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Manchester United are set to step up their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho as they prepare an opening offer for the England international.

United's 2-0 win over Leicester City on the final day of the Premier League season secured Champions League qualification for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and chief negotiator Matt Judge will now push ahead with their plans to bring Sancho to Old Trafford.

Goal has learned that a formal bid 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 told Goal on 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.”

As well as a right-sided attacker, Solskjaer also has a midfielder and a centre-back on his transfer wish list this summer, and there is an understanding at the club that they know they need to strengthen if they are going to build on this season’s third-place finish.

“There’s definitely not going to be any complacency and thinking, ‘We’ve cracked it’ because we’ve got so much to do. It’s an enjoyable journey,” Solskjaer said.

"We can see improvements but, yes, we need to make one or two - or more - very good decisions. It’s going to be an important summer, definitely.”

Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish remains among the players United are targeting while a striker who can replace Odion Ighalo once his loan move from Shanghai Shenhua expires in January may also be sought.

Ayub Timbe has confirmed his exit from Reading after a six-month stay with the Championship side.

Timbe joined the Berkshire-based club in January from Beijing Renhe and his loan move now has ended after the club decided against pursuing a further deal.

Timbe, who has failed to enjoy a prominent role under manager Mark Bowen, has wished well his teammates in the upcoming season.

“My short journey at Reading is finished,” Timbe, 27, confirmed in a Facebook post on Monday.

“I want to thank the club, the staff, my mates and definitely every supporter who was with me through this half-season. It was a pleasure to be at Reading FC.

“Thank you all and I wish you good luck in the coming season.”

The Harambee Stars winger has been sparingly used from the bench and in most cases was an unused substitute.

His departure follows the confirmation of another five players which the club revealed would not be part of the team next season.

Reading bade farewell to three club stalwarts, who between them have made 775 appearances for the club across the last decade - Chris Gunter, Garath McCleary and Jordan Obita.

Charlie Adam and Tyler Blackett were the other players who left.

Timbe’s loan at Reading was the third such move the Kenyan has made in his career so far.

Between 2014 and 2016, the winger was loaned by Genk to Lierse and went ahead to make 42 appearances and scored eight goals for the Belgian side.

The performance saw Lierse made his move permanent and the player stayed with them for one year between 2016 and 2017.

From Belgium, the Harambee Star joined Chinese side Beijing Renhe where he enjoyed a good outing in 2017 as he scored 17 goals in 48 matches.

In 2018, he was loaned for the second time in his career to Heilongjiang Lava Spring, a Division One side in China. He played six games and scored two goals for the lower tier side.

As Timbe and perhaps Beijing Renhe ponder about the next move for the winger, one of Timbe’s fans responded to his Facebook post by reminding him of Kevin De Bruyne’s situation while at Chelsea.

The Belgian was loaned out by the Blues before the 2012/13 season to Werder Bremen before he was later signed by Manchester City where he has proved his worth.

“You are super talented brother. There will come a time when Reading FC will need your signature, but it will be too late because they won't be able to afford to sign you,” Wilvin Muturi said in a reply.

“Remember what Chelsea did to KDB [Kevin De Bruyne] right now with all their money, they can't afford him.”

Aston Villa forward Mahmoud ‘Trezeguet’ Hassan has reflected on his debut season in the Premier League.

The 25-year-old winger teamed up with the Claret and Blue Army from Turkish Super Lig club Kasimpasa for a fee of £8.75 million.

The Egypt international made a key contribution in helping Dean Smith’s men avoid relegation from the English top-flight

Trezeguet, who initially struggled to adapt to the Premier League, went on to score six goals, including his brace in their victory over Crystal Palace, and provided two assists.

Villa then played out a draw with West Ham United on the last day of 2019-20 English top-flight season which ensured they maintained their status in the division.

Trezeguet is delighted with his effort in ensuring the Claret and Blue Army remained in the Premier League and attributed it to hard work.  

“Hard work always pays off. It was a tough season because sometimes I play, sometimes I don’t but I always believed that my chance would come,” Trezeguet told beIN Sports.

“In the end, I had my chance and I’m happy that I had a role in keeping Aston Villa in the Premier League.

“If we had lost or drew against Crystal Palace, we would’ve been relegated and against Arsenal, we played against a very strong team that had defeated both Liverpool and Manchester City in the same week.”

Trezeguet ended the 2019-20 season with seven goals and three assists in 41 appearances across all competitions.

The forward has previously played for Al Ahly and Anderlecht before teaming up with Kasımpasa in 2018, initially on loan before the deal was made permanent.

The winger shone during his time with the Turkish Super Lig club, which inspired Aston Villa to secure his signature in 2019.

