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Kenyan striker Albert Muema has set a target of notching 15 goals or more for MFK Lokomotíva Zvolen when the Slovakian league kicks off on August 2.

Muema signed for the Division Three club from Serbian First Division side FK Sindeljic at the end of last season but was yet to show his potential after the league was ended prematurely owing to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

But with the new season now set to start on August 2, Muema, who also featured for Kenyan Premier League (KPL) club Tusker, has exclusively told Goal his main target is to score 15 goals or more and help his team to earn promotion to Division Two.

“It has been tough for me since signing for MFK Zvolen but I am coping well now though it was tough because I was about to start the second half of the season in March to the end of June when Covid-19 struck and spoiled everything,” Muema told Goal on Friday.

“It was very tough because, after the winter break, we were forced to take pay cuts due to the pandemic affecting club finances, but now we have started pre-season training and I have regained my scoring touch with four goals and two assists in four games.

“I feel good when I head into the new season with such a good form and my target now is to make sure I score at least 15 goals and above and also help my team to achieve targets for the season.

“I also want to score in every game that we play as from next season and by God’s grace I would love to see myself playing consistently in a top European league.”

Muema has enjoyed a good start to pre-season as he scored his first goal and assisted one in a 3-0 win against FK Lieskovec and scored two goals in the second friendly with an assist as they beat FK Salkova 4-0.

In the third game, they lost 2-0 against FK Podkonice but recovered to beat FK Banska Stiavnica 4-2 where he found the back of the net once again.

Muema now believes his rise to form is because of staying calm, training according to coach’s instructions, and also his ambitions to cement his place in European football.

“I really struggled when I arrived here but now I have become a regular and getting the goals is one of my priorities, I just want to keep the form going into the new season, I have strived to make it here and I think I have the chance now to prove myself right,” Muema continued.

“I want to show people that I deserve to play here and for this great team, I want to fight for the team when given the chance [to play], we must achieve our targets for the new season and I want to lead from the front.”

On whether the cancellation of the league affected his plans with the team, Muema said: “Of course yes…it did, coronavirus affected my plans because I could not achieve the targets I had set for the season, and now I am forced to execute the same plans for next season.”

Playing under coach Milos Foltan, Muema will be hoping to start in their next match when MFK Zvolen take on TJ Sklotatran Poltar in the first round of the Slovak Cup on Saturday, before they open their league campaign with a clash against FK Jednota Banova on August 2.

Kalidou Koulibaly is backing Napoli to finish the 2019-20 Serie A season well and revealed his side will go all out against Barcelona in their Champions League game.  

The Parthenopeans are currently seventh on the league table with 56 points from 35 games, securing a place in the top European competition is all but over as they are 16 points below fourth-placed Lazio.

The Stadio San Paolo outfit, however, still have a chance to clinch a place in the Europa League next season as they are only three points below sixth-placed AC Milan.

The Parthenopeans played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash against Barca and Koulibaly believes their league matches, starting with Sassuolo on Saturday, will prepare them to take on the Spanish giants in the second leg in Naples.

"The goal is to finish the season very well and then look for a great result with Barcelona," Koulibaly told Radio Kiss Kiss.

"In the first leg the success in Reggio Emilia gave us the push to start well on the road, tomorrow we will play Sassuolo again and it will be a good test for us.  

“They have great dribblers and are a technical team. We will have to be good at taking up space and be more determined offensively.

"We have to acquire a winning mentality to aim at great levels. Now there is Sassuolo and we think about this match. Then we will try to progress well game by game up to Barcelona.

“Winning in Naples is special and unique. Nowhere in the world is there the warmth and passion of this city. We will try to give something important to our fans.

“Now we have three more games that must be played to the maximum strength in order to be ready for the Champions League challenge.

“We must grow and above all improve our mentality. We are not afraid and we will try to face Barcelona on equal terms to play for qualification until the end. "

Koulibaly, who has been linked to Premier League clubs Manchester United and Liverpool, has featured in 30 games across all competitions this season for Napoli.

The defender has been with the Parthenopeans since 2014 and was part of the side that won the Supercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia titles.

