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Manchester City are monitoring the progress of Fulham teenager Cody Drameh as they consider a transfer, Goal has learned.

The England Under-18 international is yet to play for the Cottagers, but is seen as one of a raft of promising players coming through at the club.

London-born Drameh has become a regular for the Championship side's U23 team and has caught the eye with seven assists from right-back.

Fulham have built up a strong reputation for producing young talent. with Ryan Sessegnon the standout player to come through the club's academy before his £25 million ($30m) move to Tottenham in the summer of 2019.

City previously signed 18-year-old winger Patrick Roberts from Craven Cottage in 2015, though he is still to make an appearance for the first team after loan spells at Celtic, Girona, Norwich City and Middlesbrough.

Pep Guardiola has already signed a right-back this summer, with Brazilian teenager Yan Couto having agreed to join from Coritiba FC on a five-year deal.

Any move for 18-year-old Drameh would, therefore, likely be followed by him being loaned out so as to gain first-team experience elsewhere.

City, meanwhile are reported to be leading the chase for highly-rated Belgian youngster Romeo Lavia.

The 16-year-old has turned down a contract with Anderlecht, who are now managed by former City captain Vincent Kompany. Lavia, who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre back, has been with the club since the age of eight.

He announced on Instagram last week that he was leaving the club stating: "It’s with great emotion that I announce the end of my adventure at Anderlecht."

A number of Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for Lavia, including City, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Belgian outlet Het Laatse Nieuws reported that City have emerged as favourites to sign him on a free transfer and are already in advanced talks.

A busy end-of-season schedule could present an opportunity for City's current academy players to earn first-team minutes, though Guardiola has revealed that only players living close to Manchester were recalled to train with the senior squad due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As well as regular first-team players Phil Foden and Eric Garcia, a group of Tommy Doyle, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Cole Palmer and Felix Nmecha have been training with Guardiola's squad for the past few weeks.

Jurgen Klopp hopes next week's crunch Manchester City vs Liverpool clash will be played at the Etihad Stadium.

The Reds are due to travel to Manchester next Thursday, in a game which could see them clinch the Premier League title at the home of their nearest challengers.

Liverpool will be guaranteed their first championship since 1990 if they take four points from their next two games, starting against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday evening. 

Should they win that game, City would need to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge 24 hours later to keep the title race going. 

There have been concerns that, if it was the case that Liverpool could win the league at the Etihad, the game may need to be moved to a neutral venue due to the risk of supporters congregating in and around the stadium. 

Manchester City Council's Safety Advisory Group will meet on Thursday to decide whether that will be the case, but Klopp believes the example of Sunday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, which passed without incident, should mean the game goes ahead as planned at the Etihad.

"Honestly, I would prefer it is at Manchester otherwise it would be really difficult to organise it," the Reds boss said. "I don't know how it would be but it would not be in Liverpool so it would mean we both have to go somewhere where we both need a hotel. That is the only issue.

"Apart from that we play where they send us to but I would prefer it in Manchester. I don't know about the process, I wait until the final information is confirmed whether it is Manchester or not. It would be a challenge for both clubs."

He added: "I don't know enough about the history of English football to be concerned about the City game against us, but the City stadium is pretty well located to close it down if someone was there close to the stadium.

"But I don't see that. The whole period we are in showed that the massive majority of people really behaved responsibly and seriously and take this situation as it is: the discipline level is probably as high as ever before.

"I was not worried about that. I know football fans since I was five years old and 98 per cent of them are completely fine and have the same view on life as I have, and love similar things that I do.

"At this moment in time I was not worried about that, but maybe I don't know enough about it when we go there (to City). But Sunday was a good example, 100 per cent."

Scott McTominay is “very excited” about the future at Manchester United, with the Scotland international having committed to a new contract with the club through to 2025.

The 23-year-old midfielder is one of a number of home-grown talents to have been handed regular first-team football by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He is now the latest to commit to fresh terms, following the likes of Marcus Rashford, Andreas Pereira, Brandon Williams and Tahith Chong in putting pen to paper over the course of the last 12 months.

McTominay is delighted with the show of faith he has earned from the Red Devils and intends to play a prominent role in what he believes will be a productive period for an ambitious outfit.

He told United’s official website when asked about the future at Old Trafford: “Very excited.