Trezeguet has 41 caps for Egypt and six goals and was part of the Pharaohs squad at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, which his country hosted.

The forward will hope to continue his recently rediscovered form in Villa’s pre-season games ahead of the 2020-21 campaign.

Leonardo Bonucci has taken aim at Juventus’ doubters and detractors after they secured their ninth consecutive Serie A title.

Juve sealed the championship with a 2-0 win at home to Sampdoria on Sunday evening, thanks to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Federico Bernardeschi

After the game, veteran defender Bonucci posted a compilation video of his team’s highlights from the season, with a pointed caption.

It read: "As captain of a great team. In a surreal year. With a pandemic. Against everything and everyone. For our fans. For those who wanted the playoffs. For those who thought they could win it in our place. For those who criticized us. For those who no longer believed it. MY MOST BEAUTIFUL.”

Bonucci refers back to the confusion of the coronavirus suspension, when a number of potential solutions to the end of the Serie A season were considered.

Plenty of senior figures in Italian football didn’t want to see the season completed at all.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito gave his support to the idea of a one-off play-off match between his side and Juve to decide the title. At the time, Lazio were just a point behind Juve but after a post-lockdown implosion, they are seven points off the top, behind both Inter and Atalanta in fourth.

Speaking in a press conference after Juve’s win, Bonucci also paid tribute to captain Giorgio Chiellini, who missed the vast majority of the season with a cruciate ligament injury and calf issues.

"The captain of this team is and remains Giorgio,” Bonucci said. “Unfortunately, this year we had him very little. Giorgio is a leader on and off the field.

“I tried to help myself and the team in critical moments. I hope I have succeeded; it is not easy.

“There were those who believed they could take the trophy from us, there were those who wanted to make a separate championship.

“It was a strange year for those three months. We wanted to continue winning, we met several times telling each other we didn’t want to lose something we already had.”

Juve will conclude their league campaign with fixtures against Cagliari and Roma, before looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Lyon in the last 16 of the Champions League on August 7.

Jack Grealish continues to spark talk of interest from Manchester United but, on the back of Aston Villa preserving their Premier League status, Dean Smith has jokingly claimed to have tied the talented playmaker down on a new contract “written in sambuca”.

The Villans partied hard after beating the drop on the final day of the 2019-20 season.

Grealish’s goal in the 1-1 draw away at West Ham proved to be decisive, as Smith’s side wrapped up a 17th-place finish with one point separating them from the drop zone.

While the West Midlands outfit intend to revel in earning another campaign among the elite, the opening of another transfer window is set to present them with an altogether different challenge.

Retaining the services of talismanic club captain Grealish promises to be difficult, with many suggesting that he is ready for a step up in class, but Smith is doing all he can to convince a fellow boyhood Villa fan to stay put.

He told talkSPORT of those efforts, which began during the celebrations on Sunday night to mark staying up: “I gave him a few shots last night and got him to sign a new five-year contract. It’s not been done yet, it was written in Sambuca, I’m not sure if it was mine or his!

“It was a heavy night, I’m not sure what time I got to bed, but I slept in my office back at the training ground. I did an Eddie Jones and slipped off so the lads didn’t see me go!

“Seriously, that’s a chat for another day. Jack’s a wonderful lad and I’ve got all the time in the world for him and I’m so pleased that he scored the goal that kept us in the Premier League.”

Smith is delighted to have seen Grealish and co deliver for Villa during their first season back in the big time and makes no apologies for having toasted finishing one place above the trapdoor.

Roy Keane, who once spent time as the club’s assistant manager, suggested on Sky Sports that Villa’s reaction was “slightly over the top” as they “hadn’t won anything”.

Smith has shrugged off those comments, saying: “Listen, with all the emotions, the lads were right to go and celebrate.

“We’d been written off 10 games ago, we were relegated in everybody’s minds. So to do what we’ve done and turn it around as we have, that was a celebration, that’s for sure.”

Manchester United need to be taking a “ruthless” approach to improving collective standards, says Gary Neville, with the Red Devils legend looking for a centre-half to be signed to compete with Victor Lindelof and clarity to be offered regarding David de Gea’s future.

The former favourite at Old Trafford has made no secret of the fact that he feels big money needs to be invested in the next transfer window.

United did end the 2019-20 Premier League season in third spot, but they remain a work in progress and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is going to need help if their ultimate targets are going to be hit.

There has been plenty of suggestion that funds will be made available this summer, with the Red Devils being linked with top talents from back to front.

Neville believes the acquisition of a new centre-half has to be a top priority, with it clear that Lindelof’s partnership with club captain Harry Maguire is not working as effectively as hoped.

