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New Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti has described Victor Osimhen as a complete striker and a player who fights and knows how to score.

Spalletti is ready to work with the Nigeria international in Naples after he replaced Gennaro Gattuso at the end of last season.

During his maiden Serie A campaign, Osimhen scored 10 goals in 24 matches as the Parthenopeans finished fifth on the league table.

Ahead of the 2021-22 season which will begin with a home fixture against Venezia on August 21, the former Inter Milan and Roma coach disclosed that the 22-year-old needs to work on some areas of his game.

"He will certainly be a foothold for us and a strength of this team,” Spalletti told the club website. “He is a complete striker, he knows how to score and he knows how to fight for his teammates.

“It is clear that he also has aspects to improve and this is where we need to work, but it has already given great availability.”

Spalletti also talked about Kalidou Koulibaly and he stated that the Senegal captain will remain in Naples despite reported interests from Everton.

He is also one of the vice-captains in the Parthenopeans’ set-up while Lorenzo Insigne wears the captain’s armband.

"In the meantime, I saw Koulibaly up close and I must say that for me he has the temperament of a captain,” Spalletti continued.

“He has a lot of personality and is also recognized by his teammates. I realized that he talks a lot and often with the team and I like that.

“Koulibaly is one of the vice-captains in this squad. As far as I am concerned, he is staying at Napoli. It’s not easy to find a replacement for him, all his teammates appreciate him and I’ve realised he talks constantly on the pitch. Everyone respects his presence in the locker room.”

The 30-year-old has been in Italy since 2014, following his move from Belgian First Division A club Genk.

Koulibaly has established his presence in Napoli's defence and he helped them win the Coppa Italia in the 2019-20 season.

Ghana winger Christian Atsu has signed for Al Raed in Saudi Arabia.

The 29-year-old joins the Pro League side on a two-year deal, having cut ties with English fold Newcastle United following the expiration of his contract.

It is his first club outside Europe since beginning his professional career with Portuguese outfit Porto.

At Raed, Atsu will look to reignite his career after being frozen out of the Magpies first-team last season. 

"I have a lot of offers but I think I will leave Europe, but I cannot say anything for now," the winger recently said as quoted by Ghanaweb.

Under Steve Bruce, Atsu was initially left out of Newcastle's registered squad for the Premier League, only making an entry into the list for the second half of the campaign.

Despite becoming available for league action, he was continuously left out of matchday squads, ending the campaign without a competitive appearance.

Instead, he played with the Magpies reserve fold.

He was heavily linked with Scottish club Celtic before making a return to the league squad.

"Five hours before the window closed, they asked me to go to another club,” Atsu told the Athletic earlier this week on his failed attempt to join a new club in January.

“Five hours to close!

“The club knew my position, why I’d stayed. With five hours’ notice, that was never going to change. It was impossible to make that decision. My family comes first.”

Atsu was groomed at Porto’s academy from where he joined Rio Ave on loan for his first senior season in Europe

It was a good term for the winger who amassed 27 league appearances for the Rioavistas, making 23 starts and finding the back of the net on six occasions.

The short spell did enough to impress Porto, who handed him a first-team place in the 2012-13 season.

After just one season with the Dragons, he was signed by Chelsea but competition for playing places at Stamford Bridge meant he spent the duration of his association with the club out on loan, playing for Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle United.

In 2017, he helped Newcastle to gain promotion to the Premier League, after which the club secured his services in a permanent deal.

Former AFC Leopards national organising secretary Timothy Lilumbi has stated Tusker could have a successful campaign in the Caf Champions League.

The Brewers took the ticket to represent Kenya in the continental competition after they ended the month of June while at the top of the Football Kenya Federation Premier League table.

This after the FKF had given the June 30 deadline for teams to fight for the Champions League slot and after the 2016 league winners emerged at the top, Lilumbi believes the team has the quality to do well.

"Tusker are being sponsored by a multi-billion company, so financial problems will not be an issue, as opposed to teams like Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, who solely depend on sponsors' money. They will not struggle because they have a budget from the sponsor," Lilumbi told Goal.

Although the former Ingwe official thinks the Ruaraka club is in good shape to mount a competitive campaign, he pointed out areas that coach Robert Matano must work on in order to realise the dream.

"Matano will have to get experienced players because Caf competitions are entirely different competitions," he added.

"There is a different way of approaching these matches and they have to get some experience because the matches will be different from what they have been getting from the likes of Kariobangi Sharks and AFC Leopards.

"One must have the mental strength and I have experienced this because I have been there and saw so many things when I was at AFC Leopards."

Lilumbi, however, faulted the FKF for their June 30 deadline: "It was a very bad move," he continued.

"We had Covid-19 not only in June and we have been playing football with this pandemic for over one year. There should be no blame for the pandemic and it would have been different had the leagues been stopped, but that was not the case.