“You see the team we’ve got now and it’s amazing. For everybody from the outside looking in they should be saying that we’ve got a real chance to go and do really well.

“For us we have to keep our feet on the ground, keep training well every day and listen to the coaching staff and the ideas they’re portraying to us and put that into practice on the pitch.

“It’s strange with no fans at the minute but hopefully in time we’ll be able to get back to normal and resume where we left off after the last game.”

United returned to competitive action after a coronavirus-enforced break with a 1-1 draw away at Tottenham.

That result has kept them in the hunt for a top-four finish, with Solskjaer continuing to lean heavily on academy graduates when it comes to complementing the big-money signings in his squad.

United have always prided themselves on their youth development, with their current coach billing that process as the “bedrock” of the club.

McTominay agrees, saying: “The manager is not wrong and has hit the nail on the head!

“You see other boys in the same situation to myself like Marcus [Rashford] and Jesse [Lingard] and Axel [Tuanzebe], boys who are doing tremendously well, and I want to be a role model for younger kids growing up and show them how you can get to a certain level with the first team.

“That’s by maintaining hard work throughout a number of years and for me that hard work doesn’t stop, it continues, and that’s the way I’ve been brought up through the football club.

“There are obviously a lot of other things going on in the world right now which are far more important than what’s happening with me, but it’s a real pleasure to be involved with this football club and hopefully going forward we’ll do really well.”

Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed two coronavirus cases within their squad.

The Soweto giants revealed that they conducted preliminary tests last Friday as PSL clubs prepare to return to training.

Chiefs released the following statement on Tuesday afternoon after 70 individuals were tested at the Naturena-based side.

A club statement read: "Following a series of Covid-19 tests conducted last Friday, two Kaizer Chiefs players’ results have come back positive from the laboratory."

"A total of 70 individuals, including players, members of the technical team and other club officials were tested for Covid-19 in preparation for the restart of the 2019/20 season."

"At the time of doing these tests, players and officials were screened and monitored by healthcare workers and team doctors. None of the people tested showed any signs or symptoms of Covid-19."

"All the players and officials were given different timeslots and did not come into contact with each other."

"The affected duo will be in self-isolation for the stipulated period of 14 days. They will be retested after the isolation period as required. If their tests come back negative, they will then be able to rejoin the team."

"Kaizer Chiefs’ medical team and management are working around the clock to provide the necessary support to the affected individuals and ensure they follow the guidelines."

The total number of coronavirus cases in the PSL is now seven with the current season having been suspended since mid-March 2020 due to the deadly virus.

Chiefs' arch-rivals, Orlando Pirates announced that one of their players, Ben Motshwari had tested positive for Covid-19 last May, but the central midfielder has since recovered from coronavirus.

On Monday, June 22, Bloemfontein Celtic's Given Mashikinya became the second known player to test positive for Covid-19.

While Stellenbosch FC confirmed that three of their staff members have tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday, June 23.

South African Football Association (Safa) acting CEO Tebogo Motlanthe has broken his silence on the latest National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which took place on Saturday. 

In the meeting, the Safa NEC resolved to removed both Ria Ledwaba and Gay Mokoena from their positions as Danny Jordaan's vice-presidents. 

According to Motlanthe, the NEC made it clear that it has lost confidence in both Ledwaba and Mokoena while confirming that previously, the vice-presidents were voted for by the congress but that has since been amended, resulting in the dismissal of the pair.   

"The Safa constitution was amended prior to the election, previously the vice president was voted by the Congress but now the NEC elects the vice presidents. In the meeting on Saturday, the Executive Committee said we have lost confidence in Ms Ledwaba and Mr Mokoena," Motlanthe told SA FM. 

"Now, if people who have voted for you say we have no confidence in you, then you must vacate the position. That's exactly what happened. A member can be voted out at any time. It takes just one motion, for someone to stand up and say, I don't have confidence and you get support.

"To be clear, they're not voted out of the Executive, it's just that their powers to be Vice Presidents have been taken away from them. They are however still members of the NEC. This will go to the Congress, as we did with Chief Nonkonyane."

Motlanthe, who doubles up as Safa's legal head, said the association hasn't replaced Ledwaba and Mokoena, meaning the Xolile Nkomphela and Dr Irvin Khoza are the only two vice-presidents to Jordaan.  

"They have not yet been replaced. But its simple, if one person stands up and says we have lost confidence, then the voting starts and we go with the majority. That's what happened in this case," continued Motlanthe. 

