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Desiree Ellis has challenged the country's PSL's biggest teams Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates to emulate Manchester United and Real Madrid.

The English and Spanish giants were the only biggest teams in their countries without a professional women's team until the clubs' top brass finally moved to establish one each in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

In South Africa, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are currently the only PSL top clubs without a women's team, and both are based in Soweto where the Safa Women's National League (SWNL) was launched last year.

Mamelodi Sundowns emerged inaugural SWNL champions for the 2019-20 season and the Banyana Banyana tactician believes the Soweto giants can help grow the women's game.

“It is vital for Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates to form women’s teams. They also need to come on board and sponsors will also come on board," Ellis recently told media. 

"The only big team in England that didn’t have a women’s team was Manchester United. Now, they have a team. It was the same as Real Madrid. You’ve seen how the Spanish leagues have grown and how the sponsorship has improved.

"I don’t want to use the word but PSL clubs should be forced to have women’s teams and not just have a women’s team for the sake of having it, but give them support and the necessary development similar to what they are giving to their male counterparts. 

"We will also see a huge shift in the mindset of people and sponsors will come on board. I know Jessica Motaung (Chiefs marketing director) has been asked many times (about forming a women’s team) even by Fifa. 

"I don’t know what is the stumbling block. I ask them once again to take women’s football to another level. Maybe they are still looking at the cost. 

"If you see what they spend on the men’s team, the cost will be like a drop in the ocean. They already have so many women supporters. 

"That (investing in women's football) will help increase their fan base. If they come on board, it will change the landscape of women’s football in the country.”

Ellis led South Africa to their first-ever Women's World Cup in France a year ago after they finished as runners-up at the Africa Women's Cup of Nations in 2018.

Erling Haaland was frustrated to see Borussia Dortmund again fall victim to a controversial handball call despite his late winner against Fortuna Dusseldorf on Saturday.

Raphael Guerreiro had his second-half goal ruled out by VAR after Haaland's blocked shot appeared to loop up off the top of his arm before he volleyed home.

Dusseldorf twice hit the post before substitute Haaland headed home in the 95th minute to secure a 1-0 victory and ensure the Bundesliga title race remained alive, with head coach Lucien Favre injuring himself celebrating the dramatic goal.

While the handball decision did not cost them on this occasion, they missed out on a potential penalty in a 1-0 defeat to leaders Bayern Munich last month when a shot from Norway international Haaland was deflected wide off the arm of Jerome Boateng.

In the following game against Paderborn, Dortmund conceded a penalty when Emre Can was adjudged to have handled the ball when sliding to block a shot from Mohamed Drager.

Asked about the decision to disallow Guerreiro's goal, Haaland said: "I haven't seen the replay yet, but I have the feeling this handball rule is currently only against us."

Haaland sat out Dortmund's previous two games due to a knee problem and, after replacing Axel Witsel in the 61st minute, was pleased to be back among the goals.

"The team needed something up front and I was just waiting for my chance and luckily I got it in the end, and it was a goal, so it was very nice," he said.

"We had some chances and they also had chances, so I don't want to say we were lucky but three points is very nice.

"Dusseldorf had good tactics and made it difficult for us, but good teams win even on bad days."

After the game, Dortmund received a welcome boost with the news that goalkeeper Roman Burki is set to sign a new contract with the club, following reports linking him with Chelsea .

"I'm delighted and hope we can get together in the next week to get everything sewn up," Burki said, quoted by newspaper  Ruhr Nachrichten .

"I feel very comfortable here, I've been through a lot with BVB over the years and always felt the love of the club."

Landing Philippe Coutinho in a cut-price deal would be a no-brainer for Liverpool, says Steve Nicol.

The Reds parted with the Brazil international when he completed a big-money move to Barcelona in the January window of 2018.

The switch to Camp Nou was considered to be a dream for the South American playmaker, but it has quickly become a nightmare.

Coutinho has failed to find his spark in Catalunya, leading to him eventually being loaned out to German giants Bayern Munich.

Similar struggles for consistency have been endured with the Bundesliga champions, with Barca now scratching around to find a buyer.

Various landing spots in the Premier League have been mooted, from Tottenham to Newcastle, but Liverpool are yet to show their hand.

Nicol believes they should be exploring the option of bringing a familiar face back onto their books, especially if the 28-year-old can be acquired in a deal which suits all parties financially.

The former Reds defender told ESPN FC when asked if he would re-sign Coutinho: "Absolutely. Why wouldn't you? I can't think of one reason why you wouldn't.

"The only place he's excelled at is Liverpool. The place loves him, he loves the place. Can you imagine adding Coutinho to a squad that, right now are still champions of Europe even though they're out of this year's competition, and are going to win the Premier League?

"You're going to add a player with the ability of Coutinho, who is going to come in and be in the same situation as a Timo Werner for example, where he is there to fight to get in the starting XI.

