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Scottish champions Glasgow City have completed the signing of South Africa striker Ode Fulutudilu, on a one-year contract.

The Glasgow based outfit secured the Banyana Banyana star as a free agent after successfully seeing out her one-year contract with new Finnish champions Aland United this November.

The 30-year-old arrived at Wiklof Holding Arena in January 2020 and was in breathtaking form, scoring seven goals in 15 outings to help Aland United complete a historic domestic double.

The striker's latest switch to Scotland extends her impressive professional career sojourn in Europe, since starting at ONS in 2018 before a historic move to Spain, where she played for Malaga.

She also becomes the fifth signing during this transfer window for coach Scott Booth following the captures of Niamh Farrelly, Priscila Chinchilla Arna Asgrimsdottir and Julia Molin. 

Confirming her acquisition head coach Booth admits she is happy to sign the South Africa international while extolling her quality.

“Ode is a player who has an incredible ability to stretch the opposition," she told the club's official website. 

"Her pace will cause teams a huge headache and she is hungry to score goals.

"Ultimately, she brings experience, a fantastic work ethic, modesty and a huge cutting edge. I am very pleased with how the squad is shaping up.”

Commenting on her transfer, Fulutudilu revealed her delight about the move and shared her eagerness to hit the ground running.

"I am really excited about this opportunity of joining such a club as Glasgow City," she said.

"I am looking forward to playing my part in contributing to the future of the club and giving my all for the future success of the club."

Fulutudilu's signing explains the desire of Booth to defend the Scottish title and ensure participation in next year's Champions League.

Following her signing, Fulutudilu will become the second South African at the Scottish club after veteran defender Janine Van Wyk.

The South African will hope for a good start to life in Scotland if handed her debut against third-placed Celtic on January 17, 2021.

Kaizer Chiefs chairman Kaizer Motaung has backed the club's head coach Gavin Hunt after the team's poor form.

Amakhosi extended their winless run to five matches across all competitions when they drew 0-0 with Angolan side CD Primeiro de Agosto in the Caf Champions League first-round first-leg match at home on Wednesday.

The Soweto giants have also been eliminated from the 2020 MTN8 by their archrivals Orlando Pirates and they are two points above the relegation zone on the Premier Soccer League (PSL) standings.

Motaung is optimistic that the current Amakhosi technical team which led by Gavin Hunt can bring back the glory days with the Glamours Boys having won their last major trophy in 2015 which was the PSL title.  

“The 2020/21 football season started with the changes by introducing the new coaching team of coach Gavin Hunt assisted by Dillon Shepard and Arthur Zwane," Motaung told the club's official website. 

"We have not made changes to the playing personnel at the start of the season due to reasons we all know.

"However, we have roped in the new technical team which is working hard now to turnaround the fortunes of the team to return to winning trophies."

Hunt has taken charge of 14 Chiefs matches across all competitions thus far this term - recording three wins, five defeats and six draws. 

Motaung urged the Amakhosi faithful to be patient with Hunt, who replaced Ernst Middendorp as the Chiefs head coach prior to the start of the current season. 

"We started the season slowly but we are working hard to turn the corner and return to winning ways," he added.

"We have also made our return to continental football after qualifying for the Caf Champions League.

"We must exercise patience and let the coaches work on the team. We will soon bring back the smiles on our supporter’s faces.”

Chiefs' next match will be against Agosto in the second-leg encounter which is scheduled to be played on January 5 in Angola. 

Amakhosi will then square off with Maritzburg United in a PSL match at FNB Stadium on January 9. 

All the best teams in the world are successful because they have quality talent all over the pitch. This includes the very first name on the teamsheet, the goalkeeper.

FIFA 21 is no different. Teams live or die on having good goalkeepers and signing a competent No. 1 is essential to any long-term planning. It is why Chelsea decided to turn their back on the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of football to gamble on Edouard Mendy and put the mistakes of Kepa Arrizabalaga in the past.

Long-term investments are crucial in FIFA 21 as many of the world's most promising young goalkeepers have a low current rating and may not be good enough to start right away for top-tier sides. Match experience and the right training are crucial to the development of any wonderkid in FIFA 21, so any cheap backup you sign might need to be loaned out to get first-team minutes.

The majority of goalkeepers on this list are cheap at the start of Career Mode, with the vast majority of high potential No. 1s available for less than £1 million.

Here are all the best young goalkeepers in FIFA 21 Career Mode, ordered by their potential rating in the game.

PO. = Position(s)

CR = Current Rating

PR = Potential Rating

VA. = Value

*Clubs listed are the clubs the players are assigned to in FIFA 21 Career Mode, while ages shown are the age at the start of Career Mode

Fifa has approved up to six slots to Africa in the 2023 Women's World Cup to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

The development is coming after the expansion of the global showpiece to a 32-team competition, allowing eight additional participating teams.

Following Thursday's ratification by Fifa, Africa will get one additional automatic slot (when compared to the 24-team competition), that means four teams. This will take effect for the 2023 edition where two more can qualify.