“Solskjaer needs to spend money, but not recklessly”, Neville told Sky Sports.

“There needs to be a right winger, there needs to be a challenge at centre-forward, at left-back, definitely a goalkeeper and they need a centre-back, a top centre-back who can bring that level of domination to a defence like Virgil van Dijk does at Liverpool, like Vincent Kompany did when Manchester City were winning titles.

“I don't think Harry Maguire hasn't had a good season; I just think he needs a partner. That's not being unfair on Victor Lindelof, who may need a partner as well. He and Maguire are both good defenders, but I think United need a centre-back as well. You've got to be ruthless, the best managers in the world are ruthless.”

While weighing up his options at the heart of the back four, Solskjaer also has a big decision to make between the sticks.

The Red Devils have tied De Gea to a lucrative new contract, but have also seen mistakes creep back into his game as calls mount for Dean Henderson to handed the No.1 spot once he is welcomed back from his loan spell at Sheffield United.

Neville said: “I was nervous about him in his first year or two at Manchester United but then he did prove to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world for four or five years. In the last 18 months he's been riddled with mistakes and only Solskjaer can make that decision over the goalkeeper.

“What I would say about that decision is that Solskjaer has to be decisive and ruthless with that decision, he's got to think about himself and the club. If he thinks De Gea is going to return to the level he was at before, stick with him.

“He's still got that decision in his hands, but he's at least got through that until the end of the season. De Gea hasn't put a foot wrong in the last two matches [against West Ham and Leicester].”

The Sports Registrar has given Mombasa County the green light to hold fresh Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections after they moved to comply with the 2013 Sports Act.

According to a letter from the Registrar of Societies signed by Rose Wasike and obtained by Goal, the county has become the first one to be cleared after meeting the demands from the registrar.

The letter stated: “I hereby certify that on this day I have registered Mombasa County Football Association as a County sports association under section 45 of the Sports Act 2013 (revised edition 2013) with the following conditions.

“That the organisation complies with the Sports Act and any other relevant laws, that the organisation reviews its constitution in line with the Kenya constitution 2010, the Sports Act, No. 25 of 2013 and its international status, that the organisation hold elections within 90 days from the date of registration and that the organization develop short and mid-term  strategic plans and submits all relevant missing documents for the organization and officials within three months from the date of registration of the organization.”

The new development has also been acknowledged by the County Government of Mombasa, who said in a statement signed by County Chief Executive Innocent Mugabe and seen by Goal: “We are writing to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 16, 2020, and your registration certificate No. 198 as a County sports association.

“The Department of Youth, Gender, Sports & Cultural Affairs, congratulates your team for the efforts made to be registered under the Sports Act 2013.

“We also take this opportunity to assure your organisation that we shall be working together in the development of sports in Mombasa County.”

Following the registration, FKF president aspirant Twaha Mbarak has confirmed the association will now hold their elections on August 15, 2020, starting from 8 am to 4 pm at Tononoka Hall.

“In line with Sports Act 2013, we will proceed to hold our elections on August 15,” Mbarak told Goal on Monday.

“There shall be eight positions to be contested – chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, vice-secretary, treasurer, vice-treasurer, women representative and youth representative.”

Mbarak has further told other counties to follow suit and comply with the Sports Act 2013.

“All counties must now move quickly and comply with the demands from the registrar, we are the first ones to do it and are proud of it, we will set up a new office, in readiness for the coming FKF elections.”

The new date for the national elections is yet to be set.

Kenyan Premier League (KPL) giants Gor Mahia have released forward Dickson Ambundo after his loan deal with the club expired.

The 24-year-old joined K'Ogalo on loan from former Tanzania Mainland League outfit Alliance FC in July 2019. The winger was used in the front three positions owing to the team's struggles to get a consistent striker, especially after the departure of Francis Afriyie and Gnamien Yikpe.

"We wish Dickson Ambundo all the best after his loan deal at the club ended and has since returned to Tanzania," the Kenya champions tweeted on Monday.

"We appreciate every bit of his efforts while at Gor Mahia."

His parent club Alliance was relegated from the top tier after finishing the 2019/20 season in the 17th position, despite a final day 3-2 win over Namungo FC. The team only managed to accumulate 45 points in the 38 matches played.

Ambundo had been initially linked to 27-time Tanzania Mainland League champions Yanga SC but the player has said he's received no contact from Yanga.

"For now, I have not had any contact with anyone from Yanga and the news [of signing for Yanga] in fact I am getting from you for the first time. For clarification, it would be better to contact my agents on the same," said the Tanzanian.