"If it's cut-price, yeah. Listen, this guy's making over £13m clear a year. He's going to have to take a hit. The price to buy him is going to have to take a hit but if the money's right, [it's an] absolute no-brainer.

"If the money's right, this would be absolutely fantastic for Liverpool."

This is not the first time that Nicol has called on Klopp to consider an approach for Coutinho, with the Scot having said back in February: "I’d take him – for the right price.

"When he last was at Liverpool, he didn’t only play wide in a front three, he played wide as one of three in the middle of the park.

"Do I think he could do that today? No. He just seems to have completely lost his way. I didn’t expect him to be able to do it at Liverpool, and he did, which was fantastic.

"But he seems to have lost his way. If he was to come back to Liverpool, it would take some time to get back in the swing of the Premier League."

Coutinho previously made 201 appearances for Liverpool, recording 54 goals and a healthy number of assists before deciding to take on a new challenge in Spain.

Napoli set up a Coppa Italia final against former coach Maurizio Sarri and Juventus after a record-breaking goal from Dries Mertens saw them draw 1-1 with Inter on Saturday, enough for a 2-1 triumph on aggregate.

Mertens converted Lorenzo Insigne's square pass to score his 122nd goal for the club, in the process moving him clear of Marek Hamsik to sit alone in top spot as their all-time leading goalscorer.

Fabian Ruiz's goal at San Siro in the first leg prior to the coronavirus outbreak had put Napoli in control of the semi-final tie at the halfway stage, only for Inter to erase the deficit inside two minutes of the return meeting.

Christian Eriksen's curling corner slipped beyond the players gathered at the front post and also David Ospina, quickly levelling the tie.

However, Napoli’s goalkeeper overcame the early embarrassment to play a key role in helping his side progress in the competition.

Ospina made key saves to deny Romelu Lukaku and Antonio Candreva before setting up the equaliser late in the first half, his well-directed clearance triggering a swift counter-attacking move that caught Inter cold.

His precise kick picked out the run of Insigne, who unselfishly passed the ball across for the advancing Mertens to make history four minutes before half-time.

Not done there, Ospina produced a superb save late in the second half to deny Inter a second goal that would have seen them, rather than Napoli, seal a trip to Rome.

What does it mean? Napoli deliver blow to Conte

When Gennaro Gattuso arrived at Napoli in December, the club were in turmoil. The early stages of his reign were rocky, but now he has the chance to secure the club's first trophy since 2014.

In contrast, a debut season of such promise is in danger of falling flat for Antonio Conte at Inter. Seemingly out of the Serie A title race, the Europa League is their last hope for some silverware.

Ospina makes amends

From the ridiculous to the sublime. The Colombian keeper was caught out by Eriksen but showed real sharpness with his contribution for the equaliser. However, a second-half yellow card will see him miss the final through suspension.

Mertens tops the list

The Belgian forward, who had drawn level with Hamsik back in February before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak that hit Italy so hard, clinically finished to show just why Napoli are set to hand him a new contract to extend his stay.

Key Opta Facts

- Napoli have reached the final of the Coppa Italia for the third time in the 21st century, facing Juventus on two of those occasions.
- Napoli have lost just one of their past eight games against Inter in the Coppa Italia (W3 D4), after losing four of their first five encounters with the Nerazzurri in the competition (D1).
- No side has conceded fewer goals than Napoli in the Coppa Italia 2019-20 (one).
- Inter have scored six goals this season in the first five minutes of the game, more than any other Serie A side in all competitions.
- Dries Mertens has been involved in three goals (two scored, one assisted) in his past three games in all competitions, all played at the San Paolo.
- Christian Eriksen has scored two of the past three away Inter goals in all competitions.

What's next?

Napoli meet Sarri's Juve in Rome on Wednesday. Then, Serie A returns. Inter's first league game back is at home to Sampdoria on Sunday, June 21. Napoli, meanwhile, travel to Hellas Verona two days later.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been warned that he may be working himself into a weaker position by shunning a new contract at Arsenal, with Ian Wright saying there is no guarantee that he will find a top club and contract as a free agent.

As things stand, the Gabonese striker still has 12 months left to run on his current deal at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had been hoping to tie their talismanic club captain to fresh terms by now, bringing an end to the uncertainty surrounding his future.

No agreement has been reached, though, and big decisions may have to be made in the next transfer window.

Arsenal cannot afford to see another prized asset walk away for nothing , with there plenty of willing takers ready to snap up a proven performer if he is made available on the open market.

Wright still hopes that a compromise will be reached that keeps Aubameyang in north London.

He is eager to point out that Europe’s top teams – those that are of interest to the ambitious 30-year-old – may not be an option in 2021 and are unlikely to offer a salary as lucrative as the Gunners.

The legendary Arsenal frontman said in the Express of a long-running saga surrounding Aubameyang: "If the season was still going and he continued scoring goals then he'd be in a strong position.

