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Gervinho’s Parma have been relegated from the Italian elite division after suffering their 20th defeat of the season, losing 1-0 away to Torino on Monday night.

The Yellow and Blues needed to avoid a loss against the Maroons at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino to keep their slim hopes of survival alive.

Prior to the game against Davide Nicola’s men, Roberto D'Aversa’s side had gone on a run of four games which all ended in defeats.

In the make or break encounter, they put up a great showing but they were unable to score as the first half ended 0-0.

Three minutes after the hour mark, however, Mergim Vojvoda put the hosts ahead thanks to an assist from Cristian Ansaldi.

Vojvoda tucked the ball into Luigi Sepe’s net after the Argentine defender had found his way into Parma’s backline.

The away side did not allow their heads to drop after conceding first as the game turned into a real end-to-end contest, but they squandered opportunities to level matters.

Cote d’Ivoire international Gervinho was in action from start to finish, yet he could not rescue his team from losing for the 10th time away from home in the 2020-21 season.

Parma’s relegation was confirmed at the final whistle, as they remain in the 19th position of the Italian elite division table on 20 points with only four matches remaining.

They join Simeon Nwankwo’s Crotone in the second tier as they can no longer mathematically make up the gap to escape the drop.

Either Benevento, Cagliari, Spezie or Torino will complete the team that will begin life in Serie B next term.

D'Aversa's team has only won a total of three games all season, conceding 71 goals while only managing to score a measly 36 at the other end of the pitch.

Five of those goals were scored by former Lille, Arsenal and AS Roma star Gervinho in the 24 league fixtures he featured in so far.

Games against Atalanta, Lazio, Sassuolo and Sampdoria are wedged in from May 9-22, which will be the Serie B-bound outfit's last chance to restore some pride.

Philipp Mwene scored his first Bundesliga goal as Mainz played a 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin in Monday’s league outing.

Making his 18th appearance of the 2020-21 campaign, the Austrian-born Kenyan defender ended his lifelong wait for a maiden strike in Germany’s elite division.

Inspire by his assist in the 05ers’ 2-1 defeat of Bayern Munich their last time out, the 27-year-old found the net to prevent his team from ending their impressive streak.

Relegation-threatened Old Lady travelled to the Opel Arena with the ambition of securing a win – which would ease their demotion worries.

Five minutes into the game, the hosts had the first chance at goal after a well-taken corner kick from Mwene was blasted over the crossbar by Stefan Bell from ten yards.

In the ninth minute, they got another chance, however, goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow was well-positioned to save Dominik Kohr’s volley.

Hertha’s first chance of the game came in the 13th minute but captain Nikla Stark’s header off a corner kick sailed over the crossbar.

Nine minutes before the half-time break, the visitors took the lead courtesy of Lucas Tousart who headed past goalkeeper Robin Zentner a well-taken free-kick from Marton Dardai.

That lead lasted for just four minutes as Mwene’s beauty levelled matters for Bo Svensson’s men.

He caught a rebound in front of the visiting side’s goal area before rifling home a superb strike that was unreachable for Schwolow.

A minute later, they almost took the lead, however, Leandro Barreiro did not get the cross from Moussa Niakhate right.

The second 45 minutes was less eventful but it remained exciting. Despite Mainz making four substitutions, they were unable to get all three points as they wasted several scoring opportunities.

The draw did not favour the Old Lady who are on the verge of getting demoted to the German second tier.

Mwene was on parade from start to finish alongside French centre-back of Senegalese origin Moussa Niakhate. Whereas, Cameroonian star Pierre Kunde was not listed for the encounter.

Unbeaten in their last eight games in the competition, Mainz remain 12th in the Bundesliga after that result and will visit Eintracht Frankfurt on May 9.

One person has been arrested following protests by Manchester United fans.

The Red Devils' Premier League clash against Liverpool was postponed after fans made their way into Old Trafford and onto the pitch to voice their anger towards the club's owners.

They also targeted the Lowry Hotel, where the United players were staying, and blocked the team from making it to the stadium. 

The protests turned violent as flares, bottles and barriers were thrown at police and six officers were injured.

What has been said?

A statement from Greater Manchester Police read: "Six police officer injuries have been reported so far with one officer receiving a fractured eye socket, requiring medical treatment, and another sustained a wound to his face, following bottles and cans being thrown from the crowd. A third officer was dragged and kicked. The officer who attended hospital has since been discharged.

