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Jan Vertonghen would be the ideal partner for Harry Maguire, according to Jermaine Jenas, who says a move to Manchester United "makes sense" for the ex-Tottenham defender.

Vertonghen confirmed his departure from Spurs in a heartfelt social media post after taking in his final outing for the club during a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The 33-year-old told his followers on Instagram: "So my time at the club comes to an end, a sad day for many reasons

"Thank you for all the support over the years. You've been amazing. We had many unbelievable memories but for now, it's goodbye."

The Belgium international racked up 315 appearances for the Lilywhites over the course of an eight-year spell in north London, forming a formidable centre-back partnership with fellow countryman Toby Alderweireld in the process.

Vertonghen declared himself open to a new challenge away from Tottenham earlier this year, citing Spain or Italy as possible next destinations.

Jenas believes the experienced defender still has plenty to offer in the Premier League, and that he could be the answer to United's issues at the back.

Maguire has helped transform Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side into a more solid outfit since completing a record £80 million ($103m) move to Old Trafford from Leicester last summer.

However, it has been suggested that the England international has been hindered by playing alongside Victor Lindelof, and Jenas says Vertonghen would be a far more reliable option for the Red Devils.

The former Spurs midfielder told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I keep touting him around everywhere but I’m sorry, Jan Vertonghen on a free is the best free transfer centre-half out there.

"If you can get Harry Maguire back on the right side and get an actual ball-playing centre-half as a left-sider, that little dynamic may change things for them as well and he’s free.

"Manchester United will know what they’re doing, they’ll have a plan but defensively they’re miles off it. I know how good he is.

"It baffles me when I see him in the stand every week because I know how good he this player is. I’ve played with him, I’ve watched him and on a free transfer, it just makes sense."

Former Bafana Bafana attacking midfielder Ayanda Patosi has the desire to one day play for one of South Africa's Big Three clubs. 

The 27-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Iranian club Foolad from Cape Town City, and he revealed the two teams are currently negotiating a permanent move for him. 

He hopes for the deal to go through, suggesting he is still happy at Foolad.

His contract with Foolad expired at the end of June but the club extended it for the remaining matches of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic which forced the majority of football leagues across the globe to be suspended.   

"At the moment I am still with Cape Town City. I am here on loan but we are in negotiations to make it a permanent deal," said Patosi in an online press conference with the South African Football Journalists Association. 

"Hopefully, that can go through."

Patosi's future plans, however, are in the PSL with Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns or Kaizer Chiefs top of his priority.

The Cape Town-born player admitted he would prefer a move to the Buccaneers because they are a club grew up supporting. 

This despite giving the Sea Robbers a torrid time while on the books of Cape Town City prior to his departure to Iran.   

Patosi faced Pirates on four separate occasions during his time with the Citizens and scored four goals - including a brace in that memorable 2-2 draw at Orlando Stadium in the 2018/19 season.   

"I would really love to play for the top three in South Africa," added Patosi.

"But mostly for Pirates because I grew up supporting Pirates. So, hopefully, something can come up when I want to come back home."

Patosi was on the losing side on Monday night as Foolad let a two-goal lead slip to eventually go down 3-2 to FC Nassaji, who scored twice deep into stoppage time.  

The former Lokeren winger has featured nine times for Foolad so far this season and found the back of the net just once while recording a single assist for his efforts. 

Twenty years ago, a football-loving Malayali named Manoj founded a local club and named it Red Star, after the then supreme Serbian team Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda). The club played in local sevens tournaments.

Fast forward to 2014. Manoj teamed up with a few football aficionados in Kerala and put together the early version of what is now the Red Star Academy. They've had Bino George and Jo Paul Ancheri as coaches in the first few years before Jali Ibrahim took over as the chief. 

In April 2014, they started out by conducting trials started in Wayanad, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram with the likes of Bino and VP Shaji as selectors. A total of 20 players were selected and Thrissur's famous Professor PC Thomas' the then newly-built hostel became the players' residence. Red Star, one of the state's first residential football academies, has since moved out to four apartments in Kuttanellur.