"The league is going on and so citing the Covid-19 pandemic is diversionary."

Tusker will be returning to the continental competition for the first time since being part of the competition after winning the 2016 Premier League title.

Alex Telles has suggested that he will not be heading out of Old Trafford this summer, with the Brazilian defender saying it is "a pleasure to be at Manchester United".

The 28-year-old left-back has struggled for regular game time in England as he battles for minutes with the rejuvenated Luke Shaw.

With outings in short supply under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, speculation has surfaced regarding supposed interest in Serie A from Inter and Roma.

What has been said?

Telles has shut down those rumours, with a man who made 24 appearances across all competitions last season telling the Red Devils' official website: "It’s a pleasure to be at Manchester United coming into my second season.

"Last season, we came really close to winning trophies, so we go into this next season with a lot of desire and I really want to show my work and my value here at the club."

Do United want Telles to stay?

Solskjaer is eager to keep depth in his ranks, with efforts being made to bring in another full-back option on the other side to compete with Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Telles forms part of his plans as a result, with the player set to figure in a friendly contest with Wayne Rooney's Derby County on Sunday looking forward to staking a claim for minutes in a team that still has complete faith in him.

Telles added ahead of a meeting with the Rams: "I’m really looking forward to the game, I’m going into the game with a lot of desire.

"I think it’s a really great opportunity for us players who have been here for the last two weeks.

"It’s going to be a tough test but we’re really well prepared for it. We’ve been working really hard in training today, and this last week, and I believe it’s an opportunity to show my value my quality and my potential here at Manchester United.

"I know Manchester United Football Club and the fans really believe in me."

Further reading

The Federation of Zambia has confirmed they have parted ways with head coach Milutin Sredojevic just two days after the national team suffered an early exit from the 2021 Cosafa Cup in South Africa.

The federation has confirmed the exit in a statement which stated: “The Football Association of Zambia wishes to announce to its members and stakeholders that it has mutually separated with the senior men’s national team coach Milutin Sredojevic.

“Both parties agreed to mutually separate after a meeting held this morning at Football House.”

Confirming the development, Faz secretary-general Adrian Kashala said: “After a meeting between Faz and the coach, it was agreed that in the interest of progress for both parties they had to separate.

“Faz has thanked Sredojevic for having steered the Chipolopolo from February 3, 2020, to date and wished him the best of luck in his next assignment.”

Speaking after learning of his fate, Sredojevic thanked the federation and the people of Zambia for having supported him during his stay.

“I am grateful to the Zambian people, the players, coaches, officials, and the fans who supported me in various ways during my stay,” Sredojevic explained.

“All the positive experience with Chipolopolo Zambia I will use in my career ahead and would like to wish all the best to Zambia.”

Faz has also confirmed they will announce the succession roadmap in the next few days.

“I am very proud of each moment I have spent as Zambia coach. I am present, whether I will be a coach it will be purely on the people that are in charge,” Sredojevic said.

“Supporters very often look at the game in a very emotional way. However, administrators are the ones to decide whether it is enough or it is not enough.

“I am pushing myself to the limits and telling myself that my conscience is clean. I have given my best.”

Chipolopolo failed to make it to the knockout stage of the competition for the first time in history after losing two of their Group A matches – 2-1 against Lesotho and 1-0 against Eswatini.

After winning 2-1 against Botswana, Zambia managed a 0-0 draw against South Africa but it was not enough to guarantee them passage to the knockout stage.

The 2021-22 Premier League season kicks off on August 13 and it's time to assemble your FPL squad and make the most of that £100 million budget.

Your midfield selections will undoubtedly be crucial too, with the large majority of the highest-scoring players from the 2020-21 campaign coming from that area of the pitch.

So who are the best midfielders to pick in the Fantasy Premier League? And who are some of the bargain options? Check out Goal's suggestions below!

Best Premier League fantasy football midfielders

What makes a good midfielder in Fantasy Premier League? Goals are certainly of primary importance, with five points awarded for every strike that finds the back of the net.

Assists, which earn a player three points, are also crucial, with each of the top three midfielders from last season's game all achieving double figures in that particular category.

You should also factor in whether a player takes free-kicks or penalties for their side, while bonus points - and the likelihood of the midfielder being able to earn them - are also an important variable to consider.

In addition, it's worth noting that three of the top five highest-scoring players in the entire game from last season are listed as midfielders, showing how vital it is to possess as many strong players in that area as possible.

Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | £12.5m

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is once again the joint most expensive player in the game, with his incredible goal record for the Reds having seen him score 95 league goals over 145 appearances.

Even with the struggles of Jurgen Klopp's side last season, Salah accumulated 231 points and the expectation is that it will be another prolific season for the Egyptian.

