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48 hours to go until the Caf Champions League final between Kaizer Chiefs and Al-Ahly, and interest in the fixture is heating up intensely.

Google search has been ablaze with supporters taking to the net in order to find out the latest details about their beloved glamour boys, with search terms like ‘Kaizer Chiefs travelling squad’ and ‘Kaizer Chiefs squad to face Al Ahly’ particularly common among local fans.

It’s understandable that football supporters from the Cape to Cairo are getting excited about this dream match-up between two of Africa’s biggest clubs.

Ahly and Chiefs are both regional and national powerhouses, with both boasting significant support both at home and beyond.

Ahly, obviously, are Africa’s biggest club, having won a record number of African titles and being named the continent’s Club of the Century for the 1900s.

They recently finished third at the Club World Cup, introducing themselves to a broader international fanbase, and are the reigning African champions.

Chiefs don’t have anything like the continental track record—indeed, an African Cup Winners’ Cup in 2001 is their greatest achievement beyond their own shores—but their supporter base as South Africa’s biggest club is huge.

Ahead of the final, information about Chiefs’ travelling squad for the trip to Casablanca is the hottest topic among local fans, with terms such as ‘Chiefs squad to Morocco’ and ‘Kaizer Chiefs travelling squad to Morocco’ particularly popular.

Beyond these specific searches, the match in itself is generating particular interest.

‘Chiefs vs Al Ahly’ and ‘Kaizer vs Al Ahly’ have been particularly popular search terms over the last week as fans have clamoured for information about the blockbuster fixture.

New arrival Brandon Peterson, who joins Chiefs from Bidvest Wits, has also been a popular search term, with the goalkeeper seemingly generating more interest than the five other players who joined him at Naturena.

The 26-year-old last played for Wits University FC over a season ago, but spent the last season training with Chiefs ahead of earning a permanent contract with the club.

Born in Cape Town, he will wear the #16 shirt after signing a three-year deal with the Glamour Boys.

Finally, the return of Given Thibedi has also generated interest among supporters, particularly over the last 24 hours.

The midfielder enjoyed a successful loan spell with Swallows FC, and could have a big role to play next term.

Further Caf Champions League final reading 

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Justice Sithole says it is not by chance that Amakhosi are within 90 minutes of being crowned African champions.

The Soweto giants face continental heavyweights Al Ahly in the Caf Champions League final at Stade Mohamed V on Saturday.

It is the first time for Chiefs to be in the final of a continental competition since losing 4-1 to, interestingly, Al Ahly in the 2002 Caf Super Cup.

Amakhosi have never won the Champions League before and Sithole feels they now face the prospect of being regarded as “heroes for years to come.”

“We are not in the final by mistake. It was through the hard work of the players,” said Sithole as per Sun Sport.

“Having reached this point there’s only one result and that is to win the final. It’s time for them to be the heroes at Chiefs for years to come. I think this is their [players] time to make their mark.”

Sithole was part of the Chiefs squad which lost to Al Ahly and current Amakhosi first assistant coach Arthur Zwane was also in that team

The previous season, they had lifted the Caf Cup Winners’ Cup, the only continental silverware they boast.

Sithole feels the current Chiefs squad can atone for the season’s difficult domestic campaign by winning the Champions League.
 
“We are coming from a very difficult season. We weren’t happy with the things that were happening within the club,” Sithole said.

“But now we find ourselves in this position that can bring back the smile to many people’s faces.”

After finishing eighth in the Premier Soccer League as well as missing out on the Nedbank Cup, Chiefs failed to earn themselves the right to play in the Caf inter-club competition next season through the domestic channel.

Their only chance of returning to the Caf Champions League rests in beating Al Ahly to win the Champions League.

If they managed to attain that, they will earn an automatic spot in the elite club football competition next season.

Further Caf Champions League final reading 

Arsenal defender William Saliba has returned to France on a new loan spell, with the 20-year-old joining Marseille on a season-long deal in Ligue 1 for the 2021-22 campaign.

The former Saint-Etienne man, who joined the Gunners in 2019, spent the latter half of last term on loan in the French top-flight with Nice.

Now, he follows fellow Emirates Stadium man Matteo Guendouzi with a temporary swap to Stade Velodrome for the upcoming season, as he looks to bolster his first-team minutes.

Arsenal director Edu on move

The Gunners' technical director spoke out on the move back across the English Channel for Saliba, stating that his experiences in Ligue 1 will only aid his growth going forward.

“Together with William, we have decided it will be good for his continued development to spend another season on loan," he told Arsenal's club website. "William joined us as an 18-year-old, and he is still only 20, so he is still developing all the time. 

