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Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi has signed a new contract at RB Leipzig.

The 31-year-old is now tied to the club until 2025 after extending his previous deal by two years.

Hungary international Gulacsi has been linked with fellow Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham, but has opted to remain in Leipzig.

What has been said?

"The club and I have been on a special journey together since 2015, from the second division to the Champions League semi-finals and next week to the final of the DFB-Pokal once again," Gulacsi told RB Leipzig's website.

"It has been and still is an incredible and very successful time and we want to continue it together. My family and I feel incredibly at home here - at the club, the city and the region. Leipzig has become a second home for us and the atmosphere of feeling good is exactly what is important for me to bring my best-possible performances.

"My wife and I always get goosebumps looking back to the cup match against FC Bayern in 2017, when there were Gulacsi chants for the first time. That was a very special moment that showed me how much our fans are behind me. I'm proud to have earned this support and I'm looking forward even more to games that can take place with fans in the stadium again."

How many games has Gulacsi played this season?

The shot-stopper has not missed a minute of competitive football for Julian Nagelsmann's side this season.

He has made 44 appearances in all competitions and has worn the captain's armband when Marcel Sabitzer has been unavailable.

When did he join Leipzig?

Gulacsi's professional career started at Liverpool, but he did not make a senior appearance for the Premier League side.

Instead, he was loaned out to Hereford, Tranmere and Hull before he left for Red Bull Salzburg in a permanent deal.

After two years in Austria, he was snapped up by RB Leipzig in 2015 and has since made 222 appearances.

Further reading

Veteran Ghanaian coach JE Sarpong believes South Africa's Bafana Bafana will be a hard nut to crack for the Black Stars following the former's appointment of renowned Belgian coach Hugo Broos as tactician.

The two sides are set to face off in Group G of the African qualifying second round, their other two opponents being Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.

Broos, 69, was earlier this week named as new South Africa coach on a five-year deal.

"South Africa will prepare very well for the Black Stars and that is why they have gone for an experienced coach [in Broos]," Sarpong told Happy FM.

“It will not be easy for the Black Stars but we have an advantage over them. I have the confidence in our coaches and they should be bold in their selections as well."

Ghana and South Africa were originally set for a first meeting in the qualifiers next month but the game has now been postponed to September.

It will be their second meeting in six months as they recently settled for a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg in the qualifiers for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Broos certainly knows how to get one over the Black Stars as in 2017, the Belgian led Cameroon to a 2-0 semi-final win en route to clinching the Afcon title.

Ghana, meanwhile, have set their sights on beating South Africa, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe to the sole qualifying ticket to the next and final round of the series.

“The target is to bring the cup home by winning the Afcon 2022. We must go a step further than our second-place finishes in 1992, 2010 and 2015 and end the 40-year drought for a title,” Ghana president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said last week.

"We must also reach at least the semi-finals of the world cup in Qatar. Our exploits in 2010, where we reached the quarter-final in South Africa, tell us that once prepared, we have the quality and the talent to match any of the best teams in the world.

“The task might seem daunting, but it is exactly not insurmountable."

The Black Stars, who have already secured qualification for the next Afcon finals, are looking to make a return to the global showpiece after missing out on the 2018 edition in Russia. 

Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez has stated his side will be aiming to be confirmed as Premier League champions by securing victory against Chelsea on Saturday game.

The Citizens would open up an unassailable lead on top of the 2020-21 Premier League table if they beat Thomas Tuchel's men in the encounter.

The Stamford Bridge outfit, on the other hand, will be aiming to see off Pep Guardiola’s side in an effort to boost their top-four chances.

Mahrez, aware of this, stated his side will not leave any stone unturned in their quest to win the game and believes the pressure will be more on the Blues.

"We want to win to become champions but they also want to win because they want to finish fourth. The pressure will be more on them," Mahrez said, as per Manchester Evening News.

Mahrez started his senior career in France with Quimper before joining Le Havre and his impressive performances earned him a move to Premier League side Leicester City.

He starred for the Foxes for four years, winning his first Premier League title with the club before teaming up with the Citizens in the summer of 2018.

The winger has continued to showcase his quality with the Citizens and recently helped them reach the final of the Champions League for the first time.

The Algeria international has highlighted some of his ambitions and he is pleased to have been able to fulfil part of them.