Jali is a former national record-holding athlete whose passion for football guided him into the world of coaching. His modern ideas, an eye for picking out the best traits of young footballers have helped the academy take another step forward. He's honest and straightforward as a coach and in his own words, it has helped him become 'the most hated coach in Kerala'.

Hrishi Dath (who played for Kerala Blasters and the state team in the Santosh Trophy), Ananthu Murali (who was at FC Bayern for a few days as part of a commercial deal), Alex Saji (who played for KBFC reserves), Amarjeet Mishra (currently at Portuguese club CD Estrela) and Bineesh Balan (former I-League winner with Churchill Brothers) are some of the names that have turned out for Red Star.

They had five of their players called up for the camp for the U-17 team for the World Cup in 2017 although none of them made it into the final squad. Not only were they the first club from Kerala to be zonal champions in the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) 2016-17 U-16 league, four of the five players selected for the U-15 national team camp from Kozhikode last year were from the Thrissur-based academy.

But results do not give you the full picture. "For an academy coach, seeing his student improve is the biggest win. But to take the next step and drive more growth, we need funds and for that we need results," chief coach Jali Ibrahim told Goal. 

"Red Star will continue what we are doing right now - to try and make them play football in the most beautiful manner and make them capable of playing at the top level."

He opined, "The process followed by most of the academies in India is wrong. Players need to be treated on a one-to-one basis. I'm not saying Red Star is 100 per cent perfect. But the thought process applied in our academy is similar to that of those in Europe. "

Jali is against the current methods (or a lack of it) of coaching that are in practice at the grassroots in Indian football and he is not one to shy away from his opinions. "A senior coach once said that I have become the most hated football coach in Kerala but I have taken that as an honour. I'm a straightforward person."

Currently, there are 25 players with Red Star. The Coronavirus pandemic has affected their plans but the players living in nearby regions still get fitness programmes thrice a week. Under the supervision of Jali, there is Sudheesh KR who is a former Calicut University player and a D License coach and former Gokulam Kerala player Bineesh Balan. 

Running a football academy properly requires patience, perseverance, passionate staff and a boatload of cash.

Finance has not been easy and yet, they have somehow managed to keep it going on the field. Several players left unexpectedly, people who initially invested have left due to financial constraints. But for now, under the tutelage of Jali Ibrahim and the academy's all-in-all Manoj, Red Star is staying afloat and is producing talented footballers.

Mallorca teenager Luka Romero said he was bothered by comparisons to Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

Romero, 15, became the youngest player to feature in La Liga when he came off the bench against Real Madrid last month.

The Argentina youth international has been compared to Messi, but the attacker said that made him uncomfortable.

"It bothers me because there is only one Messi," Romero told Fox Sports.

"I want to make a name for myself in football as Luka Romero."

Romero is eligible to play international football for Argentina, Mexico and Spain.

But Romero knows who he wants to represent, saying: "I can choose, but if Argentina still loves me, I will continue playing there.

"If possible, I want to play for the Argentina national team."

At the age of 15 years and 219 days, Romero was used as an 83rd-minute substitute Mallorca in their 2-0 defeat in the Spanish capital in June.

By coming on to replace midfielder Iddrisu Baba on Wednesday, Romero broke a record set in 1939 by Francisco Bao Rodriguez, known as Sanson, who made his league debut for Celta Vigo aged 15 years and 255 days.

Romero has been dubbed the 'Mexican Messi' in the Spanish media, having been born in the North American country and blessed with rare talent, although he has represented Argentina at youth level.

Mallorca coach Vicente Moreno was impressed by Romero's attitude and said the youngster was excited about making his bow.

"What you have to try and do is reassure him. He's a 15-year-old boy," Moreno said.

"The most important thing is that he's there because he deserves to be."