Furthermore, Motlanthe revealed that Ledwaba was wrong to write to Minister of Sports Nathi Mthethwa in an attempt to seek intervention in the matter involving Mokoena's removal from the position of acting CEO of the country's FA, adding that Fifa rules are against her actions.  

"Ms Ledwaba knows she was wrong. She is now playing with semantics by saying intervention is not interference but she wrote to the Minister, asking him to intervene. Fifa rules are clear, the government is not allowed to interfere with football matters," he added.

"If she feels the President was not responding to her, then why did she not petition us as the NEC?" 

Motlanthe said Ledwaba admitted in the meeting that she might have made a mistake by writing to Mthethwa.   

"She knows she was wrong. At some point in the meeting, she admitted that she might have made a mistake," he continued.

Meanwhile, Motlanthe expressed delight after his tenure as acting CEO of Safa was extended until December. 

He said he didn't think twice about accepting the recommendation made by the Executive Committee, more so because he understands the association's rules better.  

"I'm happy that my term has been extended to December. It was a recommendation from the NEC. I didn't hesitate to accept, because I now understand how things operate at the organization," concluded Motlanthe. 

Zinedine Zidane has claimed Real Madrid will accept the congested fixture list for what it is, despite the club complaining to La Liga.

Los Blancos issued a complaint to top-flight officials on Monday after the schedule for matchdays 33 and 34 of the season left them with less than 72 hours between fixtures against Getafe and Athletic Bilbao.

Madrid felt this left them at a disadvantage compared to title rivals Barcelona, who were given five days of rest between games against Atletico Madrid and Villarreal.

However, it has since emerged that Madrid will have accumulated more rest – approximately 26 hours in total – than Barca until matchday 35, and asked if he felt the club's complaints to La Liga were fair, Zidane insisted he is fully focused on preparing his side for the fixture list as it stands.

"Everyone does their job here, I do my thing. I have my opinion, one day are the schedules, another the referees, there is always something," Zidane, who turned 48 on Tuesday, told a news conference ahead of Madrid's clash with Real Mallorca.

"My job is already quite complicated, my concern is [Wednesday's] game, it is a final, there are eight games to go and it is very important. It is what interests me. 

"The calendar is what it is, what we have to do as a team is to only think about resting. The games are what they are, eleven games in a short time and we have to take care of these details."

"I don't know, there are many people, Madrid is an important club that is talked about every day," Zidane answered when asked if there could potentially be a campaign against Madrid.

"Everyone can comment, in the end, it's not about that. I don't get into whether it's right or wrong. Each person does his job, it is a difficult task. 

"I only think about preparing the games well. That is what interests us, nothing else."

Madrid survived a fightback from Real Sociedad – with some good fortune courtesy of VAR – to move top of La Liga on Sunday, courtesy of a 2-1 win at Anoeta. 

Eden Hazard was an unused substitute in the Basque Country, while Sergio Ramos also went off with an apparent knee injury, with Zidane waiting on the availability of both players for Wednesday's clash with Mallorca.

"We will see tomorrow, there are many games in a few days and the recovery is important," he said.

"We will see, it is day to day. We have not done many things today, we will see [on Wednesday]."

Andy Mwesigwa feels it was impolite for every Uganda player to come out to push for their $1 million promised by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, after the East Africa Nation reached the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations knockout phase.

According to the former international defender, the players could have left the captain to address the issue and not every team member.

"I think it would only come from the captain as the leader of the team because then it would look a polite and diplomatic way," Mwesigwa told Nation Sports.

"It is very bad and looks a bit impolite for every Cranes player to start demanding the president that money. To me, I think they would raise their voice through one person, captain, and wait for the response.  

"Not the way I am seeing every player posting on their social media platforms; Facebook, Twitter etc."

The former skipper has, however, made his stance regarding the issue known.

"But I am behind the Cranes 100% that the president fulfils his promise and gives them that token he promised them after a tremendous work they did in Afcon. For God and My Country," he said.

Meanwhile, Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) Players Association head Paul Mukatabala has stated the head of state has always honoured his promises in the past.

"All I know is that H.E the President always delivers on whatever he promises to the Uganda Cranes. Now, whether reaching out to him via social media is the right course of action, I really can’t tell," he told the same publication.