"But I think the position he's in now - we're talking about someone who's going to be 32 next summer.

"He is getting into a situation where if he does see that contract out, are the same people going to come for him?

"The contract what he's got on the table from Arsenal, is there going to be another club who's going to give him the same kind of contract?"

Wright added: "If he does say 'I don't want to sign a deal' and then [Mikel] Arteta starts to use [Gabriel] Martinelli and he starts to score goals and do well, then all of a sudden Aubameyang's position and negotiation point gets weaker.

"I think the longer he waits, in this time, the more it might affect him.

"Arsenal have probably got a deal on the table three, maybe four years, for somebody that for me, we need him to stay.

"We're talking Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus. Is he going to go to these teams? I'm not sure."

Aubameyang, with 61 goals through 97 appearances for Arsenal to his name, has shown that he could be a useful asset to any leading side around the world.

Many have suggested that the Gunners need to consider cashing in , allowing them to invest funds on a suitable replacement, with there still no indication that an experienced head will be sticking around.

Leon Goretzka scored a late winner as Bayern Munich restored their seven-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a 2-1 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach.

Without the suspended Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller, Bayern were well below par but were gifted the opener shortly after the visitors had been denied by a VAR decision.

Joshua Zirkzee broke the deadlock in the 26th minute as Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer's ill-advised pass went straight to the feet of Lewandowski's replacement.

Benjamin Pavard's own goal 11 minutes later levelled matters, but Goretzka caught the Gladbach defence napping four minutes from time to extinguish any realistic prospect of a late turnaround in the title race.

Victory on Tuesday for Bayern at Werder Bremen would clinch an eighth successive Bundesliga championship, with Borussia Dortmund surely now playing just for second place.

With Alassane Plea suspended, Gladbach were dealt another blow to their attack early on when Marcus Thuram was forced off with an ankle injury.

Breel Embolo, who had only been deemed fit enough for the bench, came on in his place and delivered the key pass for what looked to be the opening goal.

Jonas Hofmann tucked the throughball into the bottom-left corner, only for VAR to rule he had strayed marginally offside.

The visitors were then grateful to Sommer for preserving parity as he brilliantly denied Lucas Hernandez from point-blank range after Matthias Ginter had inadvertently laid the ball on a plate for the Bayern left-back.

However, after Embolo was thwarted by Manuel Neuer and somehow shot wide on the rebound, Sommer turned from hero to villain.

Zirkzee's fourth goal of the season could hardly have been simpler as he stroked Sommer's off-balance cross-field ball into the empty net.

Bayern continued to look vulnerable at the back, though, and Gladbach's deserved leveller came in a similarly fortuitous fashion when Pavard could only divert Patrick Herrmann's searching right-wing cross into the bottom-right corner.

Neuer had to be at his best to deny Herrmann after a quick break from Embolo, but the introductions of Alphonso Davies and Kingsley Coman sparked Bayern into life, with Sommer getting down low to his right to turn Serge Gnabry's volley behind.

Gladbach had looked comfortable as they attempted to see out the stalemate before Goretzka stole in to slot home Pavard's low cross from the right and put Bayern, with three rounds of games remaining, on the cusp of the title.

What does it mean? Bayern on the brink

Bayern have not lost since their 2-1 defeat at Gladbach in December, which at the time looked a seismic result in the title race.

Goretzka's close-range finish means Bayern can now clinch the title at relegation-threatened Bremen. The goal also dealt Gladbach another blow in their stumbling chase for a Champions League place.

Leon Tor-etzka

Goretzka's goal was his third since the season restarted following the coronavirus-enforced stoppage and all but ensured Bayern will soon be celebrating another Bundesliga triumph.

Sommer's strange decision

Sommer's pass across his own defence always looked risky and was swiftly punished by the grateful Zirkzee.

What's next?

Bayern will look to be popping champagne corks in Bremen on Tuesday evening, after Gladbach host Wolfsburg earlier in the day.

Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Burki is set to quash speculation about his future by signing a new contract with the Bundesliga giants in the next week.

Linked to Chelsea recently, Burki has confirmed he will commit to Dortmund after reaching an agreement over an extension to his deal.

The 29-year-old revealed the news after Saturday's 1-0 win at Fortuna Dusseldorf, which came thanks to Erling Haaland's stoppage-time header.

Burki, currently under contract until the end of the 2020-21 season, said he hoped to complete formalities after negotiations led to a fresh agreement, and Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc confirmed that would happen within days.

"I'm delighted and hope we can get together in the next week to get everything sewn up," Burki said, quoted by newspaper Ruhr Nachrichten .

"I feel very comfortable here, I've been through a lot with BVB over the years and always felt the love of the club."

The Switzerland shot-stopper will get his wish, Zorc confirmed, indicating Dortmund are eager to tie down the player they signed from Freiburg five years ago.

Zorc said: “We have finally agreed and will also sign the contract in the next few days. I am very happy about the fact we have Roman in the team for more years to come."

