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Joe Willock admits some Arsenal players were “a bit sceptical” of Mikel Arteta when a former club captain was appointed as the Gunners’ new boss, but any doubters have been quickly won over.

Those at Emirates Stadium were forced into a managerial rethink back in November 2019.

A disappointing start to the current campaign led to Unai Emery being relieved of his services and Freddie Ljungberg being placed in interim charge of first-team affairs.

Arsenal embarked on a lengthy hunt for a suitable candidate to fill a high-profile post and eventually saw that path lead them towards a familiar face.

Arteta had little experience of which to speak, having only previously worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but a calculated gamble was taken on a highly-rated coach.

The Gunners remain very much a work in progress, on and off the field, but positive steps in the right direction are being taken by a team that is already through to the 2020 FA Cup final.

“To be fair when he [Arteta] came in, we were a bit sceptical about what he could do,” Willock told The Beautiful Game Podcast.

“Obviously he’s a very young manager and most of the players that play now have all played with him. So we were a bit hesitant on how to approach the situation.

“But we all let him in with open arms and we all thought let’s see what he has to offer.

“He’s come in and to be honest, he’s been nothing short of amazing really - his detail, the way his man-management is with every single player. And we’re just all excited to work with him.

“I’m learning about the game in ways I’ve never learned them before. He’s an amazing man and I’m not just saying that because he’s my boss.”

Arteta is still working on reshaping Arsenal as he sees fit, but improvement has been made across his tenure.

The Gunners have always boasted plenty of attacking options, but defensive leaks are also starting to be plugged.

Academy graduate Willock considers that to be a major positive, adding: “We used to give the opposition gifts and hope. He is cutting out that hope.

“We cut out that hope and in every challenge and every duel, we are the ones who are stamping our authority.

“To have that winning mentality, in every different circumstance we have to be on it and that’s what we’ve been working on in training and it is showing on the pitch.”

Arsenal are destined to miss out on a place in the Premier League’s top four this season, but European qualification and FA Cup glory is there to be shot at by a side working towards long-term goals.

Torino defender Ola Aina has reacted to his side’s 2-0 loss to Fiorentina in Sunday's Serie A game at Artemio Franchi, saying their best was not enough.

Moreno Longo’s men conceded as early as the second minute of the encounter after Lyanco turned the ball into his own net.

Their efforts to level proceedings produced no result before former Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery set up Patrick Cutrone to seal the victory for Fiorentina.

The defeat is Torino’s 19th in the 2019-20 campaign which saw them drop to the 15th spot on the league table, three places and eight points above the relegation zone.

 Aina, who featured for the entirety of the game, has expressed his disappointment with the outcome of the result.

"The team tried very hard, but unfortunately we were unable to bring home points,” Aina told Tuttomercato.

“We conceded too early and this complicated things, then doubling made everything even more difficult.

“But we have not stopped playing and we have tried to reopen the game until the last few minutes. In these minutes, we have worked hard to play higher and be more present in the area but unfortunately, it was not enough."

Aina joined the Stadio Olimpico outfit last summer permanently from Premier League side Chelsea after convincing showings during his loan spell.

The Nigeria international has made 34 appearances for the Bull in the current campaign across all competitions, including 29 in Serie A.

The 23-year-old will hope to help his side return to winning ways when they take on Hellas Verona in their next league game on July 22.

Aina, who previously featured for England youth team, has made 17 appearances for the Super Eagles and was part of Gernot Rohr’s squad that finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Manchester City are considering a move for Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake, while Valencia winger Ferran Torres is also on Pep Guardiola's radar.

Ake, 25, is a potential target as City look to strengthen their squad this summer, with Guardiola considering bringing in two defenders during the transfer window after losing nine Premier League games already this season.

Dutchman Ake is valued at around €44 million (£40m/$50m), but the Cherries could be forced to drop their price tag if they are relegated from England's top flight.

The former Chelsea defender would also add cover at left-back, as well as increasing the club's homegrown quota having been brought through the Stamford Bridge academy.

Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly is another defender that the club are looking at but a potential fee of €77m (£70m/$88m) could be too high, while the centre-back is also keen to remain with the Serie A club.

City are also looking for a replacement for winger Leroy Sane following his €60m (£55m/$69m) departure to Bayern Munich, with Ferran Torres a possible replacement. 

Torres, 20, has one year remaining on his contract and will leave the Spanish club during the transfer window after they failed to qualify for Europe.

The Spain international has a €100m (£90m/$114m) buy-out clause but is expected to go for considerably less, although City face competition from a host of top European sides.

Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester United have all expressed an interest in Torres but the possibility of working with Guardiola could persuade him to switch to the Etihad Stadium.