"I've always had a lot of ambitions, I've always thought I would be able to score in the quarter and semi-finals of the Champions League,” he continued.

"It's true that there are players like [Kylian] Mbappe who manage to do that when they're 17.

"But some of the players of my generation who were playing in Ligue 1 at 20 have since ended their career. That's when your career ends that you can assess it."

Mahrez has scored 14 goals and provided seven assists in 45 appearances across all competitions this season, amid other dazzling displays

The forward will hope to continue his blistering performances against Chelsea and help his side extend their winning run in the encounter.

Kevin De Bruyne has revealed he used an analytics company to decide if he should sign a new contract at Manchester City.

The Belgium star committed to a new deal with the Premier League side last month, extending his stay until 2025.

But the 29-year-old says he took an in-depth look at the direction Pep Guardiola's side are going before signing on the dotted line.

What has been said?

"Me and my people around me, we just wanted to reflect on how the team is looking forward for the future," De Bruyne told Sky Sports.

"So it was mostly based on how the team was set up for the future, comparing with other teams, based on age, contracts... Then how I was helping the team going forward.

"It was not really comparing all the things money-wise, it was just looking at how the team was set up and what is for me the best decision to make. Not that I really needed any help in that, it's more getting the confirmation of what I already thought. It was a nice analysis to look at."

The attacking midfielder had not shown much interest in statistics about performances before he saw the detailed picture about the structure of the City team. 

"I think sometimes, for me, statistics are a little bit too much. Especially as a midfield player, you can do so many good things that are not viewed on a stats sheet," he added.

"I know a lot of people are that way, in comparing people, but I don't really care. I did this stuff basically to look at team structure, team setup for the future.

"It's part of life now. It's way different to 10, 15 years ago when everything was just viewed by the eye and everybody did the eye test and that was it, 'he played good, he played not good' and that was it."

What next for Man City?

City are closing in on the Premier League title as they sit 13 points clear of Manchester United.

Guardiola's team will host Chelsea on Saturday in a rehearsal of the Champions League final, which will be played on May 29.

Victory against the Blues in Istanbul will see City secure a treble of trophies, having already won the Carabao Cup last month.

Further reading

Uganda Revenue Authority FC have moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League table following a convincing 3-1 win against visiting Onduparaka FC on Friday.

The Tax Collectors came into the match after their exit from the Uganda Cup and coach Sam Ssimbwa had asked his players for a quick response, and they did exactly that as goals from Shafik Kagimu, who notched a double, and Steven Mukwala enabled them to sink the Caterpillars at the Arena of Visions.

It was URA who started the game on a high note as Mukwala failed to score from a one-on-one situation in the second minute as Onduparaka goalkeeper Tonny Kyamera reacted quickly to snatch the ball from him before he could pull the trigger.

Three minutes later, the Tax Collectors almost took the lead after a well-delivered corner fell at Mukwala's feet, but his one-time shot fizzled over the bar and in the 11th minute Ojera Joackiam put the ball in the net for the home team, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

However, they finally broke the deadlock in the 35th minute as Mukwala set up Kagimu, who rounded the entire URA defence to slot home and it was 2-0 up five minutes later as Mukwala, who was returning from a long injury lay-off, volleyed home from the tightest of angles to double the lead.

The Tax Collectors enjoyed a 2-0 half-time lead and after the resumption of the second half, they continued to attack for more goals but it was Onduparaka who reduced the deficit after their striker Mahad Ajobe scored in the 54th minute.

URA never gave up and they were 3-1 up in the 61st minute when Kagimu powered home with his right foot to beat keeper Kyamera.

Kagimu should have sealed a hat-trick but his effort in the 77th minute was flagged for offside but the Tax Collectors were contented to have managed a double over the side they had beaten 2-0 in the first round meeting.

The win has pushed URA to 50 points from 22 matches, four more than second-placed and champions Vipers SC, who will face KCCA FC in a top match on Sunday.

In another match, MYDA FC staged a superb comeback from two goals down to earn a point against visiting Kyetume FC in a 2-2 draw at the King George IV Stadium in Tororo.

Kyetume took the lead through Ezra Kizito Kaye in the first half as early as the 12th minute. Yusuf Saka doubled the advantage to 2-0 with a penalty on the stroke of half-time.