The new 32-team competition has 29 direct slots and three other slots will be decided through a playoff tournament between 10 teams, with two countries from Africa to also battle for tickets. If these two do qualify then Africa will have six participants in total.

Besides Africa, Uefa got 11, Asia claimed six, Concacaf earned four, while Conmebol and OFC bagged three and one respectively.

For the playoff tournament, two slots each went to Asia, Africa, Concacaf and Conmebol, while Uefa and OFC got one each.

"The two host countries, Australia and New Zealand, will automatically qualify for the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023, and their slots have been taken directly from the quotas allocated to their confederations, namely the AFC and the OFC respectively," Fifa announced in a statement.

According to Fifa, the 10-team playoff tournament will be held in Australia and New Zealand as part of a World Cup preparatory event, with all participating teams to play at least two matches.

"Teams from the same confederation will not be permitted to be drawn in the same group," Fifa added.

"The play-off tournament will be used as a test event in Australia and New Zealand for the Fifa Women’s World Cup, and both hosts will be invited to participate in friendly matches against the teams in Group 1 and Group 2, thereby ensuring that all teams play two matches during the play-off tournament."

The qualifying matches are expected to start in 2021 and end in 2022 but no details have been released yet in Africa, following the scrapping of the 2020 Africa Women's Cup of Nations due to the coronavirus pandemic.  

The Women's World Cup will be held from 10 July – 20 August, 2023, with the USA being the defending champions.

Max-Alain Gradel and Mustapha Yatabare found the back of the net while Olanrewaju Kayode was in action to help Sivasspor secure a 3-1 win over Genclerbirligi.

Nigeria international Kayode was afforded his ninth league appearance after joining the side on a season-long loan from Russian Premier League club Shakhtar Donetsk.

Gradel, meanwhile, was handed his 18th appearance across all competitions in the encounter since he teamed up with Rıza Calimbay’s men in the summer from French club Torino.

The Ivory Coast international utilised the opportunity to score his third league goal of the season and help his side extend their winning run to three games.

Yatabare also played a key role in the victory, netting his first league goal of the season and second strike in 16 appearances across all competitions.

The game started with both sides aiming to outwit each other and Gradel broke the deadlock moments before the half-time break after he was set up by Claudemir. 

Hakan Arslan doubled Sivasspor‘s lead in the 71st minute after receiving a timely assist from Faycal Fajr.

Yatabare then sealed the victory with four minutes left to full-time, firing his effort past the reach of goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt to render Arda Kizildag’s late strike a mere consolatory goal.

Nigeria international Kayode featured for 64 minutes in the encounter while Gradel was on parade for 89 minutes before making way for Ziya Erdal.

Gabon international Aaron Appindangoye played for the entirety of the game in his fifth appearance of the season for Sivasspor.

With the victory, Sivasspor moved to 14th spot on the Super Lig table after gathering 17 points from 13 games.

The African stars will be expected to continue their impressive performances when the Braves take on Besiktas in their next league game on December 28.

Swallows FC head coach Brandon Truter has played down the suggestion his side is a Premier Soccer League (PSL) title contender.

The Birds have had a great start to the 2020/21 season as they remain undefeated having accumulated 18 points from eight matches.

As a result, Swallows are placed second on the league standings - level on points with log leaders, Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a better goal difference.

Truter picked Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and SuperSport United as the contenders for this season's PSL title. 

“When you are talking about title contenders you can speak about Sundowns, Pirates and SuperSport, not us,” said Truter on Isolezwe.

“We will just keep on going and do the best we can in the next match, that is the only thing that matters, only when the season ends will we see where we are.

“We are new to this league, I am myself and a lot of players are as well. It is where we wanted to be, and we are there now, but we are not getting carried away."

Swallows are back in the elite league after winning last season's National First Division (NFD) title and they gained automatic promotion to the PSL. 

Truter, who is in his maiden season as a PSL head coach, indicated consistency has been key to their success thus far.

"We are a small fish in a shark pond … we respect everyone here but we will keep going. I knew we would be competitive," he continued. 

"We have a nice spirit, a structure and a playing philosophy and the players are enjoying themselves. 

“We just didn’t expect to do so well, it is about consistency … we will see in the next 10-15 games where we are.”

Swallows' next match is against Truter's hometown club, Cape Town City at Dobsonville Stadium on January 5.

A Soweto Derby clash with Pirates will then follow for Swallows at the Mecca of South African football, Orlando Stadium five days later. 

Manchester United should only enter the January transfer market if “the right player” becomes available, says Gary Neville, with the Red Devils warned off “panic” buys in a tricky window.

Patience at Old Trafford is being rewarded in 2020-21, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer having overcome more questions of his future to edge his side into contention for major honours.

Many have United in the Premier League title race, as they sit five points off the pace with a game in hand, while progress to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup has also been made.

A useful habit of grinding out results on the road has been picked up, while a 6-2 victory over arch-rivals Leeds suggests that a spark has also been found on home soil.

With all of that taken into account, Neville is not convinced that United need to spend again.

Value can be hard to find over the winter so, despite the Red Devils not yet being the complete package, Solskjaer has been advised to steer well clear of any urge to add for the sake of it.