"William is a player with strong natural ability and next season has the potential to be really beneficial for him at Marseille, a good club. To play another season in Ligue 1 will be very important for his development. We will of course be keeping in close contact with William during the season and wish him all the best in France with Marseille."

What has William Saliba achieved?

Signed on a reported five-year deal in July 2019, Saliba spent the first season of his contract back with Saint-Etienne, making close to a dozen-and-a-half appearances for the club as he helped them to the Coupe de France Final.

He unfortunately missed out on a shot at silverware as his deal expired and he returned to north London in the summer of 2020, amid a much-disrupted campaign due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Saliba failed to play a senior game for Arsenal across the first half of last term, before he was shipped off to Nice where he played 22 games across all competitions and helped them seal a top-half finish in Ligue 1.

The bigger picture

Saiiba heads back to France having not partaken in the Gunners' first warm-up game of a busy pre-season schedule, a 2-1 loss to Hibernian on Tuesday as part of their preparations for the Florida Cup.

Arsenal play Scottish champions Rangers this weekend before flying out to Orlando to face Serie A title holders Inter, with the winner poised to play either Everton or Colombian outfit Millonarios in the final.

Arteta will hope to get his final transfer plans over the line ahead of the new Premier League term, which kicks off with a trip to newly-promoted Brentford on August 13.

Further reading

Newly crowned Tanzania Mainland League champions Simba SC, and Azam FC settled for a 1-1 draw at the Azam Complex, in Chamazi, Dar es Salaam on Thursday.

Idi Nado was on target for the hosts with veteran Rwanda attacker Meddie Kagere ensuring the spoils were shared.

With Wekundu wa Msimbazi winning the league and the Ice-cream Makers sealing a third-place finish, the game was reduced to a dead rubber. Having not defeated Mnyama in league assignment since January 2017, this was a good opportunity for them to get maximum points.

The 2014 champions needed 43 minutes to get their goal. Mudathir Yahya received a good pass in Azam's half, went past his marker before playing a long pass to Nado.

The latter controlled the ball well before placing it past the desperate Simba custodian.

After the break, the 22-time champions came back stronger, trying to attack with every opportunity they got. However, it was not easy to beat the composed Azam defence.

It seemed the former champions were on the verge of breaking the jinx but with five minutes to go, Mnyama equalized.

Kagere held his composure to ensure Wekundu wa Msimbazi maintain their unbeaten run against the Chamazi Street-based heavyweights.

Simba have won 25 of their 33 matches played, drawing five and losing just three. They have managed to score 74 goals, and conceding 14 in the process.

The Ice-cream Makers are on 65 points after 18 wins from the 33 matches they have played. They have drawn 11 and lost four, scoring 49 goals and conceding 22.

Meanwhile, Yanga SC emerged 2-0 winners against Ihefu FC in another top-tier assignment at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.

Feisal Salum struck twice to help Timu ya Wananchi pick up the victory on home soil and are now assured to keep second spot and feature in the Caf Champions League in the 2021/22 season.

Salum scored the opener for Yanga in the 17th minute as the visitors struggled to deal with the hosts who attacked, especially from the wings. The Tanzanian added the second goal in the 36th minute, taking his season tally to five goals.

With the goals, Salum bettered his record with Yanga in the last two seasons: In the 2018/19 campaign, he found the back of the net four times in 37 games, and in 2019/20, he scored two goals in 27 games compared to five this season in 33 games. 

Bukayo Saka says that he will not let his Euro 2020 final penalty miss and the subsequent abuse he received online "break" him and insists that social media companies "are not doing enough" to prevent offensive messages.

The Arsenal winger saw his strike from the spot saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the final act of the European Championship decider, to leave Gareth Southgate's side heartbroken at Wembley after a sharply-contested 1-1 draw after full-time.

Racial abuse directed towards both Saka and team-mates Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho - who also missed penalties - spread across social media shortly afterwards and in his first comments since the match, the 19-year-old has thanked his family and friends for standing beside him across the summer.

What has Bukayo Saka said?

"I have stayed away from social media for a few days to spend time with my family and reflect on the last few weeks," Saka posted on Twitter.

"This message won't do it justice how grateful I am for all the love that I have received, and I feel that I need to thank everyone who has supported me.

"It was an honour to be part of an England squad that leads by example, they are brothers for life and I'm grateful for everything that I have learnt from every one of the players and staff who worked so hard.

"To help that team reach our first final in 55 years, seeing my family in the crowd, knowing what they've given up to help me get there, that meant everything to me.

"There are no words to tell you how disappointed I was with the result and my penalty. I really believed we would win this for you. I'm sorry that we couldn't bring it home for you this year, but I promise you that we will give everything we've got to make sure this generation knows how it feels to win.

