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Former Everton left-back Michael Ball believes Alex Iwobi is finding it difficult to adapt to Rafa Benitez’s tactics at the Goodison Park this season.

After coming off the bench in their 3-1 win over Southampton in their Premier League opener, Iwobi earned a spot in the Toffees’ starting XI against Leeds United on Saturday.

He played for 75 minutes in their 2-2 draw at Elland Road before he was replaced by Andros Townsend.

Before his substitution, the Nigeria international completed the second-highest dribbles (two) after Allan (three) and he also managed the second-highest pass accuracy (87.5 per cent) after Demarai Gray (91.7 per cent).

On the other hand, he was the most dispossessed player in Benitez’s team (three times) and he did not manage any shot on target in the game.

Having scored just four goals across all competitions in his last two seasons at the Goodison Park, Ball criticised Iwobi for not being good enough since he moved to the Merseyside from Arsenal in August 2019.

“He’s complained in the past that he’s not playing in his favourite position. What position that is, I’m not too sure,” Ball told Football FanCast.

“Desire and effort he’s got, he shows it, when he’s playing out of position he does work hard so you can’t fault him on that but I just think his ability, especially under Rafa and under Carlo, tactical wise, let him down a little bit.”

Over the past two years, Iwobi has played in different positions at Everton either as a wing-back or midfielder,  though he stars at the centre of the midfield for Nigeria.

"Always an honour to get a call up for my national team. Hopefully, I get to play in my preferred position,” the 25-year-old wrote in his Instagram Story back in March.

Carlo Ancelotti, however, replied the former Arsenal midfielder to name his preferred position before he returned to Real Madrid at the end of the 2020-21 season.

“I read the post. I want to speak to him, of course. I want to know his preferred position because usually, I want to put a player on the pitch where they are comfortable to play, not where they are uncomfortable to play,” Ancelotti said.

“If he has an idea of where he prefers to play I have to know, I want to know. I would be delighted to know his preferred position and I’ll put him in his preferred position for sure, no doubt.

“I am going to tell him: ‘Tell me, I am your manager, tell me where you want to play. When I thought to put Pirlo as a holding midfielder I asked him: ‘Do you like to play there or not?’. ‘Yes’, he said to me, ‘I’d love to play there’ and so I put him there.

“If he wants to play number 10 or number nine I’ll put him at number 10 or number nine no problem. I can adapt the system.”

Kelechi Iheanacho and Patson Daka will start from the bench when Leicester City take on West Ham United in Monday’s Premier League encounter.

The Foxes began their 2021-22 campaign on a winning note with Brendan Rodgers’ men defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 at the King Power Stadium.

Against the Hammers, the reigning English FA Cup winners would be hoping to continue their fine start – as they target a Champions League ticket next term.

In a 4-2-3-1 formation, Jamie Vardy leads Leicester’s frontline line while relying on the services of Ayoze Perez, James Maddison, and Harvey Barnes.

Alongside Youri Tielemans, Nigeria international Wilfred Ndidi has been handed a defensive midfield role, while the quartet of Luke Thomas, Caglar Soyuncu, Ghana’s Daniel Amartey and Ricardo Pereira are expected to provide cover for goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Despite missing out of a place in the starting XI, former Manchester City teenage sensation Iheanacho would be keen on improving his impressive stats against the Hammers.

Prior to this fixture, he has been involved in four goals in the last four appearances against David Moyes’ team.

The Super Eagle was one of the top scorers in the Foxes set-up in the 2020-21 campaign having found the net 19 times in 38 appearances across all competitions.

All things being equal, Daka could be making his second league appearance if he is thrown into the fray. He dominated the goalscoring charts in the Austrian Bundesliga – scoring goals in 28 league matches.

Meanwhile, Senegal international Nampalys Mendy remains out of action due to a groin injury.

For the hosts, Said Benrahma has been named in his team starting XI. As well as Jarrod Bowen and Pablo Fornals, the Algeria international is expected to hold sway in the midfield as well as supply striker Michail Antonio with the required passes.

Elsewhere, former France youth international of Senegalese descent Issa Diop will start as a substitute with Congolese defender Arthur Masuaku still out of action due to a knee setback.

Moyes’ team are favourites to secure victory having stayed undefeated in their last eleven matches in all tournaments. They host Crystal Palace in their next outing on August 28.