Koulibaly also played a key role for Senegal as they finished as runner-up in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Leroy Sane insists his decision to leave Manchester City was not driven by a loss of hunger at the Etihad Stadium, with the Bayern Munich new boy admitting that Pep Guardiola took his game to a “different level”.

The Germany international winger has headed home after four years in English football.

A productive spell at the Etihad Stadium delivered 135 appearances, 39 goals and two Premier League titles.

Sane still has plenty of potential to unlock in his game at 24 years of age and says that is the reason he has opted to head for the Allianz Arena.

He will be forever grateful to City and Guardiola, but has told reporters of a big career call: “I think he improved me a lot. When I came to Manchester City I was 19 and I had just had one full season where I had played here in Germany and there was a lot to improve and in every area.

“I can say I improved in every single area with him, doesn’t matter what it is – technically, the positional game, my whole game changed a lot because of the way he works and how he wants me to play. He brought me onto a completely different level.

“Obviously we won a lot in these four years but Bayern Munich also won a lot! I just had a personal feeling for myself.

“It was not anything about Man City or anything else – because we’d now won everything or I’d now lost the hunger or anything [like that]. It was just me personally. I just had a feeling and that’s why I came to this decision.”

Sane opted to link up with Bayern before the 2019-20 campaign came to a close, with that decision preventing him from representing either City or Bayern in the latter stages of the Champions League.

He added: “I thought about it, obviously, and City have the option to win the Champions League. But I made this decision and I’m totally fine with it.

“If City win it, then I’m happy for the club and for all my friends there but this was the way I went. If it really happens [and City win], I don’t think I will suffer with it a lot because I made the decision and nobody else.

“It was hard to say no to the Champions League. For everyone it is a dream to play in that competition. But it made more sense just to come here, to settle in, find a new home and to prepare really good for the next season. Everyone knows how difficult this season was for me.

“I have more time to settle in, to focus on the new team, to work with them and prepare myself really well for the next season. If I had stayed until after August then it would have been harder for me.”

Sane added on his general fitness as he links up with Bayern on the back of a serious knee injury suffered in a Community Shield outing for City in August 2019: “I can say I am really happy with my knee and how it healed up.

“I have no problems really anymore and I will just try to prepare really well, as best as I can for the first game and at the end we will see if it was enough or not.”

Jurgen Klopp has hit back at Frank Lampard after the Chelsea boss warned Liverpool’s coaching staff not to get “arrogant” following their Premier League title win.

Lampard had clashed with Pep Lijnders, Klopp’s assistant, during his side’s 5-3 defeat at Anfield on Wednesday night, and later continued the row in his post-match interview.

He said: "Some of the bench, it's a fine line between when you are winning - and they've won the league, fair play to Liverpool Football Club - but also don't get too arrogant with it.”

A video later emerged which showed Lampard telling Klopp to “f*ck off”, and the Liverpool  manager was asked about the row at his press conference ahead of the champions’ game with Newcastle this weekend.

Klopp responded: “You cannot hit me and my bench with something like that because we are not arrogant. 

“Frank was obviously in a really competitive mood and I respect that a lot. From my point of view in this sort of situation you can say pretty much what you want. For me, after the game it is completely over. 

“I said a lot in the past because it is pure emotion. He came here to win the game or get a point, to make Champions League qualification, and I respect that a lot. But what he has to learn is to finish it with the final whistle and he didn't do that. 

“Speaking afterwards about it like this, that's not okay, Frank has to learn this and he has a lot of time to learn as he is a young coach but that is what he has to learn. 

“During the game, the words used were no problem at all but after final whistle? No.

“We are not arrogant, we are pretty much the opposite. But in a moment like this in an argument you want to say something to hurt the other person. I have no problem with that but at the final whistle close the book. He didn't do that and that is what I don't like. 

“And by the way, the reason I speak now about it – because otherwise there would be no words from me - but because he spoke after about it, I feel the need to explain!”

Asked if there had been a particular moment during his career where he had learned not to keep an argument with a fellow manager going after the final whistle, Klopp said:  “I don't remember but probably, yes! 

“I really don't know. I respect all the other coaches. When you have a little look at yourself and know how outraged you can be in different situations - because we all have our own subjective view on a situation: foul, no foul, handball, and you feel that it's not fair and you feel you cannot wait until after the game. That happens. 