Sadio Mane | Liverpool | £12m

Salah's Reds team-mate Sadio Mane was, by his incredibly high standards, not at his best in the 2020-21 campaign although he still managed double figures for both goals (11) and assists (11).

Mane was excused from international duty with Senegal for the July COSAFA Cup matches, meaning he should be fully refreshed and ready to go as Liverpool look to challenge for the Premier League title once again.

Kevin De Bruyne | Manchester City | £12m

Awarded the PFA Player of the Year award for a second season in a row, Kevin De Bruyne was outstanding once again, despite an injury-hit season, to help Manchester City claim the Premier League title.

The Belgian claimed six goals and 12 assists in 2020-21, and he is one of few within Pep Guardiola's squad who avoids being regularly rotated. Expect another strong campaign from the former Chelsea midfielder.

Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United | £12m

Since arriving in the Premier League from Sporting CP in 2020, Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has been nothing short of a revelation - and a must-have pick in Fantasy Premier League sides.

That will likely be the case again heading into the new season, with the Portuguese having claimed more points than any other player in 2020-21 - 18 goals and 14 assists contributing to a final tally of 244 points.

Heung-Min Son | Tottenham | £10m

Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son have formed a devastating partnership, and particularly in FPL terms, with the duo having scored a total of 470 points between them last season.

South Korea international Son still had a hugely productive campaign despite Spurs' struggles that saw them finish seventh in the table, while his 28 goal involvements proved to be exactly the same as Salah's.

Kai Havertz | Chelsea | £8.5m

Kai Havertz steadily grew into his first season at Chelsea, becoming a hugely influential player towards the end of the campaign - epitomised by his role in the Champions League final win over Manchester City - after a slow start.

Indeed, Havertz is likely to be a key cog in Thomas Tuchel's starting XI for the 2021-22 season, and at £8.5m he represents significantly better value than some of the league's big-hitters.

Jack Grealish | Aston Villa | £8m

The clamour for Jack Grealish to play more minutes for England at Euro 2020 was enormous at times and, after a 2020-21 season disrupted by injury, the Aston Villa captain should be raring to go in the new campaign.

Whether he'll be lining up in a Villa shirt remains to be seen, however, with Grealish - who delivered six goals and 12 assists in the league last term - on Manchester City's radar this summer.

Best bargain fantasy football midfielders

Needing to stick to a £100m budget is never easy in FPL, especially when you want to flood your team with the best and costliest players.

As a result, you're going to have to be smart with your selections, with Goal having picked out some of the value midfield options to consider when you first go about compiling your squad.

Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | £6.5m

England international Bukayo Saka was one of the revelations of Euro 2020 and is undoubtedly one of the most exciting young players in the Premier League at the moment.

Indeed, Mikel Arteta is looking for the 19-year-old to push on and be even more important for Arsenal this season - having scooped the club's Player of the Year for 2020-21 - as he looks to increase the 10 league goal involvements he managed in 2020-21.

Raphinha | Leeds United | £6.5m

At just £6.5m, Raphinha is proving a popular choice among the FPL community, and his 16 goal involvements from last season show exactly why many expect him to kick on and shine once again in 2021-22.

The Brazilian should take his fair share of free-kicks and corners, adding to his goal and assist potential, and he will undoubtedly start the majority of Leeds' games in the new campaign.

Tomas Soucek | West Ham | £6m

Tomas Soucek quickly became a popular selection for FPL managers in 2020-21, with his driving runs into the box and aerial ability seeing him notch 10 goals in his first full season in the Premier League.

David Moyes will be looking for more of the same from the Czech Republic international, who looks a very tempting option to help fill out your squad at a price of just £6m.

Billy Gilmour | Norwich | £4.5m

Chelsea supporters will be intrigued see how Billy Gilmour performs on loan move at Norwich in the upcoming season, with the 20-year-old perhaps unfortunate not to be part of Tuchel's squad at Stamford Bridge for 2021-22.

At £4.5m, Gilmour is part of the group of cheapest midfielders available on the game and he will surely feature in the large majority of matches for Daniel Farke's side as they look to avoid relegation back to the Championship.

Gor Mahia chances of retaining the FKF Premier League title are slowly fading away after they registered a disappointing 1-1 draw against Nairobi City Stars on Saturday.

With table-toppers Tusker beating AFC Leopards 2-0 on Friday to open a six-point lead over KCB, K’Ogalo needed to beat City Stars to remain in contention but they found themselves trailing in the 41st minute when Rodgers Okumu scored, before they salvaged a draw courtesy of Jules Ulimwengu’s strike in the 54th minute.

The Simba wa Nairobi started the game at lightning speed and with only five minutes played defender Bolton Omwenga delivered a good cross from the right-wing, but Gor keeper Gad Mathews moved quickly to punch the ball out for a fruitless corner.