USWNT international Christen Press has become the first signing of National Women's Soccer League expansion outfit Angel City FC, ahead of the club's planned 2022 debut.

The 32-year-old, who was scheduled to play for fellow new outfit Racing Louisville in their maiden season this year, has seen her playing rights traded to the Los Angeles outfit as their first capture.

The midfielder, most recently with Manchester United on a one-season deal last term, seals a move to her hometown and will likely become the flagship face of the California-based side as they look to establish themselves in the top tier of women's football.

What has been said?

"It feels like a moment that I've been hoping for for a really long time," Press told The Athletic ahead of City's announcement of her capture. "I was born and raised in Los Angeles and I’ve kept my heart and my roots [here] this whole time.

“This is where I’m supposed to be. I spoke with Eni [Aluko, Angel City sporting director] sometime between the Olympics and now and have been in communication for a while now. It’s definitely been a whirlwind.

"I think that there’s some understanding of leadership ... of building a culture and shaping what’s to come. I think there’s been a series of circumstances that ,have led me to this moment and the timing kind of seems a little magical.”

What does Press' move mean?

Having been previously expected to join Louisville following the completion of her Olympic campaign at Tokyo 2020, Press will now depart without playing a single senior game for the club.

In return, however, the Kentucky outfit will get Angel City’s first-round pick in the 2022 NWSL Draft, $75,000 (£55,000) in allocation money and roster protection from Press' new side in the 2021 expansion draft.

“We are pleased to secure a deal where we get a top first-round draft pick, receive a significant allocation amount and, importantly, protect our squad,” said Racing executive James O'Connor.

“On top of all that it is also nice that Christen gets to come back to the league and play for a new team at home in Los Angeles. We wish her the very best of luck at Angel City.”

The bigger picture

With Press under their belt, Angel City will look to push on and recruit well ahead of their debut campaign next year, as they aim to make an immediate impact.

The outfit, led by an ownership group that includes actress Natalie Portman and tennis player Serena Williams, along with a host of former USWNT stars, have already shown their ambition with Press' arrival.

For the player, it is also the chance to earn some long-awaited domestic silverware, having failed to match the trophy haul she has achieved at international level when it has come to club form.

Further reading

Chelsea's controversial loan policy has divided people in football but it continues to reap dividends for the European champions.

Accused of stockpiling, the Blues continue to raise vast sums of money through player sales and have recently raised over £100 million ($136m) in the 2021-22 summer transfer window.

Meanwhile, a few stars like Mason Mount, Reece James and Andreas Christensen were able to make the breakthrough to the first team after learning their trade out on loan at smaller clubs. 

Here are the players hoping to do the same in the coming years...

Which Chelsea players are out on loan?

What is Chelsea's loan policy?

Former technical director Michael Emenalo is the brainchild of what outsiders have dubbed the 'loan army', with the club typically having between 30 to 40 players moving on a temporary basis for various different reasons.

Firstly, with the hiring and firing of managers having been quite frequent since Roman Abramovich bought the club, first-team players can quickly find themselves surplus to requirements when a new manager arrives.

If Chelsea can't sell players that don't fit the new manager's system, a loan can be the answer.

Secondly, there are players that Chelsea see as financial opportunities, often loaning individuals out for several seasons to sell on for a profit.

One such example is Papy Djilobodji, who played only one minute for Chelsea but was sold for £8m ($11m) to Sunderland – a £5m profit on the £2.7m they paid to bring him in from Nantes.

Lastly, there are a host of former academy players like Mount, Tammy Abraham and James who needed experience to take prepare themselves for a top-level career.

The infrastructure around this is highly innovative, with a loan department having been set up at the Surrey training base.

Since 2019, former goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini has headed up the department, which has ex-players Paulo Ferreira and Tore Andre Flo in it. Technical coach Claude Makelele has been known to help out at Cobham too.

Furthermore, they work with analysts and scouts to keep track of players, giving feedback to them on their performances at their loan clubs. After leaving the club in 2017, Emenalo explained some of the infrastructures that he put in place during an interview with Chelsea TV.

"We have a scouting network that was revolutionary, people are copying some of the things that we did," Emenalo said. "We have managed to improve our opposition scouting department and the recruitment of players.

"There are so many things outside of the technical area which I am aware of that have also grown and improved exponentially."

Famously, Chelsea have always had a WhatsApp group involving the players on loan to celebrate their successes and keep them connected to Chelsea's staff.