Red Devils legend Neville told his podcast for Sky Sports: “If the right player is available then yes, Manchester United should go into the January transfer market because they need to improve the team. But if the player is not there, they won't panic, they have been doing things a bit better in the market in recent years.

“What I would say is that Manchester United are a confusing bunch, two or three weeks ago you looked and this team and thought it would be a tough old season. They went out of Europe, the performance in the first half at West Ham was really poor, I was there.

“But if you look at the result at Everton, the glass is half full. The squad has been used after the performance against Leeds, where they were brilliant. Six goals against Leeds then nine changes against Everton, everyone is involved and playing.

“Leicester is a big game on Boxing Day, but if they were to go there and win, they would really be gathering some confidence. Contrast that to a couple of weeks ago where there were questions over the manager's job - not from me, I always thought Ole should get to the end of this season as a minimum.

“But as he walked off the pitch at Goodison with a smile on his face, the fans will be happy, the players on the pitch have a lot of quality and if they can just get into a rhythm and start to produce performances, real performances over 90 minutes, there's a bunch of players with big character and quality. They have not moulded together yet as a team, but they are getting better, they are getting stronger, they have match-winners.”

United, who have also dropped into the last-32 of the Europa League and have an FA Cup campaign to come, have seen belief returned to their ranks by recent displays and are daring to dream once more as they seek to bring a four-year wait for major silverware to a close.

The intrigue and excitement of transfers remains one of the most engaging aspects of football, with rumours of big-money moves fuelled all year round.

Naturally, transfer talk intensifies the closer we get to the opening of the window, often reaching a crescendo in the moments just before it "slams shut", as the saying goes.

Ahead of the new year, Goal brings you the all details about the upcoming January transfer window, when it opens and closes, as well as taking a look at the top targets.

When does the 2021 January transfer window open & close?

The 2021 January transfer window will open on Saturday January 2 for Premier League and English Football League clubs.

It will remain open for a period of around four weeks before closing on Monday February 1.

Of course, the transfer window varies from country to country, with some leagues adhering to different opening and closing dates.

In Spain, for example, La Liga clubs will be able to engage in transfer business from Monday January 4 - two days after the window opens in England - until February 1.

Italy will follow the same window dates, meaning Serie A clubs are harmonised with their Spanish counterparts.

The transfer window period for German and French clubs will be the same as in England - open from January 2 and closed on February 1.

Since 2020-21 seasons have effectively reverted to their normal schedules, the dates for the January transfer window are unaffected by Covid-19-related delays.

The summer transfer window in 2020 was pushed further into the year after lockdown measures played havoc with the customary competition calendars of the world's football leagues.

It was pushed back a month, opening at the end July and closing at the beginning of October, meaning it was more of a summer-autumn transfer window.

Who are the top January transfer window targets?

So, who are the top transfer targets in the upcoming January window?

A number of high profile stars are out of contract this coming summer, but deals could well be wrapped up early, while others find themselves out of favour at their clubs.

Lionel Messi | Barcelona

Uncertainty continues to swirl around the future of six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, whose contract with Barcelona expires in the summer of 2021.

He has been strongly linked with Manchester City in particular, though the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Inter have also been touted as potential destinations.

The Argentine pushed for an early Camp Nou exit in August, but ultimately relented in his efforts, though he outlined his reasons for wanting to leave in an exclusive interview with Goal.

One of the issues was Messi's relationship with Josep Maria Bartomeu, Barca's erstwhile president, who stood down in October and the club will soon elect a new president in January.

It is felt that Messi will wait to see the outcome of the presidential elections, which conclude on January 24, before making the final call on his future.

Mesut Ozil | Arsenal

Once regarded as one of the best footballers in the world, Mesut Ozil's star has faded considerably over the course of his last two seasons at Arsenal and he now finds himself excluded from the squad list.

The Gunners hierarchy appear keen to move the lucratively remunerated World Cup winner off their roster, but it remains unclear where exactly he could end up.

Ozil has expressed a desire to see out his contract with the north London club, but he is also eager to play games and he will probably have to move in order to do that.

His agent has confirmed that Fenerbahce are interested, while also revealing that the playmaker has had offers "from all over the world". 

David Alaba | Bayern Munich

David Alaba is one of the stalwarts of Bayern Munich and has collected nine Bundesliga titles as well as two Champions League winner's medals during his time in Bavaria.

However, it looks like his time there is set to end, with Oliver Kahn hinting that the Austria international is intent on leaving despite having the proverbial "red carpet" rolled out for him in contract talks.

Manchester United have been spoken of as a potential destination for Alaba, while Chelsea are also reportedly keen to lure him to Stamford Bridge.

Georginio Wijnaldum | Liverpool

Netherlands international Georginio Wijnaldum will be free to leave Liverpool this summer and it is thought that he has a number of suitors across Europe.

Barcelona have been most heavily linked with the midfielder, while Inter are also reportedly interested in securing his services as they seek to bolster their squad after a disappointing Champions League display.

It is possible that the Dutchman could remain with the Premier League club, but as January 1 approaches, it is looking increasingly likely that he will leave.