In the 13th minute, City Stars had another chance to take the lead after a free-kick from outside the box was delivered by Peter Opiyo, but his effort went inches wide.

The missed chance awoke K’Ogalo, who created a chance of their own in the 23rd minute, with Fred Nkata combing well with Andrew Juma, but a through-ball aimed at Clifton Miheso was intercepted by City Stars defender Abdallah Salim and went out for a goal-kick.

Against the run of play, City Stars took the lead in the 41st minute as Rodger Okumu finished off a well-delivered cross from Anthony Kimani, leaving Gor custodian Mathews rooted to the ground without making a move.

After the half-time break, City Stars looked the better side as they raided Gor once again, and it was Elvis Noor who hit the woodwork in the 48th minute after being put through by Ezekiel Odera.

However, Gor Mahia drew level in the 54th minute when Karim Nikiema broke past City Stars’ rearguard before unleashing a powerful shot which keeper Steven Njue punched back into play and Ulimwengu reacted quickly to stab the ball home from the rebound.

After the goal, City Stars made a double change, goal-scorer Okumu and Odera coming off for Ezekiel Ombija and David Agesa, and five minutes later, Elvis Noor was rested for Timothy Ouma.

It was Ombija who almost gave City Stars the second goal in the 75th minute but he lost control after receiving the ball from Nicholas Kipkirui, and it rolled out.

Nairobi City Stars: Steven Njunge (GK), Kevin Okumu, Bolton Omwenga, Kennedy Onyango, Abdallah Salim, Peter Opiyo, Anthony Kimani, Elvis Noor, Rodgers Okumu, Ezekiel Odera, and Nicholas Kipkirui.

Subs: Jacob Osano (GK), Calvins Masawa, Wesley Onguso, Wycliffe Otieno, Timothy Ouma, Erick Ombija, Charles Otieno, and David Agesa.

Gor Mahia: Gad Mathews (GK), Philemon Otieno, Fred Nkata, Andrew Juma, Haroun Shakava, Ernest Wendo, Clifton Miheso, Sydney Wahongo, Jules Ulimwengu, Abdoul Karim, and John Macharia.

Subs: John Njau (GK), Joachim Ochieng, John Ochieng, Victor Ochieng, Nicholas Omondi, Lyson Muyonga and Samuel Onyango.

When Edin Terzic was working as an assistant coach to Slaven Bilic at West Ham he learnt a few tricks from the Balkan manager. Those learnings helped him navigate through the troubled waters when he took charge of a beleaguered Borussia Dortmund in December 2020. 

The team had run out of ideas and a 5-1 thrashing to VFB Stuttgart was the final nail in the coffin for Lucien Favre. Terzic knew the process and the players but he had not been in the hot seat before. 

"Do you know what the most important single action is in football?" Bilic had asked him a few years ago. 

"It’s the next one. All that matters is the next thing you do," the Croat answered back. 

Bearing in mind this philosophy, the German coach took over the reins of the team. In his first match as the head coach, BVB won a hard-fought game against Werder Bremen by 2-1. It started off well, however the team continued to look fragmented and the results were inconsistent. 

It was important for them to win against Eintracht Frankfurt on April 3 for a UEFA Champions League berth, but once again the team failed to show up when it mattered. Their European participation was under serious threat. 

"It was the first game after an international break. Some of our lads didn't come back until Friday. Then we had the tough game on Saturday. So of course, we were very, very disappointed. It was a very bitter moment of course," the coach recounted. 

The morning papers tore into Terzic and the Dortmund team. 

'MEGA SETBACK FOR BVB.'

'DEFEAT TO FRANKFURT - SURELY NO CHANCE OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE' 

The match that made them believe

It is often said that 90 minutes can make or break a season. Dortmund had their back against the wall when they went to Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League after the league loss.

Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring in the 19th minute and it seemed that it would be another evening to forget for BVB fans. 

But with the odds stacked against them, Terzic's men mounted a fightback. Jude Bellingham found the net but the strike was not counted as it was deemed that the player had fouled City's goalkeeper Ederson before he went for the goal. However, that did not dampen their spirits and Pep Guardiola's side were given a run for their money. In the 84th minute, Reus equalised. 

"Yes, it was a bit of an eye-opener for us, because we realised, if everything fits together and every individual brings his best performance to the field, me as well, then we have a good team. I think it was a bit of a spark for the rest of the games." 

Although Phil Foden's winner in the dying embers of the game shifted the momentum back in City's favour, Dortmund discovered the 'spark' in them. 

The time was ripe to take a leaf out of Bilic's book and focus on doing the next best thing. Incidentally, the next match was against Stuttgart to whom BVB had conceded five previously in the season. But this time, the tables turned and away from home they stunned The Reds 2-3.