"But if Yanga want me, I will be available and that would depend on the offer they will put on the table. If it is going to be something good then I will deeply consider joining them."   

While the Kenyan Premier League was suspended March 16 and later annulled by the Football Kenya Federation, in a move that the league administrators protested, Tanzanian top tier was played to the end.

Simba SC managed to successfully defend their crown for the third time in a row. Wekundu wa Msimbazi hit 88 points after 38 games, with Yanga and Azam FC coming in in the second and third positions with 72 and 70 points respectively.

Mbeya City, Mbao FC, Alliance, Lipuli FC, Ndanda and Singida United were relegated.

The Msimbazi-based side will now represent the country in the Caf Champions League while Namungo will play in Caf Confederation Cup.

Mikel Arteta has called on Arsenal to seize the “great opportunity” which has presented itself in FA Cup competition, with the Gunners having cleared several “stones” from their path to put themselves in a position where a good season could be enjoyed.

As things stand, the north London outfit are being left to reflect on an eighth-place finish in the Premier League.

Such a standing falls well short of expectations, with no guarantee that the club will be taking in European competition next season.

Fate remains in their own hands, though, with a cup final date at Wembley having been booked with capital rivals Chelsea on August 1.

Victory in that contest would book a Europa League berth and add a familiar piece of silverware to the Emirates Stadium trophy cabinet for the competition’s most decorated club.

Arteta is eager to see Arsenal wrap up a 14th FA Cup triumph, telling the club’s official website on the end to his first half-season at the helm: “Well, I need a month probably to get some conclusions!

“Since I arrived here on the 20th of December, so many things happened and so many stones have been in our way but I believe we have done a lot of progress in many situations.

“Around the environment as well that we are creating, the unity that the fans, team and club are showing at the moment and I think we are on a good track.

“We have a great opportunity now to have a good season if we are able to win against Chelsea in the final, lift the trophy and qualify for Europe.”

Tangible success would offer Arsenal a welcome shot in the arm.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is another looking for the Gunners to sign off a testing 2019-20 campaign on a high, telling Arsenal Digital: “It's been a long, tough season without the fans being here and what's gone on in the world.

“We're just going to have to push on and think about the final now. It hasn't finished for us just yet. The main objective is trying to bring the trophy home.

“We're all bubbly, we're all pretty confident in ourselves. We're going to sleep on it and then go back to work in the week to focus on the final.”

Lille have turned down offers of €70 million (£64m/$82m) for former Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches, the Ligue 1 club’s president has claimed.

The Portugal midfielder, previously of Benfica and Swansea, has found his feet once again in France after a disappointing end to his Bundesliga career.

Still only 22, he has plenty of potential to fulfil, and Lille chief Gerard Lopez says there has been significant interest.

With star forward Jonathan Ikone reportedly targeted by Borussia Dortmund as a replacement for Jadon Sancho and defender Gabriel Magalhaes linked with clubs in the Premier League and beyond, there has been plenty of interest in the side which finished fourth in the curtailed French top-flight season.

However, according to Lopez, Lille have no desire to part with their star players as they look to build for the future.

“We have received offers totalling more than €200m (£182m/$235m), which we will not accept,” Lopez told l’Equipe. “The real question for us is the competitiveness and balance of the team.

“For example, we have had offers over €70m for Renato Sanches. He won’t go. Our sporting project takes precedence.

“We want to continue developing. How many clubs in Ligue 1 would refuse more than €70m for a player, other than PSG?”

After bursting onto the scene with Benfica in 2015-16, Sanches announced himself to the world as one of the star performers of Euro 2016.

His performances as Portugal lifted the title raised excitement levels with Bayern having already agreed to sign him, but he left after three underwhelming seasons - including that disastrous loan spell at Swansea.

Sanches played 33 times for Christophe Galtier's Lille side this season, and his stock is now beginning to rise once more.

Lille are apparently looking to strengthen as well as holding onto their key players, with reports in France suggesting they are close to completing a deal for Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos.

Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has repeatedly stated his desire to keep hold of the 22-year-old Colombian but, after scoring 77 goals in three seasons at Ibrox, Morelos may well be ready for a fresh challenge at a higher level.

Jose Mourinho told Tottenham to play for a draw in their game with Crystal Palace on Sunday, according to Eagles and ex-Spurs winger Andros Townsend.

Tottenham secured Europa League qualification with a 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park which, with Wolves beaten at Chelsea, saw them finish sixth in the Premier League.

Since Mourinho took over in north London, Spurs rose from 14th to securing another season of European football, with the Portuguese insisting he is happy to be in the Europa League.

Townsend, though, took aim at what he felt were negative tactics from the visitors.