MYDA’s goals arrived late, the first on 85 minutes through the towering Amos Etojo’s free-kick and the equaliser arrived inside the 10 added minutes by Derrick Basoga’s powerful header.

Meanwhile, Wakiso Giants hammered UPDF FC 5-1.

Kenya legend Dennis Oliech has revealed he made a grave mistake by leaving French side AC Ajaccio for Dubai CSC in the United Arab Emirates.

The now 36-year-old had made 50 appearances for the Bears between 2013 and 2015, scoring eight goals in the process. When Dubai came calling, he grabbed the offer and made a move, something he regrets to date.

"I made a mistake when I moved from Ajjacio to Dubai, and that is how my career ended," Oliech said in an interview on Friday. 

"It was a grave mistake that pushed me to retirement. If I would have stayed in Europe then I would still be playing at 35 or 36 like [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic. I still regret it but I am thankful for what I have managed to achieve."  

At Dubai, he made limited appearances before his form dipped and was forced to retire. After four years without competitive football, he opted to return to Kenya and sign for the 19-time Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions Gor Mahia.

His short stint was marred with misunderstandings with the club officials, including the alleged failure to settle his signing-on fee. Despite that, he still managed to score five goals in the 10 appearances he made before opting to walk out.

The former Kenya international has now set his sight on helping the youth realize their potential in football.

"We do not have active under-19, under-17, or even u-16 national teams in the country," Oliech continued. 

"It is what I want to do, to help set youth structures to help the country have that set-up. I am hopeful we can do better with the right structures, it is the only way to make football better in the country."

"The former striker has now set his sight on helping the youngsters get a chance to nurture their talents."

Oliech made his debut for the Harambee Stars in 2002 and went on to play until 2016.

During that period, he made 76 appearances and scored 34 goals in the process. He was part of the Kenya squad that played the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia under coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee.  

Nine of the 12 Super League teams have confirmed their commitment to UEFA and renounced the plan to form a new competition, but face financial penalties from European football's governing body.

The three remaining sides - Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus - have refused to be reintegrated to UEFA and face further punishment.

The plot to form a new Super League fell apart just days after the announcement of its creation, with the majority of teams pulling out following threats from football associations and fan protests.

What has been said?

Despite renouncing the plan, the nine reintegrated teams - Arsenal, AC Milan, Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Inter, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham - will lose five percent of the revenue they would have received from UEFA for one season.

"Those nine clubs acknowledge and accept that the Super League project was a mistake and apologise to fans, national associations, national leagues, fellow European clubs and UEFA," a statement from UEFA read. 

"They have also recognised that the project would not have been authorised under UEFA Statutes and Regulations."

The European football body added that the clubs have "committed to and will participate in any UEFA Club Competitions each season for which that club qualifies on sporting merit" and will "terminate their involvement in the company established to form and operate the Super League and cease any existing related legal actions".

The clubs will face €100 million (£87m/$122m) fines if they attempt to play in another unauthorised tournament such as the Super League.

What will happen to the other teams?

Barca, Madrid and Juve all face more severe punishments from UEFA for their actions and refusal to renounce the Super League.

The statement continued: "In addition, and moving forward, UEFA has reserved all rights to take whatever action it deems appropriate against those clubs that have so far refused to renounce the so-called ‘Super League’.

"The matter will promptly be referred to the competent UEFA disciplinary bodies."

Further reading

Inter Milan may have motored to their first Serie A title in over a decade but what’s happening below this year’s Scudetto winners is arguably the most exciting race for the Champions League in Europe’s top five leagues.

Anyone from second to sixth — Atalanta, Juventus, AC Milan, Napoli and Lazio — could still play in next season’s Champions League with the final three slots undecided going into the final four games of the campaign.

La Dea, the Old Lady and Milan are locked on 69 points, the Azzurri are two points adrift in fifth spot and the Biancocelesti sit another three points back of Gennaro Gattuso’s men with a game in hand.

Juventus and the Rossoneri, two of the sides competing for a CL place, meet this weekend in Turin and nobody could have predicted both sides will be in this situation at the start of the season and certainly at the turn of the year.

Despite the appointment of an inexperienced Andrea Pirlo, the Old Lady, nine-time winners of the league on the trot were tipped to make the top four with ease even if there was a feeling Inter might win the Scudetto this year.