Christian Eriksen | Inter

One of the most highly regarded playmakers in Europe, Christian Eriksen's move to Milan looks set to become a disappointing sojourn after Inter confirmed he is on the market in January.

Nerazzurri CEO Giuseppe Marotta noted that Eriksen has struggled at San Siro, describing him as "not functional" to Antonio Conte's squad.

“That is not any insult towards his professionalism," Marotta told Sky Sports Italy after confirming the Dane had been place on the transfer list. 

"There is no punishment, it’s just a situation that has developed and it’s only fair to give him the chance to go where he can play more regularly."

Interestingly, Arsenal have been linked to the former Tottenham star, while he has previously attracted attention from Real Madrid.

Hakan Calhanoglu | AC Milan

It took him a while to get going at AC Milan, but Hakan Calhanoglu has really blossomed at San Siro this season and his form has not gone unnoticed.

The Turkey international is believed to be on the radar of Juventus, while Manchester United transfer chiefs have reportedly been monitoring his availability.

With 29 goals to his name and a further 45 provided for his team-mates across his 149 games for the club, he will have plenty of admirers.

Milan boss Stefano Pioli is hopeful that he can keep hold of the Turkey international, telling DAZN: "I don't think there are problems. Calha is with us and with the club. I'm sure that his will is to stay, there is a negotiation.

"The club, technical area, the player and I want the same thing, he has reached important levels and can still grow. He's a player to bet on."

Wayne Rooney has refused to be drawn on Derby’s links to Phil Jones, with the Manchester United legend keeping his cards close to his chest when it comes to a reported raid on the ranks at Old Trafford.

An experienced England international defender is expected to be on the move during the January transfer window.

Jones has slipped out of sight and mind in Manchester, with the 28-year-old tumbling down the pecking order at United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Injuries have done little to aid his cause, but a versatile operator has been overlooked even when fully fit.

Jones’ last outing for the Red Devils came way back in January, when he figured in an FA Cup clash with Tranmere.

He has not been seen since and appears to have little hope of forcing his way back into Solskjaer’s plans.

Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof remain the go-to centre-half pairing for United, with Eric Bailly filling back-up duty.

Axel Tuanzebe is another that has risen above Jones, leaving the 2012-13 Premier League title winner with little choice but to seek regular game time elsewhere.

It has been suggested that Rooney, who is overseeing matters at Championship side Derby following the dismissal of Phillip Cocu, would be keen on a reunion with his former United and England colleague.

The Red Devils’ all-time leading goalscorer has played alongside Jones on 143 occasions in the past and knows the qualities that a proven performer could offer to his side at Pride Park.

Rooney is, however, reluctant to be drawn on supposed interest.

He told reporters when quizzed on the rumours: “Phil Jones is a Manchester United player and it is not my job to really speak on him.”

While Rooney is eager to steer clear of speculation for now, Red Devils boss Solskjaer has previously stated that Jones should be ready to kick-start his career around the turn of the year.

He said back in October: “Phil has been injured and had an operation and working really hard to be back, hopefully he'll get fit during December.

“That was a natural thing when you're injured, you can't be in the squad can you, but he's working really diligently and he’ll be coming back soon.”

Derby could do with adding Jones’ vast experience to their ranks, as they sit 22nd in the second tier, but interest from West Ham, Newcastle and Leicester has also been mooted in a man with 27 England caps to his name.

KCB FC have opened a four-point lead on top of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League table after defeating Wazito FC by a solitary goal. 

The only goal of the match was scored in the second half by Derrick Otanga.

Both teams came into the match with a cautious approach, avoiding conceding early.

It was the Bankers who came into the match full of confidence, after getting maximum points from their opening four games while their opponents have struggled for consistency.

Prior to the game, the Francis Kimanzi-led charges had managed to collect five points from the four games they had played which came from a win and two draws.

In the 29th minute, former Mathare United winger Kevin Kimani managed to bring in a good cross from the right. Michael Owino managed to head the ball but it went over the crossbar.

The former had a chance to test the goalkeeper from a free-kick in the 35th minute, but just like Owino, his effort went over the bar.

On the Banker's side, Derrick Otanga and Simon Munala had chances to score but were closed down quickly.

Henry Onyango managed to get in a good position in the 38th minute but his effort missed the target.

The goalkeepers of both teams had less work to do in the first half as the strikers failed to beat the defenders.

After the break, the Zedekiah Otieno-led charges upped their tempo hoping to get a goal. Their tactical change eventually paid dividends in the 50th minute when Otanga was slipped into the danger zone, and he managed to beat goalkeeper Otieno for an opening goal.

It happened to be the only goal of the game. Not even late attacks by the visitors would yield an equalizer.

The Bankers have now managed to collect 15 points from five games, while Wazito are on five from as many games.