“Probably I had it but I don't remember. During the game for sure, after the game I don't remember.”

Lampard, for his part, explained his side of the story in his own press conference ahead of Chelsea’s game with Wolves.

The Blues boss said: “I think in terms of the language I used, I do regret that, because I think these things get replayed a lot on social media. I've got two young daughters who are on social media, so I do regret that.

“In terms of regretting having passion to defend my team, no, I could have maybe handled it slightly differently, to keep that language in.

“But what I felt was, and I want to be clear about this actually, that some of the reports were that I was upset with the celebrating of the Liverpool team.

“Far from it, I think Liverpool should celebrate as much as they want with the season they've had, they can celebrate like they did after the game, like they can celebrate every goal they score, like they celebrated when they won the league a month ago, and like they are talking they will celebrate one more time with their fans.

“I would have had a beer with Jurgen Klopp after the game and toasted the performance of what they've done this year. But there were things on the line I didn't like from their bench, not Klopp, people behind the bench, which I felt crossed the line, and that's what got me agitated.

“But it's done, it's done. Emotions run high, and amongst most managers, players and fans in this game. As I say, I regret the language, and we move on.”

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero could still be in with a chance of facing Real Madrid as he races to recover from a knee operation.

Pep Guardiola had previously said that the Argentine would not be back fit in time for the Champions League last-16 clash with the Spanish champions after he had surgery on a meniscus injury in June.

Aguero, 32, has stepped up his recovery work in the gym and although he has yet to return to the pitch, the City boss says he will have a full squad for the second leg at the Etihad Stadium, minus the suspended Benjamin Mendy.

"I think against Madrid everyone will be fit," Guardiola said ahead of Sunday’s final Premier League game against Norwich.

"Mendy is suspended but the other ones will be fit and I think in two weeks, barring a disaster in the training session that hopefully won't happen, everyone will be fit and we're going to count on the senior guys for this game."

Aguero was left on the bench for the 2-1 first-leg victory at the Santiago Bernabeu but having him available will be major boost, particularly with the quarter-finals to follow quickly after.

With second place already secure, Guardiola is focusing the next two weeks on their European challenge and wants to see an improvement on recent performances, particularly the disappointing FA Cup loss to Arsenal.

"We want to prepare the right way for Real Madrid," he said. "The game against Norwich and how they train this week will be what I base Madrid on. Every game will be an exam for me to see who is ready to play the game.

"Against Watford [we were] a little bit better. But still we need to improve."

Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will again be a key figure and the Belgian could set a new record for most assists in a Premier League season.

The 29-year-old is currently on 19 - one behind record-holder Thierry Henry - ahead of the visit of rock-bottom Norwich City.

Despite being beaten to the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year by Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, Guardiola says his contributions are clear to see.

"I think [Kevin] speaks for himself what he gives to our team," he said. "It’s not necessary to say how fantastic Kevin is. At the same time, congratulations to the captain at Liverpool. He’s a really good player.

"[Kevin] enjoys making assists, he’d love not to score millions of goals, he makes assists, but he’s taken penalties and free-kicks and taken responsibility to score goals which is most difficult thing.

"Not just this season, the numbers, the way he’s played is incredible. In the 100-point season, I’ll never forget how he played in this incredible milestone."

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard regrets telling Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp to “f*ck off” during a Premier League clash at Anfield, but makes no apologies for the passion he shows on the touchline.

The former England international found himself caught up in a war of words during a thrilling encounter on Merseyside which ended in a 5-3 defeat for his side.

Some of the decisions in that contest incurred the wrath of Lampard, while he did not take kindly to the antics of those on the opposite bench.

Tempers boiled over at one stage, with the Blues manager firing a foul-mouthed tirade at Klopp at his coaching team.

Lampard concedes that he should have chosen his words more carefully, telling reporters at his press conference to preview a final day outing against Wolves: “To be honest, I have seen the video and I was there. In terms of the language I used, I do regret that.

“These things get played a lot on social media. I have two young daughters on social media, but in terms of my passion to defend my team, then no [regrets].”

Lampard sought to explain himself at the time, with those in the Chelsea camp upset by the actions of those in a rival dugout.

