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Jurgen Klopp is Bill Shankly "reincarnated in a German body", according to former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar.

Liverpool clinched their first top-flight title since 1990, when Grobbelaar was part of the team, after Manchester City fell to a 2-1 loss at Chelsea on Thursday.

It is Klopp's fourth trophy since arriving at Anfield in 2015, having also won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Shankly steered Liverpool out of the second tier in 1961-62 and went on to lift three top-flight titles, two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup during 15 years at the helm, during which he enjoyed a strong relationship with the supporters.

Grobbelaar thinks Klopp has the same understanding of the fanbase, making the club's latest triumph special.

He told Stats Perform News of Klopp: "He gets the people, he gets the fans. He's Shankly reincarnated in a German body. That's how good he is, because he gets the fans so easily.

"He goes into the city, he enjoys the banter with the fans. He is a typical Liverpool manager.

"Yes, all the managers that we've had have been typical Liverpool managers, but the special ones - Shankly, Klopp - managed to go out and have drinks with the fans, that's what those two managers did. That's why I say he's Shankly reincarnated in a German body."

Liverpool lost the 2017-18 Champions League final to Real Madrid but then won that competition and finished second to City in the Premier League last term.

Grobbelaar hailed Klopp's ability to get more out of his players every year and hopes he can do the same with upcoming youngsters.

"He came in and said that he would win a trophy in four years; now we've got four trophies in those four years," said Grobbelaar.

"He makes players better. If you go back to where he came from, Mainz and Borussia Dortmund, the players that he had there have gone on to bigger things, he's made them better. So wherever he's been the players have actually elevated themselves.

"He's now come to Liverpool, he's made the players elevate themselves and made sure we got over the line in every single competition that we're in, made sure that we got better.

"We won the Champions League after losing in the final, so we got better. We won the league after coming second and only losing once last season, so we got better in that.

"He demands the players every single season get better. Every time we get on the pitch the old adage in saying, 'You're only as good as your last game, make sure you're better this one'. That is what he's instilled into our team, and it's just phenomenal."

Grobbelaar added: "Please keep [Klopp] there for seven years and all the rest of the players because I tell you what, we've got some youngsters coming through that are going to get into the side and they are going to be brilliant."

Virgil van Dijk is among the best centre-backs in world football according to Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng.

Former Germany international Boateng has enjoyed a renaissance at Bayern this season, impressing alongside David Alaba at the heart of defence after Hansi Flick replaced Niko Kovac as head coach to guide the Bavarian giants to an eighth consecutive Bundesliga title.

However he feels Van Dijk, now himself a top-flight champion after Liverpool clinched Premier League glory on Thursday, stands apart among the elite.

"He is up there with his consistent performance," Boateng said during a Bayern 'Fan-Talk'. "But I also like [Kalidou] Koulibaly from Napoli. [Sergio] Ramos from Real Madrid has been playing at a high level for a long time."

Van Dijk himself has declared that Liverpool took their season to "another level" after claiming a long-awaited league title. 

"It's unbelievable, what a season. We've been incredible," Van Dijk told  BT Sport.  "To be part of this group of players and part of this journey is incredible and I am very proud to be able to call myself a Premier League winner.

"Of course, I watched the [Man City/Chelsea] game. I don't watch too many games but the game felt like it was taking ages and never ended. When the free-kick went in from Kevin [De Bruyne] - what an incredible goal by the way - I was getting nervous, and I haven't been nervous in a while.

"But after that it was just celebration time and we are all proud of each other. I can't really describe the feeling to be honest.

"In the league this year we have taken it to another level. We have been so consistent and played so well."

As for his own upturn, the 31-year-old Boateng is keen to give plenty of credit to Flick.

"Since Hansi Flick became coach, you feel good in training and in everything. The fun and good mood are back," he explained. "Hansi is very special, otherwise he would not be so successful with the team.

"He gives us a lot of trust, everyone. He wants to improve everyone and he does that. He gives us an incredible amount of self-confidence."

Barcelona continue to lean heavily on the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique, with Rivaldo adamant that an ageing squad is not a major concern for the Liga giants.

For the Blaugrana legend, seasoned professionals should be considered a positive for those at Camp Nou.

Players that have been there and done it, with there world-class talent to be found all over the field in Catalunya, should be part of the solution for Barca, not a problem.

Quique Setien also has a number of promising youngsters at his disposal, such as Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig, with the challenge being to blend youth with experience.

"These guys are important to the team, and have a bright future, but I don't think they are the ones to make the difference," Rivaldo told Betfair.

"The responsibility should lie with the veterans, those with more experience and they are the players who must give more.

"I read in the press that they have many players over 30, but I don't believe that's a problem."

While Rivaldo is not overly concerned at the make-up of Barca’s squad, he does concede that Setien has a number of issues to address.

The reigning Liga champions have been far from their best since competitive action resumed in Spain on the back of the coronavirus pandemic, with there still plenty of rust for Messi and Co to shake off.

Rivaldo said: "It's obvious that Barcelona have to improve their football, and that's up to the coach, Setien has to find a formula to do something new.