An issue that the Blues will soon have to navigate, however, is the fact that FIFA are set to roll out big reforms to how many players clubs can have on loan.

From the start of next season, clubs will not be able to send more than eight players aged 22 or over out on loan. That limit will be reduced to six players for the 2022-23 campaign.

Chelsea may have to slightly reduce the number of older players on their books in the coming years.

Gabon have invited Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for their 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying games against Libya and Egypt in September.

Patrice Neveu's side are scheduled to begin their quest for qualification to Qatar on September 1 against Libya before hosting the Pharaohs four days later.

Gabon are in Group F and they are aiming to qualify for the quadrennial showpiece for the first time in their history.

Also included in the 21-man squad are Saint-Etienne winger Denis Bouanga, Nice midfielder Mario Lemina, Amazulu goalkeeper Jean Noble Amonome, Dijon defender Bruno Ecuele Manga and Hatayspor's Aaron Boupendza.

Meanwhile, eight other players including Brighton & Hove Albion's Ulrich Eneme, Turkey-based Kevin Mayi, David Sambissa and Ajaccio's Sidney Obissa are on the waiting list for the two matches.

Angola are the third team in Group F and they will face Patrice Neveu's team on October 6.

Aubameyang made his first appearance of the season for Arsenal on Sunday after coming on as a second-half substitute in The Gunners 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. He missed the opening Premier Leage match of Arsenal's season due to Covid.

Next month's outings will give the 32-year-old a chance to extend his scoring record of 27 goals in 66 matches for the Panthers.

Gabon have already qualified for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and they have been paired against Morocco, Ghana and Comoros in Group C.

While Aubameyang is expected to join the Panthers next month, Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah has been blocked from joining Egypt for their matches against Angola and Gabon.

The Reds are afraid of seeing their star players quarantine after honouring international calls from their countries next month. The isolation period for Red List countries upon players return to the UK would make them miss key Premier League and European matches.

Liverpool midfielder Ben Woodburn will spend a fourth successive season away from Anfield after joining Hearts on a year-long loan, the two clubs have confirmed.

The Wales international, who broke through into the Reds' senior set-up five years ago as a teenager, will swap Jurgen Klopp's side for Robbie Neilson's team for the 2021-22 campaign.

The midfielder could be in line to feature for the Tynecastle outfit against Dundee United this weekend and his new boss has made no secret of his delight at his arrival.

What has been said?

“I’m really pleased that we’ve got this one over the line. Ben is a top class player with Premier League and international experience and he was really eager to join us," Neilson told Hearts' website.

“He’s an exciting player, one who I think will fit really well into our style of play. He’s quick, direct and can bring us different options in the final third. I’m looking forward to working with him and I hope that he will be a success here at Hearts.”

Woodburn's career so far

Having made his debut in November 2016, the Nottingham-born starlet subsequently became Liverpool's youngest-ever goalscorer when he netted against Leeds United in the 2016-17 EFL Cup.

In all, he has made 11 senior appearances to date, and has spent loan spells with Sheffield United, Oxford United and Blackpool during the past three seasons.

At international level, Woodburn featured semi-frequently for Wales following his goalscoring debut against Austria in 2017, though he was omitted from their squad for this summer's Euro 2020.

Further reading

Former Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says he felt "sorry" for Leroy Sane following his performance against Koln, but he believes the winger can bounce back in the vein of club legend Arjen Robben from his rough reception.

Germany international Sane was substituted at half-time in the Bavarian heavyweights' 3-2 Bundesliga victory on Sunday following a poor first-half performance, with his exit met with a chorus of boos from supporters in the stands.

Both manager Julian Nagelsmann and team-mates have already defended the 25-year-old, and former West Germany great Rummenigge has now admitted that he has sympathy for the out-of-sorts Sane.

What has been said?

"I didn't like that. I feel a little sorry for him. He always tries, but he lacks self-confidence," Rummenigge told Bild Live. "He had a bad last season and the European Championship, which of course doesn't help.

"Nagelsmann must now try to get him back on track. You have taken too much money into your hands for that,"

Rummenigge references Robben history

The 67-year-old further spoke of one of the uglier chapters during recent Bayern history, when supporters roundly booed Robben following a crucial penalty miss in the 2012 Champions League Final shootout loss to Chelsea.