KCB XI: Joseph Ochuka, Baka Badi, Dennis Odhiambo, Nashon Nanyendo, Rama Mwenda, Michael Mutinda, Simon Munala, Brian Ndenga, Derrick Otanga, Henry Onyango, David Ambulu

Subs : Daniel Odiwuor, Bethuel Achola, Martin Mbugua, Reagan Otieno, Vincent Wasambo, Victor Ochami, Brian Wepo, Enock Obiero, Samuel Mwangi, Thomas Harun, Abwao Antonio, Victor Omondi

Wazito XI: Lizarazu Otieno, Dennis Sikhai, Dennis Njire, Bernard Ochieng', Johnstone Omurwa, Fidel Otieno, Whyvonne Isuza, Kevin Kimani, Musa Masika, Boniface Omondi, Michael Owino.

Subs: Fredrick Odhiambo, Joseph Irungu, Vincent Ouma, Joshua Nyatini, Amos Asembeka, Kevin Okumu, Maurice Owino, David Odhiambo, Ali Abondo.

Ruben Dias says “winning is the only option” for Manchester City in 2020-21, with the Portuguese defender looking for the Blues to conjure up the “spirit” of “a champion”.

Pep Guardiola’s side have been uncharacteristically short on consistency this season, with a surprising lack of firepower shown by the star-studded Blues.

A side which once dominated the domestic season has already dropped 16 points in the current campaign, leaving them eighth in the table – eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool.

City were held to a 1-1 draw by West Brom in their last outing on home soil, with the Etihad Stadium no longer considered to be a fortress.

Away wins at Southampton and Arsenal in league and Carabao Cup competition have helped to get the Blues get on track, with Dias looking for further momentum to be established from this point.

He moved to England in a £62 million ($80m) deal with the intention of challenging for and ultimately landing major honours, with the 23-year-old not about to rein in that ambition.

Dias said in the Manchester Evening News: “Obviously, in this club and where I come from, winning is the only option. We know that a point is always a point, and it’s not the worst scenario.

“Sometimes it happens. Along the run, it happens.

“We just want to win and you have to have the stomach to know that when it doesn’t happen, you’ve just got to keep going. Obviously, we were so frustrated, especially after the home game [against West Brom], but it will be a decision of where we want to be at the end, and these one points at the end might be important.

“At the end of it all, we are always going for the three [points] and the ability, after a one or a zero, to go after three again and again. I think that’s the spirit that can make you a champion.”

While City have been struggling to catch the eye as a collective, Dias has impressed during his debut campaign at the Etihad.

He has quickly nailed down a starting berth in Guardiola’s plans, with the commanding centre-half embracing the challenges posed by life in the Premier League.

Dias added on his experiences in the most competitive of divisions: “I would consider that being the beauty of the Premier League because you play whoever, and they’re just going to try and win it.

“Obviously, you have different teams, different styles. But in general, every team can win a game. I think that’s the beauty of it. You’re watching a game and you might even not be watching a team from the top five, top ten, and you’re still watching a good game!

“That for me was the thing that I wanted the most; to have that feeling that I was in the right spot here. It’s pure, the purest football that might exist. I’m just really happy to be here.”

It feels like 2020 has thrown up several curveballs...and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang not scoring goals for fun has been another surprising situation.

The Arsenal captain has had a disturbing run of not scoring with the usual regularity in 2020/21 after largely carrying Arsenal in the preceding campaign.

Not only has the Gabon star looked forlorn but he isn’t getting into positions or having the required luck either.

Case in point was how, after ending a barren run without scoring against Southampton, he then picked up an injury that’s ruled him out of defeats vs Everton and Manchester City.

Nearly everything looks to have deserted Auba in the blink of an eye and how he recovers in 2021 will determine how the Gunners fare in the second half of the ongoing season.

Aubameyang: The story of 2020

Unquestionably, the first half of the year was amazing for the frontman. Having verbally committed his immediate future to the club when reports of an exit surfaced in January, the Gabon star finally signed a bumper three-year extension in September.

Before putting pen to paper, though, the talismanic forward played a decisive role in the club’s FA Cup-winning run post-lockdown.

Aubameyang scored hugely important braces against Manchester City in the semi-final and Chelsea in the decider, games the North London side won 2-0 and 2-1 respectively.

After ending the Premier League season only one goal short of Golden Boot winner, Jamie Vardy, who netted 23 times in 19/20, observers tipped the Central African attacker as one of the favourites to top the scoring charts in 20/21.

However, the regression in Auba’s numbers have been stark; he’s netted only three times in the Premier League all season, with only two goals coming from open play.

For a player who’d scored a goal every 106, 124 and 143 minutes respectively in 17/18, 18/19 and 19/20, his scoring frequency of a strike every 389 minutes this season is beyond striking.

It remains to be seen if the former Borussia Dortmund striker will take to the pitch again this year but the alarming decline in the second half of 2020 has been astonishing.

Aubameyang: Any transfer rumours?

Given he only recently signing a three-year extension in September, the chances of clubs lining up for the Arsenal man are slim.

Even if there were interested sides, the forward’s current paucity of goals could deter them from making a move for someone badly off-form in front of goal.

Aubameyang: One big hope for 2021

Odd as it sounds, it has to be a rediscovering of the goalscoring touch that made the Arsenal talisman one of Europe’s most prolific strikers.

Only that can even make Mikel Arteta’s side consider achieving their primary target of returning to the Champions League via a top four finish in the PL or winning the Europa League.