"My reaction post match said it all, I was hurting so much and I felt like I'd let you all and my England family down, but I can promise you this; I will not let that moment or the negativity that I've received this week break me.

"For those who have campaigned on my behalf and sent me heartfelt letters, wished me and my family well - I'm so thankful. This is what football should be about. Passion, people of all races, genders, religions and backgrounds coming together with one shared joy, of the rollercoaster of football.

"To the social media platforms Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, I don't want any child or adult to have to receive the hateful and hurtful messages that me, Marcus and Jadon have received this week.

"I knew instantly the kind of hate I was about to receive and that is a sad reality that your powerful platforms are not doing enough to stop those messages.

"There is no place for racism or hate of any kind in football or in any area of society and to the majority of people coming together to call out the people sending these messages, by taking action and reporting these comments to the police and by driving out the hate by being kind to one another, we will win.

"Love always wins."

Who else has spoken out?

Saka is not the first England player to speak out over the racist abuse endured in the wake of the Euro 2020 final, with captain Harry Kane and manager Gareth Southgate both quick to condemn the actions earlier this week.

Rashford also issued a statement after a mural featuring the Manchester United player was defaced in his hometown, with the forward later saying he was "overwhelmed" by the subsequent support of fans.

Elsewhere, Tyrone Mings blasted comments by Home Secretary Priti Patel following her earlier use of the term "gesture politics" to describe England's decision to take the knee against racism.

The bigger picture

Saka will now return to Arsenal as the Gunners continue to get stuck into a busy pre-season schedule, one which see Mikel Arteta's side travel to Florida to face Inter later this month.

The winger is likely to be firmly in Southgate's thoughts for when England return to action in September, with the Three Lions set to play fixtures against Hungary, Andorra and Poland at the start of the autumn.

All three games form part of the qualification pathway for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, where England will hope to match their last four finish secured at Russia 2018.

Further reading

Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper John Tlale has advised Kaizer Chiefs to use Khama Billiat as an impact player in Saturday's Caf Champions League final.

Amakhosi are set to go head to head with Egyptian football powerhouse Al Ahly in an eagerly anticipated once-off affair at Stade Mohamed V in Morocco.

Billiat recently handed Chiefs a timely boost as the influential forward returned from an injury that kept him sidelined for just over two months.

Tlale, who started both matches against Al Ahly for Mamelodi Sundowns in the two-legged 2001 Caf Champions League final, believes Billiat should be introduced as a substitute. 

"It's much better if he comes on as a substitute because he is not 100% fit," Tlale told Goal.

"It will depend on the situation. If they are trailing or the score is level, he can change the complexion of the game for Chiefs."

Billiat played a vital role in helping Sundowns clinch the 2016 Caf Champions League title as the Tshwane giants defeated Al Ahly's arch-rivals Zamalek 3-1 on aggregate in the final. 

The Zimbabwe international scored a crucial late goal in Chiefs' final Group C match against Horoya AC in Guinea that helped Amakhosi reach the knockout phase in April this year.

"They should give him enough time to make an impact on the game. Ideally, he should be introduced with 30 matches left. He would make a lot of difference," Tlale continued.

"You cannot introduce him with 10 or 15 minutes left because he won't have enough time to make a difference."

Tlale conceded four times against Al Ahly, who defeated Sundowns 4-1 on aggregate with Khaled Bebo scoring a hat-trick in the second-leg clash in Egypt.

The former South Africa under-17 goalkeeper coach cautioned Chiefs about conceding early against the reigning African champions. 

"Having that, Al Ahly are a strong team, so Chiefs should not allow them to take the lead and they start chasing the game," he added. 

"They have to put them under pressure from the first minute and avoid conceding early." 

The winner between Chiefs and Al Ahly will qualify for the 2022 Fifa Club World Cup. 

Tanner Tessmann has swapped MLS for Serie A after the USMNT teenager sealed a move to newly-promoted Venezia from FC Dallas.

The 19-year-old makes the journey across the Atlantic to Europe to link up with Paolo Zanetti's side, who earned the play-off jump from Serie B last term.

The Alabama-born midfielder becomes the latest homegrown talent from Dallas to switch continents for a shot in Italy, following in the footsteps of fellow internationals Weston McKennie and Bryan Reynolds.

What has Tanner Tessmann said?

"It's been a long ride and a great journey," Tessmann wrote in a statement posted to Dallas' social media channels after the move was confirmed. "I appreciate everyone that has helped me along the way.

"To my team-mates, thank you for pushing me and making me a better player every day. You always believed in me and never doubted me.

"To all the FC Dallas fans, you've been awesome. You've always been there supporting us. I'm forever grateful to y'all and I love y'all."