He said: “There were a lot of things that were ongoing and on the bench ... I’ve got no problem with Jurgen Klopp, he’s managed this team and it’s fantastic.

“Some of the bench, it’s a fine line between when you are winning – and they’ve won the league, fair play to Liverpool Football Club – but also don’t get too arrogant with it.”

Lampard insists the issue blew over quickly and that he would have been happy to have a post-match drink with Klopp had Liverpool not been otherwise engaged in getting their hands on the Premier League trophy.

He added: “I would have had a beer with Jurgen Klopp to toast their success.

“There were things I didn’t like from their bench, not Jurgen Klopp, but their bench. Emotions run high in this game.”

While on the subject of questionable behaviour from those with strong ties to Liverpool, Lampard was also asked for his take on comments made by Jamie Carragher regarding Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The Reds legend has suggested that Chelsea have to make a change in the goalkeeping department if they are to become title contenders, but the man in charge at Stamford Bridge is reluctant to be dragged into that debate.

He said: “Don't want to comment on other people's comments about players. That's their opinion.

“I have to work behind the scenes. My only thought now is how we approach two games domestically and then Bayern. That goes for every player, not just Kepa.”

After facing Wolves, where they will be hoping to wrap up a top-four finish, Chelsea will take in a meeting with Arsenal in the FA Cup final before then heading to Germany for the second leg of a Champions League last-16 tie with Bayern Munich that they currently trail 3-0.

The South African Football Association (Safa) has taken the first step toward ensuring their referees are ready for the proposed football return date of August 1. 

Just over a week ago, Safa said their 110 match officials would not be ready to resume work on July 18. 

The association then requested for the match officials to be given enough time to prepare - undergo fitness and medical tests before the 2019-20 season can resume. 

The PSL accepted that football would not return in July - but didn't make it clear whether or not they would accept Safa's proposed date. 

In fact, according to Safa, PSL's response was that the league was re-engaging all stakeholders to plot the way forward and that they would return to the country's FA with a solid answer as soon as those discussions were concluded.   

Since then, there hasn't been communication between Safa and the PSL - meaning both the association and member clubs still don't know what the league's stance is on the proposed date of August 1. 

However, things could become clearer after Monday's board of governors meeting. 

The meeting was initially pencilled for July 24 but it had to be postponed following the passing away of Dr Irvin Khoza's wife Matina Elsie Khoza on Thursday. 

All the 32 teams under the PSL umbrella continue to train and they have now joined by the first group of referees who arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday.

In a statement released on Friday, Safa chief medical officer and compliance officer, Dr Thulani Ngwenya said he was happy with the condition of the officials who are already in camp and confirmed waiting for a full fixture list from the PSL before starting the process of deploying match officials.   

Safa released the following statement on Friday:  

South African Football Association (Safa) has called up the first group of match officials to camp at a Johannesburg hotel in anticipation of the resumption of professional football on 1 August 2020.

The match officials checked in at a Sandton hotel and all underwent COVID-19 testing.

The next group is expected to arrive next week and will also be tested and complete the pool required for the remainder of the season.

Safa chief medical officer, Dr Thulani Ngwenya said he is happy with the COVID-19 safety compliance measures at the hotel as well as the condition of the officials he has seen.

He added that the Association is now awaiting the match schedule from the PSL in order to process their appointment for the respective matches.

Kalidou Koulibaly admits that he “can’t make promises” to Napoli regarding his future, with the Senegal international continuing to be linked with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.

It is not the first time that the commanding 29-year-old centre-half has generated such talk.

Koulibaly has long been held up as one of the best defenders on the planet, with that standing delivering the inevitable rounds of transfer rumours on a regular basis.

He has always remained loyal to Napoli, who he has been with since 2014, however, there are suggestions that interest in the next window will be difficult to fend off.

Napoli have conceded as much, with club president Aurelio Di Laurentiis saying: “If City or United or PSG with €100m (£90m/$116m) showed up, I would think about it [selling Koulibaly] and it is probable that they [the player] would leave, always if their will was to leave.”

Koulibaly insists that his will is not to push for an exit in Naples, but he is aware that money talks in modern football and that he may be lured away to a new challenge as reports of interest from the Premier League continue to build.

He has told Radio Kiss Kiss: “I would love to stay at Napoli for life, but I can’t make promises.