Aubameyang: One big fear for 2021

What if Auba’s lull in front of goal doesn’t disappear and Arsenal fail to climb the table as many expect over the coming months?

This will be shocking in every sense of the word and many will wonder what happened to one of Africa’s best forwards of the 2010s.

Manchester United "can win any game", according to Steve McClaren, who has insisted that the Red Devils are "definite title contenders".

The first half of the 2020-21 campaign has been a roller coaster journey for United fans, with mixed fortunes endured on both domestic and European fronts.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side slipped into the bottom half of the Premier League table after a home defeat against Arsenal on November 1, having only managed to record seven points from their opening six fixtures.

Promising signs were shown during Champions League group stage victories over Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig though, and a consistent streak has gradually been developed amid the congested fixture schedule caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

United ultimately exited Europe's elite competition after losing their Pool H decider against Leipzig, but have risen to third in the top-flight over the past two months, winning six of their last seven matches.

A 6-2 thrashing of Leeds United at Old Trafford on Sunday saw Solskjaer's team move to within five points of leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, with a crucial trip to the King Power Stadium to take on second-placed Leicester City up next.

The Red Devils warmed up for that Boxing Day encounter by knocking Everton out of the Carabao Cup at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday, and McClaren was encouraged by what he saw at Goodison Park.

The former United assistant coach has no doubt that his old club can push Liverpool all the way in this season's title race, with it his belief that Solskjaer's men are capable of beating anyone when they're in full flow.

McClaren told talkSPORT: “The way that they’re playing at the moment, the way that they blitzed Everton for the first half an hour…

“The way that they absolutely dismantled Leeds – they overran them, they were more physical than them – not many teams will do that to Leeds. Not many teams will do that.

“They’ve got the players, they’re getting fit. I heard Ole saying how their fitness is improving – that wasn’t there at the beginning of the season.

“But the quality of the players they’ve got, they’ve got goals in the team. They can win any game.

“They are right up there, believe you me. They are definite title contenders.”

Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze has reflected on his journey to stardom, including how he was released by Premier League giants Arsenal at the age of 13.

The midfielder was born in Greenwich to Nigerian parents and started developing his talent in football at a young age, playing for a number of clubs and age-grade competitions.

Eze then got an opportunity to kick-start his football career with Arsenal but only spent a short time with the side before he was released.

The disappointment of his release by the Emirates Stadium outfit overwhelmed him as he cried for days along with his mother.

The midfielder got a respite when he got another opportunity with Fulham to relaunch his career and grabbed the chance with both hands.

Eze also spent time with Reading and Millwall before he signed for Queens Park Rangers’ youth setup in 2014.

The midfielder was promoted to the first team in 2016 and went on to make 104 league appearances for QPR, bagging 20 goals, amid other dazzling displays.

Eze’s eye-catching performances soon caught the attention of a number of Premier League clubs last season before settling for Crystal Palace in the summer.

The midfielder wasted no time to adapt to the English top-flight and soon became a consistent performer for the Selhurst Park outfit. 

Eze has now made 14 appearances for Palace across all competitions and in November, he was named the club’s Player of the Month.

The 22-year-old versatile midfielder revealed his previous struggles in life has helped him develop into a better player. 

"It wasn’t the easiest but we knew we wanted to enjoy life as much as we can and that we didn’t want to be in the position we were in. So it was important we worked hard and did everything we could to give ourselves the best chance we could,” Eze told Premier League Productions.

"Me and my brothers played [football] at every opportunity we could with our friends and neighbours around the area. I think that’s the first proper look at football we all got; we wanted to play football to enjoy it.

"There was never any pressure, anything, just the idea of going out to play with our friends. The longer I held on to that, the easier it was for me to be at clubs and still try to have that mentality.

"I got scouted by a few clubs and that’s when I first went to Arsenal. At a young age, it was hard, especially being released. Me and my mum cried, everyone was so upset – that’s all you know at that age.

"But looking back at it now, that’s the start of my journey and I’m grateful to God that’s how it went. If it wasn’t for that, I may not have got the resilience, bravery, to go and be who I want to be elsewhere. It’s shaped me to be who I am today.

"I was coming to terms with how difficult it was going to be. That’s what it was for me, realising this is going to be a lot harder than I may have thought, getting a pro contract somewhere and becoming what I want to become. I knew that was a bit further than I once thought."

Eze will be expected to feature for Crystal Palace when they take on Aston Villa in a Premier League game on Boxing Day.

Lionel Messi remains fully “engaged” at Barcelona despite the speculation surrounding his future, says Ronald Koeman, with the Liga giants looking to keep their captain happy and firing on all cylinders.

As things stand, the talismanic presence at Camp Nou will hit free agency in the summer of 2021.

He will be able to discuss pre-contract terms with any suitors from January, with the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain said to be heading that queue.

Barca, though, have not given up on the thrashing out of fresh terms, with Messi admitting to feeling “fine” at Camp Nou on the back of a testing summer transfer window for all concerned.

Koeman has seen no letting up from the Argentine in what has been a difficult campaign in Catalunya so far, with a six-time Ballon d’Or being handled with care now that he is 33 years of age.

