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Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas has stated the club are not interested in M’baye Niang, insisted he is not among their transfer targets.

The 25-year old has been talked about for some time now about a possible move to the Stade Velodrome. There have however not been any concrete discussions about such a deal materialising.

Villas-Boas however did acknowledge there had been previous interest in Niang, with ex-Marseille sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta having contact with his agent.

“I don’t know why the Niang name has come out,” Villas-Boas told La Provence.

“We contacted his agent in February because Andoni [Zubizarreta] had a good relationship with him. We made our interest known about a transfer at the end of the year.

“His profile is interesting, but on the one hand we don’t have the money required and on the other hand, we did not put his name on the list of players to buy.

“It started to gather momentum and I do not know why, to the point where the player was in contact with certain members of our squad.

“I let the player’s entourage know that we are not in for him, we have not made an offer. We have neither the means nor the interest in bringing him in.

“I wish him the best. It is not because he does not have quality, but because we don’t have the capacity and we are looking for a different profile.”

Rennes previously stated there was interest for Niang no official bid has been made for him of which Marseille are among.

“We received a lot of expression of interest, but no offers,” Rennes chairman Nicolas Holveck said.

“No agreement as I have heard on some platforms, with Marseille in particular. We didn't even get a phone call from Marseille. M'baye is here today. He has expressed his wish to develop under different skies, but not as vehemently as the press reported it.”

Niang scored 15 goals in all competitions with Rennes finishing third in Ligue 1 after 28 matchdays and making it into the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

A new Ligue 1 season will begin on August 23 with Julien Stephan’s men travelling to a Lille side which finished just a point adrift of the final Champions League berth.

KF Tirana coach Ndubuisi Egbo has described becoming the first-ever African coach to win a title in Europe as “unexplainable”.

The former Nigeria international made the historic feat after the Albanian capital club defeated Flamurtari 2-0 last Saturday to go seven points clear of second-placed Kukesi with two rounds left to play.

Egbo’s accomplishment sent Nigerians and Africans into joyous mood with congratulatory messages flowing from different corners.

Tirana’s league triumph was their first in 11 years and their 25th overall as Albania’s most successful club. They also have a cup final against Teua Durres on August 1 and have also booked a berth in the next season’s Champions League from the first qualifying round.

"It's unexplainable," Egbo told ESPN.

"I am still trying to let it sink in because I didn't know how huge the success of what God used us to do was until I started hearing I'm the first African coach to achieve this feat. Many people from Nigeria, Egypt -- where I played before -- and other places have been reaching out.”

Tirana faced the agony of relegation during the 2016-17 season after finishing ninth in the 10-team Albanian top-flight. They gained promotion back in 2018-19 and Egbo admits it had not been an easy ride for the team he played with during his playing career.

"They were completely down and knocked out, and you can't imagine the psychological work that we did just to get them back," Egbo continued.

"I played for this team, and in two out of the three years we won the league, the cup and Super Cup; we needed to bring that winning mentality back, and that is what we did.

"You need to put fear in opponents, and when you get into a game, you have to enter like a king into the arena. It's your arena, and no one else should command it apart from you.

"[This is the] winning mentality every team should have, and this is the mentality and culture of this team, KF Tirana. This is a team that when they go away, they go to get a win and not a draw because draw away is like a loss."

Egbo has been with Tirana since 2014 and has taken on the managerial role on an interim basis on multiple occasions, saying he turned down offers to take on the job permanently as he believed he was not qualified enough.

Despite turning the fortunes of the club around, the former goalkeeper narrates racial discrimination shown towards him in some quarters at the club. Egbo’s name is ringing at a time when calls are being made for more inclusion of black managers in European leagues.

"They attacked me many times, saying things like 'he doesn't have experience,' 'he is just a goalkeeper coach,' even though I took the UEFA Pro Licence [the highest coaching certification] before some of them that are analysing me," Egbo said.

"They have other local coaches that are coaching in the league, but they don't attack them the way they attack foreign coaches.

"They have an Italian coach in one other team and same thing is done to him, but because he is European, his attacks aren't as much as mine. Because I'm a Black man, the attack is more because they can't accept it.

"These are the things that make it very difficult to be able to work. You need patience, you need endurance, you need the grace and will of God to succeed."

Egbo also cited former Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu and assistant Joe Erico as having a big influence on his managerial career.

"When I took over this time, I felt like I had got the experience passing through many coaches, learning from all the coaches that I have worked with in the club, coupled with everything I have learnt from my career and all the coaches I worked with -- especially back home," he said.