Tanner Tessmann's record to date

After moving from his home state to Texas in order to join Dallas' academy pathway, the midfielder has made quick strides over the past five years to emerge as a potential USMNT star of the future.

Having played with North Texas SC across 2019 before committing to play both association and American football at Clemson University, he signed professional terms with Dallas at the start of 2020 and bagged an assist on his senior debut, against Philadelphia Union.

Tessmann helped the club to a sixth-place conference finish and a place in the MLS Cup Playoffs, where they made it to the conference semi-finals, only to be edged out by Seattle Sounders.

His performances caught the eye of the national set-up and he made his senior debut in a 7-0 thrashing of Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year.

The bigger picture

Tessmann follows in the footsteps of McKennie and Reynolds as Dallas players to make the leap across the pond, becoming the latest burgeoning figure on the USMNT radar to seal a switch to Europe.

Several of the nation's greatest talents are already plying their trade across the continent, with several claiming silverware, including Christian Pulisic at Chelsea, who was a Champions League winner last term.

It continues to bode well for a country set to jointly host the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, as they look to improve their international standing in the men's game, on the back of their Nations League triumph earlier this year.

Further reading

The Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 were delayed by a year thanks to the global Covid-19 pandemic, but the men's football tournament is set to kick off on July 22, 2021.

Plenty of big-hitters are competing in the tournament, including Brazil, Mexico, Germany and Spain, with a number of well-known stars representing their countries.

It will run until August 7, meaning it concludes just a week before the Premier League season begins. Understandably, some coaches are not keen on their players being involved and some have vetoed call-ups - which happened with Mohamed Salah and Egypt.

However, others have acquiesced to their players' desires to play at the tournament. Goal takes a look at which Premier League players are taking part.

Arsenal | Gabriel Martinelli

One Arsenal player will compete at the Olympics this summer and he happens to be someone who is expected very much to be part of Mikel Arteta's plans.

Gabriel Martinelli has been included in the Brazil squad for the tournament and the striker will be eager to play his part in a difficult group containing Germany, Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia.

A highly-rated prospect who placed sixth on NXGN 2020, the 20-year-old's last few seasons have been disrupted by injuries, but Gunners fans will have high hopes that he can hit the ground running in 2021-22.

Gunners defender Gabriel Magalhaes was also due to represent Brazil at the tournament, but injury forced him out of the squad.

Aston Villa | Douglas Luiz

Aston Villa fans will be watching on anxiously as midfielder Douglas Luiz represents Brazil at the Olympics.

Luiz has been a key player for the Villans in the Premier League in recent seasons and made 33 league appearances in 2020-21, chipping in with two assists.

Interestingly, he was also part of Brazil's Copa America squad this summer and played in two games at the tournament, so he will have a lot of air miles clocked up by the time he returns to Villa Park.

Burnley | Chris Wood

Chris Wood has been Burnley's star striker for a number of seasons and Sean Dyche will hope that the burly target man comes back from Tokyo unscathed.

Wood is one of New Zealand's three over-age players and they will feel they have a decent chance of getting out of their group, which also contains Romania, South Korea and Honduras.

The 29-year-old has been ever-present for the Clarets over the past four campaigns, averaging 11.5 Premier League goals a season in that period.

Brighton | Alexis MacAllister & Tudor Baluta

Argentina have included Brighton midfielder Alexis MacAllister in their Olympics squad and he is expected to be a prominent figure as they look for their third set of gold medals.

He scored a fantastic goal for the Albiceleste in their warm-up fixture against South Korea and is primed to shine.

While not a nailed-on starter for the Seagulls just yet, MacAllister made 27 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring three goals, and will be looking to cement his place in the team in 2021-22.

Joining MacAllister as one of Brighton's representatives in Japan is Tudor Baluta after he was named in the Romania squad.

Baluta has spent time on loan at Dynamo Kiev and ADO Den Haag, but his playing time with Brighton has been limited, so he will be desperate to use the Olympics as an audition.

Crystal Palace | Jay Rich-Baghuelou

Australia centre-back Jay Rich-Baghuelou may not be a key first-team player for Crystal Palace yet, but there are high hopes for him at Selhurst Park.

Aged 21, Baghuelo told ESPN that he is a "modern-day centre-back" who is "an exciting player", an assessment shared by Socceroos Under-23 coach Gary van Egmond.

"He's very quick," said van Egmond. "He's obviously athletic and has a good vertical jump... he's got a lot of great attributes." 

Everton | Richarlison

Back in February, Richarlison worried that Everton might not allow him to fulfil his dream, but the forward looks set to play a part at the Olympics, just a few weeks after helping Brazil to the Copa America final.