Quoted on Mallorca's website, Moreno added: "Before I walked in, I put my hand on his chest and he was going three thousand miles an hour.

"He's done very well and he's been very aggressive. If we're give him that stimuli, I'm sure he's going to grow."

In 2011, Romero had a trial with Barcelona as a six-year-old but could not sign with the Catalan club because he was under 10 years old and didn't live in the area.

Four years later, he signed an eight-year youth contract with Mallorca at the age of 10.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that Malaysia will be the country to host the remainder of the Group G and Group H matches of the 2020 AFC Champions League (ACL), as well as the Round of 16, two quarterfinal matches and the semi-final.

Malaysia was picked ahead of other applicants with one of the hosts for the East region with the host for the Group E and Group F yet to be decided, while Qatar will play host for the matches remaining in the West region.

This means that Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) will be completing their Group G matches at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium where they still have four more matches to play against Guangzhou Evergrande (twice), Vissel Kobe and Suwon Bluewings.

Currently sitting in second place in the group, this is a real opportunity for JDT to create even bigger history should they be able to capitalise on home advantage and make it through to the knockout stage in only their second year in the competition.

In their short time in the group stages of the most elite club competition in Asia, JDT have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with when playing at home as the wins over Kashima Antlers (2019) and Suwon (2020) have shown.

No details have yet been released on the other group being played in Malaysia which is the Group H that has Yokohama F. Marinos, Shanghai SIPG, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC and and Sydney FC as the competing teams.

Johor has the capacity to host both groups given that they also have the Tan Sri Dato Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium in Larkin which has previously played host to ACL matches, on top of the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium.

The other possibility would be to play the Group H matches in Kuala Lumpur where the Bukit Jalil Stadium could be used.

The top two teams from Group G and H will crossover and play each other on Nov 4 in the Round of 16 before being joined by the qualified teams from Group E and F for the quarterfinal stage that is expected to be played on Nov 25.

Pep Guardiola's unrivalled knowledge of Spanish football will be key to Manchester City holding off the threat of Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, according to Bernardo Silva.

City are aiming to triumph in Europe's elite club competition for the first time, but must first get past Madrid, the 13-time winners, who they lead 2-1 after the first leg in February.

Guardiola coached Madrid's bitter rivals Barcelona between 2008-2012 and Silva is confident the former Spain midfielder's experience can help City overcome Zinedine Zidane's side on August 7.

"There's nobody like him to help us against a Spanish team, especially one he knows so well," he told Marca. "Having him as our coach and playing against Real Madrid is a good thing. He has always been a coach who knows how to play against Real Madrid the best."

Madrid go into the clash at the Etihad Stadium having claimed a first La Liga title since 2017 and Silva knows City will have to be at their very best to progress to the quarter finals.

"Since the restart Real Madrid have won almost all their games and, as a result, are the La Liga champions," he added. "This will only spur them on and they will be fully prepared for this game.

"We have to be in very good shape ourselves and play really well because, if not, we won't go through. We know that we're coming up against a big team and we need to show all our qualities in order beat them."

"We know that we are playing against a massive club, one of the best in the world, but we are going to try and I believe that we also have a strong team that is capable of winning again."

City missed out on a Champions League semi-final spot last season after an away goals defeat to Tottenham in the last eight; a failure Silva says the club were desperate to rectify in this campaign.

"I think that the Champions League is a very complicated competition, but this year we have already done one thing against Real Madrid that didn't happen against Tottenham, which is scoring away goals," he said.

"Scoring two goals away at Real Madrid was so important and I believe that that was one of the big lessons about the match against Tottenham.

"Also, you must manage the game better when you have an advantage in a knockout game, as these little details can count for everything.

"Therefore, we are going to try to better what we have achieved in the previous two years in the Champions League, a competition that neither me nor the club has won before and we really want to do that this year."

Toulouse have announced the signing of 18-year-old Cameroon international Steve Mvoue from Azur Star Yaounde.