"Coaches like Christian Chukwu and Joe Erico, one of the best coaches I have gone through in my career, who taught me more than just about football. And his lessons got me to where I am today.

"Also, his playing pattern. They used to say back then that if you don't come to the stadium on time, you won't see our first goal. That is the way I have my team playing here. We attack as a team and defend as a team."

Egbo is keen to take Tirana into the Champions League group phase, something no Albanian team has been able to achieve. He is also hopeful the mark he has made will give room for more African coaches to have more opportunities.

"First of all, our objective is to reach the group stage, and from there, we would set another objective for ourselves," Egbo said.

"Because no Albanian team has been able to do it. So we are expecting that we can go into the group stage. That would be a huge achievement for an Albanian team.

"I hope this achievement isn't only for me, but it will help other African coaches to be given opportunities to showcase what they can do and to be an encouragement to push them to do more for themselves."

Semi Ajayi has helped West Bromwich Albion gain promotion to the Premier League despite playing out a 2-2 draw against QPR in their final Championship fixture of the season.

Ajayi produced a solid defensive performance while DR Congo-born Grady Diangana starred for the Baggies with a goal and an assist in the fixture.

Ryan Manning opened the scoring at the Hawthorns in the 34th minute but Diangana ensured both teams went into the break level, thanks to his 44th-minute goal.

Four minutes after the restart, the DR Congolese assisted Callum Robinson to put West Brom ahead but the lead was short-lived as Nigerian descent Eberechi Eze found the back of the net for QPR just after the hour-mark.

Ajayi played from start to finish for Bilic's men while Egypt's Ahmed Hegazi was an unused substitute.

The Nigeria international made himself a key player for the Baggies in his debut campaign, making 43 Championship appearances with five goals to his name.

Eze played the entire 90 minutes for the visitors, and he ended the season with 14 league goals and eight assists while Nigeria-born Bright Osayi-Samuel returned to Mark Warburton's starting XI after missing Saturday's seven-goal thriller against Millwall due to ongoing transfer negotiations with a Belgian club.

Osayi-Samuel played for 79 minutes as QPR ended their 2019-20 league season in the 14th spot with 58 points after 46 games.

West Brom, meanwhile, sealed the final automatic promotion slot with 83 points after their closest rivals Brentford were stunned at home by Barnsley.

They join Leeds United in securing Premier League football next season while Brentford, Fulham, Cardiff City and Swansea City will battle it out for the last promotion ticket via play-offs.

West Brom clinched the second automatic promotion place in the Championship on a dramatic final day of the season as Wigan Athletic's spirited survival bid failed.

After both West Brom and Brentford were beaten at the weekend, the Baggies only needed to match the third-placed side's result to seal a return to the Premier League after two seasons away in England's second tier.

A seemingly straightforward home fixture against QPR did not go entirely to plan for West Brom, but a 2-2 draw took them up as Brentford went down 2-1 to Barnsley on Wednesday.

That result saw Barnsley stay up, but Wigan could not join them as they drew 1-1 with Fulham – who could have been promoted with a win – and went down due to a looming 12-point deduction.

Charlton Athletic and Hull City were also demoted, while there was a similarly chaotic finish in the play-off race.

BAGGIES BEST BRENTFORD

Both West Brom and Brentford lost their nerve with two matches of the campaign remaining, but a return of just a single point from a pair of games proved enough for Slaven Bilic's team.

Following Friday's defeat to Huddersfield Town, West Brom were boosted by Brentford's own reverse at Stoke City yet could not beat QPR.

West Brom trailed to Ryan Manning's strike before turning the match on its head with goals either side of half-time through Grady Diangana and Callum Robinson, only for Eberechi Eze to equalise just past the hour-mark.

It mattered not, though, as Brentford failed to capitalise, instead losing again.

Josh Dasilva cancelled out Callum Styles' Barnsley opener, but as Brentford pushed for a precious winner, Clarke Oduor tapped in at the other end in the 91st minute.

BRAVE BARNSLEY, WIGAN WOE

There were contrasting scenes at full-time in the final regular league match at Griffin Park after Barnsley celebrated as Brentford collapsed.

The visitors were heading down until Oduor struck but stayed up at Charlton's expense, the Addicks going down 4-0 at champions Leeds United.

Hull propped up the table after a 3-0 defeat at Cardiff City, while Luton Town stayed up thanks to a rallying 3-2 success at home to Blackburn Rovers, aided by two own goals.

