and declare champions, there is a lot of unanswered questions there.

“That is why we headed to the court to seek the truth and I am hopeful God will help us get just the truth.”

The administrator further explained why the majority of Nyanza and Western clubs struggled and how his arrival would have ensured Chemelil Sugar remain in the top-tier.

“The Sugar belt clubs; Sony Sugar, Nzoia Sugar and Chemelil Sugar have been struggling due to the harsh economic environment their sponsors are operating in,” explained Adagala.

“When Chemelil Sugar managers approached me to take over the team, it had only won a game but thereafter in six matches we had lost just two games.

“There are things I had implemented and I knew if we were going to play all the remaining matches we would have remained in KPL.

“We had five matches that were to be played at home and two away and I knew very well with good planning we would have survived of course.

“When I saw Chemelil Sugar struggling, I sat down with the management and the players and we came to an agreement that the players must also strive to do better since their careers were at stake.

“The players actually were motivated and went ahead to produce better results.”

Adagala is also the patron of Muhoroni Youth who are in the FKF Division One league.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential aspirant Sam Nyamweya has alleged world football governing body Fifa does not support the incumbent Nick Mwendwa on the controversial clause in the electoral code which locks others from vying for the top seat.

The administrator states there is a sense of false confidence in the current regime but it is slowly fading after they were exposed by Fifa.

He alleges those who were party to rigging and manipulation of votes are collapsing, leaving the incumbent in limbo.

"We are reliably informed that Fifa has officially thrown Nick Mwendwa under the bus," read a signed statement from Nyamweya and obtained by Goal.

"Fifa has with no uncertain terms ordered for repeat elections, inclusivity and collaboration in the FKF electoral process. The chief spin doctor and the mandarins at Kandanda House are now on the overdrive distorting the position taken by Fifa.

"For several months the beleaguered former president of FKF Nick Mwendwa has been chest-thumping, and dismissing the Sports Registrar, the Cabinet Secretary for Sports and the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) on their firm decision with regards to the FKF Elections.

"The chief spin doctor has been courting and threatening anyone and everyone with a possible FIFA ban if things go against his grain."  

Nyamweya has also stated the voter register should be made fresh as per the Tribunal's guidelines and has at the same time thrown his weight behind a roundtable meeting by stakeholders to find the way forward.

"The voter register so prepared by FKF was rendered a nullity as its foundation collapsed with section four of the FKF Electoral code 2020," he continued.

"This, therefore, means a new voter register has to be developed and agreed upon by all the parties to the FKF Elections.

"It is worth noting that the SDT called for an all-inclusive stakeholders roundtable meeting to deliberate and come up with a way forward to holding the already seven months late FKF Elections. 

"Nothing short of a free, fair, transparent all-inclusive election will resolve the FKF Electoral impasse."

The former Federation president has now demanded consultations to resolve the election puzzle in the country.  

"We the football stakeholders, therefore, demand, which we do hereby, call for the immediate resumption of the football stakeholders' roundtable meeting as directed by the SDT," he urged.

"This meeting(s) must be guided by the decisions of the SDT and in compliance with Sports Act 2013 (Revised 2013), the Fifa Standard Electoral Code and the Kenya Constitution 2010." 

Baroka FC chairman Khurishi Mphahlele has set his sights on this season's Nedbank Cup.

The current season, which has been suspended since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, will resume in a Biologically Safe Environment (BSE) in Gauteng next month.

Baroka are set to play their remaining home matches at the Bidvest Wits Stadium in Johannesburg where they will also host Bloemfontein Celtic in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.

Bakgaga's first game will be the cup clash against Celtic on August 8 and they also have six matches remaining in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Mphahlele explained that his players are eager to get back into the field with 13th-placed Baroka level on points with 15th-placed AmaZulu FC, who are in the relegation zone.

“We have been waiting for this moment, the boys have been training for the past three weeks and they also want to play,” Mphahlele told Far Post.

Bakgaga stunned the whole country when they defeated a much-fancied Orlando Pirates side to clinch the 2018 Telkom Knockout Cup which was the club's maiden major trophy.

The Limpopo-based side is now keen to lift the South African FA Cup having already eliminated Polokwane City, Black Leopards and ABC Motsepe League (Northern Cape) side Hungry Lions from the competition.

“We want to bring this Cup [Nedbank Cup] to the Province and we are ready," he added.

"You would remember that when the league was suspended in March, we were in top form so we want to start from where we left off."

Baroka had four positive coronavirus cases upon their return to training three weeks ago as they prepared for the resumption of the suspended season.

However, the club has since announced that the four people have recovered.

Their remaining six league matches are against AmaZulu, Pirates, Chippa United, Mamelodi Sundowns, SuperSport United as well as Kaizer Chiefs.

The other Nedbank Cup semi-final match will feature reigning PSL champions Mamelodi Sundowns and their Gauteng rivals Bidvest Wits.