The City manager, who will be in his fifth season with the club at the start of the new campaign, says he is looking at refreshing his squad as they look to overhaul Premier League champions Liverpool.

“It depends on the players we’ll have next season, it depends on the way we adapt, the way we attack and defend,” he said ahead of the Premier League clash with Watford.

“Just new players can maybe come and maybe it will change the freshness of the team completely.  

“Everyone has to be fresh, maybe one or two or 10 or 20 [signings will arrive], all of us have to freshen up our minds and bodies to continue to be competitive in all the competitions. 

“If you bring in eight or nine players, which is impossible, you change a lot, the mentality, the way you want to play. 80% or 85% or 90% of the team will be the same but it depends on the people who are here.”

David Moyes has defended his Manchester United record, insisting that "the difference between Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] and me is that he's being given time".

Moyes was chosen to succeed the legendary Six Alex Ferguson in the Old Trafford hot seat at the end of the 2012-13 season, following an impressive 11-year spell at Everton.

The Scottish head coach inherited a Premier League title-winning squad, but he was unable to pick up from where Ferguson left off as results took a dramatic turn for the worse.

Moyes was sacked from his post after just 10 months in charge , with United sitting way down in seventh in the top-flight standings and well adrift of the Champions League places.

The 57-year-old is currently working on the touchline at West Ham, who will come up against the Red Devils on Wednesday fresh from a 3-1 win over Watford last week, which ensured their Premier League status for another year.

Meanwhile, Solskjaer is now the man overseeing the United first team, and he is on the verge of guiding the club back into the Champions League after an impressive run of results in 2020.

Moyes is certain that he could have delivered the same kind of success at Old Trafford had he been afforded the same patience as his Norwegian counterpart, due to the fact he also understood the club's policy of bringing through talented young players from the academy.

"It's a wonderful club and a brilliant place to be, and the biggest club in the world, for me," the West Ham boss told a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

"It's always a special place to go and I'm looking forward to going back.

"Ole had a difficult start, but the difference between Ole and me is that he's being given time. He's bringing players in from the Academy, which Manchester United has always stood for.

"They've got some really exciting young players of their own now."

United will be aiming to bounce back from a heartbreaking 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in the semi-finals of the FA Cup when they meet the Hammers in midweek.

Solskjaer's men were unbeaten in 19 matches in all competitions before that loss, and they cannot afford a repeat performance in their ongoing bid to secure a place in the top four.

David Beckham has called for patience as his MLS vision takes shape at Inter Miami, with the England legend eager to point out that “Manchester United, Real Madrid, La Liga and the Premier League wasn’t built in a day”.

The Red Devils and Blancos icon has been forced to speak out after seeing his debut campaign as an owner in American reach a disappointing and premature conclusion.

After much excitement when they were added to the schedule in the States, Inter Miami have bowed out of the MLS is Back tournament at the group stage after suffering five successive losses to open their 2020 season.

Beckham would have been hoping for much more, but is not about to get caught up in any doom and gloom.

A man who helped to raise the profile of MLS when linking up with the LA Galaxy in 2007 is playing a long game in Florida, with the experiences taken from his own playing career having shown that long-term vision is required in order to hit ultimate goals.

"Sometimes the road is long and [you] need to take a breather," Beckham wrote on Instagram. "Manchester United, Real Madrid, La Liga and the premiership wasn't built in a day.

"Teams players and clubs need time to flourish but when they do all the hard times seem so distant.

"It's important to take time to reflect on what we have achieved so far.

"I'm proud of my team, our club and the amazing fans that we have. Patience is a virtue."

Inter Miami remain very much a work in progress after what has been a testing start for the club in an exciting new era.

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted their efforts, and that of their domestic rivals, but optimism remains high when it comes to future success.

Club coach Diego Alonso has said: "I think football in these three or five games has been unjust with us. We've got a lot less than we deserved.

"I feel in the game [against New York City FC] we didn't play as well as the one before against Philadelphia, but the team deserves more and has got little.

"We'll have to keep trying, working. I don't regret being the coach of these players. I'm with them more now than ever.

"I'm convinced that we'll get out of this believing and trusting in them, lifting confidence and trying to get better in the week so that football gives us the rewards we deserve."

Muzamir Mutyaba has revealed his favourite moments as he departs from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA FC).

Mutyaba has left the club after five seasons with them and has singled out three specific moments he will remember fondly as a Kassasiro Boy.

“There are many moments of course, apart from winning the 2017 Fufa Player of the Year award, winning the double in 2017 and playing in the group stage of the Caf Champions League stand out for me,” Mutyaba told Football256.

As he leaves, the midfielder added he is thankful for head coach Mike Mutebi for what he gave him while serving KCCA.