"He needs to find a way to take advantage of the quality of the players he has at his disposal.

"Of course, recent matches make everyone doubt the progress because we're used to seeing a different kind of Barcelona."

The 2002 World Cup winner added on the form of a side he once starred for: "I want to believe that the mediocre recent performances are the result of these strange times that we're living in.

"I hope that in the next two or three matches they improve their level of playing."

Barca, with seven games left to take in this season, have been nudged off the top of the Liga standings by arch-rivals Real Madrid.

They are, however, sat on the same number of points as the Blancos and will be back in action on Saturday when they take in a trip to Celta Vigo.

Maritzburg United chairman Farook Kadodia says Premier Soccer League (PSL) clubs would collapse if they do not receive the monthly grant from the league.

The Team of Choice owner says they have always been forced to sell their players for them to maintain the club’s day-to-day running, but says because of the coronavirus pandemic, it has become difficult to enter the market.

Kadodia’s utterances come after the PSL chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza recently announced that should the top-flight campaign not resume, clubs must be prepared to find financial resources elsewhere.

“I must concede that 70% of the PSL teams cannot survive without the grant, and football would be doomed,” said Kadodia in a virtual media conference as quoted by Phakaaathi.

“The reality is that the grant plays a pivotal role in every team. It would be impossible to sustain the clubs without the grant.

“It is quite a difficult situation, it is challenging for everyone – football or in general. Life has changed, players basically without being active for so many weeks have their own challenges. How many weeks will they need to get back into shape?

“As Maritzburg United, we have always operated on a shoe-string budget and we cannot make any plans without a budget. Our plans have been halted. We hope we can get past this virus soon so we can be able to plan for the future.”

With Maritzburg duo of Rushine De Reuck and goalkeeper Richard Ofori have been linked with Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, Kadodia will consider selling some of his players.

“I must concede that we have had a good trading model, it went very well in the past. The status financially is what I believe is a financial meltdown,” he added.

“But under the current circumstances, every club is playing the wait-and-see game. The biggest challenge is that we have to trade players again.

“It is difficult for us at this stage to enter the market, either to buy or sell the players.”

As things stand, PSL clubs receive R2, 5 million monthly grants from the league and it remains to be seen if the KwaZulu-Natal outfit will eventually part ways with De Reuck and Ofori as they look to make some money.

Football fans in Africa are on cloud nine after Liverpool claimed their first Premier League title in 30 years on Thursday.

The Reds last won the English top-flight trophy in 1990 and their latest success after their long wait has made many proud, not just the Reds faithful.

Chelsea's 2-1 win over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge sealed their crown as the 2019-20 Premier League winners with seven games left to go.

Eddie Nketiah states he always tries to be a “nuisance” to opposition teams after he scored in Arsenal’s 2-0 Premier League win at Southampton on Thursday.

The Gunners resumed the league on a bad note with back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion, which made their aim to close in on the top four much more difficult.

There was none of that struggle at St. Mary’s, however, with Nketiah scoring a very easy goal after a howler by Southampton goalie Alex McCarthy before Joe Willock made it 2-0.

It was Nketiah’s second goal in the Premier League since his return on loan from Leeds United and fourth in all competitions this term.

“I think that’s just the way I play. I always try to be a nuisance and throw my weight around and chase for the team and try and hold up the ball,” Nketiah told Sky Sports after the match.

“The team all worked hard together and we were unlucky not to score a few more with a couple of other chances. It’s nice to get three points.

“We were very focused. Nobody likes losing, especially us. We’ve been working so hard in the quarantine break and when we came back to training, so we needed to reward ourselves with three points. We were focused and determined to get the three points by any means necessary.”

Nketiah went on to hail fellow academy graduate Willock, who netted his first-ever Premier League goal.

“I’m delighted, he’s like my brother,” he said.

“If I score, he celebrates like me and if he scores, it’s like I scored again.

“I’m delighted for him, he did well when he came on and it was nice to wrap up the three points with us both on the scoresheet.”

On the other end, it was a miserable night for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who has now gone three league games without a goal which only fuels more speculation about his future at the club.

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp explained that Nketiah has a better work rate hence coach Mikel Arteta will find the Anglo-Ghanaian more useful than the Gabonese, who has 17 Premier League goals this season.

“I prefer to see Aubameyang down the middle because he will get more goals but I think it is Nketiah’s work rate that Arteta likes," Redknapp said on Sky Sports.

"Guardiola when he first came preferred Jesus to Aguero there because of his runs and it took Aguero a little while to buy into it.

“I don’t know if Aubameyang will be that striker. He thinks Nketiah works hard for the team.

“For a midfielder or defender, it’s a dream when your forward is winning balls back. A lot of strikers don’t chase lost causes.

"He did it and he deserves his goal for that reason.”

Arsenal remain in ninth place, 11 points away from the top four. Their next encounter is an FA Cup quarter-final at Sheffield United on Sunday.

European football changed forever when Jose Mourinho arrived at Chelsea declaring himself "The Special One".