As for Stefano Pioli’s team, their upswing post-lockdown last year and continued overperformance into this term put them into the title picture at the midway point of the campaign.

Their decline from Serie A contenders to scrambling for a CL spot that looked assured at the turn of the year is down to, but not limited to the absences of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ismael Bennacer for the majority of the second half of the season.

The Algeria star and Franck Kessie’s partnership was arguably the finest in the Italian top flight and losing the North African to injury, coupled with the Ivorian’s inability to dovetail seamlessly with Sandro Tonali and Soualiho Meite harmed the Milan giants’ midfield.

The Rossoneri’s cause hasn’t been helped by a series of damaging defeats against the sides in and around them in 2021, with hurtful losses against Juventus (3-1), Atalanta (3-0), Inter (3-0), Napoli (1-0) and, recently, Lazio (3-0) further harming their prospects.

Given that head-to-head is the primary tie-breaker in Italy, Kessie and co. are at a disadvantage if they end level on points with any of the aforementioned teams.

Looking to pounce on any potential slip from Juventus or Milan this weekend are Napoli, marshalled by Kalidou Koulibaly at the back and finally able to rely upon Victor Osimhen up top.

Both players missed several games this season, evidenced by K2’s 25 league starts and the Nigerian’s paltry 12, largely due to an injury suffered in November, coronavirus in January and his struggles to convince Gattuso to trust him regularly to lead the line.

Even though the West Africans have thrived since the last international break, with Osimhen netting five times in his last seven appearances, there remains a tendency in Naples to drop points in mystifying circumstances.

Case in point was last week’s stalemate at home to Cagliari, a game where the hosts couldn’t add to the Super Eagle’s 13th-minute strike and eventually settled for a draw after a last-gasp Nahitan Nandez leveller for the away side.

They missed four scoring opportunities tagged ‘big chances’ and even last season’s summer signing was culpable. The inefficiency wasn’t an anomaly, however, as they’d equally squandered a host of opportunities against Torino — with Osimhen missing a staggering four despite scoring — but it wasn't costly as they ran away comfortable 2-0 winners.

Napoli have the easiest run-in on paper: they play three sides currently in the bottom half before ending the season at home to 10th-placed Hellas Verona. Contrast this to Atalanta, who face AC Milan on the final day, while Juve play both Milan clubs and Sassuolo in three of their final four matches of the season.

With the teams definitely going to take points off one another and considering the Rossoneri’s poor record against the teams they’re slugging it out with, Gattuso’s men have an edge despite being fifth at the time of writing. Be that as it may, they can’t afford slip-ups like the one at home to Cagliari last time out.

It would be remiss to ignore Lazio in sixth, three points off the Azzurri with a game in hand. Simone Inzaghi’s team have won 11 games in succession at Stadio Olimpico and crucially don’t play any side ahead of them in their remaining games, although they have the huge Derby della Capitale clash with Roma on May 15.

From an African perspective, Kessie and Bennacer or Koulibaly and Osimhen may end the campaign on a high with Milan and Napoli respectively or could just as easily miss out on Champions League qualification.

The excitement and element of unpredictability mean nothing is likely to be settled until the final kick of the campaign, so fasten your seat belt as we enter the campaign’s denouement.

Simba SC assistant coach Selemani Matola has stated participation in the Caf Champions League gave them good preparation for their match against Yanga SC.

Simba will host their arch-rivals on Saturday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and Matola believes facing continental rivals - Al Ahly, AS Vita, and Al Merrikh - in the Champions League prepared them well for the Kariakoo Derby.

"Our players have a great experience when it comes to matches of this kind. This season, we have played high profile games including the Champions League and we have prepared knowing very well it is going to be another big clash," Matola told Azam TV.

"Our preparations have been good and we will not have any player missing the derby. It is going to be a tough game because it is a derby and in most cases derbies are tough and we as the coaches will accord it the respect it deserves."

The tactician also spoke about the need to defend last season's honours: "Our ambition is to defend the FA Cup and the league title and we cannot be successful if we are not going to win our matches. We have laid down our strategy to make sure we get a win in the derby.

"We still have a big chance to defend our title because we lead with four more points and we have two games in hand but we need the win and widen the gap.