“If he is fit to play and good enough then he will play, but of course he is older than before, although he's a player who still wants to be in games and especially to win them,” Koeman told Barcelona’s official website of Messi, who has broken Pele’s record for most goals scored at one club.

“He trains hard every day. He's very engaged.

“As I coach I like to speak to my players and I also speak to him about this and other things because he's also team captain.

“There are squad matters, rules, and we speak about a lot of things, not just the way we play.

“That's part of a coach's day-to-day, you need to be in communication with your players.”

While eager to keep Messi for as long as possible, Barca do have a number of exciting youngsters on their books that could step into the shoes of an all-time great at some stage.

Koeman added on that potential: “It's always nice to talk about youngsters.

“What Ansu Fati and Pedri have done aged just 17 or 18 in such a big team as Barcelona is something very big.

“Pedri has come from Las Palmas very young and is already playing games against teams like Real Madrid and Juventus, doing so fantastically.

“It is important for a club to have youngsters and for them to get chances.

“You need to switch the team around little by little. You still need the older players, but they won't be around forever and you need to plan changes in good time, calmly.

“Pedri has earned his place in games because of his work in training. He has shown me what a good player he is and that he is able to play in a team like Barcelona.”

Koeman’s debut campaign at Camp Nou has not gone entirely to plan, with Barca currently sat fifth in La Liga, but he is confident that ultimate targets can be hit.

The Dutchman said of his ambition: “At a club like Barcelona, you have to win things and I think our ultimate purpose is to win games and trophies.

“You get no prizes for finishing fourth, you need to be first. That's the mentality that this team must have, we can't settle for anything less.

“We know that this is a season with a lot of changes, the club are in a difficult financial situation, with issues regarding the players' salaries.

“This is a very delicate situation for football clubs because of COVID-19.

“But, Barcelona are still a team that need to win, with the awareness that changes need to be made but still aspiring to the highest level and making the biggest demands.

“That has been the mentality here and always has to be the mentality.”

Mikel Arteta is trying too hard to impress and entertain at Arsenal, says Paul Merson, with the under-fire Spaniard urged to rein in his ambition and make the Gunners harder to beat.

The north London outfit have become far too easy to swat aside this season, with eight defeats suffered through 14 Premier League outfits.

Having become stuck in a serious rut, Arsenal find themselves languishing just four points above the relegation zone.

Things are not about to get any easier either, with a derby date with London neighbours Chelsea next up on Boxing Day, with Merson struggling to see how Arteta’s side can take anything from that contest.

For the former Gunners winger, too many mistakes are being made on and off the field at present, with those at Emirates Stadium needing to worry more about substance than style.

Merson told Sky Sports heading into a home date with Chelsea: “You'd be shocked if Arsenal won, and that's where this has got to. That can't be right. I can't even make a case for Arsenal winning.

“I watched them against Southampton and I was thinking how many Arsenal players would get into the Saints team. Burnley went to the Emirates and fancied it, Wolves went there and experimented! They played four at the back which they never did before.

“Of course, confidence isn't great at Arsenal and that can play a major part. Man United look a different team with confidence, but Arteta needs to go back to what brought Arsenal success - the tactics against Man City in the FA Cup semi-final, the game against Chelsea in the final.

“They need to go back to that way of playing, but he's in a position now as a young manager new in the game, he feels he needs to keep impressing.

“He has to go back to being hard to beat, using pace on the counter-attack. At the moment, it feels like Arteta is shying away from using what are seen as negative tactics and is focused more on trying to entertain - it's no good.

“Leeds are like the old Arsenal of the past eight or nine years. Arsenal didn't win anything but everybody loved them because you knew you would watch a good game.

“Arteta needs to go back to what brought him success at the first time of asking. They beat a very good Man City team at the time and Arteta needs to show the players that video and get back to that.”

Tottenham are not heading into an easier run of Premier League fixtures despite their recent string of tough encounters with fellow big six outfits, says Jose Mourinho.

Spurs sealed their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday against Championship outfit Stoke City, to resume their winning fortunes after consecutive top-flight defeats.

Back-to-back reverses against champions Liverpool and fellow title contenders Leicester - who sit first and second in the Premier League respectively - has dented Spurs' own ambitions of a maiden crown.

Tottenham would be able to arguably take heart from an upcoming slate of games with theoretical lower-grade opposition after taking seven points off successive games with Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal over late November and early December.

But speaking ahead of his side's clash with Wolves on Sunday, Mourinho played down the notion of there being any simple fixtures in the Premier League, while noting that Nuno Espirito Santo's side could feature in the top-four race this term.

"I believe [Wolves could challenge the top six]," the Portuguese noted. "But it's very hard in this league to have consistent runs, because every game is very difficult.

"We were in a period where we had to play against the considered top six teams, we got them all in a row, and now some people will say we are going to get an easier run of matches.

"What is easier? Going to Wolves, playing Fulham and Aston Villa is easier? It's not easier. We should be very happy [with where we are], and not sad with that, because it's a fantastic league, I believe."