Wigan needed to win due to their deduction following administration, but one of the form teams in the division let a lead slip against Fulham, their total of 59 points bumped down to 47 to fall a painful point short.

SWANS SAVOUR GOAL SWING

With rivals Cardiff comfortable in claiming their play-off place, Swansea City needed to beat 10-man Reading while Nottingham Forest lost to Stoke City, along with a five-goal swing.

Improbably, the Swans stole sixth place from Forest after a remarkable finale.

The Welsh side won 4-1, netting their fourth in the 91st minute as Wayne Routledge headed in his second.

That scoreline left Forest – 3-1 down at home to Stoke at the time – needing to score, but instead they conceded, their promotion bid derailing in spectacular fashion as Nuno da Costa stabbed into his own net in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

The 4-1 defeat meant Forest – without a win since July 1 – finished seventh.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Derby County, Millwall and Middlesbrough, bringing the curtain down on another season in gripping fashion.

Romelu Lukaku's wastefulness proved costly as Fiorentina claimed a 0-0 draw at San Siro to leave toothless Inter's Serie A title hopes hanging by a thread.

Lukaku could have had a first-half hat-trick on Wednesday but a combination of poor finishing and inspired Viola goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano left Inter frustrated time and again.

The Belgium striker and Alexis Sanchez hit the woodwork as Antonio Conte's side missed the chance to move above Atalanta into second place with three games to play.

Inter dominated the majority of the match but could not find a way past Terracciano and it should be only a matter of time before Juve celebrate another Scudetto.

Terracciano produced a sharp double save to prevent Martin Caceres scoring an own goal and deny Lukaku in a bright start for Inter.

Terracciano again showed sharp reflexes to tip Nicolo Barella's rasping long-range drive wide for a corner before Lukaku rose unmarked to head Christian Eriksen's inviting cross against the far post from point-blank range with rain lashing down.

Lukaku spurned another great chance when he was left unmarked again, drilling straight at the busy Terracciano from six yards out after the Nerazzurri lost Stefan de Vrij to a sprained knee in a frustrating first half.

Antonio Candreva showed Lukaku how it is done when he volleyed home, but the flag was correctly up for offside and Sanchez's strike was tipped onto the post by Terracciano as the opening goal remained elusive.

Lautaro Martinez came on with just over 20 minutes remaining, but only the alertness of Samir Handanovic to keep out a close-range effort from Pol Lirola stopped Fiorentina snatching all three points.

What does it mean? Inter set to fall short

Inter only have themselves to blame for dropping points for the second successive game, having rescued a 2-2 draw courtesy of a late Lukaku penalty at Roma last time out.

Realistically they are highly unlikely to catch Juve, as they trail the leaders by seven points and Maurizio Sarri's men have a game in hand.

The Bianconeri will be the Serie A champions for a ninth straight season if they defeat Udinese on Thursday.

Terracciano to the rescue

While it was not an evening Inter will want to remember, Terracciano added some highlights to his showreel. The fired-up Fiorentina goalkeeper was commanding throughout, showcasing his shot-stopping ability and excellent handling with eight saves to stretch his team's unbeaten run to six games.

Lukaku lacking composure

Lukaku has scored 27 goals in all competitions in his first season at Inter, but he was anything but clinical after coming back into the starting line-up. The former Manchester United striker snatched at first-half opportunities and ought to have had the game wrapped up by the interval.

Key Opta Facts

- Inter have drawn a league match against Fiorentina for the first time since November 1996 (2-2).
- Fiorentina have picked up 12 points in their past six Serie A games; one fewer than in their previous 11.
- Inter have hit the post seven times in their past nine league games, as many as in their previous 23.

What's next?

Inter travel to relegation-threatened Genoa on Saturday, with the Viola travelling to the capital to do battle with Roma.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer thinks Paul Pogba should have ‘taken it in the mush’ after the Frenchman handled the ball in the area to give West Ham a penalty at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.

Michail Antonio put the hosts ahead from the spot after Pogba opted to use his hands to cover his face and block Declan Rice’s shot. Gary Neville, on commentary duties for Sky, criticised the midfielder for his actions and Solskjaer said after the game he should have taken it to the face.

He said: “It was a natural reaction, he held his hand up knowing he should have taken it in the mush instead.”

Mason Greenwood’s second-half equaliser means Man Utd now go into the final game of the season against Leicester on Sunday knowing a point will be enough to secure them Champions League football next season.

But, even that could be a tough ask after another tired performance from Solskjaer’s side.