“I am part of the project and at the end of the season I will speak to the directors. Right now, my mind is 100% on the pitch.”

Liverpool and Arsenal have been urged to make a move for Koulibaly if he becomes available, but it remains to be seen how much money is made available at Anfield and Emirates Stadium.

City are expected to have cash to splash on new recruits, with Pep Guardiola having been in the market for another centre-half since Vincent Kompany departed the Etihad Stadium.

They have also been advised to join the chase for Koulibaly, with Robbie Fowler telling The Mirror: “You look at City’s transfer profiling and they have bought young players with potential for a few years now.

"Quality yes, but always younger, with room for ­development. But I can see them going out and buying Kalidou Koulibaly for big money, even though he’s almost 30.

“Central defence has been their weakness this season and they need to address it. I’m convinced they will address it. That will see them come back even stronger. That will see a challenge to ­Liverpool that the football world can ­relish. And I think it will take both of them beyond the rest.”

Jose Mourinho is not expecting swift transfer business but believes Tottenham are moving in the right direction and will end the window with a "better, balanced squad".

Spurs have endured a tumultuous campaign with long-term manager Mauricio Pochettino sacked in November.

Former Chelsea boss Mourinho was appointed as head coach in Pochettino's place and has inspired an upturn in form, but Tottenham are still facing a battle to qualify for the Europa League.

Mourinho's side are seventh heading into the final day of the Premier League season, a position that would only mean European competition if rivals Arsenal failed to win the FA Cup.

But the Spurs coach is optimistic for the future, with the transfer window opening after this weekend's matches and the club ready to act.

"A new player on Monday would be amazing news, but I think it's just the opening of the window," Mourinho told reporters ahead of Sunday's clash with Crystal Palace, where Dele Alli will be fit to feature.

"I think we are going in the right direction, very calm, organised, thinking well, measured. I think we are going in the right direction.

"We know what we can and cannot do, we know which directions we can and cannot go. We must not be reactive. We are very balanced, together, and have no doubts about what we need and about what is possible.

"Step by step, we will end with a better, balanced squad. Of course, keeping the great players that we have is a very important thing."

Tottenham ensured one key man would remain at the club this week as Eric Dier signed a new contract.

At the end of a season in which Christian Eriksen left in a cut-price transfer and uncertainty has loomed over the futures of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen at various times, Mourinho suggested sorting Dier's deal swiftly was vital.

"It's really important," he said. "We look to the situation of last season where Spurs started the season with a few players going into the last years of their contract, with question marks on their future - like Christian.

"It's very important for us that Eric is not in this situation, that he's committed to the club, he's happy with the contract and his prospective future as a player here. We are very happy."

Vertonghen is still to agree a contract of his own, signing an extension only until the end of the season, but Mourinho would not be drawn on the issue.

"I think after eight years at the club, it's for Jan to be the man to speak about his future, not me," he said.

Jonny Evans claims to have talked Harry Maguire into making a move to Manchester United and tipped him to take the captain’s armband at Old Trafford within his first year.

A record-breaking £80 million ($102m) transfer was put in place for the England international during the summer of 2019.

Maguire had enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence by that point, finding himself as a key man for club and country just three years after turning out in the Championship with Hull City.

Evans claims to have never had any doubt that the 27-year-old could thrive on the grandest of stages, having working alongside him for a year Leicester.

The Northern Irishman knows all about the pressure of performing at United, having graduated out of their academy system, and always believed that Maguire would become skipper in Manchester.

Evans told MUTV: “When Harry signed for the club he had a decision where to go. I told him to go to United because it was the perfectly made club for him.

“I said that within a year at the club that he’d be captain and when he got given the captaincy I texted him and said: ‘That was quicker than what I expected!’.

“I think he’s got the perfect personality for it.

“If you look at Harry, he never gets injured, he’s played all season and I think he’s been a really good signing for United.”

Maguire and Evans are currently readying themselves for reunions with their former clubs.

United are due at the King Power Stadium on Sunday for a season finale that sees both sides in the mix for a top-four finish.

The Red Devils need only to avoid defeat in order to secure Champions League qualification, but Evans believes the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side could work in Leicester’s favour.