Burki has enhanced his reputation as one of the Bundesliga's best goalkeepers since his move in 2015.

Dortmund snapped him up after just a solitary season at Freiburg, after he had previously impressed at Young Boys and Grasshopper Zurich in his native Switzerland.

It could be a busy summer for Borussia Dortmund who, as well as Burki, are also hoping to keep hold of the likes of Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi.

Hakimi is coming to the end of his two-year loan spell from Real Madrid, but Zorc has confirmed the club are hopeful of keeping him beyond the terms of that deal .

Meanwhile, former captain and head of their player licensing department Sebastian Kehl has said he expects Sancho to stay in Dortmund for another year .

Sancho has been widely linked with a return to the Premier League, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all linked.

Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) has announced the purchase of the PSL status of Bidvest Wits. 

The National First Division (NFD) side broke the news on their social media platform on Saturday afternoon. 

According to the club, the status of the club came as a package with Wits players also under the new ownership.  

The sale of the Students doesn't come as a huge surprise after reports surfaced two weeks ago TTM owner Masala Mulaudzi was in talks with the Braamfontein-based outfit over a possible take over. 

TTM further announced it has approached the PSL for an official name change ahead of next season while confirming their intentions to play their home games at Thohoyandou Stadium. 

"We have logged with the PSL for an official name change. The name will change from Bidvest Wits to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC as of the beginning of the new season The team will play at Thohoyandou Stadium as their home ground next season," the club said. 

The Limpopo-based side further made it clear it has bought the status of Bidvest Wits and not Wits University. 

The two entities were confused by the majority of fans who understand the link between the club and the university. 

The latest developments mean Bidvest Wits will no longer exist beyond the current season unless their management buys a PSL or NFD status from another club. 

As things stand, Wits management cannot take the NFD status of TTM as Mulaudzi has already confirmed selling his club's status to an unnamed Limpopo-based businessman. 

Several high-profile players from the current Wits squad are expected to jump ship ahead of the new season. 

Thulani Hlatshwayo, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Gift Motupa and Deon Hotto are some of the players expected to leave Wits for greener pastures.    

Efforts to get a comment from Wits management on this latest development proved futile. 

Caf Secretary General Abdelmounaim Bah says moving the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament to June or July is not an option, but January 2022 would be an alternative in the event the finals fail to be staged next year.

Qualifying matches for Afcon have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, a move that could see the finals scheduled to be hosted by Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2021, being moved to later dates.

Caf has already cancelled the March and June qualifiers, and Bah says it is now impossible to have August matches go ahead as planned.

With some countries intending to have their domestic leagues running in the next few months and also following the resumption of football in Europe, Caf hopes Afcon qualifiers could continue in October, at a time when four rounds of matches would have already been lost.

"What we can say is that all the confederations hope to be able to play again this year and each is making its [own] arrangements. In this regard, the Asian confederation has announced that it will resume its qualifications in October and November. And at Caf we subscribe to this logic," Bah told Radio Sport Info.

"The international windows scheduled for March and June have been cancelled, but the months of October and November 2020 represent a lot of hope. We no longer include September in the strategies because it will be quite complicated to have the teams travel from one country to another as early as September. This means that the matches can resume locally but international matches will be difficult to be held because of the travel factor."

Bah says if Afcon fails to take place in January 2021, the next best option would be to stage the tournament 12 months later. He says switching the tournament to June 2021 would see Afcon suffer counter-attraction from the Uefa European Championships and Copa America.

"If we cannot make up for the Afcon 2021 qualifiers in October and November, we will have to think of another plan... But today the longer the crisis lasts, the more this scenario deserves to be thought about. Afcon next January, however, remains our number one priority," said Bah.

"January 2022 remains the second option for Afcon 2022...As everyone knows, playing in June/July in Cameroon is difficult because of the weather conditions. In addition, in June/July 2021 there is already a lot of competition with the Euro and the Copa America. So the best time to postpone the Afcon would be January 2022. But all that I repeat, these are alternatives because our priority for the Afcon is to play in January 2021."

Also affected by the coronavirus is the African Nations Championship which was due for April 2020 in Cameroon as well as the Africa Women Cup of Nations which was slated for November and Caf admits that both tournaments would be difficult to reschedule.

The current Caf Champions League and Confederation Cup campaigns which were stopped at the semi-final stages could, however, resume "very soon."

"We can announce here that the Champions League and the Confederation Cup are the competitions by which we will resume very soon. Besides, this year we have four magnificent posters not to be missed," Bah said.

Anthony Ujah featured as Union Berlin clinched a narrow 2-1 win against Kingsley Ehizibue’s Koln in Saturday’s Bundesliga game.

The Super Eagles player was afforded his 21st league appearance this season at RheinEnergieStadion but started the game from the bench.

The 29-year-old forward made a second-half appearance to help Urs Fischer’s side end an eight-game winless run, having last won against Eintracht Frankfurt on February 24.