"We also need to make sure we win the derby and a few other matches in order to be named champions early enough."

The former AFC Leopards coach also dismissed the notion that they have not been applying squad rotation.

"We have been rotating players and if you look at the last five games in two weeks, for example, Perfect Chikwende played against Mwadui but was not named in the team that played against Kagera Sugar," he continued.

"Jonas Mkude has featured in some cases and missed others and the same case has applied to Bernard Morrison. What is not possible is to make wholesale changes in the starting line ups because a winning team does not deserve such changes."

Matola also noted there will be no need to change their playing style while tussling the traditional rivals.

"We will play our normal style, the entertaining one. We cannot change our style just because it is a derby," he concluded.

"We will hope to have more possession because a team that does that will always have a chance of winning."

There are four points separating Simba from Yanga heading into the match, although the champions have two matches in hand.

Ghanaian and Getafe midfielder Abdulai Sabit reveals playing on the same pitch with Argentina and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi was nothing but surreal.

On his second-ever appearance in La Liga, Sabit was a 46th-minute substitute as his side succumbed to a 5-2 defeat against the Blaugrana last month.

"Before the Barcelona match, I had the feeling that I was going to get maybe five to 10 minutes playing time but when the coach made the selection, he kept one or two best midfielders on the bench," Sabit told BBC Sport Africa.

"So I told myself maybe even if there were going to be substitutions it would be them because they are the starters.

"When we went for half-time in the dressing room the coach mentioned my name that I should go and warm up. I said: 'Me?!' He said: 'Yes, you.' I was surprised. I can't even describe it. I was overwhelmed."

Sabit joined Getafe last summer from Spanish lower tier side Extremadura on a season-long loan.

Earlier last month, he made his La Liga debut for the side in a 0-0 draw with Osasuna.

"When the referee whistled for the start of the second half [against Barcelona], my mind was focused on the game but when I was getting close to [Lionel] Messi, I was asking myself: 'Is this Messi I am going to meet?' I couldn't believe it," said the 21-year-old.

"Me against Messi, [Antoine] Griezmann, [Gerard] Pique, [Sergio] Busquets... Although the result wasn't good for us, I felt happy playing against those kinds of players.

"I never expected to play in that La Liga game against Osasuna - I had been on the bench 10 times with the first team like against Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Seville and Elche."

With a La Liga debut in the bag and a match against six-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi to boast with, the Ghanaian has set his sights on convincing Getafe to make his elite division football stay permanent.

"I don't know what they want to see again. From my perspective, I think I have done my best. Now I'm looking at them, the decision is in their hands," he remarked.

Sabit has played for Ghana at U21 level but he is yet to earn a senior call-up. 

Leicester City forward Kelechi Iheanacho has been nominated for the Premier League League Player and Goal of the Month awards for April.

The 24-year-old continued with his blistering performances for the King Power Stadium outfit in the month under review.

Iheanacho has now been shortlisted for the best player in the English top-flight for the second consecutive time after winning March’s award, the first such achievement in his career.

The Nigeria international scored four league goals in April, bagging a brace against West Ham United, and followed it up with strikes against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace.

The fine displays in front of goal helped Brendan Rodgers’ men hold on to their third spot on the Premier League table.

Iheanacho is now in line to reap a reward for his impressive performances and will slug it out against Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Leeds United’s Stuart Dallas for a chance to nick the individual accolade.

The attacker will also battle Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood, West Ham United’s Jesse Lingard, West Bromwich Albion’s Matheus Pereira, Newcastle United’s Allan Saint-Maximin, and Burnley’s Chris Wood.

Iheanacho’s wonder strike against Crystal Palace, where he fired a terrific shot past goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, is also in the running for the best goal award.

The centre-forward will, however, compete against Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette, Saint-Maximin, Alexander-Arnold, Lingard, and Pablo Fornals, and West Bromwich Albion’s Callum Robinson for the prize.

Iheanacho has now bagged 17 goals this season, including 10 in the Premier League, and provided seven assists in 34 appearances across all competitions this season.

He will hope to continue his eye-catching displays when Leicester City take on Newcastle United in their next league game on Friday night.

The forward has been with the Foxes since the summer of 2017 and he has now gradually established himself at the club after struggling to convince in the past.