The head of state made the pledge after the team arrived back home after the 2019 Afcon in Egypt and according to the players, this has not been honoured yet.

Museveni made the promise at State House in Entebbe on July 8, 2019, after the Cranes, under French coach Sebastien Desabre went on to reach the knockout stage.

They were eliminated by eventual finalists Senegal in the Round of 16 after going down 1-0.

The Cranes had not qualified for the knockout stage since their runners-up finish in Ghana in 1978.
  

Ogenyi Onazi has revealed he influenced Turkish Super Lig side Trabzonspor to sign his Nigerian compatriots John Obi Mikel and Anthony Nwakaeme.

The Super Eagles midfielder spent five years with the Medical Park Stadyumu outfit, after joining the club in 2016 for a fee of €3.5 million.

In the summer of 2018, Nwakaeme was snapped up by the Black Sea Storm after his impressive performances for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, where he scored 35 goals in 95 appearances in the Israeli Premier League.

Mikel, meanwhile, signed for Trabzonspor, linking up with his compatriots at the club after helping the Super Eagles finish third at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The former Super Eagles captain terminated his contract with the Black Sea Storm by mutual agreement in March after expressing his concerns about the league continuing amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

Onazi, who played 69 league games for Huseyin Cimsir’s men before joining rivals Denizlispor in January, revealed his efforts in the move of both players to the Medical Park Stadyumu outfit.

“It was fantastic and before Tony [Nwakaeme] came, the president told me that he was trying to sign this Nigerian player and he asked me if I know him,” Onazi told Brila.

“I told him Tony is a fantastic player and he should do whatever he can to bring in, so when he finally signed him and Tony scored two goals in his second game, the president came back to me and was so happy.

“After the Afcon in Egypt, the president came back again and told me when he wants to bring Mikel and I should help them speak to him.

“Then I discussed all night with Mikel to come over too and I was injured then, so hopefully when I recover we will play together, but unfortunately we did not spend much time together.”

Onazi last featured for the Super Eagles against Seychelles in 2018, having only recovered from a long injury layoff, and missed the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

The midfielder, who has played eight times for Denizlispor, explained he is in constant contact with Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr and hopes to feature more prominently for his club for a chance to earn a return to the national team.

“I was injured that’s why I wasn’t in the national team, I speak with the coach sometimes, and I also congratulated him on his new deal,” he continued.

“But you can’t be speaking to the coach all the time, because my job is to play and when I’m doing that pretty well, I’m sure I will be back in the team again.”

Onazi will hope to play a part and help Denizlispor, who lost their previous two games, to return to winning form against Rizespor on Sunday.

AmaZulu interim manager Ayanda Dlamini says they will be pleased if the 2019/20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season could be completed in KwaZulu-Natal since it would help them to retain their top-flight status.

Dlamini’s sentiments come after the PSL recently suggested the South African domestic season could be finished behind closed doors, if all the matches take place in close proximity of each other.

In fact, PSL chairman Irvin Khoza recently confirmed that the league could be completed in one province to minimize the risks of spreading the coronavirus, saying the league were in talks with decision-makers in certain provinces but did not elaborate further.

“We would be happy if the season can be finished in Durban because that is our home. We are familiar with the weather and all the stadiums,” Dlamini told Isolezwe.

“That can help us to fight in the remaining games in Durban because there will be no game that we call an away match.

“You will remember that there are many chances that we can finish the games behind closed doors without the supporters.

"We know that many of AmaZulu supporters are very important to us. We need them but because of the situation, we will have to accept that. We know their hearts will be with us.”

On the other hand, media reports also surfaced that the North West and Limpopo provinces were considered but due to the lack of sufficient training pitches to accommodate all 16 teams, Gauteng and KZN have emerged as favourites.

In addition, Dlamini has been tasked with leading Usuthu from relegation as they currently occupy the 15th spot with 23 points, before the games were suspended due to the pandemic in March.

In his first match in charge back in February, he led the club to a hard-fought victory over the log leaders Kaizer Chiefs away from home.

Marcelo is approaching the end of his 13th season as a Real Madrid player, but Predrag Mijatovic has revealed that Fabio Capello wanted the Blancos to “give up” on the Brazilian before he had even got going.

Back in 2007, Roberto Carlos was still very much the main man at Santiago Bernabeu when it came to filling a left-back berth.

The World Cup winner was, however, past his peak and Madrid were in the market for a suitable successor.