The Dutchman subsequently earned sweet redemption a year later when he struck an 89th-minute winner against Borussia Dortmund in the same fixture at Wembley to earn the club the famous trophy, having come close to leaving amid the reaction from the stands.

"[Sane's situation is] comparable to the situation of Arjen Robben," Rummenigge added. "Arjen wanted to leave us, but we rebuilt him and held him. A year later he became the match winner against Dortmund."

The bigger picture

Sane has struggled to settle at Bayern since he made the move from Manchester City last year, not helped by a long injury lay-off throughout his final season at Etihad Stadium.

Despite helping the club to another Bundesliga crown last season, he made only 12 top-flight starts last term.

Further reading

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For many years now, Pep Guardiola has been a name synonymous with football excellence, a legendary player turned manager whose tactics are akin to that of a chess grandmaster. 

As one of the most successful and prolific football managers in recent history, it’s no wonder that many an author or journalist has attempted to get under his skin, step into his shoes and see what makes a champion tick. What each journalist finds is an eccentrically interesting character on and off the field, a man entirely obsessed with football and tactics. He is the genius that first deployed Lionel Messi in the false nine position after all. The rest, as they say, is history. 

But how much do you really know about Pep Guardiola? Don’t stop at admiring his wild gesticulating on the sidelines week after week – here are eight books that any fan of the Catalan coach will love.

The former Olympian shadowed Guardiola for a year after his career-changing sabbatical and managed to capture the meticulous genius at work in a ground-breaking account which was the first time a journalist was able to get this close to an elite team for such a length of time. Though pipped to the Champions League final by Real Madrid, in his first season Pep Guardiola managed to steer Bayern Munich to a cool domestic double - and even shape the mindset of a few key players who went on to win a little thing called the World Cup that summer.

Get it from Amazon for £12.14

The thing with being an illustrious football manager who breaks all sorts of records is that eventually you start to surpass yourself, and an update of information is needed. After the great success of his first book (featured above), Martí Perarnau picked up where he left off and wrote a follow-up that takes the reader further than the first and documents the rest of Pep’s tenure at Bayern Munich and his decision to move to the Premier League. A great quote from the book is: “Pep’s wife, Cristina Serra, told me, ‘I think Pep shares too much in your book. Too much tactical information. He’s very open about these things in his press conferences too. Other coaches don’t do that.”

Get it from Amazon for £4.49

Guillem Balague is a respected football pundit and journalist for publications in both Spanish and English. His book Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning has been given an update, so it now includes up until his second season managing Manchester City, as well as take the reader back to the beginnings of his life and career in managing the Barcelona reserves. This book is perfect for helping to understand what kind of a person Pep Guardiola is and how he is able to extract such fantastic things from his players.

Get it from Amazon for £10.22

When Pep Guardiola was first touted to join Manchester City, there were the vocal few that thought he wouldn’t be able to recreate his previous successes in a fast-paced league like the Premier League. These are the same critics that argue Lionel Messi might not be the best player in, well, ever, because “could he do it on a rainy night in Stoke?” Pep Guardiola’s record at Manchester City now speaks for itself, but Lee Scott’s book dissects Guardiola's blueprint for creating a title-winning team.

Get it from Amazon for £6.00

Jonathan Wilson is perhaps best known for his best-selling book 'Inverting the Pyramid' that has been the benchmark for tactics books ever since its 2008 release date, or being a regular contributor to The Football Weekly podcast. His book The Barcelona Legacy studies the infamous rivalry between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola and how their careers are so intertwined that they find themselves often in the same place at the same time. He also explores the idea that Johan Cruyff’s legacy can be seen not only in Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola but in managers such as Ronald Koeman, Luis Enrique, Louis van Gaal and more.

Get it from Amazon for £7.89

Pol Ballus was a young Spanish football writer who moved to Manchester just before Pep Guardiola’s appointment to cover the growing number of Spanish players in the Premier League. Add legendary Spanish journalist Lu Martin to the mix and this great book was created. Together they were allowed access to Pep during his time at Manchester City and this book is filled with interviews and profiles of every key person at the club. One reviewer even said the authors are “honest to a fault”, meaning they couldn’t stop spilling the beans on how life at City works under the Catalan maestro. 