Iheanacho remains a key member of the Nigeria national team and recently helped the Super Eagles qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Joel Glazer has responded to an open letter from Manchester United supporter representatives, agreeing to look into fan ownership of the club and investing money into improving Old Trafford.

A letter was sent to the Glazer family outlining steps the fans want the owners to take, including having more open lines of communication.

The group gave Joel Glazer until Friday to respond, and the club’s co-chairman penned a long letter explaining how they plan to move forward.

What was said in the initial letter?

In their initial letter sent after the protests on Sunday, Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) sent four points which they asked Glazer to address.

These included better engagement and communication to establish a new ownership structure, including appointing independent directors to the board to "protect the interests of the club."

They also asked that the owners work with MUST to put a share scheme in place, to allow for fan voting rights and to commit to further consultation on any major changes to the club.

What did Joel Glazer say?

Below is Glazer’s letter in full.

"Thank you for your letter dated April 30, sent in your capacity as a representative of Manchester United fans. I read the contents closely and your love and passion for the club came across very clearly.

"I want to salute your service to the Fans’ Forum, which I know is a vital channel for consultation between the club and our fans. As I recently stated publicly, I am personally committed to ensuring that we strengthen this relationship in future.

"Your heartfelt letter captured the unique spirit of Manchester United, forged through decades of triumph, adversity and tragedy, and still powerfully present in today’s exciting team under Ole and the vibrant fanbase which you represent.

"I was personally humbled by parts of your letter, as you explained so clearly why our initial support for the European Super League left you feeling angry and let down. I would like to reiterate my sincere apology for the mistakes that were made.

"In particular, I want to acknowledge the need for change, with deeper consultation with you as our main fan representative body across a range of important issues, including the competitions we play in.

"We also recognise the importance of fan and football interests being embedded in key decision-making processes at every level of the club, and we are open to constructive discussions on how to reinforce that principle.

"We remain committed to working with the wider football community to make the game stronger and more sustainable over the long-term, and we will now refocus our efforts on doing this within the existing structures of UEFA and the Premier League.

"In addition, I want to reassure you that my family and I care deeply about Manchester United and feel a profound sense of responsibility to protect and enhance its strength for the long-term, while respecting its values and traditions.

"Our top priority is, and will always be, competing for the most important trophies, playing entertaining football with a team comprised of top-quality recruits and some of the world’s best homegrown talent. Under Ole, we feel we are absolutely on the right track.

"Success on the field must be underpinned by solid foundations off it. We have supported sustained investment in the team over many years, and that will continue this summer.

"We recognise that we will need to significantly increase investment in Old Trafford and our training complex to ensure that the club’s facilities remain among the best in Europe. As part of this, we will consult with fans on investments related to the stadium and the matchday experience.

"Indeed, one of the clearest lessons of the past few weeks is the need for us to become better listeners. To this end, I can commit the club will engage across all of the issues raised in your letter.

"To highlight some specific points, as one of the few European football clubs listed on the public markets, we believe in the principle of fans owning shares in the club.

"We have previously engaged with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust on fan share ownership and we want to continue and accelerate those discussions, together with provisions to enhance associated fan consultation.

"We recognise that the Government-initiated, fan-led review of football is a positive opportunity to explore new structures for fan engagement and influence. I can assure you that we will willingly and openly engage in the review, with the aim of putting fans at the heart of the game and ensuring their interests are advanced and protected.

"These commitments are a starting point for further dialogue, including all the specific points you raised, rather than final proposals. We want to work together to come up with an ambitious package of measures which will transform our relationship with fans and strengthen the club for the long-term.

"In this spirit, we will reach out to members of the forum to schedule a meeting in which I shall participate as soon as possible after the final game of the season.

"Thank you again for your work for the forum and your passion for the club. I look forward to meeting you and in the meantime, let’s look forward to a successful end to the season."

What do the fan groups think?

Joel Glazer has never attended a fans’ forum meeting, but his decision to acknowledge the letter was welcomed by the group.

A statement from MUST read: “The response could in theory - and we emphasise in theory only - be a change in direction and approach by the owners versus their silence and disregard for communication over the last 16 years. 

“We will, however, determine our position based on the resulting actions rather than these words alone. We have seen empty words too many times previously. We will seek a mandate from our members and from the wider fanbase before proceeding. We only wish to engage in this process should our supporters want us to.”