"As the situation increased in hostility, additional officers had to be deployed and officers had to be drawn in from neighbouring forces to assist Greater Manchester officers.

"A 28-year old man has been arrested as a consequence of this investigation and all available evidence is being urgently reviewed to identify both the organisers of this protest and those responsible for the officer assaults."

Police slam 'atrocious' behaviour

Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey criticised the conduct of some United fans during the protests.

"The behaviour shown at this protest was absolutely atrocious," Bailey said.

"Officers were just trying to do their job and facilitate a peaceful protest, however a number of those present became hostile and aggressive towards officers and forced entry to the football grounds, making it very clear that this protest was not peaceful and ruining it for the majority of protesters who had not intended for the protest to become violent.

"Our officers tried to engage with protestors, but were met with violence and aggression which resulted in enforcement action being taken. Enforcement will always be a last resort, but in these circumstances it was deemed necessary in order to maintain safety during a situation that was rising in hostility."

When will Man Utd vs Liverpool game be played?

There is still no confirmation of when the match will go ahead following Sunday's postponement. 

Rescheduling the clash will prove difficult as United are in action in midweek as they conclude their Europa League semi-final against Roma on Tuesday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men are also expected to feature in the final on May 26 as they have a 6-2 lead from the first leg of the last-four tie.

United are then in Premier League action again in the next two Wednesdays before the campaign wraps up on May 23.

Further reading

Ghana international Mohammed Kudus has expressed his delight at wining the double with Dutch side Ajax.

The 20-year-old and his club were crowned league champions on Sunday after a 4-0 triumph over Emmen in the Eredivisie.

The victory came barely a month after The Lancers beat Vitesse Arnhem 2-1 to win the Dutch Cup.

"A bright light at the end of this tight tunnel. Honoured to be an 'Ajacied' and this XXXV history. More lights for sons of the [light]," former Right to Dream Academy midfielder Kudus posted on social media on Monday.

The two titles are Kudus' first in his professional career and signify a good start to his Ajax career, having joined the club from Danish outfit Nordsjaelland last summer.

"Elated to join Ajax and braced for the future because it’s a special place with a new culture and challenges," the youngster said after completing his move last year.

"I considered No.34 [as a jersey choice] but I dedicate my signing to Abdelhak “Appie” Nouri, a brother in faith to keep his dreams alive.

"I owe this to all the staff and teammates at FCN [Nordsjaelland] and RtD [Right to Dream]. I look forward to further developing and winning with the team and fans. Officially a lion with the Lancers and 'de Godenzonen'."

Kudus made 14 appearances and scored two goals to help Ajax win the league title. He opened his scoring account in a 5-1 victory over Heerenveen last October before finding the back of the net again during a 4-2 triumph over Sparta Rotterdam in February.

Despite winning two titles, Kudus' season has been heavily affected by injury situations.

Just when he was beginning to get into his element in Amsterdam, the attacker suffered a meniscus injury on his Champions League debut against Liverpool, a situation which forced him into the treatment room until January.

A setback on his return in January sent him back to the sidelines for one more month and he has struggled to recapture his pre-injury form for Ajax, despite playing for Ghana, for whom he scored once and provided two assists in two international games in March.

Thierry Henry has confirmed Daniel Ek has approached Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke to discuss buying the club.

The Spotify owner has shown interest in taking ownership of Arsenal after fans protested against Kroenke in the wake of the Super League debacle.

Ek has the support of Henry and fellow former Gunners stars Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp and says he has secured the funds to finance a bid.

What has been said?

Henry admits it will not be easy for Ek to convince the current owners to give up Arsenal, but insists the billionaire will not give up. 

"It is true. Daniel is an Arsenal fan, he didn't say it for any publicity. He is an Arsenal fan for a very long time," the former Gunners star said on Sky Sports.

"He already reached out [to the Kroenkes] and already said himself that he had collected the funds to make sure that he can put in a good bid.

"They now need to listen. A lot of people have been screaming that they want the owner out. We are trying to offer a solution involving the fans and getting the DNA of the club back.

"There needs to be a discussion, but he reached out. I think it is going to be long and not easy - if it does ever happen. One thing that I want to reiterate is that Daniel will not move away, he will be there waiting to see if they want to sell.