He added: “A lot of things do go down to the last game and now it’s come down to ourselves and United.

“We had a couple of days off after the last game against Spurs. It’s probably the first time we’ve had that chance with the games coming so thick and fast.

“Obviously, United haven’t had the chance to do that with the FA Cup fixture at the weekend. It’s been nice for us to have those two days away, especially after we lost at the weekend.

“There’s no pressure on us!

“I think there’s going to be more pressure on Man United and Chelsea with the history of the clubs in terms of qualifying and the expectations.”

After making the move to Kerala Blasters, Nishu Kumar is eyeing a spot in the first-team when the 2020-21 season Indian Super League kicks off later this year. 

In a live Instagram chat on Friday, the new signing revealed his personal objectives for the upcoming season, "I have to fight for my position in the first team. My personal goal is to be a regular in the team. I want to win the trophy and want to play in the AFC competitions in the future."

The young full-back is confident of adapting to head coach Kibu Vicuna's style of play after having discussed the same with the Spaniard. "I spoke with Kibu about tactics, I feel like I played a similar style before so it would be easier for me to adapt to his football."

The 22-year-old, who has spent five seasons with Bengaluru FC, also explained the reason for his decision to leave the Blues. "I am feeling super excited. I am very happy.  I spoke with the Blasters officials and they told me they have plans for the future and that they are building a good team.

"I wanted to face a new challenge, how I can survive in a new team. And it is Kerala, everyone wants to play for Kerala Blasters."

The fanbase of the Kochi-based club was also a tempting factor for the move. "Kerala Blasters fanbase is huge, they are loving, I am excited to play in front of them. I have already received so many messages from them. I can't wait (to get started)," Nishu said. 

The defender from Uttar Pradesh will be a versatile outlet for Vicuna on the field. Although he is right-footed and prefers to play as a right-back, he slotted in as a left-back for Bengaluru with ease. He has also turned out in midfielder and in central defence in the past. 

The Chelsea fan, who named his favourite footballers as John Terry and Cesar Azpilicueta, revealed. "My favourite position was centre-back. I was a centre-back till the U-17 level. Even in the U16 national team, I played as a centre-back. For U-19s, the coach changed my position. 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits resurgent Manchester United must "step it up even more" next season if they hope to compete with Liverpool and Manchester City.

United are battling for third place and Champions League qualification heading into their final Premier League game of the season at Leicester City on Sunday.

Although finishing third would be a positive outcome given it appeared a distant prospect earlier this year, United's standards have generally been set much higher during the Premier League era.

Given it is arch-rivals Liverpool and neighbours City who have been sweeping all before them, any United celebrations at the end of this campaign are bound to be on the quiet side.

A 13-match unbeaten run in the top flight has taken United to the precipice of a Champions League return next season, but Solskjaer sounded a wary note. His side sit a hefty 33 points behind Liverpool after 37 games and 15 adrift of City.

"We've not ended up anywhere yet, so it's one more game to show we've become a better team," he said. "If we get a result against Leicester, I think people would say this journey has been a good one - but then again, this is not the end of the journey. If you get there, it's not like 'breathe and relax'. It's 'go again, go to the next one'.

"We know that there are two teams too far ahead of us, so we have to step it up even more."

United's recent league form has suggested they could be plausible challengers in 2020-21, but Solskjaer's former Red Devils team-mate Gary Neville has claimed they will need to recruit well, signing three or four top players, just to be in the hunt for a top-three finish next term.

Asked about Neville's comments, Solskjaer told a news conference: "There's no point now discussing what we need for next season. We need to just focus on the game against Leicester."

As for whether third place was good enough for a club of United's stature, Solskjaer was non-committal, indicating he would rather enter that debate after his team wrap up their Premier League and Europa League campaigns.

"Let's get this game out the way and get the third position and continue the growth and the journey this team's on," he said.

"Of course we've had some hard times this season, some setbacks, but we've shown and we've proven this is a team going places, and if we can finish this season with a trophy in Europe and third position, we can discuss that then."

Jadon Sancho “would definitely fit the bill” for Liverpool, says Jason McAteer, with the Reds urged to snap up the Borussia Dortmund winger and put Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane “under pressure to perform”.