The Iron Ones hit the ground running in the encounter and could have been rewarded for their efforts in the 33rd minute when the centre referee handed them a penalty but after consultation with the video assistant referee (VAR) the decision was revoked.

They, however, opened the scoring six minutes after the incident through Marvin Friedrich, who headed past goalkeeper Timo Horn, after benefitting from Christopher Trimmel’s assist.

A few minutes into the second half, Sebastian Andersson came close to doubling the lead with a fine header which was saved by Horn.

In his quest to secure a comfortable lead, manager Fischer brought on Nigeria international Ujah for Andersson in the 63rd minute while Koln’s Ehizibue, who was handed a starting role made way for Kingsley Schindler.

However, it was Christian Gentner, who doubled the Iron Ones’ lead five minutes after Ehizibue was replaced firing home from Marius Buelter’s assist.

Jhon Cordoba scored a late effort for Koln a moment before full-time which only ended up as a mere consolation as their visitors secured all three points.

With the result, Union Berlin are 13th on the Bundesliga table with 35 points from 31 games behind the Billy Goats, who edged them by goal difference.

Ujah has now made 25 appearances across all competitions for the Iron Ones in this campaign, scoring three goals and providing three assists.

The centre-forward will hope to deliver a more impactful showing for Berlin when they take on Jamilu Collins’ Paderborn in their next outing on Tuesday.

Ehizibue, meanwhile, will be expected to continue his consistent displays for Koln, having featured in 29 games across all competitions for his side since joining them last summer from PEC Zwolle.

The defender, who was recently handed his first Super Eagles call-up, will hope to feature for 90 minutes in their next league game against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.

The Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) President Moses Magogo has asked Big League clubs to desist from the desire of 'trying to grow fast'.

Magogo urged the Fufa Big League officials to grow their club's capacities in order to avoid being demoralised after promotion to the Premier League and relegation back to the top-tier almost immediately.

“You need to grow your capacity before you go to the next level,” Magogo said during the Fufa Big League consultative meeting as was quoted by Sports Nation.

“A team wants to be in UPL just a year after promotion from Big League. It's not organic growth, many times you get discouraged because you are trying to grow fast.

“What is the purpose of being promoted and drop back immediately? When you go up when you haven’t grown, you will suffer and get demoralised.”

The consultative meeting was convened to discuss matters of the 2020/21 season and also the club licensing issues with Magogo urging the clubs to see the business side of football.

“Some clubs even close simply because ‘you took a Primary Four kid to sit for Primary Leaving Examinations [PLE] exams, even if he is the best, he can fail and think that school is a bad thing',” said the Caf Executive member.

“You will enjoy the UPL when you go when you have grown. There is a business side of football also. It’s not about promotion alone, you need to grow your capacity and that is why club licensing is there to put checks on whether you are ready.”

The Fufa chief also drew parallels between the Premier League and the second-tier competition as he also explained how the federation did not consult clubs before cancelling the league.

“It's [Big League] the hardest league to play in, maybe harder than the Premier League in terms of conditions there,” concluded Magogo.

“However, football can generate its own money and at Fufa we have tried it and has been successful.

“We cannot be consulting on matters of rules. It is clear, it’s a rule. However, I know that every decision by a regulator hurts one and will benefit the other.”

Meanwhile, Fufa's Club Licensing Chairman Rogers Mulindwa has hinted the Big League clubs will be required to have junior sides.

“There are some new ideas that every Fufa Big League club this time will have an U17 team,” Mulindwa said during the meeting.

“These teams will only be playing in that particular region [where the senior team plays]. It's a new idea and we had a debate with the members and they have welcomed the idea.”

Water FC, Kataka FC, Doves All-Stars, Bukedea FC, Bukedea FC, Nyamityobora FC, Kiboga Young, Ndejje University FC, Kigezi Home Boyz FC, Paidha BA FC, UPDF FC and Kitara FC were represented during the meeting.

Tanguy Kouassi will leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of June, Goal can confirm.

The 18-year-old defender has been linked with a number of clubs around Europe including Barcelona, AC Milan, RB Leipzig and Rennes.

He had been one of the revelations of the season for PSG, making 13 first-team appearances and scoring three goals.

However, he has turned down the contract proposal put to him in Paris, and is now set to find a new club.

Neither Milan nor Leipzig are likely to land him, despite recent reports in France suggesting they could be the most likely destinations.

Rennes have made an offer to him, but competition for his signature is said to be “very tough”.

Kouassi joined PSG in 2016 from youth club Pays de Fontainebleau and has represented France at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 level, winning Under-17 World Cup bronze last year.

The decision to leave brings to an end months of discussions between PSG, Kouassi and his entourage.

As recently as last month, club sources had suggested they were hopeful of being able to keep him in Paris.

Now, all eyes are on Kouassi as he decides his next move.