Spurs will be without Giovani Lo Celso during their festive fixtures, but Mourinho is confident captain Harry Kane will be able to play a full part after overcoming a knock at the start of December.

Kane, who started against the Potters in midweek, needs one more goal to become just the fourth Englishman to reach double figures in seven straight Premier League campaigns, after Michael Owen, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney.

"Gio will not be fit," said Mourinho. "I really don't know [how long he will be out]. He will not be playing in this period of Christmas, New Year's, that's for sure.

"I hope that [Kane] plays all of the next matches again. The next match is Sunday. I believe that a player like him that works well, takes good care of himself with a great professional life, I believe that he will be ready to play against Wolves."

Jurgen Klopp has spoken out on the speculation surrounding Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool.

Salah has been nothing short of sensational since his €42 million (£38m/$51m) move to Anfield from Roma in the summer of 2017.

The Egypt international slotted perfectly into Klopp's team from the off, with the German able to instantly bring the best out of a man who had failed to convince in his previous spell in the Premier League at Chelsea.

Salah has hit 110 goals in his first 173 appearances for Liverpool, getting his hands on the European Cup and Premier League trophy in the process, while striking up a deadly alliance with Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane in the final third.

The 28-year-old has been at his prolific best once again in the first half of the 2020-21 season, scoring 13 goals in the Reds' first 13 top-flight fixtures to help them return to the top of the table.

However, former Egypt midfielder Mohamed Aboutrika caused a stir earlier this week when he suggested that the English champions are considering selling Salah amid reported interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Goal has learned that Liverpool are certain to offer a prized asset the chance to extend his current contract beyond 2023, but he seemed to leave the door open to a transfer during a recent interview with Spanish publication AS.

Ahead of the Reds' home fixture against West Brom on Sunday, Klopp was asked to comment on Salah's situation, and he moved to quash ongoing rumours once and for all.

"We never speak about deals, why should we start now?" the Liverpool manager told a pre-match press conference. "Mo is in a good mood, a good moment, really good shape so that is the most important thing.

"You would have seen him laughing a lot in training, he enjoyed the session.

"All the rest is nice for all of you to write about but internally, no."

Klopp added on Salah's recent scoring streak, which continued as he came off the bench to net twice in a 7-0 drubbing of Crystal Palace at the weekend: "I think all these things to talk about, he didn’t start the last game, all the things I heard after and then he came on and scored two.

"His first season he came on against Stoke and scored two. All the boys were in a good moment, that is why we had the points we have so far.

"That is why we have to keep going. The toughest point of the season is ahead of us. The Xmas period is always tough so we have to make sure we get through this."

Salah has scored five times in his last four games for Liverpool, but in stark contrast, Mane has found the back of the net just once in his previous seven Premier League outings.

Mane's scoring drought came to an end when he fired home against Palace, but Klopp insists the Senegalese winger brings far more to the team than just goals.

"Honestly, I would have lost everything if I had to bet on it how many goals scored Sadio Mane in the last 10 games," he said. "It would have been the last one I went for, he only scored once.

"We have one of the best players in the world and he didn’t score for a while. Who cares?

"He played exceptionally well, is in really good shape, really difficult to defend. Scoring is for the boys really important.

"Bobby scored two weeks ago and since then he scored three or four goals and if Sadio starts scoring I have no problem with it."

Premier Soccer League (PSL) outfit Chippa United has withdrawn the appointment of Belgian coach Luc Eymael. 

This comes after complaints from the South African Football Association (Safa) and the Eastern Cape government given the 61-year-old tactician’s alleged previous racist remark during his time with Tanzanian giants Young Africans.

The Chilli Boys released the following statement on Thursday afternoon as they moved swiftly to withdraw the decision:

"The Club would like to formally announce that it has withdrawn the appointment of Belgian, Luc Eymael. When processes are complete, a new coaching announcement will be made in due course," a club statement read. 

"After having announced Mr. Eymael's appointment until the end of the season on Wednesday, 23 December 2020 - the Club has considered public outrage. There was also the reputational damage caused to our brand, and that of our stakeholders, partners as well as our sponsors."

"We would like to clarify that the initial decision to make this appointment was based on Mr. Eymael's coaching track record, where we felt he was the best person to take the Club towards our desired top half finish in this PSL season."

"Outside of the written reports, there was no formal instruction — to us or to any other team- to not employ Mr. Eymael. However, as the Pride of Eastern Cape, we represent the legacies of world-renowned anti­discrimination heroes that come from our Province."

"The Chilli Boys play an influential role in our surrounding communities through football and through our philanthropic work. We have people that look up to us and on the responsible decisions that we take.

"Our withdrawal of this appointment is an acknowledgement of our stance on such matters, with the Club also having fully informed Mr. Eymael and his representatives on our position." 

Eymael was appointed by Chippa following the departure of coach Lehlohonolo Seema, who was recently dismissed by the club chairman Siviwe Mpengesi with the team struggling in the PSL this season.

The Eastern Cape-based side is currently placed 14th on the league standings having failed to win their last five matches.

Chippa's next game is against a high-flying SuperSport United side in Pretoria on January 6.