"That is going to take a very long time, we know what we want to do, but first and foremost we need to make sure that we can take over, if they are listening."

Ek wants to restore 'Arsenal DNA'

Henry has already spoken to Arsenal fans about the prospect of Ek taking over and is convinced he can get the club going in the right direction again.  

"He approached us, we listened to him," he added.

"When we knew first and foremost that he wanted to involve the fans, we actually met the Arsenal Supporters Trust and told them what we wanted to do.

"We want to bring them back on board, being part of the meetings, knowing what's happening because you need to put the DNA back into the club.

"But he wants to reinject the Arsenal DNA, the identity that for me is long gone. You don't have Arsenal people there among the board that can show the right direction."

Further reading

Former Ghana forward Prince Tagoe believes ex-international teammate Asamoah Gyan was unfairly treated by Asante Kotoko fans during Saturday's Ghana Premier League match between the club and the striker's Legon Cities side.

The 35-year-old former Sunderland and Udinese ace was booed by the Porcupine Warriors during his 75th-minute introduction into the fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The match ended 1-0 in favour of Kotoko, the decisive goal coming from Emmanuel Gyamfi in the 13th minute.

“I think what happened to Gyan tells us the kind of country we are leaving in. Ghanaians fancy the downfall of people instead of lifting them," former TSH Hoffenheim frontman Tagoe, who played together with Gyan at the 2010 World Cup, told Angel TV. 

"I didn’t expect such a thing to happen, what happened was disgusting because he is here to help raise the standard of the Ghana Premier League.

“His presence in the league is a plus because the young ones are learning a lot from him. 

"We have a lot of players who are willing to return to the GPL but what is preventing them from coming, it is because of something like this."

The reason why Gyan was booed remains unclear. 

While some have attributed the hostility to the striker's last-minute decision to swerve Kotoko to instead sign for Legon on his return to the GPL last october, others believe the act was a move to unsettle the forward on his introduction into the game, as Kotoko needed to protect their lead.

“Gyan has not taken money from anyone [for which he should be booed for joining a different club]," Tagoe added.

"Although he had an intention to play for Kotoko but if one reason or the other he is unable to join them, it doesn’t mean they should boo him because it might be that Kotoko were unable to meet his demands.

“I think it is unnecessary because Gyan has made his name in the game so we should be proud of what we have. I will not be surprised if Asamoah quits the GPL. I think it was a childish act from the fans.”

Gyan has not taken the treatment lying down, having hit back at the Kotoko fans and called them "hypocrites" and stressing that "there is only one Asamoah Gyan".

The Black Stars attacker is Ghana's all-time top scorer and the most capped player, having scored 51 goals in 109 outings. 

Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed that they would be without goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and defender Erick Mathoho in Tuesday’s Premier Soccer League clash against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The Soweto giants are facing a goalkeeping crisis as Daniel Akpeyi lasted just 45 minutes after suffering a concussion during the 2-2 draw against Bloemfontein Celtic last Saturday.

This leaves Bruce Bvuma and Brylon Petersen as the only fit goalkeepers.

With centre-back Mathoho injured as he could not finish the Bloemfontein match, Chiefs’ defence could be at the mercy of the TTM attack as Daniel Cardoso is out after picking his fourth yellow card.

Chiefs are in Limpopo, heavily weakened without star attacker Khama Billiat who is “starting to run” after injuring his leg which saw him out of action from January to early April.

But what could be worrisome for Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt is arriving in Limpopo with a depleted defence.

In almost every interview, the former SuperSport United coach had complained about his porous backline.

"I thought it was a good performance again today. But the old Achilles Heel of our team, you know, is defending,” Hunt said after the draw against Celtic.

"I always say you can't win anything without good defending, defending starts from the front."

“Daniel got a heck of a bang on the head so he’s got a bit of concussion‚ and ‘Tower’ [Mathoho] has done something‚ I think a groin.

"A bit unfortunate, as I said the whole season, we have been making changes, forced changes, before half-time, after half-time.

"In football, it sometimes throws you off a little bit. But in saying that, I thought we had the better of the chances, we had more than enough to win the game. But you can't come away and score two goals and then draw the game, you should have been defending better, but it is what it is.