The teenager, son of Regine Mvoue - the first ever captain of Cameroon women’s team will continue his development with the Violets, who will commence life in French Ligue Two next season.

At the Stadium de Toulouse, he joins his elder brother Stephane Zobo who is expected to help him settle down quickly in Patrice Garande’s squad. Zobo scored twice in Cameroon’s 2017 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Gabon.

Mvoue announced himself to the beautiful game having featured in the 2019 Africa U17 Cup of Nations where he helped Cameroon win a second African title in Tanzania and was named as tournament’s best player in the process.

In June 2019, he was handed his senior international debut under former coach Clarence Seedorf, coming in as a 68th minute substitute for Paul-Georges Ntep as the Indomitable Lions defeated Zambia 2-1 in an international friendly.

At the Fifa U17 World Cup staged in Brazil, he could not help his team progress past the group stage from Group E which had Spain, Argentina and Tajikistan.

"It's a great joy for me to officially sign with the Toulouse Football Club,” Mvoue told club website.

“For a long time, and even since my first visit here, I had this desire to engage with the club, and work with people I know and with whom I get along very well.

“Now I want to focus only on the field, and perform with the club. I will first have to recover from my injury. I'll be patient, and I'll come back even stronger!"

He also went on social media to show his excitement following the move to the French team while showing appreciation to his mother and Barcelona and Inter Milan great Samuel Eto’o.

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes the decision for there to be no 2020 Ballon d'Or winner is "not very fair", as he feels Robert Lewandowski could have claimed the award.

France Football announced last week it would not select the world's best player this year due to a "lack of sufficient fair conditions" amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The global crisis caused the sport to come to a standstill in March, although the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga were among the competitions to restart.

France's Ligue 1 was one of the leagues that were not completed, however, playing into the decision not to go ahead with the award.

Lewandowski has scored 51 goals in all competitions in the best season of his career, helping Bayern to win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, while a treble bid remains very much alive in the Champions League.

Rummenigge thinks he would have been a worthy Ballon d'Or winner.

"I believe Robert Lewandowski is playing a fantastic season and he performed maybe the best season in his career," Rummenigge told a news conference on Monday.

"Unfortunately, France Football cancelled the Ballon d'Or, which we are not very happy [about]. In the end, it's not very fair - not just for Bayern but also for Robert Lewandowski, who might have won.

"I believe it's very important that in a season that, except the French league, [were] performed through to the end of the season, it has to be possible to give the Ballon d'Or to the best footballer in the world.

"Of course, I believe, in those circumstances, Robert would have a good chance to win it for the first time in his career."

Bayern coach Hansi Flick agrees that Lewandowski would be in contention this year.

"If I measure for goals now and I see that he has scored 34 goals in the Bundesliga this year, then you can think about how a player from the Bundesliga can become the Ballon d'Or winner. So why not?” Flick said earlier this month.

“He has laid all the groundwork with this achievement this year and I would wish him well."

Lewandowski has never been in the top three at the annual awards, but was fourth in 2015 after an excellent first season at Bayern.

Barcelona great Lionel Messi won the 2019 Ballon d'Or for a record sixth time.

Roma defensive midfielder Amadou Diawara says the extended game time he’s had on the pitch of late is giving him a lot of confidence having spent the bulk of 2020 injured.

The 23-year-old Guinean suffered a meniscal injury in January which kept him out of action until the Serie A was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, since resumption in June, Diawara has only failed to feature once as an unused substitute in a 2-1 defeat by Napoli while he has played up to 60 minutes on six occasions, completing 90 minutes in a 3-0 win at Brescia and providing an assist for Aleksandar Kolarov’s goal in the 6-1 bashing of relegated-SPAL. It was his first-ever goal involvement for Roma

“The injury and the break didn't help me, but now I'm playing more and I have more confidence,” Diawara told Roma TV.

“I can play more games and I have to continue like this."

Diawara played 77 minutes in the 2-1 win over Fiorentina on Sunday and he and described the victory as “really important” particularly as it made them hold their grip on fifth spot for Europa League qualification with two games left to end the season.