The news comes on a busy day for PSG, following the announcement from director of football Leonardo that club veterans Thiago Silva and Edinson Cavani will leave at the end of the season .

The club captain and centre-forward are both out of contract at the end of June, but PSG are hoping to be able to keep them until the season is fully resolved in August.

Thomas Meunier and Layvin Kurzawa, both heavily linked with moves to the Premier League, are also expected to depart, though their futures are not yet fully decided.

The French champions are still in the Champions League and are through to the finals of both the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.

Thomas Tuchel is aiming to have his squad return to training on June 22, with Neymar having returned to Paris on Saturday in order to avoid a potential 14-day quarantine .

PSG were awarded the Ligue 1 title after the season was cut short in April .

Jose Mourinho believes it is "too risky" for Tottenham to play any more friendlies before they return to Premier League action.

Spurs enjoyed a training friendly with Norwich City on Friday - the action split into four 30-minute quarters - as players from both clubs try to quickly get back up to speed ahead of the restart.

Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko, Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn, who were all injured prior to the coronavirus-enforced suspension to the 2019-20 season, were all involved.

Mourinho would ideally like to fit in another game before Friday's huge clash with his former club Manchester United, but he is not prepared to gamble given Spurs' packed schedule upon the resumption.

"We are not going to have any more friendlies. We think it would be good, but it's too risky," Mourinho told the club's official website.

"We are going to do a normal preparation week, starting on the Monday and going through to Friday. After that, we've two more days and then West Ham, so the next 10 days are going to be busy.

"We have to adapt to this new reality, which is what we've tried to do.

"We have to think that the points are there to fight for. With fans or without fans, the points are there on the pitch. Ourselves and United will have to fight for them."

Mourinho was pleased that his players were able to experience a match situation inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without fans, as will be the case in the top flight due to Covid-19 restrictions.

"We needed minutes, we needed to know the feeling of playing here without our supporters and to have this training session with another Premier League team is the best thing," the Portuguese coach added.

Spurs face an uphill battle to qualify for next season's Champions League as they sit eighth in the table, seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea with nine games remaining.

After resuming with the game against top-four rivals United, Spurs will also take in a London derby date at home to West Ham before travelling to Sheffield United, who are also in Champions League contention.

Liverpool would win “the Premier League, the Champions League and the Grand National” if they could prise Kevin De Bruyne away from Manchester City, says Peter Crouch, but N’Golo Kante and Philippe Coutinho are considered to be more realistic targets.

The Reds continue to scour the market for potential additions, with the opportunity to move for RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner passed up.

Alternative options are said to figure prominently on Jurgen Klopp’s radar, with a desire to add greater depth to the Anfield attacking ranks seeing Borussia Dortmund forward Jadon Sancho and Wolves winger Adama Traore come into contention for big-money moves.

There have even been murmurings of a raid being launched on the Etihad Stadium for De Bruyne, with City facing the threat of star turns leaving if their European ban is upheld.

Crouch admits the Belgium international playmaker would be a dream addition on Merseyside, with his ball-playing ability perfectly suited to the system favoured by Liverpool.

Such a swoop may, however, be a little ambitious, with Klopp urged to consider a move to take World Cup winner Kante off Chelsea – amid reports of the Frenchman being made available – and a bid to bring Brazilian schemer Coutinho back to familiar surroundings from a forgettable stint at Barcelona.

Former Reds striker Crouch told the Daily Mail when asked if he would like to see De Bruyne at Anfield: “What a joy that would be!

“If Liverpool signed De Bruyne, they would win the Premier League, the Champions League and the Grand National next year. Maybe if we all throw £10 in, we will raise enough money to make it happen!

“The thing with Liverpool is that they really don't need much. Michael Edwards, their sporting director who I knew from my time at Portsmouth, has overseen an incredible recruitment drive. 

“Liverpool don't just have good players - they have good characters too and the training ground is harmonious.

“They won't stand still this summer and they will keep evolving. The front three is good enough to be left alone but maybe they need something in midfield. 

“If it was me, maybe N'Golo Kante would fit right in. I'd even bring Philippe Coutinho back, so long as he knew he would be a squad player.”

Liverpool have found considerable value in recent windows and appear reluctant to spend for the sake of it after assembling a squad that has tasted European glory and opened up a 25-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Simba SC have started planning for next season after they moved to keep Mzamiru Yassin and Said Ndemla at the club for the next two seasons.

The two players have signed a two-year contract each to stay with the mainland giants. According to a source, who did not want to be named, Simba paid TSh60millon to convince both players to stay.

“The two players have reached an agreement to stay at Simba and the club is very happy to keep them,” the source is quoted by Sokaletu.

“If there is a player whose contract is running down and is yet to talk to the club, then he must be on his way out because most of them [players] have already started talks to extend their stay.”

The move by Simba to renew the contracts of the duo comes barely five days after club chairman Mohammed Dewji assured club fans they will not sell any of their players in the coming transfer window.