The Portugal native's arrogant personality rubs plenty of people up the wrong way, but he still has plenty of admirers as he continues to stack up title after title during his career.

Though divisive, Mourinho's managerial record - which includes Champions Leagues and leagues won in four different countries - means that he has become one of football's most gilded coaches.

What sort of money does he command though? And what is his net worth? Goal brings you everything you need to know.

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What is Jose Mourinho's net worth?

Mourinho's net worth is estimated at $100 million (£80m) by the website Celebrity Net Worth, though some estimates place the figure significantly lower.

Spear's, for example, puts Mourinho's net worth at roughly £40m ($50m), but his new deal with Tottenham as well as compensation from his last job at Manchester United may have boosted that.

A long career in football, with prolonged success at the biggest clubs in the world over the course of two decades would certainly help an elite-level coach earn millions.

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How much does Jose Mourinho earn?

Mourinho is on a lucrative £15 million-a-year ($19m) contract at Tottenham, according to the Daily Mail.

That makes him one of the best-paid managers in the Premier League alongside Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. Indeed, such figures mean that Mourinho is earning similar money to the top players in the Premier League.

However, his actual earnings, once endorsement deals, image rights and so forth are taken into account, are reported to amount to over £20 million ($25m). Even in failure, Mourinho still earns plenty of money as his reported £20 million ($25m) compensation package following his departure from Manchester United attests.

The topic of Mourinho's earnings during his time as Real Madrid head became a problem for the Portuguese when he found himself at the centre of a tax fraud case. In 2019 he accepted a 12-month prison sentence (though served no time in jail) and paid a fine of close to €2.2 million (£2m/$2.5m).

Taking the reported annual salary of Mourinho at Tottenham, you can see what he earns approximately per minute, hour, day, week and month in the table below.

*Approximates

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What sponsorship deals does Jose Mourinho have?

Mourinho's high profile has made him an attractive partner for an array of companies, spanning a variety of industries.

He has worked with the likes of adidas, Braun, American Express, Jaguar and Samsung, as well as Heineken, EA Sports, Atlantis Hotels and Hublot. 

Betting company Paddy Power notably worked with Mourinho on a series of commercials which were aired in the United Kingdom. The adverts riffed on his self-styled "Special One" persona.

Other endorsement partnerships Mourinho has include one with German car company Audi and the management game app Top Eleven.

As well as working with the aforementioned corporations, Mourinho has been a prominent figure on a number of television networks, including BT Sport, Sky Sports and RT.

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What charity work does Jose Mourinho do?

Despite his prickly demeanour on the football pitch and in press conferences, Mourinho is very charitable and involves himself in promoting a number of different causes.

During the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, for example, he personally delivered food parcels for Age UK and Love Your Doorstep.

He has happily signed up to take part in a number charity football matches, such as the Soccer Aid initiative and the Game4Grenfell, where he has managed teams and also played as a goalkeeper.

Mourinho was involved in Comic Relief in 2016 and visited the Street League project - set up to help unemployed young people in disadvantaged areas - as part of the drive to raise money.

He has been a global ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme, worked with children from Palestine and Israel, and donated money to Tsunami relief funds.

How many social media followers does Jose Mourinho have?

Mourinho is not really present on social media channels, but he does have an Instagram account which appears to have been set up in February 2020. He is not particularly active on the platform either and has just under 60,000 followers - a relatively low figure considering his profile.

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Anthony Martial could oust Antoine Griezmann from a central striking role with France, admits Frank Leboeuf, with the Manchester United forward currently outperforming a Barcelona superstar.

Struggles for consistency at Old Trafford led to a 24-year-old frontman being left out of Les Bleus’ triumphant squad at the 2018 World Cup.

Martial has, however, kept himself in Didier Deschamps’ thoughts and is enjoying the most productive campaign of his career to date in 2019-20.

A first senior hat-trick, recorded in his latest outing against Sheffield United, has seen a man moved into the middle by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reach 19 goals for the season.

That haul, along with the progress being made as a No.9, is considered to have Martial knocking on the door for a more prominent role at international level.

He will face fierce competition for places when it comes to a starting berth with France, but a serious claim is being staked.

Griezmann, who has been Deschamps’ go-to man for some time now, has struggled to find his spark during a testing debut campaign at Barcelona – with only 14 goals recorded on the back of a big-money move.

Olivier Giroud, another option for the world champions, is finding regular football hard to come by again at Chelsea and is now 33 years of age – although he has earned a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

With in-form options seemingly in short supply as the countdown continues to a rescheduled European Championship in 2021, Leboeuf believes Martial could be the man to take the lead for France.

The 1998 World Cup winner told ESPN FC: "Well [Martial] has a big chance to be in the squad and if he carries on like that I'm sure Didier Deschamps will think about him.

"It's true that with the problems that Griezmann is having right now at Barcelona, with Giroud getting older, there is a clear chance for Anthony Martial to be in the squad and to maybe be in the first XI.

"If he's consistent, he's going to be for sure with the national team. He already has been and he's going to be again."

Martial has earned 18 caps for France to date, with the target found just once across those outings.