“We were playing Spurs and they only needed a point to finish sixth,” Townsend told TalkSport. “You could tell the Spurs bench knew and Jose Mourinho was getting messages on to the pitch that they only needed a draw, and in the last 10 minutes they were literally taking the ball into the corner.

“You do need to know [what is happening in other games] because it can change our tactics and the way you approach the last 10-15 minutes of the game.”

Spurs and Palace only had two shots on target each in the game, with Harry Kane and Jeffrey Schlupp finding the net in an underwhelming end-of-season affair.

Nevertheless, Spurs finished the season strongly and Mourinho is feeling vindicated in his approach since replacing Mauricio Pochettino, although he admitted they weren’t at their best on Sunday.

“The season was crazy, since they played the Champions League final it has been up and down and really hard," Mourinho told Sky Sports. "We, in this group of matches managed to get results and to perform.

"Not today, it was not the best, but in this period, we played well, got results and were solid to put ourselves in the position to get in the Europa League.

"From a personal point of view, I'm happy because since I arrived, we would be fourth which is good with all the problems we had."

Less than 24 hours after the season ended, Spurs have already confirmed some transfer activity. Jan Vertonghen has announced his departure from the club following the end of his contract, with Michel Vorm also having made his exit.

Jurgen Klopp claims to like his Liverpool players “more than they like me”, with the Premier League title-winning coach aware that “hard decisions” are not going to be well received by everyone.

Keeping everybody happy all of the time is an impossible task, but Klopp has shown that he can find the right mix when it comes to establishing both success on the field and harmony off it.

“[Me and the players] created a really, really close relationship over the years,” Klopp told Liverpool’s official website on the back of an historic campaign for the Reds.

“The relationship is clear – I like them more than they like me! Because I have to make hard decisions, that’s how it is. There are things I don’t like to do, but I have to do – so for me, seeing them like this means absolutely everything. It is exactly why I do it.

“It is the same to see my family that happy. When I met my wife and my sons after the game, they lost it kind of! They were so happy. On the night Chelsea won against City, that night they were completely going nuts. The boys [players] went nuts here. That’s really something. 

“These pictures which I have in my mind I will never forget, I know that. I have still the pictures of the Dortmund moments in my mind and it is very special. My coaches jumped in the pool – thank God I was not there!

“They are such nice pictures and it is my fuel if you want, my petrol, that I get over the years that I can keep for a long time.”

Klopp faced a number of challenges once again in 2019-20, with Liverpool having surged clear of the Premier League pack only to then see football locked down amid the coronavirus pandemic.

They have also picked up untimely injuries and suspensions at various intervals, but Klopp has always found a winning formula and kept his side focused on chasing down their ultimate goals.

“A season is not 365 days, I don’t know exactly how many days a season is but it is long and we spend a lot of time together,” he said. “On the pitch is only one-and-a-half or two hours a day; all the rest of the time we are more or less in this building [Melwood] together with these people.

“How can you have the energy for going again and again with all the setbacks you have – I don’t mean losing a final. Injured players is always a problem, but it’s always the wrong player on top of that.

It’s like if you have four players for one position, none of them are injured. If you have two for one, both are injured. How can you keep the energy? It only works because we all give energy to each other.”

Coach Luc Eymael’s comments that sealed his fate as Yanga SC head coach have been revealed.

In a voice message obtained by Goal, the Belgian coach has pointed out numerous issues he claims made his time in Tanzania unbearable.

Yanga confirmed they had released the former Polokwane City coach after his comments following a 1-1 draw with Mtibwa Sugar last Wednesday, ahead of the final match of the season against Lipuli FC.

“My brother this place is not for me, playing in such pitches so bad pitches of a level of seventh or eighth division in Europe is not for me,” Eymael is captured as saying.

“With fans who are only shouting and are not able to invade the pitch to beat the officiating man and change things is not for me. You know if officiating were always against us and is only favouring Simba SC and not giving us even a clear penalty and things like that is not for me.

“Changing rooms too is not for me. I would prefer that they release me, let me just do my last game and let me go.”

The former AFC Leopards coach did not spare the larger Tanzanian public in his rant as he complained about conditions in the country.

“I am not enjoying your country [Tanzania], you are uneducated people. I don’t have a car, what is that? I do not have Wifi and I do not have the DSTV. No! No! No!” he added.

“Working in this condition is not for me, my man.

“My wife is absolutely not enjoying here and this is disgusting to me. I am disgusted. The only pleasure that I have is the pitches are always full when we are playing, full of our fans but these fans do not know anything about soccer.”

