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Uganda Cranes forward Farouk Miya believes the current coronavirus pandemic came in as a blessing in disguise.

The 22-year-old joined Turkish side Konyaspor in August 2019 and had an immediate impact, scoring five goals in the 20 games played before sustaining a muscle strain in February this year. The Covid-19 led to the suspension of games and the youngster explains how the absence of games has helped him recover.

"We all did not see this [Covid-19] coming, of course, it affected not just my rhythm but my teammates as well," Miya said as quoted by Football256.

"But for me, as you know I have been nursing a muscle injury so this period has helped me recuperate and since the league resumes this Sunday, I can say I am almost there." 

In the Turkish top-tier, Konyaspor are 14th on the table with 26 points, just a point above the relegation zone. With eight games to go, Konyaspor are targeting maximum points from the remaining matches once the league resumes on June 14, to avoid the axe.

The forward has been a key player for Uganda in recent times and is aiming at helping them once again qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations after making it to the last two editions.

"For the Cranes, the target is to qualify for Afcon and am sure all the other players are ready," Miya added. 

On the road to Cameroon, the Johnathan McKinstry-led side were placed in Group B alongside Burkina Faso, Malawi and South Sudan.

Cranes started their campaign with a goalless draw away to Burkina Faso, before defeating Malawi 2-0. They are leading the chase with four points, same with the Stallions.

The West Africa nation defeated South Sudan away 2-1 to add on to the point collected against Uganda.

The Flames of Malawi had started their campaign with a 1-0 vs South Sudan before falling away to Cranes in their second match.

The two top teams will qualify for Africa's elite competition scheduled for next year. South Sudan are the underdogs in the group as compared to other teams who have made several appearances in the competition.

The 2019 edition was held in Egypt where Algeria defeated Senegal by a solitary goal to be crowned.

Toni Kroos is reading little into the speculation suggesting that Kylian Mbappe, Jadon Sancho and Kai Havertz are transfer targets for Real Madrid, claiming “80 per cent” of rumours prove to be false.

The Blancos are expected to bolster their ranks again when the next window opens.

Zinedine Zidane will be given more money to spend, with the very best talent on the market always of interest to La Liga giants. Raids on Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen have been mooted for a trio of exciting young performers with plenty of potential.

Kroos is aware of the gossip but, as a seasoned professional, is turning a deaf ear and will wait with the rest of the world to discover who Real are actually able to add to their star-studded squad.

The World Cup winner told DAZN and Goal: “I don't know what the club wants and what financial expenses are possible.

“The players mentioned are interesting for many clubs because they are young and of good quality, but I've heard so many names in my six years in Madrid that could come and go and 80 per cent of the time things have turned out differently.”

One player who will definitely be on the move in the coming weeks is Kroos’ fellow countryman Mario Gotze. The man who netted the winning goal for Germany in the 2014 World Cup final is to be released by Borussia Dortmund at the end of his contract.

Gozte, who is still just 28 years of age, has suffered a rather humbling fall from grace.

Kroos is reluctant to speculate on what the future could now hold for a player he knows well, saying: “I haven't seen him play at all lately. This is not only because he is used little, but because I watch so little Bundesliga. Therefore I cannot speculate on where he could fit right now.”

Rather than be drawn into debates regarding possible movement in the transfer market, Kroos is eager to keep his focus locked on the present in Madrid.

Zidane’s side are about to return to La Liga action sat two points adrift of Clasico rivals Barcelona in the table, with major silverware still very much in the Blancos’ sights – as they are also waiting on the resumption of Champions League competition and the second leg of a last-16 showdown with Manchester City.

“At Real Madrid there should always be at least one title if we want to speak about a successful season,” said Kroos, who has won a solitary Liga crown and three Champions Leagues during his time in Spain. “Without a title, the season is not automatically bad, but last year was simply not a good one.”

Sergio Ramos and Real Madrid are yet to discuss a new contract for Los Blancos' captain, but his agent insists there is no reason for anyone to panic.

Ramos joined Madrid in 2005 from Sevilla and has gone on to become a club icon, amassing almost 650 appearances and winning a host of titles.