They looked to another Brazilian for inspiration, with Marcelo’s potential bought into as a relatively untested teenager.

He was snapped up during the January transfer window, giving him six months to work with fellow countryman Carlos before the latter headed off to Fenerbahce.

Capello was at the Real helm when Marcelo was signed, but the Italian tactician was not initially convinced that the right deal had been done.

Mijatovic, who was sporting director at the time, was not about to give up on the promising South American, though, and helped to pave the way for what was to follow.

The former Blancos striker told ISMAS: "In my first year at Real Madrid, Roberto Carlos was the left-back, the best in football history in my opinion, but I knew that we had to sign a young player to replace him.

"Knowing Roberto like I did, as a team-mate, and knowing his contract was about to end it was clear his performances weren't like they had been, and we needed to replace him.

"Marcelo was 18 years old and totally unknown, and Capello wanted to give up on him, but I refused because I wanted him to train with Roberto Carlos.

"A player, training with a world-class star like Roberto Carlos, can see how he lives, take on any advice from him and that's worth a lot more than 10-15 games on loan."

Marcelo was kept around at the Bernabeu, as Capello was ushered through the exits, and became a regular from the 2007-08 campaign.

The 32-year-old now has 507 appearances for Real to his name – just 17 short of Carlos’ tally for the club – and has helped them to four title triumphs in La Liga, the Champions League and Club World Cup.

Rachel Nachula has joined the Spanish second division club Zaragoza from Zambian top-flight side Green Buffaloes for the new 2020-21 season.

The Zambia international was impressive for Buffaloes last season as scored four goals in her side's 9-0 win over Green Academy to claim the FAZ 2020 National Women's League title in March.

On the international scene, she inspired Zambia to a maiden final of the 2019 Cosafa Women's Cup, getting four assists and 10 goals to finish as the competition's top scorer in South Africa.

She was also part of Bruce Nwape's squad that upset Cameroon in the final round of the Africa qualifying series to qualify for the first time in their history for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Before venturing into football, she was also an international athlete, featuring in several major championships, including the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008, where she ran the 400 meters.

Following her move, Nachula will become the second signing for Cristian Aleza's side this summer after Austrian striker Annelie Leitner as the Reto Iberdrola outfit seek promotion next season.

She will also become the second Zambian female to move to Spain after teammate Barbra Banda joined Logrono in 2018.

Nachula will aim to excel in her maiden professional outing in Europe when the 2020-2021 season gets underway with Zaragoza.

Joe Willock has credited legendary former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger for teaching him "to play with freedom".

Willock spent three years on Arsenal's books as a youth player before graduating to the senior squad in 2017, and was handed his full debut in September of the same year.

The 20-year-old has since appeared in 51 games for the Gunners, scoring seven goals, while also earning a place in England's U-21 set-up.

The young playmaker has been a regular in Arsenal's line-up this season, with his latest start coming in a 3-0 defeat against Manchester City on June 17 - which marked the club's first game back following the coronavirus-enforced hiatus.

Willock had to make do with a substitute appearance in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Brighton, but he will be back in contention for a place in Mikel Arteta's starting XI when the Gunners take in a trip to Southampton on Thursday.

Arteta is the second man to try and pick up the mantle since Wenger's exit in 2018, with Unai Emery only lasting 18 months in the role before being dismissed in November.

Willock recalls picking up vital pearls of wisdom from the Frenchman towards the end of his 22-year reign, as he told talkSPORT: “Growing up, Arsene Wenger was Arsenal. It was all I knew. He was part of the furniture.

"For me to grow up and play under him was a crazy feeling. It was surreal. He’s an amazing man.

“Arsene Wenger was a very laid-back man but when he spoke, everyone listened. He was Arsene Wenger so everyone had to listen.

“He always taught me personally to play with freedom and enjoy myself. That’s one thing I can take from him.”

The Arsenal midfielder went on to reveal that Robert Pires and Thierry Henry were his main idols growing up, and says he has attempted to mix their unique styles into his own game.

Willock said: “I used to love the way that Pires used to caress the ball and how Thierry used to play with so much confidence and personality.

“I try to take a bit out of everything and put that into my game. I used to have posters up in my room. I think my mum might have them at her house.”

Asked which members of the current squad have played a key role in his development at Emirates Stadium, Willock responded: “At Arsenal, we are a very tight-knit team, we all try and help each other.