The former Black Leopards tactician also hit at the fans for their reaction during their Wednesday match against Mtibwa Sugar that ended in a 1-1 draw

“This striker [David] Molinga did not win any ball, did not make one run and did not bring any danger,” he added. “I had put [Gnamien] Yikpe on the wing then I put Yikpe as a striker and he gave us runs and efforts and the fans were shouting at him and wanted me to take Yikpe out.

“The time when I took one holding midfielder out to put a second striker they did not understand. There is pettiness in this country.

“The fans can only shout and are like monkeys who are barking ‘babababa’. They can only do that. They do not know anything about soccer.

“The soccer is very poor when you are playing away games and the pitch is like that, the officiating is against you and all the things. It is not for me, it is not for me.”

The Belgian also claimed Yanga, the record Mainland Premier League champions with 27 titles, are not going to win them again given their state of organisation and went further to claim Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) is a biased body.

The federation has already stated they will report Eymael to Fifa for action.

“I said to the sponsor [GSM] again that ‘please, please my men, please release me. It is better!’” Eymael concluded.

“Do your own things and you cannot be able to win the league because you are not an organised team, you are not an organised club and the officiating is always against you because you are a poor club.

“Then you wait for the federation and the federation is only for Simba. It is not for us, so you have to release me.

“I do not want to stay here.”

Eymael joined Yanga in January 2020 to replace Mwinyi Zahera.

Ghana's national U17 and U20 female teams have received a special permit to regroup for training ahead of upcoming international assignments despite a lingering ban on contact sports in the west African country due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The dispensation was announced when Ghana president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressed the nation on Sunday night.

Both the U17 and U20 women's side are set to commence training ahead of World Cup qualification matches.

"Our female Under-20 and Under-17 national football teams have been given the clearance to go into their respective training camps to begin preparations towards their Fifa and Caf-sanctioned international matches, which begin in September," Akufo-Addo said in his speech during a live broadcast on TV, radio and social media.

"Whilst in training, the playing, technical and management teams must observe strictly all the protocols issued by Government, CAF and FIFA against Covid-19. All other team and contact sports, and competitive sporting events remain suspended till further notice."

Ghana are set to face arch-rivals Nigeria over two legs in October/November, with the winners guaranteed a ticket at the U17 World Cup in India.

The Black Maidens will host the first leg before travelling for the return fixture.

Both legs were initially scheduled for May but had to be postponed due to the coronavirus disturbances.

Originally scheduled for November 2 to 21 this year, the final tournament has had to be moved to February 17 to March 7 next year.

Ghana are hoping to continue with their enviable record as the only African side to have qualified for all six previous editions of the U17 Women's World Cup.

Their best performance remains a third-placed finish at the 2012 edition in Azerbaijan.

Ghana's U20 women's team will, however, be first to get into action as they face Guinea-Bissau over two legs in September, having dispatched Liberia in the preliminary round.

The Black Princesses travel away for the first leg ahead of the return fixture at home.

The two matches were originally planned to take place in March.

The winners will have two more stages of matches to negotiate to stand a chance of grabbing a ticket for the world gathering.

Ghana has qualified for the last five previous editions of the U20 World Cup, and will hope to make a sixth appearance at the tournament to be co-hosted by Costa Rica and Panama from January 20 to February 6.

The championship was originally set to be hosted in August/September this year.

Ghana's ban on contact sports has been in effect since March, a situation which resulted in premature termination of the 2019-20 football season, including the Premier League (GPL). 

Huesca midfielder Kelechi Nwakali has named former Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu and ex-Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure as his role models, while also revealing his desire to play for Barcelona in future.

The 22-year-old has struggled to play top-flight football since he bursts into the limelight at the 2015 U17 World Cup, where he captained Nigeria to victory at the tournament.

The midfielder joined the Gunners in 2016 but failed to play a single game for the Emirates Stadium outfit during his three-year stay and made do with loan spells at MVV Maastricht, VVV-Venlo and Porto B.

In the summer of 2019, the midfielder secured a permanent move to Spanish Segunda Division side Huesca and recently helped them gained promotion to La Liga.

Nwakali only played five league games for the Oscenses, owing to visa issues and hopes to feature regularly for the side in the top flight.

The midfielder also revealed Nigeria legend Kanu and former Ivory Coast international Toure as players he models his football after while also hoping to fulfil his long-term dream of playing for Spanish giants Barca. 

“I am delighted that my club has gained promotion to the Spanish La Liga. It was not easy for my team at the second division because of the quality of teams at that level,” Nwakali said, per the Guardian.

“I was only able to play in five games because I had Spanish visa issues. My focus now is to work hard to play regularly when the league resumes.

“I have always hoped to play for Barcelona someday as a young footballer but in life, you must start somewhere to achieve your dream. I am delighted that I am now a player in the Spanish top league.