"Think about the next action and make it even better. That was the approach. We wanted to remind the boys of it constantly. We took this approach every day, so we could use it on matchdays."

Significantly, the winner was scored by Ansgar Knauff, a teenager and a fringe member of the squad whom Terzic asked to run to the stands to bring back the ball when it went out during a pre-season friendly.   

The youngsters like Jadon Sancho, Gio Reyna, Julian Brandt started to take up the mantle. Two tricky games against Bremen and Wolfsburg were taken care of and they were suddenly back in the race for a top-four finish. In fact, against Wolfsburg, Jude Bellingham was sent off and yet they won by keeping a clean sheet. 

"Games like that, that kind of made us grow together and gave us a lot of confidence. And we kept on growing together. It’s collective. If the team plays better, every individual plays better too.”

The redemption in Berlin 

BVB had won the DFB Pokal for the final time in the 2016-17 season. After a turbulent season, winning the trophy would have been a sort of redemption for the fans and a milestone for Terzic. However, they knew that facing Frankfurt would be a complicated affair, especially with players who were about to play their first major cup final.

"I was very relaxed about it, because I had a good mindset. I tried, or we tried, to ease the young players' nervous excitement, but of course, it’s important you have a certain amount of tension," stated Marco Reus, one of the senior players and skipper of Dortmund. 

Once the game kicked off, Dortmund showed that they meant business. Jadon Sancho scored within the first five minutes and BVB got off to a flyer. That goal set the tone of the match.

The men in yellow capitalised on that platform and the match was sealed within the first 45 minutes as Erlind Haaland and Sancho, again, struck to increase the lead. A comprehensive 4-1 win at the end of 90 minutes and Terzic had won his first silverware as a manager. 

"The party starts on the pitch. They were indescribable moments. It was the first time for many, including me, to experience something like that," the manager exclaimed. 

Fourteen interviews. Two full-blown beer showers and yet the emotions were yet to sink in. 

"I really wanted to experience it. That feeling of coming into the changing room and everyone hugging each other and celebrating their success. I wanted to be there. These things I think will last forever. Nobody can take that away from us, these moments. That’s what’s worth fighting for. We’ll remind the boys of that again when the next season starts." 

The newspaper headlines had also changed. 

'FROM CRISIS CLUB TO WINNING RUN'

'TERZIC TURNS IT AROUND' 

At the business end of the season, BVB were simply unstoppable. They strung together a nine-match unbeaten run in the domestic circuit, won a trophy and finished third in the Bundesliga. What looked like a distant dream in December had turned into reality in May. 

"An incredibly intense year with many lows at first, I’d say, and at the end, an unbelievable high, which no-one, or very few, believed us capable of, you have to say. It’s important what happens in May and where you are in May," reminisced Reus. 

Terzic can hold his head up with pride. He set out on a treacherous journey and in the end, he has reached his destination. He calls himself a product of Borussia Dortmund and the black and yellow is echte liebe. 

In the past five months he has solved several tricky questions and riddles from the sidelines, yet he doesn't have the answer to things. 

"For one, how does it feel when the whole stadium is cheering? And how does it feel when the whole stadium is whistling? I haven't been able to experience these things."

The 2021-22 season will hopefully help him figure out the answer to these two questions!

Erling Haaland has been reflecting on Jadon Sancho's £73 million ($101m) move to Manchester United, with the Borussia Dortmund striker "sad" to see a productive source of assists heading through the exits.

A switch to Old Trafford for an England international winger has been mooted for some time, with the Red Devils finally getting a deal done this summer as they tie up the loose ends required to get a talented 21-year-old on board.

Dortmund were reluctant sellers and are disappointed to have seen a prized asset slip their net, with prolific Norwegian frontman Haaland among those now looking to form another partnership that will deliver the same end result.

What has been said?

Asked by Stadium Astro for his take on Sancho's transfer, Haaland said: "Me and Jadon understood each other very well and he’s a top player.

"So of course it’s sad that he goes but that’s how it is and that’s football. You never know what will happen.

"But I think that there’s a lot of other good players that I have a good tone with and it can become even better.

"We have to see who I match the best with."

Will Haaland stay at Dortmund?

While Sancho has departed, questions continue to be asked of how long Haaland will be sticking around with BVB.

Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona have been credited with interest in the highly-rated 20-year-old, but Dortmund have no intention of selling.

Haaland is offering no indication that he is looking for a move, with one of world football's hottest prospects looking forward to working with new boss Marco Rose.

He added: "I talked a little bit with him and I know him from before because I had him for six months at Salzburg.

"He’s a nice guy and I look forward to working with him.

"I heard the training sessions are hard here so it’s exactly the same as it was at Salzburg. Hard training and a lot of running.