“Going into half time we knew that’s not the result we wanted and a draw or 1-0 win or 2-0 was the same outcome for us it would mean same starting point in Sunday," he said. 

"We can’t expect to turn teams over and score three or five which is what we would have to have done to have a different scenario for Sunday.”

Solskjaer added. “We have a chance go there and if we can beat them big we will be delighted we have caught up with goal difference and we now need a point.

Fantastic opportunity, we know we will play against a good team who are dangerous in different aspects and can do different things tactically. But we will enjoy the extra 24 hrs break we have this week compared to last.”

And after another goal, Greenwood is in line for another start at the King Power after impressing his manager.

“He’s bailed us out a few times and He’s done it again top lass ever since we gave him an opportunity,” Solskjaer said.

“The last game of last season was his first start and he’s grown and grown in confine and belief he trusts that his qualities and attributes can work at the highest level and we expect him to hit the target.

"Chance first half very good strike unfortunate block the kid is going from strength to strength.”

Swansea City have made it into the Championship promotion play-offs after they saw off Reading 4-1 at the Madejski Stadium with Yakou Meite getting a straight red card and Andre Ayew providing an assist.

The South Wales outfit bagged a 1-0 win over Bristol City at the weekend which gave them hopes of making the playoffs should they beat Reading while their closest challengers in rivals Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest lose either of their respective matches against Hull City and Stoke City.

It clearly went according to script with Forest losing 4-1 at the bet365 Stadium, conceding late via a Nuno Da Costa own goal which means Swansea finished level on 70 points but with a better goal difference.

Ayew prior to the match said the team would not be giving up without a fight despite the difficult situation they found themselves in hoping their rivals lost their matches.

Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster gave them the lead in the 17th minute for his 10th Championship goal since arriving in January.

Reading were then reduced to 10 men after Meite - who netted in a 4-3 defeat at Blackburn Rovers last time out, got a straight red card for violent conduct in the 40th minute.

Mark Bowen’s side still managed to respond with George Puscas scoring from the penalty spot two minutes to the break.

It was all Swansea in the second half with former Tottenham Hotspur winger Wayne Routledge scoring a brace while Liam Cullen also added his name on the scoresheet to complete the demolition.

Ayew headed the ball in the path of the latter to finish off a left-footed shot that found its way into the top-right corner of the net.

It was the Ghana captain’s seventh assist in the Championship this season and added to his 15 goals makes him Swansea’s highest goal contributor. He scored two goals since the restart in a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday and a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest, Nigerian winger Sammy Ameobi scoring a brace for the Reds.

Swansea end the season with 18 wins from 46 games, drawing 16 and losing 12. They scored a total of 62 goals and conceded 53.

Steve Cooper’s men will face Brentford at home in the first leg of the play-off semis on Sunday before travelling to Griffin Park for the return leg three days after.

Fulham faces Cardiff City in the other semi.

Leon Balogun’s Wigan Athletic have been relegated from the Championship after settling for a 1-1 draw against Fulham on Wednesday.

They were 13th in the league table before the final game of the season but the Latics were deducted 12 points by the EFL for entering administration which will move them down to the bottom three.

Balogun was in action for 90 minutes at the DW Stadium but his defensive contributions were not enough for the hosts as they registered their third draw in their last five league outings.

Kieffer Moore got Wigan off to a flying start with his opener in the 32nd minute but his opener was cancelled out by DR Congo's Neeskens Kebano who equalised for Fulham four minutes into the second half.

The strike was Keebano's third goal of the season, four days after he opened his account with a brace against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Balogun made his 11th appearance in the second division on Wednesday and he partnered Ivory Coast's Cedric Kipre in the heart of Wigan's defence.

Egypt's Sam Morsy was also in action for the hosts but he was shown a yellow card in opening 20 minutes of the encounter.

The result had no implication on Fulham's position in the Championship table as they finished fourth with 81 points after 45 matches and they qualify for the play-offs.

After the deduction of the 12 points, Wigan will end the 2019-20 campaign with 47 points and they will drop to 23rd in the standings.

The demotion might come as a blow for Balogun who recently joined the Latics on a permanent deal until the end of the season after his initial loan from Brighton and Hove Albion expired in June.

Kenyan wonderkid Clarke Oduor came off the bench to net a 91st-minute winner for Barnsley as they defeated Said Benrahma’s Brentford 2-1 at Griffin Park to avoid relegation to the EFL League One.

The 21-year-old scored his first senior goal at the death to ensure the Yorkshiremen will enjoy Championship football again next term.