What next?

It is thought the club believe there now needs to be a period of calm to allow the consultation process to happen, while it is also understood fans are planning another protest ahead of the rescheduled Liverpool game next week.

Further reading

Liverpool have seen a move to take Luis Suarez back to Anfield mooted, with Reds legend John Barnes saying the prolific Uruguayan could be "ideal" for Jurgen Klopp if acquired as a free agent.

A summer switch away from Atletico Madrid has been speculated on for the 34-year-old frontman, who has spent the last seven years in Spain after securing a big-money move to Barcelona from Merseyside in 2014.

Suarez hit 82 goals through 133 appearances during his time with Liverpool, making him a firm fans' favourite, and Barnes says doors would be swung open for the South American again if the option of re-signing him presented itself.

What has been said?

Barnes, speaking in association with BonusCodeBets, told Goal: "If they could get Luis on a free transfer that’d be ideal but it’ll come down to whether Luis says he wants to play every week or he’ll be happy to move across and be part of the squad. But, because of his age, I don’t think he could expect to be playing every week. 

"The tricky things with these type of transfers is that you have to be pretty certain that the player in question isn’t going to upset things. 

"Liverpool needs to recreate their team spirit and togetherness and, in order to do so, the players need to be happy with where they are and level of play. If Luis can do this, then great - get him on board.  

"As a player, I think he's always given 100 per cent, and he's a decent enough character in terms of trying all the time without being disruptive. So, yeah, that wouldn't be a bad move for Liverpool.

"And I’m sure the fans would absolutely love to get Luis back and I do wonder if they may kick off if they feel that he isn’t getting enough airtime!"

Do Liverpool need another striker?

Change in the final third at Anfield is being discussed as the finishing touches are put to a testing 2020-21 campaign.

Exit talk has surfaced around the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, while further attacking targets are said to have been identified.

Suarez would fall into that category, with there plenty of calls for Klopp to land another number nine to compete with Roberto Firmino, while Leeds winger Raphinha, Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho and Wolves star Pedro Neto are also said to be in the Reds' sights.

Pressed on whether a striker should be prioritised over another creative wideman, Barnes said: "To be honest, to get another proven goalscorer to Liverpool, in my view, won’t make much difference to the team apart from bringing in some fresh blood. 

"All that’ll happen is that players such as Salah won’t score the same level of goals as it’ll be split amongst more players.    

"And at the end of the day, scoring goals hasn’t been Liverpool's problem this season in terms of winning matches - as they have scored plenty of goals. The issues have been with the defensive play. And, as we know, in order to win matches we need both to run seamlessly.  

"As with so many other teams, we always seem to focus on signing players who either score the goals or create the opportunities instead of focusing on getting the defence right and solid. And that’s Liverpool's problem! 

"So yes, to sign Raphinha would be great. But, more importantly, we need to get [Virgil] van Dijk and [Joe] Gomez back, and to then have someone creative such as Raphinha that will help us a lot; perhaps even more so than having Luis back at the team."

Further reading

Neymar has been branded "unbearable" by Atletico Madrid legend Juanfran, with the former Rojiblancos defender picking out the Brazilian forward as his most irritating opponent.

The 36-year-old defender spent eight years with Atletico before departing in 2019 for Sao Paulo, with a memorable spell in the Spanish capital allowing him to line up against some of the very best in the business.

Neymar fell into that category, having completed a big-money move to Barcelona in 2013, and while the South American often caught the eye with moments of magic on the pitch, he also proved to be a nuisance for those he was facing.

What has been said?

Asked by El Larguero to name the rival that irritated him the most, Juanfran said: "Neymar. Off the pitch they tell me he’s a good kid, but on the pitch, unbearable. He’d provoke you with or without the ball - but I wasn’t a saint either."

The bigger picture

Neymar has earned a reputation for being as frustrating as he is flamboyant - theatrics are seemingly never far away when it comes to the 29-year-old forward - but there is no doubting his ability.

The global superstar scored 105 goals in 186 appearances during his time at Barca, before making a record-breaking €222 million (£200m/$262m) switch to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.

He has remained a divisive character in France, with injuries stunting his progress, but a further 85 goals have been recorded while adding to his medal collection.