“Giving my best to my club remains the priority now. As a young footballer, I aspire to play like Kanu Nwankwo and Yaya Toure because I fancy their style of play.”

Nwakali has one cap for the Nigeria national team while his teammates at U17 level, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze have become a key part of the Super Eagles.

“I believe when Coach Gernot Rohr needs me, he will invite me. I speak with him at times and I know my time will soon come,” He continued.

“I am delighted that my teammates, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze are doing well in Super Eagles. My aspiration is to join them in the team. They understand my kind of play and we connect very well on the pitch.”

Nwakali will hope to deliver convincing showings for Huesca to boost his chances of enjoying regular call-ups to the Super Eagles.

Former Chelsea star Oscar, who is now on the books of Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG, has said that he would be willing to switch international allegiance from Brazil to China.

The 28-year-old playmaker has won 47 caps for the country of his birth, with 12 goals. He has, however, been overlooked by the Selecao for several years now, with Brazil always well stocked for attacking talent.

Oscar is also plying his club football a long way from home and away from the spotlight cast on South American and European competition.

He took the decision to leave Chelsea for Asia in January 2017, with a big-money deal seeing his head turned. A career call that raised plenty of eyebrows has been justified by league and cup success in China, with Oscar catching the eye across 123 appearances and 39 goals.

Having become a star attraction in Shanghai, the talented forward has now revealed that he would be willing to represent his adopted home at international level.

FIFA rules prevent players who have appeared in competitive fixtures from representing another nation.

Oscar, though, would like to see those regulations tweaked, telling Sportscene: “Of course I can think about it because it's difficult to go to the Brazil national team now because I'm here, but in China everyone sees how good I play. 

“The China national team need one good midfielder, so I think I can help with this. I like China, but the players now who go to China to change their nationality, they can do better also.”

Oscar made his debut for Brazil in 2011, while he was on the books of Internacional in his homeland. A high-profile switch to Chelsea was made in 2012, while he formed part of a triumphant Confederations Cup side a year later.

He also earned a place in the Brazil squad for a home World Cup in 2014, but has not been called upon since 2016.

It appears unlikely that FIFA will be relaxing their stance regarding eligibility, but China could do with a player of Oscar’s experience and ability as they sit 76th in the world rankings and have failed to qualify for a World Cup finals since 2002.

KCB defender Mke Kibwage has set himself the target of winning the Caf Champions League in the next few seasons. 

The 22-year-old Kenya defender has been instrumental for the Bankers since joining from AFC Leopards and is quickly establishing himself among the best in the country. 

"As a player I have dreams and they keep me going," Kibwage told Goal on Monday.

"As I had said, we are targeting the KPL next season and we believe it is achievable. But for me, I want to win the Caf Champions League in the next few seasons. This is not meant for some players, it is meant for all, the difference is the effort one makes to achieve it."

The 2019/20 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) was halted owing to the Covid-19 outbreak. By the time, KCB were placed in the fifth position with 42 points from the 23 matches played.

Reports indicate the 2020/21 season might kick-off in October and the defender hopes it goes according to plan.

"I am yearning to give my best to my team and win the Defender of the Season Award on back-to-back basis," Kibwage continued.

"All this will happen if the league returns, and we hope it happens as planned. We are going for it as a team, and I am also going for my targets, my individual objectives and nothing is going to stop me."

It is not ending at the KPL and Caf Champions League for the towering defender.

"Most people, most football fans watch Uefa Champions League, it is where the big boys dine together.

"That is my dream competition which at one time I want to play. It is achievable, and once again, it is all about hard work. It is my long term target and I am optimistic I will realize it." 

In an earlier interview with Goal, KCB assistant coach Godfrey Oduor was not short of words for the defender.

"He is a talented player who is disciplined and works hard to have value for the team," the tactician revealed.

"We will continue nurturing him and make him even better. In Kibwage, Harambee Stars have their central defence problems solved for quite a long time."

Manchester City want to see David Silva off with the Champions League trophy, says Kevin De Bruyne, who thinks the Spaniard is one of the Premier League’s all-time greats.

Silva bade farewell to English football with a 5-0 thrashing of Norwich on Sunday, the sort of dominant City win which has become the norm over the course of his decade at the club.

His time in Manchester isn’t over just yet, though, with City still having European football to play.

Pep Guardiola’s side hold a 2-1 away-goal advantage over Real Madrid ahead of their last-16 second leg on August 7, with Lyon or Juventus lying in wait in the quarter-finals.

"He's going to be a big miss,” De Bruyne told the Manchester Evening News of Silva. “That's why you get young players in and learn from him. I did that myself, and hopefully we can end the season well for him. It would be great if we would win the Champions League so he can go in this way.