Brentford headed into the match eyeing automatic promotion, and this appeared within their grasp as rivals West Bromwich Albion toiled against Queens Park Rangers at The Hawthorns, in a match that ultimately ended 2-2.

A win would have been enough to have sent the Bees into the Premier League at Albion’s expense, but having lost against Stoke City at the weekend, they were stunned by Oduor and Barnsley at the death.

Angola’s Josh Dasilva gave Brentford a fighting chance with a 73rd-minute equaliser to cancel out Callum Styles’ opener for Barnsley, but Oduor, who had been introduced as an 86th-minute substitute, arrived at the back post to meet Patrick Schmidt’s cross in second-half stoppage time.

The goal prompted delirious celebrations from the travelling Barnsley team—all of whom piled on top of Oduor in delight after his maiden strike for the club—while Brentford slumped to the turf in dismay and must now face the playoffs.

Benrahma, linked with a move to Chelsea, Arsenal and Leicester City in recent weeks, was lively in his left-wing role, but Thomas Frank’s side lacked the fluidity and the zip they showed in their eye-catching eight-game winning run, and will regret failing to take a handle on the game.

This was Oduor’s 16th Championship outing of the season, with the left-sider starting 12 matches and coming off the bench as a substitute in a further four matches.

He was born in Siaya County, Kenya, and moved to England as a youngster before beginning his career with Leeds United after being promoted from their academy, signing a professional contract in early 2007.

He signed permanently for their Yorkshire rivals Barnsley last year, penning a contract until 2023 with Tykes.

While the Yorkshire side evaded relegation, Wednesday’s final day represented the end of the road for Charlton Athletic, Wigan Athletic and Hull City, all of whom dropped into the third tier of English football.

Harry Maguire says Paul Pogba apologised to his Manchester United team-mates after giving away a penalty in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against West Ham.

The Hammers took the lead at Old Trafford when Pogba blocked a shot with his hand, allowing Michail Antonio to convert from the spot.

United pulled level early in the second half when Mason Greenwood fired past Lukasz Fabianski, but were unable to take control of the Premier League encounter.

Although Maguire feels the penalty was harsh on Pogba and the Red Devils, he says the France international has taken responsibility for the mistake.

"You could say it was a natural reaction from Paul. Should he do it? He probably should take one in the face, but he has apologised, he held his hands up and knew that he shouldn’t do that," Maguire told Sky Sports.

"It was soft because it’s probably not ending up in a goal, they’ve been given a penalty and got an amazing opportunity to take the lead."

He added: "We came here wanting three points so we’re disappointed. When we play at Old Trafford we want to win every game.

"We started the game really well, on the front foot, we dominated the first 30 minutes. We should really try and score but we always need the ball to bounce for us or be more clinical in front of goal and we conceded a soft goal and made it hard for ourselves.

"It was a good reaction at the start of the second half, [but] we huffed and puffed and we weren’t good enough. We gave the ball away far too much and maybe ran out of steam a bit.

"The momentum of the game just kept stopping, sub after sub, drinks break, VAR, we couldn’t get any flow to the second half, I’m sure their players would say the same. It just felt like we played for three minutes and then stopped for a minute. We can’t make excuses.

"The schedule has been ridiculous. I think we’ve played four games in nine days or something, but it’s no excuse. We’re fully prepared. We started with a high intensity. We haven’t been starting games well, we’ve been finishing them a lot better.

"I wouldn’t say we’ve run out of steam. We’re already well prepared and got a huge game on Sunday and we’re looking forward to it."

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team are third in the table heading into Sunday's season finale against Leicester, who are just a point behind.

With a place in next season's Champions League at stake, Maguire says his side will be ready to face the Foxes.

"It’s a big game. They’ve had a great season and got themselves in a great position," he said.

"A few months ago you probably wouldn’t have seen us catching them but we’ve had a great run ourselves. It’s disappointing tonight and against Southampton. It was disappointing not to win either of those games, but we’ve got ourselves in a great position.

"Six months ago you would have snatched someone’s hand off to go to Leicester and have an amazing opportunity to get Champions League football, which we set out to do. We’re ready, there’s no excuse for us to be tired. It’s a big game, if you can’t get up for that game then you’re in the wrong sport."

Monaco winger Henry Onyekuru is targeting a return to the Premier League after his unsuccessful stint at Everton.

Onyekuru joined Everton from Belgian outfit Eupen in 2017, but he was unable to secure a work permit in England which forced him to move to Anderlecht on loan in his first year and later to Galatasaray the following season.