Mike Kisaghi has claimed Liverpool will win the English Premier League title again as long as Jurgen Klopp remains the manager.

The Reds' first league title since 1990 was confirmed on Thursday after Pep Guardiola's Manchester City failed to win at Stamford Bridge after losing 2-1 to Chelsea, leaving the Reds with an unassailable lead.

Christian Pulisic's goal had given Chelsea the lead before a wonderful Kevin De Bruyne free-kick sparked hopes of a comeback, but Fernandinho's late red card led to a coolly converted penalty to win the game for Chelsea - and secure Liverpools' glory.

With seven games remaining, it is the earliest any side has ever won the Premier League title, with Klopp's men surpassing the feats of Manchester United in 2000-01 and Man City's 'centurions' of 2017-18 when both teams clinched the league with five games left.

Kisaghi, who featured for Kenyan champions Gor Mahia and also the Harambee Stars in the late 1980s, has now opined the Reds will continue to dominate the Premier League scene if Klopp stays on and also manage to keep the squad intact.

“Of course there are very promising signs of Liverpool dominating the Premier League so long as Klopp remains the manager and the team remains intact with a few additions,” Kisaghi, an ardent Liverpool fan, told Goal on Friday.

On the long wait to win the crown, Kisaghi said: “It means a lot for those who last tested the last victory in 1990. We have tried and come close on four occasions 2004, 2008, 2014 and 2019, and it is now our time to celebrate, it was a well-deserved title triumph, Liverpool were the best and they deserved it.”

Kisaghi further revealed the presence of Klopp and missing the title by a whisker last season when Man City were crowned, pushed Liverpool to do even better this campaign.

“What really drove us to the title? Obviously it’s Klopp and his enthusiasm which he imposed into the players and mostly because the team missed the previous one with a single point to City," he continued.

When asked what the turning point for Liverpool was, “Kisaghi said: “The turning point was when the Reds won the Uefa Champions League and vowed to go for the Premier League, they knew they can have a strong stub at it and also their confidence was at sky level.”

Klopp's side will now look to write even more history since they only need 15 points from their last seven matches to set a new record points total for a top-flight campaign, and can also become the first team to win every single home game in a single season. 

Five more wins will also see them set a new record for victories in a league season, after Manchester City's centurions won 32 games that season.

Ghana international Prince Tagoe explained he was deployed in an unfamiliar role at the 2010 World Cup, culminating in his nondescript performance at the championship.

Then on the books of German side Hoffenheim, the 33-year-old, who made his breakthrough as a central striker, was deployed on the right wing on Ghana's second appearance at the global showpiece.

Coach Milovan Rajevac preferred Asamoah Gyan as a lone striker in his one-top system.

Tagoe started all three group games - against Serbia, Australia and Germany - but his lack of match influence and goals relegated him to the bench when the Black Stars faced the USA and Uruguay in the knock-out stage.

“I was played out of my natural position at the World Cup. That wasn’t the case during the qualifiers," Tagoe told TV3.

"When you check the records, when we were playing the qualifiers, I was playing in my comfortable position, which is a striking role.

“In Ghana, if you are a striker known for scoring goals and the goals are no more coming, the fans will definitely come at you regardless of the position you are being played at.

"The coach [Milovan Rajevac] told me 'Prince, Asamoah [Gyan] is at the top and when you get the ball at the wings, make sure he gets it, and when you lose the ball, come back to the centre or a little closer to the right-back'. So, most people didn’t know that was my job.

“If the World Cup were to be held today, I will tell the coach to put me and Asamoah at the top. It will be a dangerous pair.

“During my days with the Black Meteors [Ghana U23s] where Asamoah Gyan was playing with me, we were playing as two top, as in two strikers. But in the Black Stars, I was played out of position, the coach used me as a winger which I was doing double work.”

Tagoe lasted for the entire 90 minutes as Ghana pipped Serbia 1-0 in the tournament opener, courtesy of an 85th-minute Gyan penalty.

In the 1-1 draw with Australia on matchday two, the former Hearts of Oak man saw 55 minutes of action. Against Germany in what ended in a 1-0 loss, he played until the 63rd minute.

Ghana ultimately finished second in Group D to qualify for the Round of 16 where a 2-1 victory over the USA set the Black Stars up for a quarter-final date with Uruguay. Tagoe watched both matches from the bench.

During his time on the local scene with Hearts of Oak, Tagoe was hailed for his scoring prowess, a characteristic that earned him the popular nickname 'Prince of Goals'.

In 2005, he won the top scorer's award in the Ghana Premier League with 18 goals. 

Jesse Lingard is “in a rut” at Manchester United and appears to be looking for a way out, says Paul Parker, with Serie A giants Inter considered a good fit for a player slipping down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young have taken a similar career path in recent times, with life at the Theatre of Dreams traded for that in Italy at San Siro.

It may be that Lingard is given the opportunity to follow in their footsteps, with the England international’s decision to appoint Mino Raiola as his agent viewed by many as a sign that he is mulling over a move.