"If the players weren't giving everything, that would be a problem. But they're giving everything every week, they're trying and working hard and that's the most important thing in football."

Chiefs’ opponents TTM are second from bottom and fighting against relegation.

Yanga SC head coach Nasreddine Nabi has explained why he has been impressed by the players ahead of the Kariakoo Derby against Simba SC.

Yanga will face traditional rivals on May 8 and Nabi – who has been in charge of two games – has stated he is impressed with the development of the players so far.

“I am happy to see my players improving and what made me happier is to see the players engage in high spirits like players who really want to fight for Yanga,” Nabi told Mwanaspoti.

“I am also happy to see that they are grasping what I want them to learn and implement. But I know there is still a lot to do going forward.”

The Tunisian coach also said he is aware of Simba’s quality but he believes the Shield Cup game against Tanzania Prisons – which they won 1-0 – gave them proper preparation for the derby.

“I know we are going to play a tough team,” added Nabi. “We respect Simba and we know they have quality at their disposal and they are going to give us a different challenge than what we got against Prisons.

“Against Prisons, we missed four players but I believe a number would have returned by then.”

Nabi’s belief in his players’ adaptability comes after his striker Saidi Ntibazonkiza said the coach’s effect will be felt by the Jangwani club in a short span of time.

“The coach has started well and we will need at least 10 days for people to feel the change. The fans need to support him and support the team generally. I can feel that we are on a path to achieve greatness especially if we keep winning as the coach has demanded,” Ntibazonkiza said.

“We have started to feel the change in the team and if you look at how we play against Tanzania Prisons and how we played before he came, there is something you will see with regard to the playstyle.

“The team is settled and is creating chances and I feel we were much better in the game against Tanzania Prisons.”

The Kariakoo derby carries a lot at stake as Yanga would need a win to reduce the gap with Simba while Wekundu wa Msimbazi will fight for victory in order to maintain the good form they have had.

Manchester United and Liverpool were set to battle it out in their highly-anticipated Premier League clash at Old Trafford on May 2, but the game was ultimately called off.

The game was cancelled due to the fan protests taking place at the stadium, with the match first delayed and then ultimately postponed to a later date.

So when will the game be played? Goal takes a look.

When could Man Utd vs Liverpool be played?

There has been no information yet for when the game could be rescheduled for, but finding a new slot will be tricky as clubs will be wrapping up their seasons in May ahead of the summer.

Both clubs don't have much space to accommodate such a high-profile game, with Man Utd's next game against Roma in the Europa League on May 6, while Liverpool face Southampton on May 8 in the Premier League.

Man Utd are also expected to play the Europa League final on May 26, though that is three days after the final day of Premier League fixtures, where all teams are due to play their last matches at the same time on May 23.

Both sides are also set to play in the final midweek of the Premier League, after the competition's announcement that the second-to-last games would take place on May 18 and May 19 so that clubs can have one game with fans before the season ends.

Goal will keep this page updated with new details once they have been confirmed by the clubs and broadcaster.

Why was Man Utd vs Liverpool called off?

Man Utd vs Liverpool was called off due to protests led by Red Devils fans taking place both inside and outside of Old Trafford, with the match officially postponed due to "safety and security considerations".

The game was initially scheduled to take place at 4:30pm BST on Sunday (11:30am ET), but due to the growing protests and presence of fans inside the stadium that began a couple of hours earlier, there were doubts that the match would even go ahead.

A small number of fans managed to gain entry into the stadium, occupying the pitch and attempting to enter the dressing rooms.

The Man Utd supporters gathered to protest the club owners, the Glazer family, to voice their discontent in how the club was being run.

Joel Glazer penned a letter to fans following the club's infamous decision to participate in the European Super League, before withdrawing from the competition due to the overwhelming negative raction from supporters and media figures alike.

Glazer wrote: "You made very clear your opposition to the European Super League, and we have listened. We got it wrong, and we want to show that we can put things right."

The letter added: "In seeking to create a more stable foundation for the game, we failed to show enough respect for its deep-rooted traditions – promotion, relegation, the pyramid – and for that we are sorry."

During the protests, however, banners with statements reading 'APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED' were strewn.

A statement from the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) read: "Supporters turned up on the day of a game they could not even attend, to peacefully protest and speak with one clear voice about the change that needs to happen at our club," the statement said. 