After failing to secure a spot at Everton, the 23-year-old moved to Monaco on a five-year deal last summer where he struggled to play four league games before returning to Turkish giants Galatasaray on a short-term loan in January.

Ahead of his Monaco return, Onyekuru is hoping to rediscover his form in the Ligue 1 club with the dream of securing a Premier League move.

"We have our plans but then life brings its own plans, but I am still working on it, and hopefully I will be back soon, maybe not with Everton but surely in the Premier League," Onyekuru told BBC Sport.

"I have been with players like Keita Balde from my days at the Aspire Academy, Cesc Fabregas is a top guy, who welcomed me when I arrived at the club, it's like going back home.

"Monaco are a big club they know how to work with their players when it comes to transfers, just look at Anthony Martial.

"I hope to make a good season or two and hopefully the future will be bright."

The Super Eagles winger recently ended his second temporary stint at Galatasaray where he returned with a goal after 10 Super Lig matches in the second half of the 2019-20 season.

Onyekuru has been a regular fixture in Gernot Rohr's Super Eagles set-up since his debut outing against Togo in an international friendly in June 2017.

A knee injury ruled him out of the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia but he was part of Nigeria's 23-man squad that won bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Former Nigeria U17 coach Emmanuel Amuneke believes Lille star Victor Osimhen can be better than former Chelsea and Galatasaray star Didier Drogba one day.

A few months ago, Osimhen was compared to the two-time African Footballer of the Year by his former teammate at Sporting Charleroi Nicolas Penneteau.

The Nigeria international was in fine goalscoring form in his debut Ligue 1 campaign, returning 13 goals in 27 matches and he was crowned the best African player in the French top-flight this year.

When quizzed about the comparison with Drogba, Amuneke - who led the 21-year-old and the Golden Eaglets to U17 World Cup success in Chile five years ago - thinks Osimhen can take his game beyond the Ivorian legend's level.

“Victor is still young, he has still a long road to reach Didier's level. But, in my opinion, one day he could become even better than him. Maybe, by playing in the Serie A.,” Amuneke told Tuttomercato Web.

“To change championship and country again, after Germany, Belgium and France, will let him experience a new reality and to improve as a man and player.

“It's clear Napoli are one of the most important clubs in Italy, with a great history and passionate fans like few others. In my opinion, Osimhen has everything to become an idol to Napoli fans in the next years, he will only need some time to settle down."

Amuneke who is currently acting as sporting director for Egyptian Premier League side El-Makkasa, played for Barcelona between 1996 and 2000, and helped the Spanish giants lift the Copa del Rey in 1997.

Ahead of the Champions League return fixture between Barcelona and Napoli on August 8, the 1994 African Footballer of the Year has predicted an ‘open’ encounter at Camp Nou.

Both teams settled for a 1-1 draw back in February after Antoine Griezmann cancelled out Dries Mertens' opener at Stadio San Paolo.

"After the long stop due to the coronavirus a lot has changed, Barcelona remain Barcelona but Napoli can play their cards and progress. Everything is open from my point of view,” he said.

Ghana Premier League club Hearts of Oak have made another addition to their squad with the acquisition of forward Isaac Mensah.

The striker has joined the Accra-based side in a three-year deal from lower division fold Nkoranza Warriors.

He is the latest to join the Phobian family following the likes of former Bechem United ace Abedenago Tetteh and returnee defender Nuru Sulley.

"Accra Hearts of Oak is delighted to announce the signing of Isaac Mensah from Division One outfit Nkoranza Warriors after successful negotiations," Hearts announced on their official website on Wednesday.

"The striker has signed a three-year deal with the capital club and will join his colleagues to prepare for the start of the new season when the green light is given for football to return after the coronavirus pandemic has been calmed.

"Mensah started for Nkoranza Warriors in the season just gone by that was cancelled due to the Covid-19 breakout. He scored eight goals for the Division One, Zone One side including four in a single game against Gbewaa FC before the season was called off.

"Mensah started his career at youth side Royals SC at Konongo in the Ashanti region before making the switch to Nkoranza a couple of seasons ago."

Ahead of next season, Hearts have also already secured the services of Nigerian striker Danjuma Ademola Kuti and Ivorian attacker Eric Dizan Bi.

“I am very happy to have signed for a huge club like Hearts of Oak and, I cannot wait to get started with my new teammates," Mensah said.

“It is every young players’ dream to play for a big club at the highest level and I want to help the club win trophies and leave a good imprint at the club.