Much of the attention on Neymar at present is focused on his future, with no extension to a contract due to expire in the summer of 2022 agreed with the Ligue 1 title holders.

Further reading

While injuries limited his overall impact, it is fari to say that Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus has been one of Africa's breakout stars over the course of the European season.

Once back to full fitness, Ghana international Kudus is expected to take on a key role in Amsterdam next term as the aim to secure a third successive Eredivisie title.

And if the Dutch giants are keen begin building a base for some of Africa's top youngsters, then they will not have to look too far to find a player who is showing similar promise to Kudus in the early stages of his career.

Indeed, wonderkid Kamaldeen Sulemana is a player whose path in the game has paralleled that of Kudus, and who whose form in 2020-21 suggests that he has potential to reach even greater heights than his compatriot.

Certainly, the 19-year-old is ending the season in style, having become the first player in FC Nordsjaelland history to simultaneously win the Danish Superliga Player of the Month and Young Player of the Month awards in April.

Sulemana and Kudus were both discovered at the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana, before being transferred to Nordsjaelland, with Techniman-born Sulemana signing his first professional contract with the Danish side in January 2020.

When Kudus joined Ajax six months later, Sulemana did not just inherit his friend’s No.10 shirt, he also established himself as Nordsjaelland’s talisman – inheriting the responsibilities of his departed countryman.

The pair still share a deep friendship, offering mutual support for each other privately - as well as publicly on social media, while clearly keeping tabs on each other’s careers.

They remain team-mates in the international sphere – Sulemana made his senior debut against Mali in October 2020 before earning a second cap against Qatar in a friendly a few days later – and may soon be reunited again in Amsterdam.

Ajax have officially declared their interest in the precocious attacker, with the club’s director of football, Marc Overmars, revealing that they had made contact with the youngster’s current employers.

“Of course, [Sulemana] has been performing fantastically in recent months,” ex-Arsenal winger Overmars told ESPN . “I did have some contact with the club, and now Ajax are being mentioned every week as an interested party.

Check out football's best wonderkids with NXGN:

“Every club tries to put their players in the shop window, [but] at the moment we already have some wingers of our own. We’ll see calmly what will happen before we make any big steps.”

As well has Ajax, the likes of Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen and even Manchester United have been linked with the wideman, who is under contract until 2025, with reports suggesting that a fee of at least €11.5 million (£10m/$14m) would be required for any suitors to reach an agreement.

Certainly, the Kudus connection – as well as the midfielder’s success after making the transition from the Danish Superliga to the Eredivisie – is fuelling belief that Sulemana would be a fine addition at the Johan Cruyff ArenA.

While most effective on the left wing, he is comfortable across the forward line, and has quickly established himself as one of the most effective dribblers in the Danish top flight.

He is particularly lethal on the counterattack, where his direct running, ability to beat a man, and searing pace make him a daunting prospect.

After scoring four goals in 13 appearances in his debut campaign in Denmark, he has found the net nine times - as well as laying on six assists - in 25 games so far this term, with his ability to make an impact in the final third going some way to explain the comparisons with Sadio Mane.

“[Sulemana is] really good,” FC Midtjylland skipper Erik Sviatchenko recently told local newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

“When he plays simple and knows when to play the ball, he is amazing. He is fast, strong and has an understanding of the game like few others.

“He’s on his way to something big, and it’s a pleasure to be tested against one of the great talents in Europe.”

The forward has demonstrated his vision, his dynamism and his ability to unsettle a backline with a sharp turn of pace, while his game intelligence is impressive for a player who is still in his teens.

Certainly, his directness, aggression and athleticism are not dissimilar to certain elements of Mane’s game, although Sulemana is not always as focused on the team’s goals and objectives as the selfless Senegal attacker.

"We are talking about a player with potential on a par with Neymar, and maybe even more than that, because he is even faster," Nordsjaelland coach Flemming Pedersen told TV3 Sport in May, and Sulemana certainly shares Neymar’s tendency to showboat.

He also posesses a similar individuality - some may argue selfishness - that the Brazil international has been criticised for in the past, and that can make him a frustrating team-mate at times.

Nonetheless, it is easy to see why some of Europe’s big boys are keeping tabs on the Black Stars wonderkid, and why he could be primed to outgrow the Danish top flight before too long.