"It's good to stay in the rhythm. There's no point slacking a little bit then say in two weeks we'll put in another notch again. That's impossible in football.

"You need to keep going full pace, so it's good to keep going the 90 minutes and keep going until the end which we did. Now we have two weeks to prepare ourselves fully and we have another final in two weeks."

After a disappointing season which saw Liverpool race away with the league title and Arsenal or Chelsea set to lift the FA Cup, City need to see progress in Europe if they are to call the 2019-20 campaign a success.

The second leg against Real Madrid will be played in Manchester despite the UK's quarantine on arrivals from Spain, before the rest of the tournament is played out in Portugal.

With one-leg knock-out ties introduced for this season, City are two wins away from equalling their best ever European finish, the semi-final they reached under Manuel Pellegrini in 2016.

Whether City lift the famous trophy or not, their final game will be one tinged with sadness as Silva takes his leave.

"For me, he's probably one of the best players who's probably ever played in the Premier League," De Bruyne said. "Obviously you can always debate who is what but when you play with him you can appreciate what he does, day in, day out.

“I've played with him for five years so I've played a long time with him. We've won a lot together, we've won things together."

SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews says they have not received an offer from Orlando Pirates regarding their striker Bradley Grobler.

Although the Matsatsantsa boss says he doesn’t want to comment much on the matter involving their target man, he says they will wait for the Buccaneers to table a formal offer.

The 32-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to coach Josef Zinnbauer’s troops for some time but his agent Sean Roberts explains they have not been contacted by the former African champions.

“I cannot comment much on Bradley’s matter because Pirates have not contacted us,” Matthews told Isolezwe.

“We will wait for Pirates to come to us, we will take it from there and see how we deal with it.”

By the time the 2019/20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, Grobler was enjoying his best form for coach Kaitano Tembo’s side.

On the other hand, his handler Roberts has also shared an update on the talisman, saying his client remains contracted to the reigning MTN8 champions.

“Bradley is SuperSport United’s player. It’s not true that Pirates contacted us. He still has a valid contract with SuperSport,” added Roberts.

In the past, Roberts had confirmed interest from Pirates in his client but more recently said they don’t know if the Soweto giants will come back with renewed interest.

Grobler had been expected to join Bucs prior to the start of the current season after Thamsanqa Gabuza and Kudakwashe Mahachi moved to SuperSport, but the move to the Houghton-based side never materialized.

The Johannesburg-born hitman has found the back of the net on 12 occasions in the league for SuperSport and will look to challenge the likes of Gabadinho Mhango of Pirates in the race to clinch the top goalscorer award.

Formerly on the books of Platinum Stars, Grobler has featured in 28 matches with 15 goals across all competitions for the Tshwane giants and has chipped in with three assists so far.

Brazilian defender Ricardo Nascimento has signed a new three-year deal with Mamelodi Sundowns.

The Tshwane giants confirmed the news in a statement on Monday with the centre-back expressing delight at extending his stay three more seasons. 

"I feel very happy about the confidence Mamelodi Sundowns has shown in me and my football abilities. I want to thank the President, Dr Patrice Motsepe, the Board and the Technical team with Coach Pitso," Nascimento told the Sundowns website.  

"From the start, I was well-received by all the supporters and I'd like to thank the supporters and my teammates for making me feel so welcome. My family and I are enjoying the country and I must certainly say that South Africa is my second home." 

Nascimento joined the Brazilians from Portuguese outfit Academia in 2016 and has been a regular for Pitso Mosimane's team since then. 

After suffering a nasty groin injury at the start of the season, Sundowns allowed Nascimento to go back to Brazil and recover and temporarily decided against registering him with the PSL for the first half of the season.

Upon his recovery toward the end of 2019, the technical team registered him with the league for the remainder of the season.    

The latest developments mean Nascimento will spend at least seven years at Choorkop, and he's vowed to help the club win more trophies, including the Caf Champions League.   

"I want to promise Mamelodi Sundowns that I want to help the Club win more titles starting with the League and Nedbank Cup this season. I also want Sundowns to win the CAF Champions League and make more history," concluded Nascimento.

Since his arrival four years ago, Nascimento has featured in 101 matches for Sundowns. 

He has 13 goals and one assist to his name despite being a natural defender.  

The 33-year-old was instrumental in Sundowns lifting the Caf Super Cup trophy in 2017 as his penalty against TP Mazembe secured the crown for Mosimane's men. 

Following his return from the groin injury at the start of the year, Nascimento has gone on to make nine appearances across all competitions and scored once.