"On the back of the indefensible [Super League] proposals, and an 'apology' from the Glazers which we do not accept, we need to give fans a meaningful share in the ownership of United and a meaningful voice in how it is run."

Man Utd & Liverpool fixture list

UEFA has confirmed that fans will be allowed to attend this season's Europa League final.

Fans have not been able to attend matches in the European competition this season because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the Polish authorities are allowing 25 percent of the Stadion Miejski in Gdansk to be filled for the final on May 26.

How many fans will be allowed to attend?

Up to 9,500 spectators will be allowed entry to watch the Europa League final.

Fans travelling to Gdansk from outside Poland will have to undergo a 10-day quarantine unless they have had a full course of vaccinations in order to attend the match.

Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test may be necessary.

Those in attendance will also have to wear a face mask inside the stadium. 

When do tickets go on sale?

The ticket sales have already started and will go on until May 7.

As many as 6,000 are available for fans and the general public, but they will not be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rather, once the application process is complete a ballot will be conducted to allocate tickets.

Which teams will play in the Europa League final?

The teams contesting the final are yet to be decided, with the second legs of the semi-final ties set to take place on Thursday.

Manchester United already have one foot in the final, however, after beating Roma 6-2 at Old Trafford last week.

The tie between Arsenal and Villarreal is much closer, with the Spanish side leading 2-1 from the first leg ahead of the return fixture in north London.

Further reading

Vipers FC have qualified for the Uganda Cup quarter-finals despite drawing 1-1 in the second-leg encounter against UPDF FC on Monday at St Mary's Stadium.

Bright Vuni scored the goal for the military side before Bobosi Byaruhanga scored from a direct corner to ensure the tie ended in a 1-1 draw. In the first leg encounter, the Venoms had picked a 3-1 win at Bombo Military Barracks.

Vuni scored against Vipers in the 10th minute and Byaruhanga would have equalised for the hosts three minutes later but his effort went over the bar from close range.

Bernard Muwanga could have doubled the lead for UPDF in the 15th minute but his header, from a nicely delivered corner kick, went wide. Byaruhanga leveled matters for Vipers in the 23rd minute from a direct corner. 

Halid Lwakliwa could have scored the second for the Venoms but his fierce shot was saved by UPDF's goalkeeper Eric Kibowa. 

Ceasar Manzoki failed to find the back of the net in the 33rd minute when he found himself in a good position but he blasted wide. The Venoms launched a clinical counter-attack in the 60th minute but a final shot by Jamil Kalisa went out. 

Fred Kajoba made two changes in the 65th minute when Paul Mucureezi and Najib Yiga came on for Allan Kayiwa and Kalisa. Lawrence Tezikya, Ibrahim Orit and Disan Galiwango came on for Manzoki, Karisa and Aziz Kayondo in the 72nd minute.

A combination between Orit and Tezikya almost produced a second goal for Vipers but the latter headed straight into Kibowa's hands. The 1-1 draw means Vipers have qualified for the next round courtesy of a 4-2 aggregate.

Vipers SC XI: Fabien Mutombora, Halid Lwaliwa, Aziz Kayondo, Livingston Mulondo, Joseph Dhata, Bobosi Byaruhanga, Allan Kayiwa, Milton Karisa, Jamil Kalisa, Cesar Manzoki, Abram Ndugwa

Subs: Bashir Ssekagya, Disan Galiwango, Lawrence Tezikya, Ibrahim Orit, Najib Yiga, Paul Mucureezi, Musa Ssali.

UPDF FC XI: Erick Kibowa, James Begisa, Isa Mubiru, Denis Ssekitoleko, Joseph Bright Vuni, Bernard Muwanga, Christopher Kawagu, Charles Ssebutinde, Davis Kasirye, Ezekiel Katende, Paul Ruben Kabuye.

Subs: Yusuf Wasswa, Jessie Kajuba, Ivan Kato, Arafat Kakonge, Alex Kitata, Brian Kayanja, Sam Kintu.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi says their Premier Soccer League 3-0 win over Orlando Pirates was just what they had planned as they ended a rough spell. 

After going for four games without recording victory in all competitions, Sundowns reacted by dismissing Pirates 3-0 courtesy of goals by Ricardo Nascimento, returning striker Peter Shalulile and substitute Lyle Lakay.