The Giallorossi’s fortunes have improved after going on a three-game losing streak having resumed with a 2-1 win against Sampdoria.

They have won five of their last six matches, the 2-2 draw at home against Inter Milan the only blemish.

“It’s a really important win, we are doing well and we want to make sure this continues,” Diawara continued.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game, Fiorentina are a good side. But we prepared for the game well and we did on the pitch what the coach asked us to do produce.

“Physically we are better, we’ve found a bit more consistency in recent games. After the lockdown it wasn’t easy to rediscover our best but now we are in good form and want to continue on this path.”

Diawara has also credited a switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation as a reason for the Italian capital outfit’s improved form.

“This formation helps us a lot,” he said.

“We leave fewer opportunities for counter-attacks and in front of us we have so many men and so many passing options. The change in system has really helped.”

Diawara joined Roma from Napoli last summer and has played 29 times in all competitions, 21 of them in the Serie A and five in the Europa League.

He was also affected by the meniscal injury in the first half of the campaign which saw him miss seven competitive matches and an unused substitute four times.  

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he felt like he was like coming face to face with the Pope when he met Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Reds boss was presented with the Sir Alex Ferguson trophy on Monday after he was voted Premier League Manager of the Year by the League Managers Association.

Klopp was honoured with the award after guiding Liverpool to a first top-flight title in 30 years, finishing 18 points ahead of nearest challengers Manchester City.

Legendary former Manchester United manager Ferguson sang the German manager’s praises as the award was announced, and revealed that he got a surprise phone call from him after they won the league this season.

"I'll forgive you for waking me up at 3.30am to tell me you have won the league!" Ferguson added at the end of his tribute. "Thank you, but anyway, you thoroughly deserved it. Well done."

Klopp was happy to put club rivalries aside and reveal how much he admires the Scottish manager, who he first met in the early stages of his coaching career.

"I know it's not 100 per cent appropriate as a Liverpool manager but I admire him," Klopp said after winning the LMA award.

"I remember he was the first British manager I met. We had breakfast. I'm not sure how much he remembers but I remember because for me this moment was like meeting the Pope.

“It was absolutely great and from that first season we clicked.

"I didn't think at this moment I would have a trophy in my hands named after him."

Ferguson spent 27 years in charge of United before his retirement in 2013. He guided the Old Trafford club to 13 Premier League and two Champions League titles among a host of other trophies.

Klopp, meanwhile, has spent almost five years at Liverpool, having joined after a successful spell at Borussia Dortmund in which he won two Bundesliga titles and reached a Champions League final.

The 53-year-old guided the Anfield side to the European crown last season, followed by the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup before they sealed the domestic title.

Goals from Josh Onomah and Neeskens Kebano put Fulham in the driving seat to make it into the Championship promotion play-off final after they edged past Cardiff City 2-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals on Monday night.

The Cottagers finished fourth during the regular season, missing out on automatic promotion after they drew at already-relegated Wigan Athletic 1-1 on the final day.

For the Bluebirds, they defeated another relegated side in Hull City 3-0 to finish in fifth spot, ahead of their Welsh rivals Swansea City who beat Brentford in Sunday’s first semi-final courtesy of Andre Ayew’s fine 80th-minute strike.

Things were quiet in the first half at the Cardiff City Stadium, but it did not take too long for life to come in the second half with Onomah getting the opener in the 49th minute.

The 23-year-old Anglo-Nigerian midfielder held off his marker on the edge of the box and went past two challenges inside the penalty area before cooling slotting the ball past Alex Smithies in goal.

Scott Parker’s men were in control from there on but still had one more say from Kebano who drilled in a powerful free-kick in stoppage time to ensure the west Londoners take a healthy lead into the second leg on Thursday.

Onomah played the entire 90 minutes, having 60 touches, 32 accurate passes at 86%, three key passes, two shots on target and four successful dribbles from six.