Get it from Amazon for £10.49

Whilst this book is not technically directly linked to Pep Guardiola, it’s still one worth reading. In 2014, Germany won the World Cup, which coincided with the first season of Guardiola managing Bayern Munich. He had put some special work into honing the talent of key players such as Phillip Lahm, Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze (who scored the cup-winning goal). Perhaps it is merely coincidence, but during his reign at Barcelona, Spain went on to win two Euros and a World Cup with (surprise, surprise) players that Guardiola took under his wing. Since Pep arrived in England, the Three Lions have made it to a World Cup semi-final and, more recently, the Euros final. This book takes us on the journey of how a team that had struggled to recreate the success of their 1996 International team went on to win the biggest footballing title the world has to offer - sound familiar? Perhaps there’s something in it after all.

Get it from Amazon for £8.67

Pep Guardiola has been quoted as saying “I knew nothing about football before knowing Cruyff”, and one can take it a step further, reverse it and say can one cannot know anything about Guardiola without first knowing Cruyff. With the book title drawn from the Dutch three-time Ballon D’or winner’s legendary eponymous Cruyff turn (which to this day many footballers still attempt to mimic), to how he became the architect of Barcelona’s Dream Team - arguably one of the best line-ups in footballing history. This autobiography is of interest to any football fan but will help you understand where Pep learnt to become Pep.

Get it from Amazon for £2.99

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has explained why he is expecting a frustrating Premier Soccer League match against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday.

Masandawana will be looking for a second straight win after beating AmaZulu 1-0 in their opener, but Mngqithi has warned that the game against Gavin Hunt's Chilli Boys will not be an easy one for them.

"I am expecting a tough match, knowing [Gavin] Hunt – even the goal they scored against Sekhukhune was from a set-piece," Mngqithi told the club's website.

"They’ve got some very strong players like [Roscoe] Pietersen, [Sammy] Seabi and [Veluyeke] Zulu, all those players are a factor, even Eva Nga. [Mokgakolodi] Tsotso Ngele is also a big factor on set pieces because he is also good aerially, he is very good in and around the area box from direct free-kicks," said coach Manqoba.

"You can expect a game that will have a lot of aerial duels, a game that will have a lot of bite because Chippa works very hard and Gavin, you know, his teams are never easy to break down.

"One also foresees a possibility of them sitting in a little bit. They played with three centre backs against Sekhukhune United, with two wing-backs and three central midfielders and two up top. Therefore, you can expect a game that will be a little bit frustrating with a bit of directness offensively from [Ismail] Watenga, who has got a very good kick, and Eva Nga on top."

Without mentioning the specific players, the coach said they have been affected badly by injuries, but stressed that the available players are capable of pushing for good results.

"What is not helping us at this stage is the injuries that we’ve had," he added.

"That has made our life a little bit difficult in our selection and maybe changing a team that has been doing well. After two matches with two wins, you would not want to tamper with the team, but as it is now we are back to that stage where we have to bring the other players which we believe have the capacity to help the team."

The Chilli Boys were also victors in their opening game courtesy of a 1-0 scoreline against Sekhukhune.

Former Ghana assistant coach Gerard Nus believes the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, will be crucial to Ghana’s Africa Cup of Nations title ambitions in Cameroon.

The two players are Ghana’s leading goal sources ahead of the January 9 to February 6 gathering where the West Africans will be making their 23rd tournament appearance.

Ghana have been drawn in Group C of the competition, pitching them against Morocco, Gabon and debutants Comoros.

“In my opinion, the Ayew brothers, Andre and Jordan, are going to keep carrying on the fight, the spirit, as I saw from day one when I joined the Black Stars,” Spanish coach Nus, a member of Ghana’s technical team as they reached the final of the 2015 Afcon fiesta in Equatorial Guinea, told Goal.

“They push the team forward no matter who is the head coach, what is the tactic, no matter what is the rest of the selection of the players.

“I’m sure that with these two, now they even have more experience and they both keep playing in really serious leagues and competitive leagues, it’s obviously a big chance for Ghana to finally make it through and definitely getting the title that we all aim for.”

Andre, Ghana’s captain, already holds an enviable record in the West Africans’ tournament history. With nine goals, the Al Sadd and former West Ham United attacker has scored the most goals for the Black Stars in the competition, sitting one strike above legendary hit-man Asamoah Gyan.

Andre’s experience is also expressed in the number of separate Afcon tournaments he has featured in, standing second on Ghana’s all-time list behind Gyan who at seven championships has one competition more.

At continental level, the 31-year-old is joint-third on the list of most Afcon tournament appearances.