“I have served KCCA FC for some good years and I won everything there is to win. So, I think it’s time I move on,” the 27-year-old added.

“I thank coach [Mike] Mutebi because he gave me a platform to showcase my talent, for me that’s always important to highlight.”

Mutyaba has played for Kampala University, Maroons FC and Sports Club Victoria University before he joined KCCA in 2015.

Meanwhile, defender Edward Satulo has revealed reasons why he was convinced to sign for Premier League side Wakiso Giants.

Popularly known as Satro, Satulo agreed on a three-year deal with an option to extend for a further one year, with Wakiso Giants from Wobulenzi FC.

“No player loves watching from the dugout, everyone wants to be on the pitch game by game,” Satulo told Football256.

“The club considers young players despite their lack of experience in the league and they pay back the trust with splendid performances.

“And besides being an ambitious club that syncs with my career ambitions, the fact that I will be given a chance to showcase my talent as I build my career inspired me to join the club.

“I am a hard-working lad who never focuses on the experience that much. If someone has great attributes, then they will perform.

“I am new in the league but everything has a beginning and I believe I will have a good first season God willing.

“There are always ups and downs, so I urge the fans to be present in both moments. I will try my level best to put a smile on their faces because they deserve it.” 

Satulo will play alongside other youngsters like Hassan Ssenyonjo, Hassan Agogo, and Atendere Geriga at Purple Sharks.

Paul Scholes has defended David de Gea after his poor performance in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, insisting the Manchester United goalkeeper "will be back".

United's 19-match unbeaten run in all competitions came screeching to a halt when they were humbled 3-1 by Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday.

It was an evening to forget for De Gea, who committed two errors to gift the Blues a healthy advantage and leave the Red Devils with a mountain to climb.

The Spaniard allowed Olivier Giroud's tame effort to creep in at his near post in first-half stoppage time, before fumbling Mason Mount's long-range shot into the net just after the interval.

A Harry Maguire own goal added gloss to Chelsea's victory, with Bruno Fernandes scoring United's only goal from the penalty spot late on.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer backed De Gea after his previous errors against Watford, Everton and Spurs earlier in the season, but admitted that his No.1 was guilty of a vital lapse in concentration for Chelsea's second goal when speaking to reporters post-match.

He said: “It’s hard for a 'keeper to make amends. So much easier for outfield players. David showed in the rest of the game, he made a few good saves.

"He knows he should save that one 100 times out of 100 but that's football for you."

Former United 'keeper Mark Bosnich has been among those to question whether De Gea should retain a place in Solskjaer's line up for the final two games of the Premier League season, but Scholes thinks critics have been too quick to jump on a man who has won four Player of the Year awards at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils legend wrote in a post on Instagram: "Yep, he’s having a bad time. But without him, United wouldn’t have finished in the top 10 the last 6 years…he’ll be back!"

Solskjaer is currently preparing his squad for a crucial showdown against West Ham at Old Trafford on Wednesday, where a draw or a win will be enough to see them move into the top four.

United will then wrap up their latest domestic campaign with a trip to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester, which could be a decider in the race for Champions League qualification, before focus shifts to the Europa League restart next month.

The Manchester outfit already have one foot in the quarter-finals after beating LASK 5-0 in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie, with a last-eight clash against either İstanbul Basaksehir or Copenhagen awaiting the victors.

Simba SC coach Sven Vandenbroeck was not impressed with how his team played in the first half of the Mainland Premier League match against Alliance FC on Sunday.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi were going into the match having lost the previous one 3-2 to Mbao FC and they responded well to beat Alliance FC at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Rwandan striker Meddie Kagere notched a brace to reach 22 goals this season and he is likely to win another Golden Boot while the other goals came from Luis Miquissone, Deo Kanda, and Said Ndemla in the 5-1 win.

Vandenbroeck has, however, singled out the first half of the six-goal thriller as the period his players struggled to break down the opponents because they created minimal chances, and of those created they were not turned into goals.

“I know we won 5-1 against Alliance but the first half of the match did not impress me at all, we did not play with our pace and also the few chances we created, they were not turned into goals,” Vandenbroeck is quoted by the club’s official website.

“But in the second half, the players returned to their level, the level which I love watching them play and we managed to score three goals since the first half had ended 2-1 in our favour.

“In the second period, you could see the pace was back, the players were pushing themselves and we did not miss many chances, it is the kind of play I always want to see from my players and I am happy I smiled again after a poor first half.”

Vandenbroeck further said his main focus with the team now is to win the remaining two matches in the league, against Coastal Union and Polisi Tanzania, before he can shift his focus to the FA Cup final.