"If I have to name a few names, I would say David Luiz, [Alexandre] Lacazette and a few of the younger players like Calum Chambers, Granit Xhaka, because they are very vocal and big players in the changing room I sort of gravitated to them more.

"They helped me and always speak to me.”

Ugandan legend Paul Ssali has revealed how the national team almost perished in a plane crash in 1978.

In an interview with New Vision, the former Cranes goalkeeper has explained how terrified the players in the squad were after they tried to land twice at Entebbe Airport on their return from Accra, Ghana where they had taken part in the 1978 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The team was heading to Kampala after losing 2-0 in the final to the Black Stars when the Ethiopian Airways plane on which they travelled almost crashed at Entebbe due to bad weather.

“From Ghana to Cameroon, the sailing was smooth, the whole episode started moments after the captain announced that ‘soon we shall be landing at Entebbe International Airport,” Ssali is quoted as saying by New Vision. “It has been a pleasure flying with the deputy champions of Africa.

“As the plane descended it began to behave strangely; it suddenly dropped several meters and quickly gained height again. This would happen about six times, moving left and right that sent passengers in panicky mode, screaming and praying.

“Several passengers vomited due to the turbulence. When the plane gained stability, the pilot abandoned landing at Entebbe and instead headed to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya where we learned how we had survived to crash.”

Ssali continued: “We were close to landing and had actually unfastened our seat belts, and we could actually see the Airport buildings but all of a sudden the plane took an almost 90-degree ascendency to the sky.

“We circled around the Airport for about ten minutes before we were told that we could not land due to bad weather, so we headed for Nairobi where we landed and spent two hours before we returned to Entebbe.

“We were all shaken and feared for our lives, the plane having changed direction all of a sudden.”

Ssali remembers vividly that it was at JKIA in Nairobi when the squad realised they had escaped a plane crash due to bad weather (fog) and while in Nairobi, most players had requested to travel to Uganda by road, a decision that was turned down by the team manager.

“In Nairobi, most of the Cranes wanted to travel back by road but the manager refused it,” Ssali continued.

“The trip from Nairobi was tension-packed but this time the landing was more comfortable and there was some jubilation from the Cranes with others shedding tears of joy. They had anticipated the same experience.”

Young Africans (Yanga SC) are on the verge of losing their lead striker David Molinga.

The Congolese import is reportedly keen to leave the Jangwani Street-based giants and sign for Moroccan outfit Renaissance Sportive de Berkane.

Former Yanga coach Mwinyi Zahera, who is said to be behind the transfer and who signed the player for the club before he left, has confirmed the striker will ditch the club at the end of his contract this season.

“Everything in regards to the transfer is already done and now what we are waiting for is the contract with Yanga to end before he makes the move,” Zahera is quoted as saying by MwanaSpoti.

Molinga is among the key strikers for Yanga though they have been struggling to get goals, the latest being their match against Azam FC which ended in a 0-0 draw, forcing their fans to hit out at the club’s strikers for letting them down.

In a recent interview with Goal, Yanga coach Luc Eymael admitted he was lacking strikers to score goals for the club and confirmed he had recommended new names to the team’s signing committee.

“I am disappointed with all my strikers,” Eymael told Goal after the match.

“We created chances after chances, but we don’t finish the chances we create, if we don’t score that is a big problem, 30 crosses and we cannot find the back of the net? I think that is a big problem.

“Our biggest problem currently is we are not scoring, that is the biggest problem we have, it is that simple, we are not scoring goals despite creating chances and something must be done urgently before we play our next match.

“I cannot change the players [strikers] now, I can only ask them to rectify the mistakes in training like we keep doing, we must think about scoring and the strikers must stand up now and be counted, they should get their scoring boots back, I don’t need to shout at them but they should know what they are supposed to do.”

Eymael further said: “But until now we are just waiting for the decision from the stakeholders who are taking decision for signing new players, the coach can only recommend and the work of management is to sign, the only player I recommended for the club is Bernard [Morrison] and you can see the job he is doing for the club.”

Yanga are preparing to face Namungo FC in a league match on Tuesday.

Ben Chilwell and James Maddison continue to generate talk of interest from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, but Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers says the speculation will not be causing him sleepless nights.

The Foxes, and their experienced boss, are accustomed to seeing prized assets linked with moves elsewhere.