Fierce competition for places in the United squad is likely to intensify the search for a new club, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes now pulling the strings for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Parker believes a change of scenery may be required for a 27-year-old who is starting to lose his way, but a player who has struggled for consistency throughout his career has been warned that he will struggle to find “a top European club who wants him”.

“One player who may be moving on is Jesse Lingard,” former United defender Parker told Eurosport.

“He is on the periphery now. Once he was delivering for club and country, and he became big news - a local boy who took his opportunity.

“But now when he gets his chances he can’t stand out and lead a group of young players, and nor do senior colleagues help him raise his game. He’s in a rut.

“When the team are playing well, that will be killing him. If you’re in his position, you don’t want the team to do well because then you can get another chance.

“For now Mason Greenwood, [Marcus] Rashford and [Bruno] Fernandes are doing their jobs. They’ve done what United needed Lingard to do, but he has to get close to Fernandes’ level before he can demand another chance.

“Now he’s signed up with Mino Raiola he’s probably looking to get abroad.

“He’s unlikely to find a top European club who wants him, but everyone is looking for cheap players right now.

“He could go to Italy to re-establish himself, perhaps at Inter Milan. But he has to ask, is he moving to spark his career or simply to embellish his CV?”

Lingard’s current contract with United is due to run until 2021, with the option for a 12-month extension, so the Red Devils may open themselves up to offers in the next window and sever ties with a player who has recorded 31 goals for them across 202 appearances.

Liverpool trio Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita and Sadio Mane have joined their teammates and fans around the world in celebrating the club’s Premier League title.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were confirmed champions on Thursday after their closest rival Manchester City bowed to a 2-1 loss against Chelsea.

Liverpool have gathered 86 points from 31 league outings so far and they hold a 23-point lead over City with seven games remaining.

The triumph ended the Reds' wait for a Premier League title since 1990 and the African stars at Liverpool have taken to social media to celebrate.

Keita, who has played 11 league games this campaign, dedicated the title to his compatriots in Guinea while appreciating the club’s fans and his family.

"A great pride, a great accomplishment and especially the work of the whole team rewarded," Keita wrote on Instagram.

"Thank you to my family, to the Liverpool supporters for their incessant support but also to the people of Guinea to whom I also dedicate this title of champion of England." 

Egypt's Salah and Senegal's Mane, who have a combined 32 league goals for Liverpool this season, also shared their feelings after the title was secured.

Salah shared a picture of him in the team's party alongside Dejan Lovren, Roberto Firmino and goalkeeper Alisson.

"The road is long and strewn with pitfalls. But we knew that by dint of persistence we will get there," Mane wrote.

"Special mention to the technical staff of Liverpool, to my teammates, to the employees of the club without forgetting our valiant supporters who spare no effort to support us. To be champion is celebrated!"

Wigan Athletic's Nigerian defender Leon and FC Toronto's Congolese left-back Chris Mavinga also posted congratulatory messages to Liverpool.

Mavinga played for Liverpool youth team between 2009 and 2011 but left the club after struggling to break into the first-team.

Tanzania defender Hassan Kessy has told Young Africans (Yanga SC) the amount they should pay him to return to the club.

The Taifa Stars player left the Jangwani Street-based giants for Nkana FC of Zambia last season, but has now revealed his readiness to return to the Mainland Premier League champions if they pay him Tsh80 million.

Kessy is currently a free agent after running down his contract with the Zambian giants in June and reports in Tanzania have indicated that Yanga are keen to have the player return ahead of next season.

Yanga are keen to build on a strong squad that can challenge Simba SC for the league title next season and already coach Luc Eymael has given the list of players he wants to be signed for the club.

“I left Yanga for Nkana without creating animosity with Yanga fans or the officials so I think I can still return and play for them,” Kessy is quoted by Sokaletu.

“I played for Yanga with all my heart and I remember vividly when we won the title in the 2016-17 season, I am very ready to come back and play for the team but if they want to sign me, they must pay Tsh80m.

“Already Nkana have given me the chance to extend my stay with them but I will not mind coming back to Yanga if they want me.”

Yanga have already sealed the signing of Rwandan defender Eric Rutanga, who has been on the radar of the Tanzanian club since last year.

The left-back finally penned a contract to play in the top-flight alongside his fellow countrymen Haruna Niyonzima and forward Patrick ‘Pappy’ Sibomana earlier this week.

The 27-year-old, who is set to link up with Yanga after the current lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic is eased, joined Yanga from Police FC.

Rutanga has already claimed his happiness to have signed the deal in an interview with Rwanda’s New Times.

“When I joined Police, the talks with Yanga were already underway. That is why I insisted on that clause in the contract. I was hoping a deal would be reached and now it has,” Rutanga is quoted by New Times.

“They [Yanga] are a respected club with a huge history in the region, playing there is a big honour for me. I feel excited about the challenge.

“Playing professional football has always been my dream, Yanga is a good start to realising it. I will give my very best to bring success to the club.”

Rutanga was part of the Rayon Sports squad that wrote history by reaching the quarter-finals of the 2017-18 Caf Confederation Cup.