“We are not looking at the domestic cup final yet because we still have two matches remaining, I know we have won the league but I want us to make sure we crown it in good fashion, we must win the remaining two matches," he continued.

“After that, then we can now start planning on the final, we can think of it, and make sure we are ready, our focus this season was to win a double and the final will be our next big thing before we end the season.”

Simba reached the final of the domestic cup after knocking out rivals Young Africans (Yanga SC) 4-1 and they will now face Namungo FC in the final on August 2.

Pep Guardiola has hinted at additions to his Manchester City squad in the next transfer window, but a demanding coach is looking for those already on his books to set the standard for 2020-21.

The Blues have seen the threat of a two-year European ban lifted on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

With uncertainty removed there, Guardiola and Co. are free to start planning long-term once more.

The expectation is that a side that has been knocked from the loftiest of Premier League perches this season will look to dip back into the recruitment market.

City boast a star-studded squad, but there are areas that they could seek to address – particularly at centre-half where no suitable successor to Vincent Kompany has been found.

Guardiola is reluctant to divert attention away from a Champions League challenge that remains ongoing in the present, but possible targets are being identified.

The Catalan admits that there may be arrivals over the coming weeks, with the next window set to open on July 27, but is aware of the need for experienced heads to lead by example.

“It depends on the players we’ll have next season, it depends on the quality of each one as to how we adapt the way we attack and defend,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of a meeting with Watford on Tuesday.

“New players can maybe come or maybe not, it will not change the freshness of the team completely. Everyone has to be fresh - not just one or maybe none or two or three or 10 or 20 [signings] - all of us have to freshen up our minds and bodies and desires to continue to be competitive in all the competitions.

“If you bring in eight or nine players, which is impossible, you change a lot, the mentality or the freshness or the way you want to play. But I think 80 per cent or 85 per cent or 90 per cent of the team will be the same so it depends on the people who are here.”

Guardiola has been urged to consider bringing another striker onto his books, with Shaun Goater among those to have called for long-term vision to be shown as Sergio Aguero enters the final 12 months of his contract.

Olivier Giroud believes Chelsea are capable of spoiling Liverpool’s title party at Anfield on Wednesday, with the Blues confident in their ability to beat any side in a one-off contest.

The newly-crowned Premier League champions are preparing to get their hands on a long-awaited piece of silverware.

Jordan Henderson will lift the English top-flight trophy at the end of the Reds’ next outing, with a record-setting campaign bringing a 30-year wait for domestic supremacy to a close on Merseyside.

Jurgen Klopp’s side have set the standard in 2019-20, with the feel-good factor they have established carrying them to more major honours.

There has, however, been a dip in standards by Liverpool since their coronation was confirmed.

Chelsea are hoping to take advantage of that when they head to the North West, with Frank Lampard’s side needing precious points in an ongoing top-four bid.

Giroud believes the FA Cup finalists are capable of tarnishing what will be a memorable evening for Liverpool.

The Blues have been in decent form of late, with their experienced France international striker leading the charge, and the Stamford Bridge giants are in confident mood ahead of another big test.

Giroud told Sky Sports: “It’s going to be a good one, a tough one, especially as they have had a few disappointing results recently.

“They will lift the trophy after our game and I think they deserve this title.

“It’s crazy when you look at the table and the difference. But in one game I think we can match them.

“We definitely need three more points to secure a place in the Champions League. It’s going to be tough but we have good momentum and we want to keep that up.”

Giroud will be hoping to add to his eight-goal tally for 2019-20 when facing the Reds.

The 33-year-old World Cup winner was back on target in Chelsea’s last outing, as they beat Manchester United 3-1 in the FA Cup semi-final, and has netted five times through eight appearances since competitive football resumed in mid-June.

On his fine form and the confidence shown in him by Lampard, Giroud said: “I just took the opportunity and just tried to give this confidence back on the pitch.

“I just try to play my part and do a good job for the team.”

Gor Mahia elections scheduled for August may not take place as planned as some members have challenged the constitutionality of the Elections Board.

In a letter obtained by Goal, Omollo and Omollo Co. Advocates acting for Ben Mathews Agunda, David Osewe Odero, Alfred Odhiambo Otieno, Gilbert Otieno Wandera, George Ochieng Gombe, Meshack Odera and Edder Jalang'o, who are members of Gor Mahia, have asked the polls be stopped or else they will move to court.

“We are instructed that you are currently engaged in an electoral process whose substance and the process is in violation of Sports Act no. 25 of 2013 and Gor Mahia Football Club Constitution in the following manner.” read the opening paragraph of the demand letter.

“We are instructed that Gor Mahia have held its elections on December 11th 2016 from which the current Executive Committee derives its mandate. 