The Mainland Premier League giants are keen to build a strong team ahead of next season’s Caf Champions League as they are likely to represent the country in the competition for the second season in a row.

“My fellow lions,” Dewji wrote in a statement on his official social accounts. “I want to assure you none of our players will leave Simba but we will also sign any player, from anywhere if our coach will need him in his squad.

“We want to remain consistent and will not let our squad change.”

Simba have already been linked with the services of two Gor Mahia players – defender Joash Onyango and midfielder Kenneth Muguna.

Goal understands the club is already talking to Muguna, who has 18 months left on his contract with K’Ogalo but has expressed his desire to leave for greener pastures because of salary problems.

Simba are currently chasing a third straight league title, as they top the league table on 71 points from 28 matches, while Azam FC are second on 54 points and rivals Yanga SC are lying third after accumulating 51 points.

Simba will resume the league with a home game against Ruvu Shooting at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.

South Africa's Bambanani Mbane and Burkina Faso's Salimata Simpore continued with their fine form as they scored in Dinamo-BSUPC's 7-0 victory over 10-woman Bobruichanka on Saturday.

Mbane and Simpore added to their goal tallies this season as the Belarusian giants resumed action (after their two-week break) on a high since their last encounter against Zorka-BDU which ended 3-0.

The hosts started on the front foot as Hanna Pilipenko beautifully set up Simpore to open the lead in the eighth minute after her initial header went wide and she also missed a sitter in quick succession.

In the 24th minute, Vita Nikolaenko teed up Anastasiya Linnik to double the lead for Dinamo before Anastasia Shlapakova grabbed a third of the match off Pilipenko's assist nine minutes later.

After the restart at Minsk Stadium, Dinamo continued from where they left off in the first half as Linnik bagged her second and her side's fourth of the match from the spot in the 52nd minute.

The worse befell the visitors as they were reduced to 10 players after Cameroon's Sorelle Metiefang was sent off in the 63rd minute after bagging two yellow cards in the space of four minutes.

Leveraging on their numerical advantage, Mbane, who replaced Nikolaenko in the 55th minute moment after Yuliya Slesarchik's brilliant shot off Anastasia Novikova's pass to ensure the fifth goal.

Substitute Kristina Tikhovodova, who came on in the 67th minute, set up Mbane in front of the box to blast home the sixth before substitute Viktoriya Valyuk sealed the win two minutes from time.

Simpore's goal was her sixth in five games for Dinamo and, the Burkina Faso star, who was taken off in the 71st minute, while Banyana star Mbane has now scored four goals in six matches.

Besides Simpore and Mbane, Cameroon defender Claudia Dabda lasted for the duration as the African trio propelled their side's win.

The victory takes Yury's ladies three points clear at the summit, while Neman in second, face third-placed Minsk on Sunday.

Dinamo will hope to extend their lead at the top when they visit second-placed Neman in the next league encounter on June 19.

Edinson Cavani and club captain Thiago Silva will both leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer, director of football Leonardo has confirmed.

The pair are both out of contract at the end of June but will remain with the club until the season is fully completed with the Champions League, Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue all still to be resolved.

Between them, they have made more than 600 combined appearances for PSG in all competitions.

"Cavani and Thiago Silva? Yes, we are coming to the end,” Leonardo told the Journal de Dimanche.

"The idea is to continue playing with them until the end of August.

"It was a very difficult decision to make; these are players who have marked the history of the club.

“Their stories were so beautiful. But yes, we are coming to the end.

"We had to make a logical decision, economically speaking and with regard to the generation that is coming through.

“Maybe we are wrong, I do not know, there is never a perfect moment. Now the Champions League is still in sight and the idea is to continue competing with them until the end of August. How it can be done is not yet clear [legally].”

Leonardo also confirmed that Layvin Kurzawa and Thomas Meunier are also likely to leave in the same manner, but this is not yet totally certain.

PSG are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League following their 3-2 aggregate win over Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16.

They are also waiting to play in the finals of both the Coupe de France and Coupe de La Ligue, against Saint-Etienne and Lyon respectively.

Uruguay striker Cavani has long been linked with a move away from PSG, and seemed almost certain to leave the club in the most recent January transfer window.

Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Boca Juniors, Inter Miami and Newcastle are among a wide variety of clubs to have been linked with a move.

Boca are out of the race after president Jorge Bermudez ruled out a move earlier in the year, but Cavani's next club remains to be seen.

Cavani has scored 200 goals in 300 games for PSG, winning six Ligue 1 titles among numerous domestic honours since joining from Napoli in 2013.

Silva moved from AC Milan the previous summer, going on to make 310 appearances and captain the club through its most successful period.

Jack Grealish would like to be “one of those Steven Gerrards” and spend his entire career at Aston Villa, says Kevin Phillips, but interest from Manchester United is expected to be too good to turn down.

A big-money transfer is said to be in the offing for the talented 24-year-old playmaker when the next window swings open.