He joined from Tottenham Hotspur last summer and has now played a total of 32 times, scoring four goals and providing three assists, none of those games ending in defeat.

Kebano meanwhile had a total of four shots, his goal the only one on target, 49 touches, 25 accurate passes at 83%, two successful dribbles from two attempts and winning five of seven ground duels.

The DR Congo international was taken off for Denis Odoi shortly after his goal.

Kebano has now scored in three consecutive games having scored in none during the course of the season before then.

He first scored a brace in a 5-3 win over Sheffield Wednesday in the penultimate game of the regular season before netting the equaliser against Wigan.

The 27-year-old has been blighted by injury problems this term which has limited him to just 17 appearances in the English second tier.

FIFA 21 will be available to fans in October 2020 and avid gamers can already pre-order their copy online so that they will get their hands on it as soon as it drops.

EA Sports released a teaser trailer to give a glimpse of what's in store on the latest instalment of the franchise and we know that there will be three editions available to buy: Standard, Champions and Ultimate.

Contents

What is the FIFA 21 Ultimate Edition?

The Ultimate Edition of FIFA 21 is a special version of the game that is jam-packed with new features and perks, such as more FUT packs.

It is one of three editions of FIFA 21, along with the standard edition and the Champions Edition.

The edition takes its name from the popular FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT).

While the basic game is the same across the three editions, each will have its own bespoke imagery with Kylian Mbappe as the cover star.

How much does the FIFA 21 Ultimate Edition?

FIFA 21 Ultimate Edition can be pre-ordered for £89.99 in the UK or $99.99 in the US.

Early Access subscribers can get it at a discounted price of £81.99 in the UK or $89.99 in the US - 10 per cent off.

The Ultimate Edition is £30 more expensive than the standard edition in the UK, which costs £59.99 and $40 more than the standard edition in the US, which costs $59.99.

When and how can I pre-order FIFA 21 Ultimate Edition?

You can pre-order the FIFA 21 Ultimate Edition right now .

Click on the relevant console for more details on pre-ordering.

What features does the FIFA 21 Ultimate Edition have?

If you purchase the Ultimate Edition of FIFA 21, you will receive the following perks:

Ultimate Edition features

FIFA 21 Ultimate Edition is a bit pricer than the Standard Edition and the Champions Edition, but will appeal to those who enjoy playing Ultimate Team.

Mbappe will grace the cover of the Ultimate Edition, in addition to the Standard and Champions Editions - a change from earlier FIFA traditions in which each version had a different star.

How do the FIFA 21 editions compare?

You can see a breakdown of what each edition offers in the table above.

Pierre-Francois Aubameyang took to social media to celebrate his son, Pierre-Emerick who ended the 2019-20 Premier League season with a brace for Arsenal in their 3-2 win over Watford on Sunday.

Aubameyang ended the English top-flight campaign with 22 goals after 36 outings, the same number of the goals he scored for the Emirates Stadium outfit in his first full campaign in England.

He narrowly missed the chance to retain the Golden Boot he shared with Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in the 2018-19, as Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy clinched it with 23 goals this season.

The 31-year-old was involved in all of Arsenal's goals against Watford on Sunday, scoring a first-half brace and also assisting Kieran Tierney in opening his goal account for the Gunners.

Aubameyang’s father, who featured majorly for French clubs including Toulouse, Nice and Le Havre during his playing career, commented on his son's future and disclosed that there is a decision to be made.

“My son, who wouldn’t be proud to have a son like you. Bravo, bravo, bravo,” his father, Pierre-Francois wrote on Instagram.

“You really are a scorer. Every season you respond with your efficiency, last season 22 goals, this season 22 goals.

“I can only congratulate you and tell you once again my pride.

“We must make the right decision for the rest of your career.

“They speak a lot in the press, they do not know that we are Bantu and that there is a hierarchy, the decision is taken after the advice of the wise man who is your father.