He featured seven times for Brazil at the Copa, including the final loss against Argentina, and is expected to add more minutes to his legs in Tokyo as a key player for his country.

Richarlison has been a stalwart for the Toffees since joining from Watford in 2018-19 and it will be interesting to see what happens for him under new boss Rafa Benitez, particularly if he requires rest at the start of the season.

Man Utd | Eric Bailly & Amad Diallo

Manchester United player Eric Bailly and Amad Diallo will play for Ivory Coast at the Olympics, but on the proviso that they return with medals.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took a positive view of the scenario, despite the risk of allowing the players to compete.

"When your country calls you up, I think I can’t stand in the way of that boyhood dream being fulfilled," he told the official Manchester United website.

"Of course, Eric is over-age but I think they can see the value of him and that’s why they brought him in.

"Amad is a young, exciting prospect. It’ll be good to see them. It’ll be their pre-season but they’ve got to come back with a medal. We need a nice feel about the place when they come back!"

Southampton | Caleb Watts

Southampton's England-born midfielder Caleb Watts will be a part of the Australia panel for the 2020 Olympics.

Still just a teenager, Watts made his Premier League bow in 2020-21, coming on as a substitute in the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at St Mary's. Towards the end of the season he was also thrown on in games against Everton and Manchester City, so will be eager to build on that this term.

West Ham | Winston Reid

Veteran defender Winston Reid helped Brentford in their promotion to the Premier League last season and will be the rock upon which New Zealand build their Olympics campaign.

Still contracted to West Ham, Reid's playing time with the Hammers has decreased significantly due to a combination of injury and competition.

However, David Moyes will be an interested observer as he plays in Japan this summer.

More Olympics news

Yet again, Pitso Mosimane finds himself as the central figure ahead of one of the biggest matches in the African football calendar.

The experienced South African coach, once again gunning for the Caf Champions League, was one of the big talking points in the latest episode of the African Football HQ podcast—a Kaizer Chiefs vs Al-Ahly special.

Mosimane is aiming to win back-to-back Champions League titles for the first time in his career, continuing a remarkable and relentless winning streak since taking over at Al-Ahly.

Despite only taking over at Ahly in September 2019, Mosimane has also clinched silverware domestically, and oversaw the Red Devils’ Caf Champions League success in September.

He’s on course—remarkably—to win his second Caf CL crown within the space of nine months, surely an unprecedented achievement.

It was a memorable triumph too, with Ahly defeating eternal rivals SC Zamalek in the final in Cairo.

The 56-year-old also won over many admirers at the 2020 Club World Cup, where they finished third after defeating Brazil’s Palmeiras on penalties following a 2-0 defeat by Bayern Munich.

As if all that wasn’t enough, Mosimane’s Ahly also downed RS Berkane of Morocco in the Caf Super Cup—winning 2-0 in Doha—to extend a remarkable maiden season of dominance in the Egyptian capital.

The presence of Mosimane in the Ahly dugout surely represents a massive advantage for the Red Devils, particularly considering how well the experienced manager knows Chiefs.

During his long stint with Mamelodi Sundowns, he helped the Brazilians enjoy consistent success while the Amakhosi—the more traditional powerhouses—struggled to restore their former glory.

Mosimane also enjoys the superior head-to-head record against Chiefs, and he’ll be hoping to extend that record this weekend.

In 18 recorded meetings between Mosimane and Chiefs—during his time with both Sundowns and SuperSport United—he has registered seven victories.

In the other 11 meetings, Chiefs have won just five, while the other six bouts have been draws.

The most recent meeting between manager and club—which took place 15 months ago—resulted in a 2-0 victory for Mosimane’s Sundowns against the Amakhosi.

How he would love a similar scoreline on Saturday!

Further Caf Champions League final reading 

Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz is set to sign for AC Milan on a two-year loan deal, Goal can confirm.

Diaz joined Real from Manchester City for €17 million (£15m/$20m) in January 2019, bringing to an end his three-year spell at Etihad Stadium.

The Spaniard has struggled to break into the Blancos' starting XI, however, with the Spanish giants eventually taking the decision to send him out on loan to Milan, where he enjoyed an impressive 2020-21 campaign.

How have Milan re-signed Diaz?

Diaz has returned to Real to take part in their latest pre-season preparations, and the 21-year-old is still tied to Santiago Bernabeu through to 2025.

However, he will soon be heading back to San Siro, as Goal has learned that Milan have reached an agreement to sign him on loan for another two years.

The Rossoneri are going to cover Diaz's full salary through to the end of 2022-23, but no option to buy will be included in the final deal.

The Spain international still harbours ambitions to make the grade at Real, who have no desire to sell.

When will the move be announced?