Before signing for Rayon at the end of the 2015-16 season, Rutanga had already clinched three league titles and two Peace Cups with APR in a four-year spell.

As it stands, Yanga cannot win the league title as they lie 19 points behind table-toppers Simba but they have a chance to win the FA Cup as they are already in the quarter-finals and will face Kagera Sugar for a place in the last four.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed it "hurts" everyone associated with Manchester United to see Liverpool win the Premier League title and has vowed to "do everything" in an attempt to surpass the Merseysiders in the future.

Jurgen Klopp’s side were crowned champions on Thursday night after Chelsea beat Manchester City 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, ending a 30-year wait for top-flight glory.

And United boss Solskjaer credited the Anfield outfit for winning the league, albeit admitting that it hurts everyone associated with the Red Devils to see another team finish on top.

"Any team that wins the Premier League deserves it, they deserve credit. It is a hard league to win. Credit to Jurgen and his players. Every time you see anyone else lift a trophy, it hurts," Solskjaer said.

"That’s the feeling everyone associated with Manchester United has - all our playing staff and supporters. Of course, we want to get back to winning ways and that is our challenge."

Despite Liverpool’s dominance this season, Solskjaer doesn’t think Klopp's side are in a position to consistently deliver titles over the next decade in the way that Sir Alex Ferguson did at Old Trafford.

"The run of titles that we won under Sir Alex, I don’t think that’s going to be easy for anyone to emulate or copy," he added. "Sir Alex was a master of staying at the top so, for me, our challenge is to make sure we don’t go, say, 26 years or more until the next time we win it.

"We’re going to do everything we can to shorten the distance or even go past them, of course."

United are currently in fifth place in the Premier League table, 37 points behind the champions and while Solskjaer is keen to see his side close the gap he wants them to focus on other priorities first.

"I don’t think it is time to say how far behind [United are]. We are in a position where we have to improve, we have to get into the Champions League, get higher up the league and start challenging for trophies," the Norwegian said.

"That consistency and efficiency they have shown - that is a challenge for us as well. We know at our best we are very good. We have to do it again and again and that is the challenge for our players going forward."

The squad that Nigeria took to the 2010 World Cup is quickly dismissed by supporters, and understandably so, considering the tournament was one of the Super Eagles’ worst moments on the grandest stage of all.

They’d fallen at the first hurdle in 2002—albeit in a much tougher group—and missed out on the 2006 event, but the 2010 failure casts a much larger shadow.

It was a campaign marred by controversy, not least the decision to axe Shuaibu Amodu ahead of the tournament and appoint Lars Lagerback, who is perhaps harshly maligned, but ultimately didn’t get the best out of the squad.

Considering the tournament was the first on African soil, it was supposed to have been a chance for the continent’s sides to show what they could do.

Nigeria had the talent—and the draw—to reach the knockouts, but lacking organisation, seemingly missing some structure, with discipline lamentably lacking, they crashed out, taking just one point from their three group games.

John Obi Mikel’s injury clearly didn’t help, but instead, what should have been a glorious return to the World Cup is best remembered by Sani Kaita’s needless red card—for lashing out in the Greece game—and, of course, that close-range miss by Yakubu with the goal gaping against South Korea.

It didn’t matter that The Yak later netted a penalty to rescue the point, he was ridiculed, the Super Eagles were maligned, then-President Goodluck Jonathan had seen enough, and duly suspended the national side for two years.

Mercifully, that decision was repealed, and two and a half years later, the Eagles’ post-World Cup renaissance was completed by the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations success, and Stephen Keshi’s exciting new generation.

Ultimately, Keshi’s Eagles followed up that 2013 success by reaching the knockouts of the 2014 World Cup, finally laying to rest the spectre of the 2010 failure, but a case could also be made that even this talented crop didn’t realise their potential—and they missed out on both the 2015 and 2017 Afcon tournaments.

However, what they did do, definitively, was help Nigeria forget about the failure of 2010.

Remarkably, only four of Lagerback’s squad were present when the Eagles won the 2013 Afcon, and of those, Ideye Brown didn’t even get on the pitch at the World Cup in South Africa.

Of Lagerback’s team, only Vincent Enyeama, Elderson Echiejile and Joseph Yobo were present at the Nations Cup.

Echiejile had been promoted from back-up to first choice at the expense of Taye Taiwo, while Yobo was ‘demoted’ during the Afcon from starting centre-back to an option from the bench.

Of course, Keshi’s side achieved greater success in Africa and globally, but man for man, were they really as good as the forgotten generation of 2010?

At full-back, Echiejile replaced Taiwo, but he could never manage the former AC Milan man’s exploits at club level, and didn’t offer his explosiveness nor his powerful shooting.

On the right, Chidi Odiah was an excellent talent before injury undermined his progress, and won an eye-catching six European league titles after leaving Julius Berger.

The 36-year-old never gets the credit his talent deserves, and was a far more natural option at right-back than his successor, Efe Ambrose, whose versatility nonetheless made him useful for Keshi.