Recent windows have seen a steady trickle of top talent head through the exits at the King Power Stadium, with the likes of N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Harry Maguire among those to have moved on.

Rumours suggest that Chilwell and Maddison could be next to attract big-money bids, with the sights of Premier League heavyweights being locked on their potential.

Chelsea are said to have made an England international left-back their next target, in a summer of ambitious recruitment at Stamford Bridge, while a talented playmaker has long been linked with a switch to Old Trafford.

Rodgers is fully aware of the gossip, but he continues to turn a deaf ear to it and is prepared for a fight if needs be when it comes to keeping star turns on his books.

The Leicester boss told Sky Sports when quizzed on the unwelcome exit reports: "The club have got good experience of situations where bigger the so-called bigger clubs come in.

"We're always aware that while there are good players, that will always be of interest to other teams that have more money than us.

"We don't lose sleep worrying about it. We're here to develop players and improve the standard of the team. Of course, if we're doing that then that will be taken note of by other clubs.

"We just have to continue with our work and always try to have a pipeline in place where if you lose one, you can have the next one in.

"We're certainly not actively looking to move anyone on that's for sure. We want to keep everyone together but we'll see what happens in the summer."

Asked what Leicester need to do to break into the elite level, Rodgers said: "We're looking to get ourselves into that bracket on a consistent basis and the only way we can do that is by performing well and developing year on year.

"Leicester is a wonderful club in its own right and we are trying to challenge that hierarchy.

"Players may be attracted to that level of club, such as Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United or going abroad, but we can't worry ourselves about that.

"We'll keep fighting to keep players here and if they're not going to be here then the club will get the best price available."

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that consultations are ongoing on how to end the 2019-20 domestic league season.

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has been suspended since March following the spread of the coronavirus to the West African country.

The chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 and secretary to the federal government, Boss Mustapha, recently stated the government is not excited to reopen sporting activities as the number of confirmed cases of the virus continues to rise in the country.

The Nigerian government is gradually reopening the economy after a period of complete lockdown due to the pandemic, which has claimed 525 lives, but has limited social gathering to 20 people.

The League Management Company (LMC) had proposed four options to end the league, including a point-per-game (PPG) method, which was subjected to a vote at the weekend.

The 17 chairmen of the Club Owners Association voted in favour of the PPG method and that there should not be promotion or relegation of any clubs.

The NFF, however, stated that football stakeholders in the country should be patient until they conclude their consultations.

“The Nigeria Football Federation has declared that wide consultation is still ongoing as to the format and pattern of foreclosing the 2019/2020 Football Season, including that of the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL,” read a statement from the NFF.

Plateau United currently lead the table with 49 points from 25 games while Rivers United are second with 45 points, both in the Caf Champions League spots.

Lobi Stars are third with 43 points while Nasarawa United, Jigawa Golden Stars, Kwara United and Adamawa United occupy the last four spots on the table.

The LMC have adopted the super-six format to end previous NPFL seasons and Enyimba are reigning champions.

Arsenal need to “cut their losses” on Mesut Ozil and let the World Cup winner move on, says Martin Keown, with the German no longer considered to be “part of the future” in north London.

Ozil, who joined the Gunners from Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, has taken in 254 appearances during his seven seasons in England and scored 44 goals.

The 31-year-old's creativity has proved to be a useful asset at times, but questions over his form and attitude have never been far away.

That remains the case at present, with Mikel Arteta having left the experienced performer out of his plans for the Premier League restart.

A surprising snub has sparked further speculation regarding Ozil’s future, with the breaking of a lucrative contract having been mooted for some time.

Keown believes Arteta needs to be forcing that issue in the next window, with Unai Emery having ignored similar pleas and ultimately paid the price for failing to get Arsenal’s house in order.

“The Ozil situation when Emery took the job, I felt at that time the best thing he could have done is to take Ozil away and sell him at that point,” former Gunners defender Keown told talkSPORT.

“In fact, I advised him to do that at the time.

“What we have seen with Ozil – for one reason or another, and everyone feels you’re picking on him – he’s a player that isn’t part of the future at Arsenal.

“They need to cut their losses and let Ozil go, otherwise the other players see the bad habits that he may have.

“I’m assuming he hasn’t trained well enough and really given it everything, and the manager now doesn’t want to invest any more time in him.