"That’s what I expect the tactics to be, to press a lot and run a lot and attack a lot."

Further reading

England united to reach the final of Euro 2020, with 'Sweet Caroline' becoming an anthem along the way, and several members of Gareth Southgate's squad are now taking in a holiday together.

Mason Mount, Kyle Walker, Declan Rice and Luke Shaw are among those to have jetted off for some summer sun before reporting back to their respective club sides for pre-season training.

The mood in the camp is still buoyant, despite penalty shootout heartache against Italy, with Chelsea, Manchester City, West Ham and Manchester United stars prepared to indulge in a spot of impromptu karaoke while grabbing a spot of lunch.

What has happened?

England players are looking to unwind on the back of helping the Three Lions to a first major international final in 55 years.

Some are embracing the holiday spirit more than others, with Walker feeling more energetic than fellow full-back Shaw, but any Euros hangover appears to have been shaken from the system.

The bigger picture

A side that found themselves performing under the most intense of pressure this summer can be forgiven for wanting to let their hair down before competitive action resumes.

Football did not come home, but Southgate's side restored national pride and continue to lay foundations on which a brighter future can be built.

Walker, Shaw, Mount and Rice will all be back in Premier League action when the 2021-22 campaign gets underway on August 13.

Champions City have a Community Shield clash with FA Cup winners Leicester to take in before then, while the programme of friendly fixtures is already up and running.

England, meanwhile, are turning their attention to 2022 World Cup qualification and will return to action on September 2 against Hungary.

A first outing at Wembley since the Euros final, when Sweet Caroline may well ring out again, will see the Three Lions face Andorra on September 5.

Further reading

Raul Jimenez is back in the Wolves team for the first time since suffering a fractured skull in November.

The Mexico international has been included in the starting XI for the Premier League side's friendly against Crewe Alexandra. 

The match is Wolves' first under new coach Bruno Lage, who took charge this summer after Nuno Espirito Santo's departure.

What happened to Jimenez?

Jimenez sustained a fractured skull in late-November after clashing heads with David Luiz during a Premier League clash against Arsenal.

He required emergency surgery on the injury and the 30-year-old was not cleared to resume full training with his team-mates until May.

Jimenez will have to wear a headguard specially designed to protect him during training sessions and matches.

The forward has had to miss out on a place in Mexico's team for the 2020 Olympics, despite coach Gerardo Martino suggesting in May that he could be included.

How important has Jimenez been for Wolves?

The centre-forward joined Wolves on an initial loan deal from Benfica in 2018, eventually sealing a permanent move for £30 million ($40m).

He has scored 34 times in just 86 appearances in the Premier League for the Molineux side.

He managed four goals from 10 games last season before his injury.

Further reading

Ghana international Kamaldeen Sulemana was in the headlines on Friday as he sealed a transfer to French side Rennes.

After a fierce battle which also reportedly featured Manchester United, Liverpool, Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen, the 19-year-old settled for the Ligue 1 fold, putting pen to paper on a five-year deal.

He moved from Danish club Nordsjaelland, who brought him from Ghanaian side Right to Dream Academy in January last year.

Unsurprisingly, the Rennes announcement triggered a lot of reaction on social media.

Below are the best posts:

Kaizer Chiefs vs Al Ahly might just be the biggest match in Amakhosi’s history, as they attempt to take on the serial African champions on Saturday to win the Caf Champions League.

As one of the continent’s biggest clubs—and the most prominent franchise in South African football—Chiefs have played in some blockbuster fixtures in their history.

Since their formation at the start of the 1970s, they’ve enjoyed regular success in domestic football, but continental glory has largely eluded them.

They’ve won the league 13 times—including four triumphs during the PSL era and a record five successes under the National Professional Soccer League format.

In South African cup competitions, they’ve won the MTN 8 more times than any other side, and it’s a similar story in the Telkom Knockout, the Vodacom Challenge, the Telkom Charity Cup and the Nedbank Cup.

However, while rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns have both won the Champions League—Africa’s grandest prize—Chiefs have never got their hands on the biggest title in the continental game.

In 2001, they did win the African Cup Winners’ Cup—dispatching Interclube of Angola in the final—but that victory pales into comparison with the mouth-watering prospect of winning the Champions League on Saturday.

There’s no getting away from the fact that Chiefs are outsiders for the fixture, and this is reflected in our African Football HQ predictions, with three of the four members of the pod on our Caf Champions League special this week backing the Red Devils to go the distance.

Unlike Chiefs, Ahly do have immense pedigree in African continental competition.

They’ve won the continental crown a record nine times, and may have reached double figures by the end of the weekend—quite remarkable when contrasted to the fact that Chiefs had never before reached the latter stages of the Champions League before this season.