“I want to make the fans happy with good performances and, I will work hard to repose the trust imposed in me by the team."

Hearts are the second most successful club in the history of the Premier League, having won 19 titles.

The Phobians also won the Caf Champions League in 2000, the Caf Super Cup in 2001 and the 2004 Caf Confederation Cup.

Leroy Sane has urged David Alaba to stay at Bayern Munich so the pair can play in the same team.

Alaba, 28, has been linked with a move away from the Bavarian side as he has just 12 months left on his contract, with Manchester City reportedly eager to sign him.

Sane, meanwhile, has moved in the opposite direction after Bayern reached a €49 million deal (£45m/$55m) with the Premier League side.

The Germany international is excited by the idea of playing alongside his friend Alaba and hopes to convince the Austrian full-back to continue his career with the Bundesliga giants.

“I really hope David stays. I would like to play with him. He is a good guy, a great footballer, and we like each other privately,” Sane said to Sport Bild.

“David has proven that he is not only one of the world’s best left-backs, but also exceptional in the centre.”

Sane spent four years with Pep Guardiola’s team after joining from Schalke and went on to lift two Premier League titles, two League Cups and the FA Cup on one occasion.

He had been limited to just one league appearance this term, however, as an injury kept him sidelined while City surrendered the crown to Liverpool.

With Bayern on a record run of eight consecutive Bundesliga titles, Sane is confident of winning even more silverware and has his eyes on the European crown.

“I can feel [the excitement at Bayern]. The boys are hot and focused, they have big goals with the club,” he added.

“I think a lot can be achieved. I definitely see a realistic chance of winning the Champions League with Bayern.”

The 24-year-old is also back in Germany coach Joachim Low’s plans despite being left out of the squad for the 2018 World Cup and he is eager to resume his international career.

“I was very surprised about that. Statements and judgements about my character came from many corners, from people who don't know me personally and don't know what makes me tick,” he said.

“I wondered how things like that came about? If I don’t know a person, I would never talk about their character.

“I was far away [from Germany] and, of course, there is speculation. But still, I found it strange, surprising.

“I’ve completely ticked off the 2018 World Cup chapter, and I don't think about it anymore. My relationship with Jogi Low was very good right from the start, and that hasn't changed.

“He is counting on me for the future, and I appreciate that. I really enjoy working with him. I didn't focus on the national team when I made the transfer but I know how much it has helped the national team when there was a strong Bayern block at tournaments.”

Former Cameroon midfielder Thomas Libih says they “greeted with pride” the achievements of compatriot Pierre Achille Webo who helped, as an assistant coach, Istanbul Basaksehir win the Turkish Super Lig title.

Istanbul Basaksehir sealed their first-ever league title last weekend following a 1-0 win over Kayserispor and were confirmed as champions with one match to go.

The dislodging of Galatasaray as Turkish champions comes eight months after 38-year-old Webo joined Istanbul Basaksehir as assistant coach to Okan Buruk.

“It can only be a great joy to know that a compatriot has gone beyond our borders and that he was able to obtain such a crowning. The news was greeted with pride especially from our side who do the same job,” said Libih as per Radio Sport Info.

Webo spent seven years of his playing career in Turkey including a one-and-a-half season stint at Istanbul Basaksehir between 2011 and 2013.

Istanbul Basaksehir was his first port of call when he arrived in Turkey from Spain before returning to the club at a different capacity as a technical staff member.

With Webo having retired as a player in 2018 before landing the Basaksehir role the following year, Libih stresses that it is important for footballers to decide if they want to venture into coaching while still playing.

“When you are a player and you already think about quitting one day, you have to start thinking about it [coaching],” Libih said.

“It is not at a dead end that it should be done. There are players who have a bitter taste when they quit, they don't want to hear about football anymore.

“We must not fall for everything that is going on around it. It's about staying professional and thinking that football has given you everything and in return, you can give it something good.”

Webo becomes the first Cameroonian tactician to win a league title in Europe.

Libih who once played as a midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns and is now Cameroon national Under-17 coach feels that being an African should not be a drawback from coaching in Europe.

“It generally depends on those around [an African coach getting an opportunity to coach in Europe]. If these people care about you so much, the better,” said Libih.

“Those who are with him take him to heart and they have respected what Achille has done for the club. Today they will realise they were right.”

Webo’s achievements came the same weekend former Nigeria goalkeeper Ndubuisi Egbo guided Albanian side KF Tirana to a league title as head coach.