There have been plenty of calls for those at Anfield to bolster their attacking ranks in the next transfer window.

Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino form one of the most fearsome frontlines in world football, but there is little depth beyond them in a Premier League title-winning squad.

Divock Origi is a cult hero, Takumi Minamino is still finding his feet and Curtis Jones has plenty of potential to unlock.

Liverpool are, however, considered to be in need of a more proven performer that can be relied upon to slot seamlessly into their side to cover injury, suspension or loss of form.

McAteer believes that Sancho ticks that box, with the England international seeing a return to his roots mooted as he continues to spark talk of interest from the Reds, Manchester United and Chelsea.

“If they have the money then the player I would go for is Jadon Sancho,” former Liverpool star McAteer told the Racing Post.

“He would fit ideally into the system and next season would be the ideal time to blood him, unless there are injuries to the forward line and he was thrown in earlier than that.

“Maybe they could offer some players in part exchange to Dortmund as part of the deal because the biggest difficulty we have at present is knowing what the transfer market is going to look like.

“Liverpool have a gap for a fourth forward option and Sancho would definitely fit the bill.

“He could put Salah and Mane under pressure to perform. They have been brilliant but they haven’t really had anybody pushing them.

“We haven’t seen much of Takumi Minamino yet while Curtis Jones and Rhian Brewster are promising, but you need a fourth striker.

“You only need look at that great Manchester United side which had Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

“Timo Werner would have been a great fit too but the competition for places may have put him off and tipped the balance in Chelsea’s favour.

“You need players who can cope with that situation. But a season to settle at Anfield would do Sancho the world of good and then he could really kick on.”

Sancho has remained coy when quizzed on his future plans, while Dortmund have no desire to discuss a deal, but a big-money offer could see the talented 20-year-old on the move over the coming weeks.

Jordan Henderson was hailed for his "outstanding achievement" by Jurgen Klopp after picking up the Footballer of the Year award from the Football Writers' Association.

Liverpool's captain lifted the Premier League trophy on Wednesday and now has an individual honour to go alongside this season's team success.

England international Henderson, who has been out injured in recent weeks and will miss Sunday's season finale at Newcastle United, was urged by Klopp to "enjoy the moment".

The 30-year-old midfielder, who joined Liverpool from Sunderland in 2011, also led the team to Champions League glory last year.

In a video message to Henderson, Klopp said: "Hi my friend. One of the big questions in football is: what makes a proper player? What's more important? Is it talent or is it attitude?

"I think the easy answer is: without talent, you're nothing; without attitude, you will stay a talent forever. You are the perfect example that a mix makes the difference.

"So who would have thought that the young fella coming from Sunderland to Liverpool with big dreams would be one day the best player of the Premier League?

"Maybe you dreamt it. I'm not sure you thought it will happen but I know you are confident enough to have big dreams, but now is the moment where everybody saw it. Everybody saw what a great player you are, everybody saw what a great personality you are, what a great character you are.

"I know the human being behind the player and you would have deserved an award for that as well. So, many congratulations, well deserved, outstanding achievement.

"What a year you had, what a career so far you had, and the best news, there's still a lot to come.

"I wish you a wonderful day, enjoy the moment because you can enjoy it, you don't have to play at the weekend at Newcastle. Enjoy the moment and, again, best player of the Premier League, wow!"

Henderson saw off competition from Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, among others, to win the award.

The FWA Footballer of the Year - the oldest individual award in English football, given out every year since 1948 - is given to the player considered both to have had an outstanding impact on their club's performance in the season, as well as having performed well individually throughout the campaign.

Dejan Lovren’s six-year stay at Liverpool is coming to an end with Zenit St. Petersburg closing in on a €12 million (£10.9m/$9.4m) deal to sign the Croatian.

The Russian club have made their move to sign the 31-year-old, with talks already at an advanced stage. The transfer is expected to be finalised after Liverpool’s final game of the Premier League season away at Newcastle on Sunday. 

Lovren has been with the Reds since 2014 but made it clear he was ready to move this summer in search of regular first-team football. 

The former Southampton man is behind both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip in the Anfield pecking order, and has made only 15 appearances in all competitions this season. His last start came at Watford in February, when Jurgen Klopp’s side were beaten for the first time in the Premier League this season. 