Milan are currently putting the final touches on their negotiations with Real, and it is expected that Diaz will be officially unveiled at San Siro for a second successive year by the end of the week.

The terms of the loan could end up costing the Rossoneri a grand total of €3 million, but the Blancos loanee is eager to return to Milan and head coach Stefano Pioli is planning to hand him a central role.

Diaz's record for Milan last term

Diaz racked up 39 appearances across all competitions for Milan last season, recording seven goals.

The former City forward's performances helped Pioli's side finish second in Serie A and reach the latter stages of the Europa League, and they will be expected to challenge on multiple trophy fronts again in the upcoming campaign.

Further reading

Patrick Vieira will make Eberechi Eze, Jordan Ayew, and Wilfried Zaha better players at Crystal Palace, according to Somali national team manager Said Abdi Haibeh.

The Arsenal legend, who was formerly manager of Nice until his dismissal in December last year, will take charge of the south London outfit on a three-year deal.

During his playing career, the 45-year-old made his name as one of the game's greatest midfielders during a decade-long spell with the Emirates Stadium giants.

In a chat with Goal, the Ocean Stars’ leading figure believes that Vieira’s arrival at the Selhurst Park will augur well for the African trio he inherited from Roy Hodgson.

“All these Africans are very good players and also some of the best players Crystal Palace have,” Haibeh told Goal.

“When you look at Eze who came from Queens Park Rangers, he is really top talent.

“I think Vieira will definitely influence them and he would make all of them better players. That's my opinion.

“Zaha has got the sparkle to take on players as well as Ayew who is a good goal scorer if he is assisted well.

“So, I believe he would impact all three of them in a good way. The players would like to see somebody who has done it on the pitch to be on the sideline and give them advice.”

Vieira began his coaching career with New York City FC in Major League Soccer before heading to the French elite division.

While suggesting that an arduous challenge awaits the 1998 World Cup winner in England, Haibeh expects him to succeed. He went a step further revealing his appointment means for African coaches.

“That is a good move for Patrick [Vieira] and Crystal Palace. Vieira managed New York City for two good seasons then Nice and helped them qualify for the Europa League,” he continued.

“This job is a big challenge for him knowing that the Premier League is one of the toughest leagues in the world. However, with the experience he had as a player, I believe he will do well.

“For African coaches, his appointment would send them a big positive message. Vieira is an African born in Senegal and was well established in the Premier League as a player.

“Now, he is back to the Premier League as a manager and that is a huge thing for African coaches.

“He has automatically become a big role model to them and I hope all African coaches can look forward to someday manage in the Premier League.”

Rafa Benitez will not be drawn on James Rodriguez's future at Everton, but the new Toffees boss has hinted that sales will be sanctioned this summer as he looks to free up funds for reinforcements.

There have been suggestions that a Colombian playmaker will form part of those plans, with a move away from England for a talented 30-year-old being mooted after just one season in England.

James linked up with Carlo Ancelotti at Goodison Park in 2020, but has seen his former boss at Real Madrid return to Santiago Bernabeu and a switch to Atletico Madrid has been speculated on for a creative South American.

What has been said?

Benitez has been quizzed on whether James could be sold, with the Spaniard saying of Everton's position after investing more than £400 million ($554m) on fresh faces since 2016: "Everybody knows that this club has spent a lot of money in the last few years so that means that Financial Fair Play is a factor.

"If you have players with big salaries that normally aren’t playing then you want to find a solution and this solution will mean you have money to spend on new players.

"So we will try to maximise what we have and manage the best way possible to be sure we can bring players that will make us strong."

How long is James' contract at Everton?

James is only tied to terms with the Toffees through to the summer of 2022.

With that in mind, a deal would need to be done in the current window in order for a fee reflecting his ability to be brought in.

There were reports throughout the 2020-21 campaign that the Colombia international was struggling to settle in England.

That could lead to him making a push for the exits, with AC Milan said to be another of his suitors, but Benitez is refusing to speculate on what the future holds for any one player.

He added: "I am sure your friends will be asking about players, but I think it's better to talk about the team, the ideas, than individuals.

"Everybody has to keep training, do their jobs, and we will continue looking for the best options to improve the team.

"With respect, we don't talk about individuals. It's not fair for the other players."

Everton will kick off their new Premier League season at home to Southampton on August 14.

Further reading

Real Madrid have tabled only one contract extension offer to Raphael Varane, Goal has learned , with the Blancos now accepting that the French defender is likely to move on as they wait on an offer from Manchester United.

A World Cup-winning centre-half is tied to a deal at Santiago Bernabeu through to the summer of 2022, but no fresh terms have been put in place as the 28-year-old has been giving his full attention to Euro 2020 duty with his country.