Jordan, on the other hand, has been the Black Stars leading striker since 2018.

At the last gathering at Egypt 2019, the Crystal Palace frontman netted twice in Ghana’s run to the Round of 16.

He made his tournament debut at Afcon 2012, which was co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, and has since appeared for CK Akonnor’s side at three more championship.

Sol Campbell, a member of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' squad from 2003-04, has offered to help fix the troubled Gunners with the former defender saying: "Just give me the job and I'll help them out!"

Mikel Arteta is currently calling the shots at Emirates Stadium, but the Spaniard finds himself under pressure following failure to qualify for Europe last season and a pointless start to the 2021-22 campaign.

Back-to-back 2-0 defeats have been suffered against top-flight newcomers Brentford and Romelu Lukaku-inspired Chelsea, and Campbell says he would be willing to aid efforts to plug leaks at the back.

What has been said?

Campbell, who had two spells with Arsenal during his career, told talkSPORT: "It’s hard watching Arsenal at the moment, it’s really hard.

"It’s just the effort and the quality. Yes, we’ve spent a lot of money, the most in England at the moment, but it’s the quality, the consistency, the experience.

"We’re always looking for the potential, it’s always good to have potential, but sometimes you want that instant guaranteed success. This is a very, very young side, you have to remember that, there is a lack of experience – but it’s the basics!

"Some of the players need to do the basics. You can lose, but the way we conceded some goals was too easy. The reaction times of some of the defenders not backing each other up, not assessing danger.

"The first goal [against Chelsea] has slipped across the six yard box – get back and defend. Don’t just wait! That’s simple, that’s A, B, C defending. Allow Chelsea to score really good goals, not those simple goals. It’s too easy.

"The gulf of talent and experience was on show. You couldn’t really miss it. Chelsea had so much time and space. They were a cut above."

Could Campbell help out?

The 46-year-old made 211 appearances for Arsenal across his two stints, helping them to two Premier League titles, three FA Cup triumphs and a Champions League final.

He has cut his coaching teeth in the Football League since hanging up his boots with spells with Macclesfield and Southend, but is currently out of work.

That may not be the case for long, with Campbell adding when asked what can be done at the Emirates: "I tell you what, I’d help them. Just give me the job and I’ll help them out!

"I’ll tell you how to get out of a two-man press against Brentford! I mean, what’s going on here?

"We go back to that game, it’s a two man press, it’s quite easy to work out! You go flatter and that pressing midfielder has to run another 10 or 15 yards, which then gives you more space in the middle of the park. That’s really simple!"

Things are not about to get any easier for Arsenal as they manage untimely injuries and Covid-19 cases, with their next Premier League game taking them to Etihad Stadium for a meeting with reigning champions Manchester City.

Further reading

Manchester United left-back Brandon Williams has joined Norwich City on loan for the duration of the 2021-22 campaign.

Williams initially graduated to United's senior squad in 2019, having spent the previous two years in the club's academy.

The England U21 international made a big impact in his first season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but fell down the squad pecking order last term, and the decision has been taken for him to continue his development out on loan.

What's been said?

Williams expressed his delight after being unveiled at Carrow Road on Monday, telling Norwich's official website: “It feels very different. It’s the first time I’ve ever played for a different club before but I’m just really excited to get started, meet everybody and get my season going.

“It’s a massive club and I like the way they play. I’ve watched them over the years and seen how they play. The club like to play out from the back and play football. That really inspired me to come here, and I think that the head coach can really improve me as a player.

“Everyone has been so welcoming. I’ve really enjoyed my time here already and I can’t wait to meet everybody. I’ve just got a feeling it’ll be a good year.”

Canaries boss Daniel Farke added on the 20-year-old's arrival: “We’re really happy that we have been able to bring Brandon in. This is an exciting deal for all parties, and we thank Manchester United for allowing us the opportunity to work with Brandon.

“Brandon is a young player full of potential. He has already proven that he can perform on the top level and that he is capable of playing for Manchester United. He has many good skills and qualities.

“We wanted to bring someone in who was capable of playing in the full-back positions to strengthen our squad. Brandon has played a lot at left-back for Manchester United, but we know he is also capable of playing on the right side, too.

“With Dimitris Giannoulis we have had only one natural left-back. For that, it’s good to have Brandon in the building and hopefully he can help us achieve our targets.”