Baroka will be without defender Kamogelo Mogaswa, attackers Ranga Chivaviro, Mogau Khwinana and Tebogo Sodi when the campaign resumes.

The quartet was released by the club in May 2020.

Wilfried Zaha would have become "one of the best players out there" had Sir Alex Ferguson stayed at Manchester United, according to his ex-Crystal Palace team-mate Glen Murray.

United reached an agreement to sign Zaha from Palace for an initial £10 million ($13m) fee in January 2013, before allowing him to see out the second half of the season at Selhurst Park on loan.

The Ivory Coast international turned out to be the last signing of Ferguson's 27-year reign in Manchester, as the Scot walked away from the Red Devils following a 13th Premier League title triumph.

Former Everton manager David Moyes was the man who inherited the managerial reins at Old Trafford, and it quickly became apparent that Zaha did not fit into his plans.

The mercurial winger was sent out on loan to Cardiff mid-way through his first season with United, having been restricted to just two Premier League appearances in total under Moyes.

The Scottish boss was sacked before the end of the 2013-14 campaign, but Zaha's situation did not improve under his successor Louis van Gaal, who sent him back to Palace on loan.

In February 2015, the 27-year-old rejoined the Eagles on a permanent deal, and has since rebuilt his reputation in familiar surroundings.

Murray, who played at Selhurst Park between 2011 and 2015, thinks Zaha's career would have turned out differently if Ferguson had extended his stay with the Red Devils.

The Brighton forward also believes a former colleague is now ready for another big move, with Arsenal still considered to be the ideal next destination for a proven Premier League performer.

“Palace fans won’t thank me for saying this, but I do think Zaha needs to go, I think he needs to flourish,” Murray told Talksport.

“Even as far back as when he joined Manchester United… I believe that if Sir Alex [Ferguson] still would have been in charge he would have been one of the best players out there now.

“I was really surprised Arsenal didn’t go for him last year and they decided to go for Pepe.

“It baffled me that they didn’t go for him. I feel Wilf would have been a slightly cheaper option and he’s someone that knows the league very well.

“Staying in London would be good for him as well; he’s a real London boy and I just think he would have been the perfect fit there.”

Clinton Morrison, another former Palace striker, also weighed in Zaha's future, insisting he would fit in perfectly at either Arsenal or Tottenham if he can finally secure a move away from Selhurst Park.

“Even though he’s only scored four goals, he attracts a lot of players towards him when he’s on the ball," said Morrison.

“He’ll probably be the first person to say it hasn’t been his best season but, for me, when Wilfried Zaha is on his game he‘s one of the best wingers in the Premier League.

“He’s got that natural skill no one else can do.

“I think the time has come now, and most Crystal Palace fans will probably say this too, it’s time for Wilf to move on.

“I would say a club like Arsenal or Tottenham, I think he would suit them down to the ground.

“Arsenal is his club and I think he was desperate to move to Arsenal last summer, so if Arsenal came along he’d bite their hand off.

“But Arsenal or Tottenham, I think he’d be brilliant for either of those two clubs.”

Gary Pallister admits that Harry Maguire is not a captain and leader in the Steve Bruce or Roy Keane mould, but the £80 million ($104m) defender is still considered to be “exactly the type of centre-back that Manchester United needed”.

The Red Devils shattered a transfer record during the summer of 2019 when prising an England international away from the clutches of Premier League rivals Leicester.

Eyebrows were raised at a sizeable fee, but the general consensus was that United needed to invest heavily in plugging alarming leaks at the back.

Maguire wasted little time in setting about that task and quickly inherited the captain's armband at Old Trafford – with Ashley Young moving on to Inter in the January window.

The odd question has been asked of the commanding 27-year-old during his debut campaign in Manchester, but Pallister believes he has been a shrewd addition and ticks an important box for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ambitious outfit.

The former United defender told MUTV of Maguire: “I think he’s terrific. I think he’s rightly got the captaincy; he’s one of the talkers.

“He’s not the type of leader that Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce and Roy Keane were, but I think he’s got an assurance about him that the players respond to.

“I think, for his first season, he’s been terrific. He’s comfortable on the ball, you saw it on Sunday [at Leicester City], getting his head to things when the balls are chucked into the box. He’s dominant there and he’s exactly the type of centre-back that Manchester United needed.”

Many have suggested that Maguire could look even more assured if he were to be moved into a right-sided centre-half berth.

Victor Lindelof currently fills that spot, with questions being asked of his future and United’s need to spend again in defence, but Pallister believes there is a role for the Swede to play.

A man with four Premier League titles to his name added: “Lindelof has had a really good season as well. He’s not as dominant as Harry, but I think he’s complimented him.

“He’s got the hang of the Premier League: the physicality and the pace of it. I think he went from strength to strength.”

Maguire and Lindelof helped United to a third-place finish in 2019-20, with Champions League qualification safely secured, and attention is about to shift to the pursuit of major silverware in the Europa League – with the Red Devils back in action against LASK on August 5.