“Under the constitution of the club, the Executive Committee was elected to a term of two years from the date of the election. 

“We are also instructed that you purported to have conducted secretive and fraudulent elections on 9th March 2019 at Jukwaa Lounge wherein you equally filed fraudulent returns with the Registrar of Societies on April 30th of 2019. We are instructed that the said meeting and or election did not take place as alleged or at all.

“We are further instructed that under the same rules, you purported to have amended the constitution of the club and forwarded the same fraudulent document to the Sports Registrar.

“We are instructed that the said document purporting to be the constitution of the club does not in material respect or comply with the club's conditional certificate of registration dated 8th June 2018, the Act or indeed the regulations made thereunder.”

The Elections Board and its formation are at the forefront of what has been contested by the members, who have questions regarding the mandatory Gor Mahia elections.

“We are further instructed that the Executive Committee members unilaterally abrogated upon themselves the powers to appoint members of the club's Elections Board without consultation or approval of the members or any other stakeholders,” continued the letter.

“We are instructed that the same Elections Board has now come up with unlawful and illegal elections rules, regulations, guidelines, timetables and calendars and nomination forms.

“We are further instructed that all these activities of the biased Elections Board are designed to perpetuate the continued stay of the incumbents in office and indeed we are instructed that the chairman has already been declared as elected unopposed.

“We are instructed that most of the members including Ambrose Rachier and Francis Wasuna are term-limited by the act and therefore barred from contesting in any further elections of the club.”

The seven members have gone ahead and given the club a period of time within which their requests must be acted upon.

“We are under instructions to demand the following; Cease and desist from further conduct of the fraudulent elections purportedly scheduled for 8th August 2020,” it concluded.

“Adhere to the conditions of registration as stipulated by the Sports Registrar in the certificate of registration dated 8th June 2020.

“Conduct the club's elections in accordance with Article 81 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kenya, 2010, the Act and the Club’s Constitution.

“We demand immediate written confirmation of your agreement to meet our legal demand together with an indication of how you intend to comply.

“We regret that unless we receive such written confirmation and accompanying proposals within the next seven (7) days, we will file a suit to enforce our clients' rights without further notice and at your risk as to the costs and other consequences.”

According to the club, 567 members have been cleared to vote in the elections.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists David de Gea is mentally strong enough to bounce back from the mistakes he made against Chelsea ahead of Manchester United’s crucial meeting with West Ham.

The Spaniard came under fire for the part he played in all three of Chelsea’s goals at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final, with Solskjaer having said the former Atletico Madrid star knows he should have done better with Mason Mount's 25-yard effort at the start of the second half.

There have been calls for De Gea to be dropped ahead of United’s two crucial Premier League games this week as they look to secure Champions League qualification but Solskjaer would not be drawn into a debate over the goalkeeper.

Ahead of United's clash with West Ham on Wednesday evening, the Norwegian told reporters: "This is not going to become a David de Gea press conference. We're just going to stick together.

"David's mentally strong enough to know his job is to perform in training the next day and be ready for the games."

When pushed on whether or not De Gea should be dropped in place of Sergio Romero, he added: "That's your job to talk about and write about and my job is to prepare a team for West Ham.

"We're not going to talk about individuals because no one here will fear we put more pressure on them."

Meanwhile, Solskjaer is likely to be without Eric Bailly for his side’s final home league game of the season as the defender continues to recover from a nasty clash of heads against Chelsea which saw him leave the pitch on a stretcher and wearing a neck brace.

The Ivory Coast international spent Sunday night in London receiving treatment before returning to Manchester on Monday and while the centre-back appears to be okay, Solskjaer does not think he will be available for the game.

"I don't think he'll be ready for this game, I've not seen him this morning yet," he said. "I think everyone is available apart from that, we've just got to stick together, stay strong, two games to go and we've given ourselves a good chance."

Lille have confirmed Jonathan Bamba has resumed training on Monday after he tested negative for the coronavirus.

The Ivorian forward contracted the virus on July 6 ahead of their friendly against Mouscron and has been in isolation receiving treatment, along with France international Jonathan Ikone.

The 21-year-old has now been given the green light to rejoin Christophe Galtier’s side after testing negative for the coronavirus.

Bamba has been with the Stade Pierre-Mauroy outfit since the summer of 2018 when he signed a five-year contract with the side following his arrival from Saint-Etienne.

The winger has since scored 14 goals in 64 league appearances and in April 2019 he was named Ligue 1 player of the season following his impressive performances.

In the 2019-20 campaign, Bamba scored one goal and provided nine assists in 37 appearances across all competitions for the Mastiffs.

The forward formed a productive partnership with Nigeria international Victor Osimhen along with Ikone to help the club finish fourth in Ligue 1 last campaign.