Zenit expressed their interest in signing Lovren back in May, though reports in Russia suggesting he may be available for a knockdown price or even on a free transfer were quickly dismissed by Liverpool, who took up an option to extend the defender’s contract by a year in order to protect his value.

Roma were another club to have been linked, having tried to sign him on loan last year, while there have also been enquiries from at least two Premier League clubs during the last six months.

Speaking to Sky Sports in June, Lovren admitted he has struggled to accept being fourth choice under Klopp.

"It has been a test for me," he said. “But in these moments, I think you should stick with the team even more, to show your quality even if you are not on the pitch with the first XI. The next day in training, you should give everything, just to respect your team-mates.

"Of course, it's not the happiest moment when I see myself on the bench, but it's the decision of the manager. I respect it and I am always the guy who will work 200 per cent behind closed doors. It's just part of football. If 20 players could play, it would be nice, but there are only 11 places. Whoever is in the best shape will play and that's fair enough."

Lovren’s departure will leave Liverpool light on centre-back options. Matip and Gomez have shared duties alongside Virgil van Dijk this season, but both have a history of injury problems - Matip is ruled out for the rest of this campaign with a foot problem, for example.

The Reds signed two promising Dutch teenagers, Ki-Jana Hoever and Sepp van den Berg, in 2018 and 2019 respectively, but neither has featured yet in the Premier League, although both impressed in the FA Cup against Shrewsbury back in February.

There are also high hopes at the Academy for 17-year-old Frenchman Billy Koumetio, who was on the bench for the Carabao Cup game with Arsenal last October. 

Nat Phillips will return from a loan spell with Stuttgart, but has made only one senior appearance - as an emergency deputy against Everton in January. The 23-year-old is the subject of interest from a number of Championship clubs.

The South African Football Association (Safa) acting CEO Tebogo Motlanthe has revealed that the government created confusion between them and the PSL by sending two different letters to both organisations. 

Both Safa and PSL have, at times, found themselves at loggerheads with regard to the return of competitive football in the country.

According to Motlanthe, there were times when meetings were held at director general level with himself and PSL acting CEO Mato Madlala while other meetings were held between Safa president Dr Danny Jordaan and PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza.     

"For the JLC (Joint Liaison Committee) to sit‚ it was after the Safa president (Danny Jordaan) had met with the minister (Nathi Mthethwa) and the chairman of the league (Dr Irvin Khoza) saying that football needed to develop a one-voice policy‚" Motlanthe told the South African Football Journalists Association.

"The JLC was very successful. We succeeded in getting the communication and we knew that the communication was fine up until the government started communicating with us in a different way," he said. 

Motlanthe said Jordaan only became of a letter sent to the PSL by Mthethwa when he met with Khoza while Safa had a different letter to the one sent to them by the Minister of Sports. 

"You have a letter which the president (Jordaan) only became aware of when he met with the chairman (Khoza)," revealed Motlanthe. 

"And when it was asked‚ to say but‚ in terms of our meeting resolution the federation must be the ones communicating‚ then another letter came from the minister [to Safa]."

"And I think the source of the confusion is those two letters of the 28th and of the 5th. 

"I think they have created huge confusion‚ and they have derailed the discussions that were taking place," he continued. 

"Because I can tell you there were meetings that were held at the DG level where he would meet with me and the CEO of the league‚ and the minister‚ when he wanted a meeting‚ would meet with the Safa president and the chairman of the league."

"That was how communication was handled until those two letters came and really brought huge confusion."

Motlanthe said the letter Mthethwa sent to the PSL failed to address the role of Safa in the discussion for the return of football. 

The Sports Ministry had given Safa the power to play an overarching role in facilitating the resumption of PSL football. 

"Because now the PSL says‚ ‘Whatever we are doing we are basing it on the letter of the 28th‚ and they are ignoring the letter which came on the 5th‚ which says the association must [play an overarching role].

"That’s how the government has contributed to this confusion," concluded Motlanthe. 

Safa has proposed the first week of August as the return date for PSL football but the league is yet to make a decision on whether or not to accept it. 

The league and its board of governors will meet on Monday, July 27 to decide the future of the 2019-20 season and possibly go back to Safa with a solid answer.