Manchester United recovered a 1-1 draw at home to West Ham that moved Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side into the Premier League top four and saw their opponents safe.

With a result that suited both sides, albeit one that will be celebrated more by the Hammers, United leapfrogged Leicester City - their final-day opponents - as David Moyes’ side pulled four points clear of the relegation zone.

The Old Trafford outfit will clinch Champions League qualification with just a draw at fifth-placed Leicester, although they briefly threatened to follow up their FA Cup exit to Chelsea with another defeat on Wednesday.

Paul Pogba's foolish handball was punished from the penalty spot by the in-form Michail Antonio, but Mason Greenwood struck six minutes into the second half to take United up to third prior to Chelsea's clash with Liverpool.

The hosts had enjoyed a lively start as Lukasz Fabianski made low saves from both Anthony Martial and Greenwood by the third minute, yet their momentum soon waned.

After the West Ham goalkeeper then parried a Marcus Rashford drive with relative ease, the breakthrough came at the other end in first-half stoppage time.

Pogba lifted his arms to block Declan Rice's powerful strike following a free-kick, gifting West Ham a penalty that Antonio tucked away.

But United responded in fine fashion following the restart as an intricate move between Pogba, Martial and Greenwood on the edge of the area ended with the teenager lashing a low finish past Fabianski.

The under-fire David De Gea saved smartly from Jarrod Bowen, before Rice arrowed just wide of the top-right corner, yet United held on for a point that could yet prove pivotal.

They could also have stolen a scarcely deserved victory with five minutes remaining as Odion Ighalo - waiting to break his league duck for United - stabbed wide.

What does it mean? United in the driving seat but Leicester given confidence

United's last-day visit to Leicester always looked crucial, but Solskjaer's side can now head to the King Power Stadium knowing they do not even need to win to finish in the top four.

Unbeaten in 13 in the league, this result - albeit just a draw - was far more important than an underwhelming home performance, although Leicester may well feel confident of a win if the Red Devils cannot lift themselves on Sunday.

Mason the man for Man Utd

Like fellow goalscorer Antonio, Greenwood has kicked on since the season's restart and this might prove to be his most important goal yet.

A first-half effort was blocked by Angelo Ogbonna, but the 18-year-old was unerring when the next chance came his way and now has 17 in all competitions this term, a joint-record among United teenagers.

Pogba's penalty faux pas

A surprise exclusion from the United team against Chelsea, this was not the return to the XI Pogba would have hoped for.

Having had little impact on the first half, the midfielder bizarrely handled and only made matters worse by apparently feigning a blow to his face as the VAR pored over an error former United captain Gary Neville swiftly described as "embarrassing".

Key Opta Facts

- Manchester United have won 10 of their 19 home league games this season (D7 L2); only in 2016-17 (eight) and 2013-14 (nine) have they enjoyed fewer home victories in a Premier League campaign.
- West Ham have collected eight points in their last five Premier League games against Manchester United (W2 D2 L1), more than they managed in their previous 18 league encounters (seven points - W1 D4 L13) between May 2008 and August 2017.
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are unbeaten in 13 Premier League games (W8 D5), which is now the Norwegian's best run in the competition with the Red Devils and his best league run in his managerial career with a single club.
- Mason Greenwood; has become the first player to score 10 Premier League goals in a season as a teenager since Romelu Lukaku in 2012-13 (14), and the first English player to do so since Wayne Rooney in 2004-05 (11).
- No teenager has ever scored more goals in a single season in all competitions for Manchester United than Mason Greenwood (17 - level with George Best in 1965-66, Brian Kidd in 1967-68 and Wayne Rooney in 2004-05).

What's next?

United's fate is in their own hands at Leicester on Sunday. Meanwhile, West Ham can still impact the relegation battle as they host Aston Villa.

Liverpool held off a Christian Pulisic-inspired comeback as the runaway Premier League champions overcame Chelsea 5-3 ahead of the trophy presentation at Anfield. 

Jurgen Klopp's title winners got into the party spirit as they were involved in an eight-goal thriller on Merseyside in their final home game of an unforgettable season, though there was little sign of the late drama to come when they led 4-1. 

Naby Keita's right-footed rocket opened the scoring, and there was a long-awaited home goal for Roberto Firmino - his first in the league since March 2019 - early in the second half. 

The impressive Pulisic helped the Blues battle back to 4-3, raising hopes of clinching the draw they required to make certain of a top-four finish, but Liverpool had the last word, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain slamming home to secure the win.