Bamba played for CA Paris-Charenton, UJA Alfortville and Saint-Etienne youth setups before his promotion to the Saints first team.

The winger made 42 league appearances for Saint-Etienne and had loan spells at Paris FC, Sint-Truiden and Angers during his seven-year stay with the side.

Bamba has played for France U16, U18, U20 and U21 but he is still eligible to feature for the Ivory Coast national team, provided he desires to pledge his allegiance to the West Africans.

The forward will hope to continue his fine form during Lille’s pre-season games ahead of their 2020-21 campaign.

Former Black Leopards midfielder Lesedi Kapinga has expressed sadness in the manner the club has handled his departure, saying he is hurt after he was not given a chance to say goodbye to the supporters.

The nippy midfielder is heavily linked with a move to Mamelodi Sundowns and his release from Lidoda Duvha on Monday has added fuel to the fire.

Kapinga also confirmed his love for the Thohoyandou-based Premier Soccer League outfit and that he wanted to help coach Allan Clark’s side to salvage their PSL status.

“I am sad, to be honest. I love this team [Leopards] and I wanted to help them survive relegation. I am so sad for the fans who have been there for me supporting me all the way,” Kapinga told DailySun.

“It's sad because I never had a chance to say a final goodbye to the fans by helping Leopards retain their Premiership status.

“I had a great time at Leopards and I am thankful for the chance they gave me to play in the top fight. Leopards will always be in my heart."

The 25-year-old explained he holds no grudges with the club and gave reasons why the club’s hierarchy decided to part ways with him.

“They [Leopards management] spoke to me in a way we felt it is the best for both of us [if I leave]. They did not want me to play under pressure,” he added.

“If I made mistakes the fans would have felt maybe my heart is not there anymore because of the speculation [about my future].”

Although Goal has it in good authority that the Musina-born midfielder is on his way to Chloorkop, he says he is waiting for his manager to decide on his future.

“All I know now is that I am a free agent and my manager is doing all he can to find a good team for me," explained Kapinga.

“I know that there are talks with Sundowns and Orlando Pirates but I am waiting for my manager to give me the green light to where I will be playing. Now I am just relaxing at home."

With Lidoda Duvha sitting at the bottom of the table with 20 points from 24 games, Kapinga was their best performer as he has netted six goals and registered as many assists out of 27 matches he played for the Thohoyandou-based outfit this season so far.

Meanwhile, Leopards recently parted ways with former Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns winger Thuso Phala but reportedly retained Mogakolodi Ngele and Robert Ng’ambi on short-term deals.

Chelsea are in contract talks with Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz but the Blues are yet to have agreed a fee with the Bundesliga club.

Peter Bosz' men missed out on qualification for the Champions League, accelerating the Germany international's desire to leave in the near future.

Leverkusen were open to selling the 21-year-old but publicly stated that they wanted upwards of €100 million (£90m/$111m) for their prized asset.

Goal has learned that Chelsea are keen to negotiate a lower fee of around €76m (£70m/$87m), and it remains unclear when discussions will reach a conclusion.

The Blues are in a strong position to sign Havertz, with no other teams currently in talks to land the midfielder, who is keen to make the switch to Stamford Bridge.

Although Chelsea need just one win from their final two league games to seal Champions League football for next season, it is understood that Havertz would still join the Blues even if they don't seal a place in Europe's premier club competition.

Having scored 17 goals and provided eight assists in all competitions in 2019-20, the versatile forward has emerged as Germany's outstanding young talent, with Frank Lampard having publicly referred to him as a "top player".

Chelsea initially faced competition to sign Havertz, but with the financial repercussions of the coronavirus crisis taking hold, it is likely to be a far more cautious transfer market this summer. 

Indeed, the Blues were able to secure the signing of Timo Werner as Liverpool pulled out of the race due to financial concerns, with the west London outfit having also signed Ajax star Hakim Ziyech.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have both expressed an interest in Havertz in the past but are unable to raise the required funds to do a deal this summer.

As well as wanting to sign Havertz, the Blues are also exploring options at both centre-back and left-back, while the signing of a new goalkeeper could also be on the cards.

Leicester City are not interested in selling Ben Chilwell - who is at the top of the club's left-back wish list - while Ajax star Nicolas Tagliafico is also an option, amid competition from Atletico Madrid.

Should the Blues move to bring in Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak, the Liga side are set to demand that his €120m (£110m/$138m) release clause be activated if they want to lure the highly-rated Slovenian to Stamford Bridge.

As for outgoings, Chelsea could raise further funds by selling Emerson Palmieri - who has significant interest from Inter - while Juventus are monitoring Jorginho's situation.