There has been no movement since that campaign came to a close, with Real aware that they now need to find a buyer for Varane while still in a position to demand a sizeable fee.

What happens next?

Discussions have been held regarding a move to England, with a formal approach from Old Trafford expected to be made in the coming days.

Varane is eager to leave on good terms, with a positive working relationship enjoyed with Blancos president Florentino Perez.

With an agreement being sought that suits all parties, there are not expected to be any barriers to a summer transfer being put in place.

England remains Varane's most likely destination, with Manchester United having been tracking the Frenchman for some time as they seek a new partner for club captain Harry Maguire at the heart of their back four.

Money not a factor

Money is not a determining factor for Varane, who would earn more than his current salary if he were to sign a new deal in Madrid or head to Manchester.

Sporting ambition is driving the desire for change, with a player proven at the very highest level having been mulling over a new challenge since 2019 - and the France international keen to test himself in another country.

No date has been set for a move to be put in place, meaning that Varane could return to training with Real on July 23.

Talks will not be rushed through and Carlo Ancelotti will have no problems welcoming a senior figure back into his fold if no quick deal is done.

The Italian would like a player with whom he shares the same management agency to remain in the Spanish capital and take on a prominent role in his second spell at the helm.

Real have seen long-serving skipper Sergio Ramos depart, leaving them with holes to fill in defence and on the leadership front.

Only Marcelo and Karim Benzema are ahead of Varane on the captaincy front and he continues to close on Paco Gento's all-time record mark of 23 trophies with Real - with the Frenchman currently on 18.

His heart does, however, appear to be elsewhere and a door has been opened for United to step up their efforts to get a marquee addition in place.

Further reading

Sergio Ramos arrives at Paris Saint-Germain with a certain elegance and mystique owing to his brilliance and haul of trophies hitherto at Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.

While he receives tons of criticism due to a certain rashness and excessive lack of control and discipline — the 35-year-old holds numerous records for yellow and red cards with Los Blancos and La Furia Roja — the legendary defender’s personality and fierce mentality cannot be questioned.

PSG’s decision to offer a mammoth two-year contract to a player who’s featured seven times for club and country in 2021 (completing only three games) has raised eyebrows, but one possible beneficiary will welcome his new club’s call.

Achraf Hakimi’s move to Paris probably disappointed a few Chelsea supporters who wanted arguably Europe’s best wide defender at Stamford Bridge. Having been linked with moves to Arsenal, PSG and the Blues, there was a sense that the latter were the right fit, owing to their implementation of wing-backs under Thomas Tuchel.

Even though the importance of the purchase was disputed because of the team’s pressing issues at centre-forward, the player’s gifts and end product meant fans of the club were open to the Moroccan’s acquisition.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team welcome a player who’s contributed to 30 goals in the last two seasons and was beaten by only Atalanta’s Robin Gosens last season for highest-ranked defenders in goal involvements.

Having said that, the big-money purchase immediately raised questions over the 22-year-old’s role under the former Tottenham Hotspur boss, with many highlighting his perceived weakness at right-back.

PSG generally operated in a back four last term, with Marquinhos predominantly returning to centre-back after Thiago Silva departed, where he was partnered with 2018 World Cup winner Presnel Kimpembe.

Ramos’ arrival has led to suggestions that Kimpembe may depart after the Spanish icon’s signing, whereas others have posited a return to defensive midfield for Marquinhos, a position he tended to occupy following the Frenchman’s emergence and Silva’s presence.

However, a partnership involving all three could be Pochettino’s go-to approach next season. This not only protects the ex-Real man whose decreasing mobility in his advanced years means there’s a higher risk of being exposed but also invariably lets Hakimi feature in his preferred right wing-back role.

Kimpembe’s left-footedness means he’s the obvious pick as the left-sided centre-back while the PSG captain features on the right. Theoretically, both players flanking Ramos may be the obvious selection when all three are healthy.

Having said that, the legendary centre-back’s fitness struggles means PSG’s boss may have to utilise a back four at times.

The two-time European Championship winner started only 15 La Liga fixtures last season and featured in only two of Real’s final 22 domestic games. The obvious fears about the French giants bringing on board an injury-prone player may be valid, too, given the recent precedent.

Aside from 2019/20 where the former Sevilla defender started all but three Spanish top flight games, he missed the final eight matches in 18/19, suffered muscle problems in 17/18, knee injuries the year before that and shoulder injuries in 15/16.

Throw in the expected suspensions from bookings or dismissals and there may be worrying signs. Whether last season’s struggles signify a portend remains to be seen but being able to feature for 20 league matches or higher in every season apart from 20/21 may still be seen as acceptable for the Parisians.

The aforementioned indicates a presumed utilisation of different formations next season, but how would a shift to a back four affect Hakimi?