Having proven himself on a Premier League stage, Grealish is considered to be ready for a step up English football’s grandest ladder.

Old Trafford may be the next rung he hits, with the Red Devils in the market for more creativity and prepared to splash the cash on top targets.

Villa will be reluctant sellers if an approach is made, especially if they preserve their top-flight status, but it is looking increasingly likely that a deal will be done.

Phillips admits that Grealish, as a boyhood Villans fan, will leave with a heavy heart, but it is difficult to see him being a one-club man when the opportunity is there to better himself.

“I am not sure about this because Jack Grealish loves Villa so much so it really would not surprise me if he wants to stay with his boyhood club in the Premier League,” former Villans striker Phillips told Football Insider.

“I can see him being one of those Steven Gerrards.

“On the other hand, Manchester United look like they are really going to have a go and sign some players to get them back to where they once were.

“It is difficult. If I am Jack Grealish and I had the chance to go to Manchester United, I would go. Simple as that. No matter what league I am in.

“But he is such a diehard Villa supporter, a local lad so I could see him staying.

“However, if they do go down I do not think he will be left with a choice. Manchester United is like Real Madrid or Barcelona for me, you go.”

Grealish has made no secret of his desire to grace the very top of the game, as he also chases down senior international recognition with England, but has stopped short of being dragged into a transfer debate.

Plenty are making noises for him, with many of the opinion that his ability and confidence would be well suited to a prominent role at the Theatre of Dreams.

Former Ghana coach James Kwasi Appiah believes his recent comment regarding the Black Stars' captaincy has been misconstrued.

In an interview with Happy FM, the 59-year-old proposed a rotational policy for the armband to quench perennial controversies over the position. The suggestion has generated debate, with many opposing the idea.

Swansea City attacker Andre Ayew is the current skipper of the Black Stars.

"I was a not saying Ghana should adopt the captaincy rotational policy now since it will make no sense because Dede Ayew has just been handed over the armband," Appiah explained, as reported by Sportsworldghana.

"I was suggesting that if there are captaincy challenges in the team in future, then we can try the rotational policy, maybe it could work for us.

"I was not advising the current head coach as purported in the media to change the captain but I was suggesting an option should we find ourselves in the same soup in future as a country."

Appiah, himself a former Black Stars captain, has coached Ghana on two separate occasions; first between 2012 and 2014 and second between 2017 and 2019.

“Sometimes this captaincy issue comes as a result of poor communication from management members or certain people trying to push their own agenda," the former Al-Khartoum boss told Happy FM earlier this week.

“Looking at our current situation, I will propose we rotate the captain’s armband and also a general captain appointed to speak on behalf of the players.

"Brazil and other countries have made it work, so we can also emulate them.

“We should be careful or else this captaincy row can affect the national team for years to come."

Appiah's second stint as Ghana coach produced the Black Stars' most recent controversy over the captaincy.

A month to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt, the Black Stars were engulfed in a captaincy saga as veteran striker Asamoah Gyan - Ghana's leading striker - was stripped of the armband in favour of Ayew.

The displeased Gyan did not take the decision lying down as he sensationally announced retirement from international duty and would only rescind his stance following a plea by national president Nana Akufo-Addo. 

Vinicius Junior has been told he needs to “keep flying” at Real Madrid, with fellow Brazilian Rivaldo warning the 19-year-old that he cannot afford to let his standards drop.

The 2019-20 campaign has seen the exciting young forward remain on a steep learning curve.

Questions have been asked of his end product at times, but he has recorded four goals and three assists.

He had found consistent form prior to football shutting down amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Zinedine Zidane making him a regular in his plans.

Real have, however, been out of action since mid-March.

They will return to La Liga action on Sunday when taking on Eibar, and Rivaldo is challenging his fellow countryman to pick up where he left off and prove his worth at Santiago Bernabeu.

“Vinícius Junior was in his best form since his arrival at Real Madrid before the lockdown, scoring against Barcelona in El Clasico, but after the break many things can change,” 2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo told Betfair.

“Madrid will have Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio back on track, so the Brazilian has two additional contenders for a starting place.

“The first games back will only tell us which players have reached their peak before the others. I'm backing Vinícius to restart well and continue his good form, but there is a chance that things might not go so well after a big gap without playing.

“But despite the competitiveness in the squad, I believe Zinedine Zidane will pick players who are in good form and not just because of his preference, so Vinícius must try to keep showing his best football to continue as a starter.

“As we used to say in Brazil, he needs to keep flying to earn his place in the team.”

Real have welcomed the likes of Hazard and Asensio back into the fold as they prepare to restart their 2019-20 campaign.

Both had been nursing knocks prior to lockdown, but Zidane will have a wealth of options at his disposal when facing Eibar.

Gareth Bale is also back in the Blancos squad, with the Wales international – who continues to see a move elsewhere mooted – another of those who will rival Vinicius for an attacking berth.