“We will be set very soon, sleep peacefully my son, your father watches the grains. I love you.”

Aubameyang who joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018, has entered the final year of his deal at the club.

There are reports that the Gunners are working to renew the forward’s contract, or they risk losing him as a free agent in June 2021.

Southampton chief executive officer Martin Semmens has confirmed the club "are in the process" of wrapping up a deal for Real Valladolid centre-back Mohammed Salisu.

In just his first season of senior football, the Ghanaian made headlines in La Liga with a streak of fine 2019-20 performances which attracted the interest of a host of top European clubs.

At the end, Saints and French side Stade Rennais went head-to-head for his signature but speculation suggested there was also initial interest from the likes of Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

Reports in the last few days said Southampton have secured the signature of the 21-year-old following a successful medical, with an official announcement imminent.

"Most of the stuff you see on social media isn’t always true," Semmens told BBC Radio Solent.

"This one probably has a bit more truth to it. It has been very clearly documented, to my surprise, exactly what has been happening.

"He is a player we have looked at for a long time, a really high-quality young player in Europe who would really add something to our squad.

"We are in a process and we hope that we are lucky enough to get him. We are very aware that some of the biggest and best clubs in Europe have looked for him.

"We offer him something different, which is a pathway to get better, physically, and technically playing in the first team in the Premier League.

"We hope that opportunity and the pathway we have shown for other players will attract him here, but we’ll know more soon.

"It would be truthful to say that we have had that discussion. These things are complicated, but it is fair to say to everyone that he is one we are looking very closely at."

Last season, Salisu made 31 La Liga appearances for Valladolid, starting 30 of the games.

He scored his only goal in a 2-0 triumph over Eibar last October.

The left-footed man's fine club performance earned him a maiden Ghana invitation for a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe in November, but he later withdrew from the squad due to injury. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said it is an “honour” to be given the League Managers Association Manager of the Year award.

Klopp guided Liverpool to the Premier League title this season, finishing 18 points ahead of nearest challengers Manchester City.

It is the club’s first domestic crown in 30 years and the German’s work this term has been celebrated by his peers.

Klopp said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be named the winner of the League Managers Association Manager of the Year Award for this wonderful Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy, named after a man that I admire so much. It feels extra special to win this award because it is voted for by my fellow managers.

“It’s an honour to be in the company of so many managers who have been named as LMA Manager of the Year before, including of course Liverpool managers like Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Sir Kenny Dalglish and, in recent years, Brendan Rodgers.

“Everything we have accomplished at Liverpool this year couldn’t have been done without the superb input of my coaching staff; they make us a really special bunch of football brains.

“I love to work with my coaches, my players and everyone at LFC and, of course, I am thankful for the support from all our wonderful Liverpool fans.”

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson heaped praise on the 53-year-old, saying he has stamped his personality on the Anfield side, having guided them to Champions League success last year before achieving further glory.

“Congratulations Jurgen! You have done an absolutely fantastic job. You thoroughly deserve to be named LMA Manager of the Year 2019/2020,” he said.

“Your personality runs right through the whole of your club and the performance level of you and your team has been outstanding.”

LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson added: “We are delighted to be recognising Jurgen’s achievements at the end of this extraordinary season.

“The trophy has been presented to a man with an excellent track record who quite rightfully takes his place amongst the iconic previous award winners.

“Jurgen has lived up to his reputation as an exceptional coach in the game and has created an outstanding team to secure Liverpool’s first top-flight triumph for 30 years."

While Klopp won the Premier League award, Marcelo Bielsa was named the Championship manager of the year after guiding Leeds to first place and sealing their return to the top-flight.

After winning the division with Chelsea, Emma Hayes won the Women’s Super League award.

Salimata Simpore netted twice for Dinamo-BSUPC as they defeated Zorka-BSU 3-1 in the Belarusian Women's League game on Monday.

Simpore is fast becoming a fans' favourites in Belarus, having scored her 13th goal in 12 matches in a 5-1 Belarusian Women's Cup semi-final first-leg win over Bobruichanka on July 17.