Indeed, the North African wide defender could still thrive.

Even though he may have to interpret his defensive duties differently at right-back, Pochettino could still tap into his attacking strengths in possession. These days. teams tend to attack with five players, effectively defending with as many behind the ball.

While there are always variations, one full-back sometimes pushes forward while the other on the opposite flank stays behind, virtually forming a back three when the team have the ball.

On other occasions, both full-backs bomb forward while the two centre-backs and midfield men stay behind the ball to prevent counter-attacks.

In the first few months after Jose Mourinho took charge at Spurs, Serge Aurier often looked to be a right-winger in the attacking phase with nominal left-back Ben Davies tucking in with the Lilywhites’ CBs.

Leonardo Spinazzola may have offered more dynamism than Emerson Palmieri for Italy from left-back at the just-concluded European Championship, but both generally operated as part of a front five when the eventual winners had good possession.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo barely advanced forward and often formed a back three with Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.

Liverpool are the obvious model for the other variation, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson’s forays into menacing positions mitigated by the midfield three staying conservative.

It remains to be seen how PSG and Pochettino make things work, but Hakimi and Ramos present new possibilities for the tactician who will be expected to reclaim the domestic title and challenge in the Champions League.

Having a pre-season also helps the former Southampton boss implement his ideas, and the North African’s 45-minute involvement in Wednesday’s 4-0 success over Le Mans shows he’s been thrust right into the mix.

Hakimi may still long for a return to the Santiago Bernabeu, but supporters at Parc des Princes will be beneficiaries of the wing-back’s gifts for the foreseeable future as they hope to finally reign supreme on the continent.

Chelsea have agreed a deal with Crystal Palace for Marc Guehi, Goal can confirm, with the promising defender heading for the exits at Stamford Bridge.

The England U21 international spent the 2020-21 campaign with Championship side Swansea, allowing him to see regular game time.

He caught the eye while in South Wales and will now get the chance to test himself on a Premier League stage with the Eagles.

What is the deal?

There has been talk of a £20 million ($28m) fee being agreed, but both sides are keeping the financial side of a deal under wraps.

What is clear is that Guehi is undergoing a medical with Palace and will be signing a five-year contract through to the summer of 2026.

Chelsea are preparing to part with the Ivory Coast-born star as they are already well stocked at centre-half.

The Blues are, however, eager to ensure that they do not sever all ties with a player of consider promise.

They have included a sell-on clause within the terms agreed with their domestic rivals, while they also have the option to match any offer tabled in future transfer talks.

Guehi's career so far

Guehi has been on Chelsea's books since 2007, having seen his potential spotted early.

He made his professional debut in an EFL Cup game with Grimsby in September 2019 and has taken in two Carabao Cup outings for the Blues at first-team level.

Much of his experience to date was, however, collected while with Swansea in 2020-21.

He made 45 appearances for the Swans in all competitions, helping them to the Championship play-off final, and also figured for his country in the group stage of the European U21 Championship.

Further reading

Gor Mahia interim coach Sammy Omollo has conceded it will be a tall order for his charges to successfully defend their Football Kenya Federation Premier League title this season.

The tactician took the reins, on an interim basis, after the exit of Portuguese tactician Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto.

Currently, K'Ogalo are on 39 points from the 23 matches they have played, having managed 12 wins, three draws, and eight losses. Leaders Tusker FC, who have played a game more, lead the race with 51 points having won 15 games, drawn six, and lost three.

Why is Omollo pessimistic about Gor Mahia winning the league?

"We didn't start the season as well as we would have wished as opposed to our opponents," Omollo told Goal.

"Yes, we have bounced back, giving our best and we have been collecting points, but remember it also depends on the teams above us. For example, Tusker and KCB [who are second with 47 points] have been doing well.

"It makes our chances of winning the league slim. However, we will continue giving our best, and collect as many points as possible from the remaining league matches. Football is unpredictable, and we will continue pushing."

Will he change some tactics after Vaz Pinto's exit?

"If you analyse the team, we have been doing well in recent matches and our latest achievement was winning the FKF Shield Cup," Omollo continued.

"I am not intending to make any major changes in the team and interfere with what we have been building in terms of strategies. Of course, I will be making a few changes just to ensure we continue getting positive results.

"The main thing is to ensure the club is doing well and we are winning matches."

What does the future hold for Omollo?

The former Posta Rangers coach is serving the team on an interim basis as the management thinks of who will guide the team next season. 

"My job is to ensure the team is performing well in the remaining matches," the 51-year-old continued.

"I am not thinking about tomorrow, in which capacity I will be serving. I have a job right now, to ensure the team performs well in the remaining league matches and collects as many points as possible.