In defence, Yobo and Danny Shittu were superseded by Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboaboa, whose understanding and even quality in possession was better than what we saw from the previous pairing, even if ex-Everton defender Yobo remains the outstanding player of the quartet.

Of course, Mikel’s return to the side immediately improved the midfield, and he grew into becoming an Eagles legend while Dickson Etuhu—a powerful if limited player—was overlooked by Keshi, even if he continued to play in the top two divisions of English football until 2014.

Ogenyi Onazi stepped into the side at the expense of Lukman Haruna, and represented an ideal foil for Mikel, even if his ceiling wasn’t as high as his predecessor’s.

Haruna, old before his time, is still in his 20s, but has represented Nigeria just once since the defeat by Greece in 2010, with injuries and a loss of form completely undermining his potential.

What could the Eagles have achieved with Mikel and Haruna in the heart of the midfield together over the last decade?

Further forward, Keshi never truly got his striking options right with the Eagles; the likes of Sunday Mba, Nnamdi Oduamadi, Michael Uchebo, Joseph Akpala and Anthony Ujah were all given gametime without truly establishing themselves in the side for a long period.

Peter Odemwingie returned to the side to impress at the 2014 World Cup, although Nigeria rarely saw the best of a player who netted 30 goals for West Bromwich Albion across three seasons, while Ideye Brown and Emmanuel Emenike were both influential in the 2013 Afcon success without truly suggesting that they were the lethal finisher Nigeria craved.

It’s particularly up front that a whole swathe of Nigerian frontmen were discarded soon after the World Cup.

Nwankwo Kanu was already 33, and entering the final days of his storied career, but all of the other forwards could reasonably have hoped to have still been in the squad for the 2014 World Cup.

Chinedu Obasi and Victor Obinna were 24 and 23 respectively, but the former hasn’t featured for the national side since 2011, while the latter has started just two Nigeria games since 2011, despite being given a handful of opportunities to impress under Keshi.

Obviously, injuries affected their progress, but Obasi was proving to be a consistent threat in the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim before the 2010 World Cup, and Obinna was once described by Jose Mourinho as one of Internazionale’s brightest prospects.

These two talents should have achieved so much more with the national side.

Similarly, Yakubu only played once more for Nigeria after that miss against South Korea, despite remaining a prolific scorer in England and China.

What of Obafemi Martins, only 25 at the World Cup?

Despite playing four times for Nigeria in the years after 2010, he’d never score for the national side again, and was rarely given a look-in by Keshi.

Some may argue that the successes of 2013 and 2014 fully justify the Big Boss’s decision to do away with the class of 2010.

However, there’s still a niggling sense that the Eagles could have made so much more of the talents who flopped in South Africa, a talented generation who were—almost to the man—largely resigned to the international scrapheap a decade ago this week.

Dani Ceballos is approaching the end of a season-long loan spell at Arsenal, but he is open to extending his stay in the Premier League as doors remained closed to him at parent club Real Madrid.

The Spain international midfielder concedes that he is unlikely to be offered a clean slate back at Santiago Bernabeu. With that in mind, the 23-year-old playmaker is preparing to weigh up his options.

Having started out on the books at Real Betis, Ceballos has made no secret of the fact that retracing his steps to Andalusia could appeal at some stage. He may, however, have offers to remain in England after proving that he is more than capable of holding his own in a physical division.

His campaign at Arsenal has not always been smooth sailing, with injuries, a change in manager and the coronavirus outbreak hindering his cause, but Ceballos has showcased his talent.

A big decision now lies in store for the next transfer window, with nothing being ruled out as the 2019-20 season is played to a finish.

Ceballos told El Larguero when quizzed on his plans: “The owner of my future next year is me. Next year I want to play and I will hardly be able to do it at Real Madrid.

“Would I return with [Zinedine] Zidane? I have to make the decision. He told me this year that the best thing was for me to leave and get experience.

“Everyone makes their decisions and they must be respected, I have nothing against him because he has always been very clear with me.

“Betis? It is an option. I do not close the door to play in any club. I do not rule out continuing in the Premier [League].”

Arsenal have agreed a short-term extension to Ceballos’ loan, allowing him to complete Premier League and FA Cup campaigns with the Gunners, and he admits to having enjoyed his time working under fellow countryman Mikel Arteta.

“The coach plays a game very similar to what [Manchester] City is trying to do and I think we make a game philosophy that is difficult for the rival to fit in with,” Ceballos, who helped the Gunners to a 2-0 victory over Southampton in their most recent outing, added.

“He does not talk about anecdotes with Pep [Guardiola] but it shows in his training, I have learned a lot about soccer in a different way. It is a luxury to be able to learn from a coach with these qualities.”

Erling Haaland is giving no thought to making a move away from Borussia Dortmund, despite rumours continuing to link him with the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool.

The 19-year-old striker only completed a switch to Germany during the January transfer window.

A clamour for his services had been sparked on the back of some eye-catching outings for Red Bull Salzburg.

With a reputation established as one of the most exciting young talents in European football, some of the biggest sides on the continent battled it out to secure his signature.

The likes of Manchester United, who had hoped that the presence of fellow Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford would work in their favour, were among those left empty-handed.