Meanwhile, Michy Batshuayi will likely leave the club this summer, along with loanees including Tiemoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater and several other wantaway stars. Olivier Giroud is another who is on Inter's radar.

Despite it being likely a number of first-team players will leave in the summer the west Londoners are still keen to keep 31-year-old winger Willian, whose contract is expiring at the end of the season.

Former Netherlands midfielder of Ghanaian descent, George Boateng, reveals he could have made a different choice about his international future had he been approached by the four-time African champions for a switch of allegiance.

Born in the Ghanaian city of Nkawkaw, the erstwhile Middlesbrough skipper moved to the Netherlands as a little boy to stay with his dad.

Following a 1994-95 breakthrough at Excelsior, he was snapped up by Feyenoord where he caught the eye of the Dutch national youth team handlers.

Six years after debuting for Jong Oranje, he grabbed a maiden senior international appearance in a 1-1 draw in Denmark in 2001.

“As a young star, when I made my debut in the Feyenoord first team, nobody in the GFA ever came to me or sent a letter to express their interest, to say 'George Boateng is one of our players, he was born in Ghana, he is eligible to play for us. Can we please ask him or invite him for a game?'", Boateng told Citi TV.

"Such a thing never took place. When I was 18 and I debuted [at club level], the Dutch national team did that, they invited me to come and play for the under-18 team, which I did.

“The player is not the one who is supposed to make the initial approach to the GFA to ask if I can play for the team - that is the unorthodox way.

“The professional way is that the federation will send an invite because it is supposed to be an honour for you to be invited to play for your country.

“So in that seven years, I could have made my mind up and played for Ghana."

After a fine spell at Feyenoord, Boateng joined then Premier League side Coventry City in 1998.

The midfielder spent just one season with the Sky Blues before moving to Aston Villa, from where he joined Middlesbrough.

He spent six years with Boro, who would hand him the captain's armband in his fourth year in 2006.

Two years later, he left Riverside Stadium for Hull City where he played from 2008 to 2010.

He since went on to represent Skoda Xanthi in Greece, English lower division fold Nottingham Forest and Terengganu II in Malaysia.

Now a coach, Boateng, who has been linked with a Ghana job in recent times, has managed Kelantan AF in Malaysia and Blackburn Rovers' U13 side.

He is currently boss of Aston Villa's U18s. 

KCCA FC midfielder Keziron Kizito has revealed his most memorable career moments.

Kizito said his time with India’s Kerala Blasters where he featured alongside former Manchester United duo Wes Brown and Dimitar Berbatov remains a great moment.

The Indian side was coached by former Manchester City goalkeeper David James when the Ugandan midfielder turned out for them.

“Featuring alongside former Man United players [Dimitar] Berbatov and [Wes] Brown in the Indian Super League was a dream come true. I learnt a lot from them, especially taking football seriously,” Kizito said as was quoted by Football256.

He left Kerala Blasters after two seasons due to frequent injuries before he signed for KCCA in 2019.

Kizito also declared a burning desire to play for the Uganda national team again.

He was part of the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament which was hosted in Rwanda and won the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in Ethiopia in 2015.

“It is close to three years since I last played for the Cranes. I want to play for the national team again,” he added.

“I really believe that I will make it to the national team if I play well next season.

“I still want to play professional football, all I have to do is better my game, have a great season [next season].

“And with that, I believe the doors for professional football will open again as I want to play in Europe.

Kizito nurtured his skills at Vipers SC’s youth system and was promoted to the senior team in the 2014/15 season before he scored his debut goal against Entebbe FC.

He won the 2015 Premier League title and left the Venoms after two years when he signed for AFC Leopards.

He stayed with the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side for half a season before he joined the Indian outfit in 2018.

Meanwhile, BUL FC chairman Ronald Barente has stated the club’s transfer policy in the past hurt the club.

“We have had issues with the way we do the transfers that have hurt us a lot in the previous seasons,” Barente told Daily Monitor.

“We haven’t focused on the young talents that Busoga is gifted with. We were the champions of U19 league, but how many of those young talents are in the senior team?”

He also expressed wish to help the club develop its own stadium although they have signed a five-year agreement with the Busoga Kingdom to use Bugembe Stadium.

“My dream is to at least leave something behind for Busoga, for BUL and for Uganda, to have a stadium,” he concluded.

“That is possible; how we can realise this dream depends on how well we perform and manage to get sponsors.”

“We’ve been moving a lot and that’s not good for the stability of the club or for the fans.”

Chelsea need to be doing all they can to keep N’Golo Kante on their books, claims Dennis Wise, with the World Cup winner considered to still be the “main person” for the Blues in the middle of the park.