They’ve also won the Confederation Cup, seven Super Cups, and a host of other trans-continental honours—this experience of high-profile finals will surely serve the Egyptians well as they look to bring home more gold.

Then there’s also the experience of Pitso Mosimane—a champion with both Sundowns and Ahly—who knows Chiefs well from his long and successful stint in South African soccer.

Certainly, Amakhosi are up against it as they look to bring home the gold.

AFC Leopards coach Patrick Aussems has rued several factors that worked against his charges in the 2-0 loss to Tusker FC in their Football Kenya Federation Premier League match at Thika Stadium on Friday.

The Brewers scored a goal in each half courtesy of Chris Ochieng in the 15th minute and Chris Onyango in the 50th minute to earn revenge against Ingwe, who had beaten them 2-1 in their first-round meeting and also eliminated them from the FKF Shield Cup after a 1-0 win.

It was a game the 13-time league champions had hoped to win, but despite dominating, they ended up losing points to the league leaders.

The win enabled Tusker to cement their place at the top of the 18-team table with 54 points from 25 matches while AFC remained third on 43 points from 24 matches.

Why is Aussems impressed despite Tusker loss?

"Twelve players were not available [owing to several reasons] and another [Brian Wanyama] seriously injured [on Friday]," Aussems posted on social media.

"We also missed a lot of chances and obvious offsides on the two goals conceded; that is a lot isn't it? But we produced modern and attractive football. So let us keep going but work again and again on our offensive efficiency."

Does a house promise still stand?

Recently, Ingwe chairman Dan Shikanda told his players to focus and win the league title next season as the “offer to win houses is still valid.”

The Ingwe players had been promised to get fully furnished houses in Nairobi if they won the top-flight title this season but with Tusker already getting the ticket to the Caf Champions League, and with an 11-point advantage at the top of the table, a Leopards league victory seems unlikely.

Shikanda has clarified to Goal that the offer to win houses is valid for two years, meaning the players will still get the houses if they emerge league winners in the 2021-22 season.

"The offer to win houses was valid for two years, so they still have another year to get the houses if they win the title next season," the former striker said.

"We told the players and the technical bench that the offer we gave them was for two years, so nothing has changed, all they need to do is to work hard and get the title next season, if they win the title, then each player in the squad by then will be guaranteed a house in Nairobi."

Alex Heredia is of the opinion that veteran goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune should start for Kaizer Chiefs against Al Ahly in the Caf Champions League final on Saturday.

The Soweto giants will have a chance to win the trophy when they take on the Red Devils from Egypt in their first-ever Champions League final at Stade Mohammed V in Morocco.

Ahead of the final, the Chiefs technical bench faces a dilemma on which keeper to start in the game, with all three custodians – Khune, Daniel Akpeyi, and Bruce Bvuma – producing outstanding displays when given opportunities to play in the competition this campaign.

According to the former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Heredia, Khune is the most experienced player of the three and should be given the chance to play against the Egyptian giants.

What has been said?

"If I am the goalkeeper coach for Stuart Baxter, I will go for a little bit of experience," Heredia said as quoted by KickOff.com.

"But for any other game, I would use probably Bruce Bvuma. Not because I have a soft spot for Bruce, I believe in Bvuma. If we give the opportunity to Bvuma to play he will be another Khune.

"But honestly speaking and this is my pure opinion. I don't go for a foreign goalkeeper on this particular occasion. Why? Because we have a local quality. The only reason I put Akpeyi out of the picture is, Bvuma, very strong, played few games very well.

“Khune, large experience he played thousands of games and so that be if you ask for my opinion 'Go for local experience', and on this particular case, it's Khune.

"You see we don't know what's going on right now inside the camp. We don't know if Khune is training if he is doing well..we don't know. We guessing from outside. So as an outsider I will go for a local experience.

“If neither, I can play with Bvuma no problem. In his last game against Wydad Casablanca, he did very well. He kept the team in the game. Akpeyi also. But if you have two local goalkeepers and a foreign goalkeeper of the same quality, I will go for the local.”

Further Caf Champions League final reading 

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes is stepping up his pre-season training at "first love" Boavista, with the Portuguese side vowing to return the classy playmaker to Old Trafford "even better" than he was before.

The 26-year-old midfielder is supposed to be taking in a summer break on the back of his efforts with Portugal at Euro 2020, but he is already itching to resume competitive action.

Fernandes is working with a side he spent eight years with as a youngster and is being tipped to head back to England in peak condition for 2021-22.

What has been said?

Boavista have posted a video of Fernandes at their training centre on social media, alongside the message: "Bruno Fernandes + Boavista FC - There is no love like the first.

"Man Utd don't worry, he will arrive even better!"

Fernandes' record at Man Utd

Fernandes, who was raised not far from Porto, never made a senior appearance for Boavista as his big break came at Novara.