Williams' United record

Williams has featured in 50 games across all competitions for United to date, recording one goal and three assists. Only four of those outings came in the Premier League in 2020-21, and he is currently behind Luke Shaw and Alex Telles in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plans.

When could Williams make his Norwich debut?

Norwich are due back in action in the second round of the EFL Cup against Bournemouth on Tuesday, but that fixture might come too soon for Wiliams. The United loanee is more likely to be involved when the Canaries resume their Premier League schedule at home to Leicester City four days later.

Further reading

Goal can confirm Atletico Madrid are closing in on a deal for Matheus Cunha, as negotiations with Dusan Vlahovic continue to drag on.

Atletico are in the market for a new striker after seeing Moussa Dembele return to Lyon after a loan spell at Wanda Metropolitano last season and selling Nicolas Ibanez to Mexican side Pachuca.

Angel Correa has fired Diego Simeone's team to back-to-back wins in La Liga at the start of the 2021-22 campaign while Luis Suarez has just returned to action after his summer holidays, but the Spanish champions are still lacking strength in depth up front.

What's the situation?

Goal understands Atletico originally identified Fiorentina talisman Vlahovic as their first choice target, but the Italian club have so far refused to comprise in talks over a final fee.

Los Rojiblancos have now turned their attention to Hertha Berlin's Cunha as an alternative option, and are confident of completing a transfer before the market closes on August 31.

Hertha are demanding €25 million (£21m/$29m) for the Brazilian, who helped his country win a gold medal at the Olympic Games earlier this summer, but Atletico are working to try and bring down that asking price

The Liga giants could even submit a loan offer for Cunha that includes an option to buy, with talks between the two clubs currently progressing.

Cunha and Vlahovic compared 

Cunha scored three goals in the U23 football tournament at the Tokyo Olympics including one in Brazil's final victory over Spain, but has yet to represent the Selecao at senior level.

The 22-year-old is still a raw talent, having initially joined Hertha from RB Leipzig in January 2020, and is not yet a proven goalscorer at the highest level.

Cunha has scored 13 goals in his first 40 outings for the Bundesliga club, 18 less than Vlahovic has managed in 46 more games for Fiorentina.

Of the Serbian forward's efforts for La Viola, 21 were scored last term as he established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in Italy, but it has been reported that his current employers won't budge on their €70m (£60m/$82m) asking price.

Goal has reported that Atletico are refusing to match Fiorentina's valuation of the 21-year-old, and it now looks likely that they will instead settle for Cunha as Simeone puts the finishing touches on his squad.

Further reading

The 130th edition of the Durand Cup is set to be organised jointly by the Indian Army and the Government of West Bengal in Kolkata, in September.

This will be the second consecutive time that the iconic football football will be held in Kolkata after the previous edition in 2019, after moving from its long time venue at Delhi.

Goal tells you everything you need to know about the 2021 Durand Cup football tournament.

On this page

When does the 2021 Durand Cup start?

The 2021 Durand Cup football tournament is scheduled to be held in Kolkata between September 5 and October 3, 2021. 

Named after its founder, Sir Mortimer Durand, Foreign Secretary of British India from 1884 to 1894, the Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest and the world’s third oldest football tournament, held between 16 top Indian football clubs across divisions.

Traditionally organised by the Indian Armed Forces, the Durand Cup was first held in Shimla in 1988 as an Army Cup. Initially open only to the British Indian Army troops in India, it was open to civilian teams from 1940 as Mohammedan Sporting defeated Royal Warwickshire Regiment 2-1 to become the first civilian team to win the tournament.

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How to watch the 2021 Durand Cup on TV & live stream in India?

There is no official announcement yet on how to watch the 2021 Durand Cup football tournament on TV or via online streaming in India. The official fixtures of the tournament are also yet to be announced.

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Which teams are in the 2021 Durand Cup?

Among the 16 participating teams in the 2021 Durand Cup, five will be from India's top tier league, the Indian Super League (ISL). Theere will be three and two teams representing the I-League and I-League second division respectively, while the remaining six will be from the various Indian Armed Forcesincluding the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Delhi.

Two teams from each group will progress to the knock-out stages that involve two semi-finals and the final.

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Where will the 2021 Durand Cup take place?

The 2021 Durand Cup will be held across three venues, namely Kalyani Municipal Stadium Ground in Kalyani, the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata and the Mohun Bagan Club Ground in Kolkata.

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Who are the defending champions of Durand Cup?