The meeting between the teams was the fourth this season, with the league leaders claiming victories in all three previous occasions, including the Belarusian Women's Cup quarter-final duels.

In those earlier three matches with Zorka, the Burkina Faso international found the net to ensure her side's triumphs over the last season's runners-up in all competitions this term. 

In Best, neither team could find a breakthrough in the game until Dinamo won a penalty, which Moldovan goalkeeper Natalia Munteanu converted to put the visitors ahead just before half-time.

On resuming the match, Hanna Pilipenko played Simpore through to double the lead four minutes after the restart before Anastasia Shuppo set up the Burkinabe striker for the third two minutes later.

However, Diana Bakum, who replaced Paulina Girchits in the 66th minute, struck six minutes from time for the hosts but could not see them escape their fourth defeat of the season to Dinamo. 

Simpore, who was in action for the 85 minutes, has now scored 10 goals in 10 games of the competition, and 15 overall in 13 appearances in all competitions for Dinamo this season.

Cameroon's Claudia Dabda was not dressed for the encounter, while South Africa's Bambanani Mbane missed out due to injury.

The victory at Brjestkoj Oblasti Stadiummeans Dinamo have won all 15 matches in all competitions this season and also hold a six-point lead at the top of the log with 36 points from 12 matches. 

They will visit Women's Cup semi-final foes Bobruichanka in their next league outing at Alexander Prokopenko Stadium on August 2.
 

Adam Lallana has officially joined Brighton with the England midfielder completing his move on Monday.

Lallana's contract with Liverpool officially ended this past weekend as the Reds defeated Newcastle 3-1 in the final game of the Premier League season.

With the expiration of his Liverpool deal, Lallana became a free agent as he ended a six-year stay at Anfield that included a Champions League triumph and a Premier League title.

The 32-year-old midfielder, who has earned 34 senior caps for England, has now joined Brighton on a three-year deal.

Lallana, who will take the No. 14 shirt with Brighton, has made 196 Premier League appearances for Liverpool and Southampton, scoring 30 goals while providing 28 assists.

The midfielder had previously been linked to the likes of Leicester and his former club Southampton.

“I cant wait to get started,” Lallana said. “It’s a breath of fresh air coming here – having my medical, everything is new. It’s a challenge I am looking forward to.

“The whole infrastructure and ambition around the club excites me. There is so much young talent and so much ability.

“The manager is highly regarded and it was a pretty easy choice for me in the end, especially knowing how much Brighton have reached out. It’s nice to know that you’re wanted – I think it’s a perfect match.”

He added: “Brighton are on an upward curve. I have played against them a lot, and remember seven or eight years ago when Southampton and Brighton were both in League One, so they have been progressing for years now.

“I think we’re at the stage here where we can really push on in the Premier League. I have got a lot of experience playing in the Premier League and at a high level – I know what’s required and how we can improve. If I can help just a little bit in that journey to improve Brighton as a whole, and as a squad, then I will be very happy.”

Brighton has been in the Premier League since achieving promotion in 2016-17, finishing 15th and 17th in the club's first two seasons back in the top flight.

This season, Brighton finished in 15th place once again, concluding the season seven points clear of the relegation zone.

"There is no doubting Adam’s quality, and if you look at his footballing CV his ability is clear for everyone to see," said manager Graham Potter.

“He has played at the very highest level, for both club and country, and achieved great things. He has a wealth of experience alongside his technical quality.

“The honours he won during his time at Liverpool, and the high regard in which he is held at Anfield, only further underline his ability and character.

“Adam is a really exciting signing for us, someone I am sure the supporters will be really looking forward to seeing play as and when things are able to begin to return to normal.

“To have both his experience and quality out on the pitch will be a great addition for us, and I know he will be an excellent role model for our younger players in the squad.

“I am really looking forward to working with him when we return for pre-season training in a few weeks.”