“But credit must be given to the boys, they fought, people were beginning to doubt our capacity and we have always known that we have a very good team that is capable of playing any match at any given time,” Mngqithi told the media. 

“I think the game panned out the way we expected. The slight difference was that we never anticipated we would play three centre-backs and have five across with the two wing-backs. 

“But when we figured that out we managed to maneuver our structure a little bit because we saw that we could play 5-3-2 and we had more space in the wide channels but the game was very tight in the first half.” 

Sundowns started the match with Mosa Lebusa, Ricardo Nascimento and Rivaldo Coetzee playing as centre-backs. 

But their substitutions seemed to have worked as Gift Motupa came in to provide an assist for Shalulile while Lakay grabbed the last goal.  

“We did tell the players that they must just keep moving the ball and pass as much as they can. We know it was going to have an effect on their legs and we have been traveling a lot,” said Mngqithi. 

“So we knew that at a certain point they [Pirates] would give in. We started a little bit shaky but when we recollected ourselves we started to use our spaces better with Lebo [Maboe] and Pitso [Sphelele Mkhulise] and Mshishi [Themba Zwane] playing well.  

“We started to gain some inroads into their half and Gift played a significant role in making sure that we always have depth all the time and pin the centre-backs in the right areas where we wanted them which gave us a little bit of a chance and freedom to Peter, Mshishi and Mkhulise.

“The truth of the matter is that it was not a game we could easily win 3-0. It was very close. Anything could have happened but when the dice rolled in our direction after the penalty, we knew Pirates would be desperate and come with a lot of numbers into our half. 

Sundowns now prepare to host Maritzburg United on Wednesday.

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) FC coach Morley Byekwaso has conceded his team is still at their level despite beating Fufa Big League side Maroons FC in the Uganda Cup round of 16. 

The Ugandan Premier League side needed goals from Herbert Achai and Hassan Jurua to ensure they got a vital first-leg win at Luzira Prisons ground. Despite winning the game, the Garbage collectors struggled and they had their goalkeeper Charles Lukwago to thank for making vital saves as well as denying Pius Obuya from the penalty spot. 

The Hippos tactician was not amused by the performance and went on to point out his team's main undoings.

"I think the boys showed some of the characters [on Sunday], but I am still worried by the drop off in performance levels especially in the second half," Byekwaso stated.

"We are trying to get to a level, but the team is not quite adapting well to that and it is also a problem."

The tactician has now explained what might have contributed to the unsatisfying performance on Sunday.

"But I cannot fault them because lately we have struggled with injuries and have had to play a few individuals out of position," Byekwaso continued.

"Three of our top strikers are still out with injury. Brian Aheebwa, Sam Ssenyonjo, and recently Charles Lwanga has also joined the list.  

And it is hard for us with the replacements available. They are all inclined more to midfield. That means they cannot give you the urgency in the attack.  

Of course, I have seen improvements here and there. But I think we need to get 45% more from their potential to get to the level where we want to be."

The Uganda Cup presents a good opportunity for KAAC to win a trophy this season considering they are 10 points behind Uganda Revenue Authority with a handful of matches remaining to conclude the season.

Meanwhile, Police FC defeated Premier League rivals Bright Stars 4-1 to take the first-leg advantage at Omondi Stadium in Lugogo. 
The overall winner will represent Uganda in the annual Caf Confederation Cup competition.

Edouard Mendy believes Chelsea will see "the best of" Timo Werner and Kai Havertz from next season after the German forwards endured testing debut campaigns at Stamford Bridge.

Much was expected of two big-money additions when they made their way to west London from RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen during the summer of 2020, but neither has lived up to their price tag.

There have been flashes of brilliance and the odd cause for optimism, but it may be that consistency proves elusive until 2021-22.

What has been said?

Chelsea goalkeeper Mendy told the club's official website: "They are really good players. They are young players and it is the first time that they have moved to another country. 

"I think they needed a couple of months to adjust and understand the Premier League but I see them every day and I know how good they are. I am happy for them. They showed their qualities on the pitch.

"Next season, 100 per cent, we will see the best of Timo and Kai. Even this year, we have enjoyed their good levels of performance and they are important for us."

How many goals have Werner and Havertz scored?