Gokulam Kerala are the defending champions of the Durand Cup after a 10-man Malabarians defeated Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the 2019 Durand Cup final played at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

The Durand Cup is unique in the sense the winners are awarded three trophies with two rolling ones (the Durand Cup and the Shimla Trophy) and the President’s Cup for permanent keeping.

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What is the prize money at the 2021 Durand Cup?

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The honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee on Monday, expressed her displeasure over Shree Cement's decision to end the joint-venture with East Bengal at the las moment.

The Chief Minister acknowledged that she has received a letter from Shree Cement where the investors have expressed their decision to end their association with Indian Super League (ISL) club East Bengal.

Despite expressing her displeasure over the decision, she once again assured that she will to sort things between the two parties so that a club like East Bengal can play in the country's top-tier league which is the ISL.

What did Mamata Banerjee say on Shree Cement vs East Bengal issue?

"I am no one to take any decision on East Bengal. The authorities who were there earlier has sent me a letter to inform me that they will not be able to continue with East Bengal at this very last moment. This is bad attitude. They kept the club waiting for so many months and now at the last moment they are saying they cannot do anything. We are all unhappy with this situation.

"They even met me on August 16 and told me that everything will be sorted. So suddenly what happened, that things changed? What is the mystery behind it? East Bengal have a great legacy. We all want Mohun Bagan and East Bengal to play in ISL. I am very happy that Mohun Bagan are playing and we all want East Bengal to play in the ISL too. We will also let them know that we are displeased with the situation and we will try to sort this. Time is very short, let's see."

What is the latest between East Bengal and Shree Cement?

After Quess Corp parted ways with East Bengal in June 2020 after being the club's investor for two seasons, Shree Cement came on board as their new investor which facilitated the club's move to the Indian Super League (ISL). They then proceeded to establish a joint venture named Shree Cement East Bengal Foundation, in which the cement giants held 76 per cent stakes while the club had 24.

After Shree Cement's arrival, a term sheet was signed by both parties in September 2020 in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had played an important role in bringing the company on board as the club's new investor.

Based on the term sheet, the club’s sporting rights as well all its assets and properties (including intellectual) were reportedly transferred to the newly formed joint venture between the two parties. Even though the term sheet was signed, the final binding agreement of the deal is yet to be signed by the officials despite multiple reminders.

Shree Cement had already sent a revised version of the final agreement to the club as well as to the West Bengal Chief Minister on August 16 but the officials did not agree to sign.  After multiple reminders, the investors have now decided to end the joint-venture with the club and accordingly they informed the state Chief Minister about their decision

Tusker FC head coach Robert Matano has now set his sights on helping the team perform well in the Caf Champions League after leading them to their 12th FKF Premier League title.

The Brewers have been rewarded for their consistency this season, as they managed to collect 65 points, three more than second-place KCB, to win the league. Having secured their ticket for the continental assignments, the veteran tactician is now working on preparing well for competition against foreign teams.

What has been said?

"The season was tough because of coronavirus, our preparations were not so good like other teams as you are aware, Tusker have been strictly adhering to Covid-19 measures taken to curb its spread. We were not training as a team, it took as long to do that," Matano told Goal.

"But because we wanted something, we had initially prepared well with the main aim being winning the league. Focus, commitment, and hard work, we just remained calm and together, and we said we will move on no matter how. 

"Most of the teams did not enjoy the support we enjoyed. The brands came out strongly, paying us on time and we also had insurance as well for the players and the team in general. It really helped us and we thank the brand; they should do more of that which will help us move forward.

"Good preparations will help us do well [in Caf Champions League]; we have been promised money to work on that, and we are optimistic about preparing well for the continental assignments.

"I am determined and focused, and I am sure we are going to do well [in the Champions League]."

'We want to represent Kenya well'

Captain Eugene Asike has echoed his coach, stating their main agenda will be to perform well in Africa's elite club competition.

"The season has not been easy, you saw KCB gave us a good run for our money," the centre-back told Goal.

"We also had our ups and downs throughout the season but the character that is in the team; the experienced and young players really tried to play together and at the end of the day you can see the results.

"We have gotten massive support from the sponsors even during the pandemic and as players, we really appreciate it. Now we want to go and have some rest after that come back strongly as we prepare for the Champions League.

"We want to represent the country well."

The new Kenyan champions will face Arta Solar in the preliminary round of the competition.