Haaland decided that the Bundesliga would be his next port of call, and the goals have continued to flow at a remarkable rate for BVB.

That is keeping the teenager on the recruitment radar of many ambitious clubs, but he has no intention of contemplating another change of scenery any time soon.

Haaland has told the Funke Media Group: “I don't think much about the future, I live in the present and decide what is best for my career at each specific moment. 

“So I joined Dortmund in winter with a lot of conviction.

“They are one of the best teams in the world, I have signed a long contract and I have practically just arrived. So now I don't think about leaving at all.”

Haaland is tied to a deal with Dortmund through to the summer of 2024.

It remains to be seen whether that agreement is seen out, given the interest he is generating, but the youngster is enjoying working with Lucien Favre for now and expects his impressive development to continue.

He said of his current boss: “He obviously helped me a lot to improve.

“I scored a lot of goals at a higher level and we won a lot of games with him as a team. It all speaks for itself.”

While pleased with how things are going in Germany, Haaland admits to being disappointed that Dortmund have once again fallen short in a bid to knock Bayern Munich from their perch at the top of the Bundesliga.

He added: “Unfortunately we also lost both games against Bayern - without these points it is doubly difficult to end up in front of them due to their strength.

“I want to achieve something with BVB, not always just second, but also to win titles if possible. We should set goals, we want to attack.”

Marco van Ginkel has been given another chance to prove himself for Chelsea after being handed a new one-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

The 27-year-old has spent eight years as a Blues player after joining from Vitesse in 2013 for £8 million, and was dubbed the 'next Frank Lampard' by the Dutch club's former boss Peter Bosz.

However long-term injuries and spells out on loan have limited his chances of making an impact on the Chelsea first team.

The Netherlands international midfielder suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury two months into his Blues career - after making what are only his four first-team appearances for the club so far - and after recovering spent the whole of the 2014-15 campaign on loan with AC Milan.

In the following campaign, the central midfielder had a further two loan spells, with Premier League side Stoke City and then back in the Eredivisie at PSV.

He impressed in Eindhoven, scoring eight goals in 16 matches to win his temporary side the league title and earn himself a recall to the national team.

He has spent more time on loan at PSV since, however in July 2018 he needed an operation on his knee and he has not played a professional game since, but he had finally returned to full training before the 2019-20 season was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Chelsea manager Lampard seems keen to give Van Ginkel a chance to resume his career at the top level, and the player recently spoke about his positivity of getting a new Stamford Bridge deal and of proving himself capable of starring for the club.

He told Dutch publication  AD : "My agent, Karel Jansen, is in talks with Chelsea about a new contract for me. I am very happy at this show of confidence in me by the club.

"It is quite something when a club tries to keep a player who has been out injured so long and in these uncertain times as well.

"If a deal can be done I expect to make my comeback in Chelsea's Under-23 side.

"The prospects look very good. I have worked really hard to come back. I can now train four to five times a week. I was on the point of re-joining group training in March before the coronavirus outbreak."

Liverpool owner John W Henry claims the club’s record-breaking Premier League title triumph in 2019-20 has seen the Reds make “the beautiful game more beautiful than ever”.

After 30 years of watching others lift the English top-flight crown, the Reds have brought three decades of pain to a close.

Their coronation as domestic kings has been confirmed, with a 23-point lead over the chasing pack now unassailable with seven games left.

Wild celebrations have been sparked on Merseyside despite Britain still working to strict social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic.

Jurgen Klopp’s star-studded squad have formed part of that euphoria, with Henry quick to salute their achievements at the end of what has been a remarkable 12 months for the Anfield outfit.

Henry, who heads up the Fenway Sports Group, posted on social media: “This was a season for the ages and for the faithful of Liverpool Football Club. It has been an incredible year of magnificent achievement culminating tonight in capturing the Premier League title.

“This in addition to winning a European championship, a Super Cup and a world championship – the totality of this accomplishment has brought respite and joy to so many in a year filled with so much tragedy.

“LFC has made the beautiful game more beautiful than ever.”

Henry also had a message for the club’s loyal fan base, adding: “It is said, ‘We are Liverpool’. You, the supporters are Liverpool in every sense and you continue to drive the club forward – a historic club making history once again.”

Henry was not the only member of the Liverpool board to speak out on the back of a long-awaited title win, with chief executive official Peter Moore telling the club’s official website: “Many congratulations to the whole first-team squad, manager, players and backroom staff. It’s a phenomenal achievement to win this hugely competitive league by so many points.

“The football played this season has been exhilarating and the team fully deserves the plaudits and recognition. Over the past year, we have been crowned European champions, club world champions and today champions of England. A truly incredible achievement.

“I am also delighted and eternally grateful to our supporters for their unwavering commitment, season in, season out, and for playing a crucial role in our recent success."

“They were there when Sadio [Mane] scored a stoppage-time winner at Villa, they were there when Mo [Salah] sealed victory with a last-minute goal against United. They were with us every step of the way, just as they have been for the last 30 years, until events prevented that from being possible.”