A France international who enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence on the back of a 2015 move to Leicester has seen the odd question asked of his future in west London.

Despite being a two-time Premier League title winner and PFA Player of the Year, form and fitness issues have impacted on Kante’s game in recent times.

Only 27 appearances have been taken in this season, with Frank Lampard often looking to alternative options for inspiration in his engine room.

Real Madrid are said to be rekindling their interest in a player who has registered on their radar for some time.

Wise, though, believes that Kante remains key to Chelsea’s future plans and feels it would be a big mistake if the 29-year-old were to be allowed to move on.

Asked about Lampard’s midfield options in a Q&A session set up by the Blues’ sponsor Three, former Stamford Bridge skipper Wise told Express Sport: "I would say the main person is Kante, for sure, and then you can have a mixture of [Mateo] Kovacic, [Ross] Barkley or [Mason] Mount.

"I think it would be out of those four to make up the three which sit in there [in a 4-3-3 formation].

"Mason Mount has done extremely well, and Barkley has gone through a spell of really doing well. It's difficult to give you the three, but one of them for sure is Kante. I think he is so important to the team to sit in there.

"You've also got [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek and young [Billy] Gilmour, so they're quality players.

"Loftus-Cheek has obviously been out for a while and it would be unfair to all of a sudden try and push him into that category (alongside the main four players). And the young boy Billy Gilmour, just because he's so young and developing, I think you've got to give him time.

"I think definitely Kante and then two out of the three that I mentioned - Kovacic, Barkley and Mount. It's a great problem to have.

"Mount has done extremely well in spells, and so has Barkley and so has Kovacic - it's very difficult to break them up."

A hamstring complaint has been keeping Kante sidelined of late, forcing him to sit out important Premier League matches in an ongoing bid to wrap up a top-four finish and progress to the 2020 FA Cup final.

Marseille forward Florian Thauvin has hailed the club’s latest signing Pape Gueye after scoring on his debut against Pinzgau Saalfelden on Sunday.

The Senegalese delivered an impressive performance in the encounter, scoring his first goal for the Olympians to help them clinch a 5-1 victory over Pinzgau in a pre-season friendly.

The 21-year-old teamed up with Andre Villas-Boas’ men on July 2 as a free agent following the expiration of his contract with Le Havre.

In April, Premier League club Watford announced the signing of the defensive midfielder on a five-year deal only for him to make a U-turn.

A number of French clubs like Angers, Rennes, Metz and Nantes were reportedly interested to sign him before opting to join the Olympians.

 After seeing his performance, Thauvin has praised the young midfielder and backed him to be a success at Stade Velodrome.

“He has shown the full extent of his talent. Now OM is something else. You have to work a lot, but I'm not worried about him, he will succeed here," Thauvin told L'Equipe.

Gueye started his career with the Blanc-Mesnil SF academy before joining Le Havre's youth setup in 2012 and was promoted to the first team four years later.

The midfielder featured in 39 league games for Le Havre, including 25 in Ligue 2 in the 2019-20 season before his departure.

Gueye has played for France U18 and U19 but he is still eligible to feature for the Senegal national team, provided he agrees to switch allegiance to the West Africans.

He will hope to continue his fine performances during Marseille’s pre-season games to boost his chances of enjoying playing time when the 2020-21 season gets underway.

Highlands Park director Sinky Mnisi has slammed the South African Football Association (Safa) as he feels that they are delaying the resumption of the 2019/20 season.

The Lions of the North official believes that Safa is playing politics, with the PSL keen to resume the current campaign which has been suspended since mid-March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“They have taken their eyes off the ball and are playing politics,” Mnisi told The Citizen.

“It is sad that they are not considering what this will do to clubs. Players and staff need to be paid. The season has to be finished so players can have a break and see their families. They have been cooped up away from home for a long time now."

Safa explained that the match officials were not available and would need two weeks to be ready hence the season can only resume next month.

However, the PSL's chief executive officer Mato Madlala has disclosed that some referees have told the league’s governing body off the record they are ready to get back to action.

Safa has also stated that there is a need to ensure that all biological health standards are met before football starts, but Mnisi insists that this is just hogwash.

“The PSL and clubs would not send players to a slaughterhouse. We cannot say we want to play when we have not ensured that all necessary measures are taken to ensure safety. That’s just ridiculous,” he said.

Mnisi is also the president of the Tembisa Local Football Association (LFA), which is under Safa's jurisdiction, and he feels that the country's football ruling body is neglecting their matters.

“What are they saying about us? What plans have they set out for us to return to play?" he asked.

"We have teams who need to qualify for the ABC Motsepe League and those who need to qualify for the GladAfrica Championship, yet they are not saying anything about that.

"They are busy with politics instead."