From there he has gone on to represent Sampdoria, Sporting and United.

A talismanic standing has been taken on at Old Trafford, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer finding considerable value in a deal done during the winter transfer window of 2020.

Fernandes has taken in 80 appearances for United across one-and-a-half seasons.

Through those outings, he has hit 40 goals - with 28 of those, along with 18 assists, coming during the 2020-21 campaign.

More of the same will be expected from him heading forward, potentially alongside Paul Pogba, and Solskjaer is working on getting even more creativity into his ranks.

United have a £73 million ($101m) deal with Borussia Dortmund in place for Jadon Sancho, with a few loose ends being tied up before that transfer is completed.

The Red Devils, with Fernandes back in their ranks, are due to open their 2021-22 Premier League campaign at home to old adversaries Leeds on August 14.

Further reading

Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka is "fine" on the back of Euro 2020 penalty shootout heartache with England and expects the 19-year-old to take his game to even greater heights with Arsenal in 2021-22.

A talented teenager impressed for his country at a first senior international tournament, but missed a decisive spot-kick in an agonising final defeat to Italy that led to him becoming a target for trolls.

Saka has vowed not to let "hate" win, saying "I will not let this break me", and his club manager believes there are plenty of positives to take from a steep learning curve.

What has been said?

Gunners boss Arteta has told Arsenal Media of Saka, who is now enjoying a well-earned break: "He's fine.

"Obviously he had some tough days after what happened in the final but I think you have to look at the whole picture. 

"This kid, at 19 years old, has played almost every game in the Premier League. He was our Player of the Season, I think he has earned the respect and admiration of everyone at the football club. But not only that, he's gone to an international stage, he started the European competition with an injury and still he has managed to be in the starting XI. 

"He reached the final and he couldn't lift that trophy but I think he has a much bigger trophy than that, and that's that now he really knows that in good and bad moments, everybody at the club, every Arsenal fan and every English fan is right behind him. 

"He has earned that with his behaviour, his talent and with the way he is. That's going to be there for the rest of his life. A trophy is there in the wardrobe and then you have to be the man in the next one. But what he has achieved and how he has united people is very powerful and he should be really, really proud of that."

What's next for Saka?

Saka, along with other international stars, will be absorbed back into the Arsenal fold later in pre-season, as the countdown continues to a Premier League opener against newly-promoted Brentford on August 13.

The Gunners will be looking to improve on their efforts from last season, when they missed out on European qualification, and home-grown stars will have a leading role to play in that quest.

Arteta added on the challenges being set for Saka on the back of a character-building experience with England: "I spoke to Gareth [Southgate] before the tournament and we all shared the same opinion on B that this kid is going to push everybody there, just the way he trains, the way he is, the way he competes.

"The maturity that he has shown at his age is pretty special, I have not seen many of those [with it] - and now he is going to have to cope with other things over the next year, it is going to be about expectations. 

"Can he do it again? Can he raise his game again, can he improve, can he keep making better decisions, be more consistent, start to win more regularly? That is the thing that he needs to do at this very early stage in his career."

Further reading

Former AFC Leopards organising secretary Timothy Lilumbi has claimed the club's officials did not do enough to help the club win the FKF Shield Cup.

AFC Leopards were defeated by archrivals Gor Mahia on post-match penalties after a 0-0 draw at full time and Lilumbi has now blamed the office occupants for their failure to lift the trophy early in July. 

What has been said

"Whoever was in charge, did not know when to pull the strings. There is no way one is playing in a final game and you just let it go that easily. When I was in the office, AFC Leopards won the Shield Cup and before that game, there was no way I could sleep and if I did sleep at all, I must have slept on the pitch," Lilumbi told Goal.

"When you want something, you have to do everything to get it, and everything means everything. You have to make sure the players are motivated and the pitch has no 'thorns' that might prick the players during the game. I did not leave anything to chance and we won the Shield Cup in 2013 and in 2017.

"I just think the AFC Leopards let the cup slip off their fingers because, at one point, the Belgian coach [Patrick Aussems] said he would blame the office if they did not win the Premier League or the Shield Cup.

"At this point, it seems they were not doing much to deserve victory in the final."

Superstitions

There have been superstitions, especially around games pitting AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia and Lilumbi said, although he personally does not believe in the existence of such supernatural powers, to him, there are people who strongly believe in them.

"There are people who can not do without superstitions, so it is difficult to say they do not exist," he added. "But generally, I do not think it works because I have seen African teams go to some places and get beaten, and if superstition really worked, it would mean they would be winning astonishing records. So, I do not think it is a factor."

A Saturday 2-0 defeat against Tusker saw AFC Leopards cede more ground in the FKF Premier League title race.