Havertz, who has been used as a false nine by Thomas Tuchel over recent weeks, bagged a brace as Chelsea saw off rivals Fulham 2-0 in their last Premier League outing.

Werner teed up one of those efforts and is one of only five English top-flight players to have reached double figures for goals and assists this season.

The 24-year-old has found the target on 11 occasions, while Havertz now has eight efforts to his name.

The bigger picture

Havertz and Werner will be hoping to figure again when Chelsea host Real Madrid on Wednesday in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

That contest is 1-1 on aggregate, with Tuchel's side - who are already FA Cup finalists and top-four contenders - ready to switch their focus back to continental competition.

Mendy added: "It is not easy to switch between the two Champions League games with a Premier League match in the middle but we did it. 

"The manager knows how difficult it is to stay focused in the game against Fulham but we had a good start even though they pressed us high. We stayed strong together and were clinical in the counter-attack.

"To be honest, we won against Fulham and it was a hard game, but now we must recover and be focused on the Real Madrid game. It is a semi-final and we have won nothing. We need to be ready for this battle."

Further reading

East Bengal's talismanic German midfielder Matti Steinmann has mutually terminated his contract and has left the club, Goal can confirm.

Steinmann, who had signed a two-year contract with the Red and Golds last season, has decided to end his association with the club after just one season.

Why is Steinmann leaving? 

He would have received a salary hike in the second season if he stayed but he is leaving the club due to the ongoing tussle between the club officials and investors Shree Cement Limited over the signing of the final agreement.

Goal had earlier revealed that the German was in talks with his former club in the A-League Wellington Phoenix and was set to leave the club.

The former Hamburg midfielder was one of the finest performers for the Kolkata giants in the Indian Super League (ISL) last season with four goals and three assists in 17 matches. Thus, his departure will be a big blow for the team.

Along with Steinmann, another fan favourite and star player Bright Enobakhare is also on the verge of leaving the Red and Golds. The Nigerian attacker, who had joined, the club in the January transfer window on a short-term deal, was eager to extend his stay with the club for the upcoming season but due to the uncertainty, it seems that Enobakhare is also on his way out of the club.

What happened at East Bengal?

On March 24, Shree Cement had sent out an ultimatum to the club officials regarding their signature on the final agreement between the two parties. They had also attached the term sheet based on which the final agreement was drafted.

The term sheet was signed by both parties in September 2020 on the basis of which the club’s sporting rights as well all its assets and properties (including intellectual) were transferred to the newly formed company Shree Cement East Bengal Foundation - a Joint Venture between the two parties.

The East Bengal club officials, on the other hand, have maintained the stance that a few clauses in the final agreement differ from the term sheet. But the investor continues to refute their claims.

According to sources close to Goal, the investors have decided not to invest or enter into fresh contracts with any person until the final agreement is signed.

Donny van de Beek's ongoing struggles at Manchester United have seen a return to Ajax mooted, but Marc Overmars says the 24-year-old should stay put and fight for his place at Old Trafford.

The highly-rated Netherlands international left his homeland for England during the summer of 2020 in a £35 million ($49m) deal, but has seen the dream switch turn into a nightmare.

Having been restricted to just two Premier League starts, talk of another move in the next transfer window is starting to build.

What has been said?

Overmars, Ajax's director of football, told NOS of the speculation suggesting Van de Beek could head back to Amsterdam: "I think Donny should just fight, stay next year and try to claim a starting place. You shouldn’t leave so quickly."

Who else has been discussing Van de Beek?

Another Ajax legend, Edwin van Sar, also says Van de Beek should remain with United.

The former Red Devils goalkeeper, who is chief executive of the newly-crowned Eredivisie champions, sees no reason for another transfer to be sought.

Van der Sar told ESPN: "Of course I feel sad for Donny.

"He walked the perfect path before joining United. He joined the [Ajax] first team from the academy, became a starter, won trophies, performed in Europe - but the midfield of Manchester United is too stacked, they’ve not had any injuries. It’s hard for him."

What about Onana?

While moving to rule out a homecoming for Van de Beek, Overmars has admitted further departures could be on the cards at Ajax.

Andre Onana had been linked with a move before being hitwith a 12-month ban by UEFA and, with his contract due to expire in 2022, a switch may now be sanctioned.

Overmars added: "We have not stopped the negotiations for nothing. I think it is likely that he will leave in the summer."

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