“But when you have someone around the edges of a football club like that, with all of those impressionable young men, it’s time for change.

“Arteta is part of that change and part of that new freshness, but if you don’t make the right decisions then you are no longer a part of that, you are a part of the past.”

Arsenal, who have seen their faint top-four hopes fade even further on the back of successive defeats to Manchester City and Brighton, will be back in action on Thursday when they take in a trip to Southampton.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed David de Gea as the best goalkeeper in the world despite tipping Dean Henderson to become Manchester United No.1 in the future.

De Gea was heavily criticised for Tottenham’s goal against the Red Devils on Friday night, with Roy Keane describing the Spaniard as "overrated" and that he would've been "swinging punches" in the dressing room at half-time.

The high-profile error has coincided with the impressive form of Sheffield United loanee Henderson, who has been one of the league's outstanding goalkeepers this season.

The 23-year-old has excelled for the Blades and although he will not be available to play when Chris Wilder’s side visit Old Trafford on Wednesday night, there are still plenty of comparisons to be drawn between the pair.

Despite De Gea’s mistakes over the past 18 months Solskjaer does, however, still consider the Spaniard to be the best in the world.

"David is the best goalkeeper in the world," Solskjaer said in his pre-match press conference. "He's conceded two goals in the last seven he's played for us. There are [games against] City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Everton, two goals in seven games.

"The Everton one is a freak one, this one he can't save it, he makes great saves, wins games for us and he's still the best goalkeeper in the world. David is working really hard, he isn't making errors in training. I'm pleased with his work.

"He's had some fantastic seasons and I don't think it's a bad run if you concede two goals in seven games, he's made match-winning saves.

"He saved a point for us against Tottenham with the save [from Heung-Min Son's headed effort], mentally he's a very strong keeper but I speak to him every day, that's fine."

Henderson’s loan at Sheffield United is expected to be extended on Tuesday to allow him to stay there until the end of the current campaign. The 23-year-old has made 29 league appearances this season keeping 11 clean sheets and Solskjaer has been impressed with his development.

"It's a different job to be playing for Sheffield United and for Manchester United, they are different," Solskjaer said.

"He's got different roles and for the last two years he's had fantastic development, played with and against men, played in the Championship and he plays in a team that plays exciting football. The stats show he's proved worthy of a few points.

"He's learning all the time, a passionate keeper, developing, with good coaching. One day he'll be England No.1 and United No.1 and he needs to keep developing."

Young Africans (Yanga SC) custodian Farouk Shikalo has confessed warming the bench at the club has given him the desire to work even hard in training.

The former Bandari custodian is yet to start a game in the Mainland Premier League since the top-flight restarted on June 13, with the Jangwani Street-based giants preferring Metacha Mnata in that position.

In an interview on Monday, Yanga coach Luc Eymael called on the Harambee Stars keeper to keep fighting hard in training and wait for his chance, saying he does not have any bad feelings towards the player.

“If you watched our game against Azam FC, my keeper Metacha [Mnata] played very well, and he as always been fantastic in the position, so Shikalo must wait for his time,” Eymael told Goal on Monday.

"I told him last week he has to wait for his chance and when the chance comes, he has to take it with both hands, it is that simple,

“I like him [Shikalo], he is working very hard during training sessions but how can you change your goalkeeper, when he is doing very well?

“[Mnata] has shown how good he is and for a coach, you don’t change a top player just because you have another one on the bench, but always keep him in your squad.

"I am not against Shikalo playing, he is a good keeper too but must wait for his time, I know his time will come.”

Shikalo has now answered coach Eymael by stating he will not give up on his quest to win his trust and will continue to put in extra effort during training sessions to win his heart.

“To sit on the bench is giving me the burning desire to work even hard and achieve my target of playing for the club,” Shikalo is quoted by Sokaletu.

“In Yanga we have a huge squad and for every player to play, you must be on top of your game and impress the coaches and that is what I am working hard to achieve.

“Every game we play has its own style and it is the coach who knows the players to pick for specific matches and to sit on the bench does not mean I am a bad keeper…no, it is all about the coach because he knows who deserves to play and why and I will continue to fight for my starting role.”

Shikalo has missed the 1-0 win against Mwadui FC in Shinyanga, the 1-1 draw against JKT Tanzania in Dodoma, and Sunday’s 0-0 draw against Azam FC at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.