Now 34, the Spain international is approaching the twilight of his career, but having played 25 of Madrid's 27 La Liga games prior to the coronavirus hiatus, he is still seen as a key player for Zinedine Zidane.

Ramos' deal expires in just over a year, during the summer of 2021, suggesting his long-term future could potentially lie elsewhere if Madrid opt not to extend their association.

But Ramos' agent – his brother Rene – is convinced both parties want the centre-back to retire at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"Football goes around a lot but there are very good intentions on both sides," the agent told Radio Marca.

"Hopefully he will retire at Real Madrid, it is his ream and I understand that it will be the desire of the club too.

"As of today, we have not spoken about anything but there is no need to be alarmed. The moment the club considers it, we will begin to speak."

Rene was recently quoted as saying his brother would stretch out his career as long as he could in order to play in Madrid's redeveloped Santiago Bernabeu.

He told Onda Cero: "The chewing gum will be stretched as long as we can.

"Playing at the new Bernabeu would be the perfect retirement for him. Physically, he's fine and he's climbing the walls [ahead of La Liga Santander returning]."

Rene has, however, suggested that some did not grasp the meaning of his comments.

"My words were misinterpreted," he added. "What I wanted to say is that he will play until he and the club consider that he is fit to play for Real Madrid."

Ramos and Madrid will resume their 2019-20 La Liga season on Sunday away to Eibar, with Zidane’s side sat two points adrift of Clasico rivals Barcelona in the Spanish top-flight table.

Lionel Messi is eager to be back playing for Barcelona again this weekend after admitting the suspension of football "has made me think".

La Liga was halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, with Barca two points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table after 27 games.

Spain's top flight returned on Thursday behind closed doors as Sevilla defeated Real Betis 2-0, with the leaders set to resume their campaign at Real Mallorca on Saturday.

Messi has described football as "a gift" and is happy at the prospect of playing once more after three months of uncertainty.

"Being away from the game has made me think," he said in an Adidas video.

"I feel like any other player. I just want to play. And to play our game is a gift. To be supported by so many, even more so.

"To be able to inspire others, and be inspired. And maybe the greatest gift of all: to create joy for others.

"So, now the game has returned, I'm ready for its gift again."

Messi is the top scorer in La Liga this season, with 19 goals from 22 appearances, five clear of nearest challenger Karim Benzema.

The 32-year-old also has the most assists, with 12, four ahead of Real Sociedad forward Portu.

The Argentina star is bidding to win his 11th league title with Barca and his 25th club trophy in total.

He has been backed to get the Blaugrana over that line, with Clement Lenglet among those expecting big things from a refreshed superstar.

The French defender has told Mundo Deportivo: “He [Messi] is ready for what is to come.
 
“For players like Messi, Antoine [Griezmann], Busi [Sergio Busquets]… who play all the time - as well as with their national teams - and travel a lot, the lockdown was a good thing. They've been able to rest."

Quique Setien’s side have 11 domestic games left to take in this season, while the 2019-20 Champions League campaign will also be played to a finish at some point – with Barca’s last-16 tie with Napoli in that competition currently locked at 1-1.

Rwanda international Emery Mvuyekure has confirmed that Orlando Pirates are interested in his services.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper is a free agent after leaving Kenyan Premier League club Tusker FC.

Mvuyekure has disclosed that he is among the three goalkeepers on the Pirates radar after impressing in the preliminary round of selection.

“My manager is handling the process, he is the one who sent the videos to Orlando Pirates," Mvuyekure told Times Sport.

"First, we were seven prospects, now only three – including me – remain on the shortlist.”

The Pirates technical team is said to be analyzing the performance of the three players – using their videos.

The club would then decide on who to invite for final trials and contract negotiations as the Buccaneers look to strengthen their squad ahead of next season.

Mvuyekure is keen to play in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) which is one of the richest leagues on the African continent.

“Playing in the South Africa Premier League would be a great step in my career," he added.

“The last two seasons with Tusker were a great experience, I gave everything for the team.

"There is a possibility of extending the contract, but I first want to pursue the Orlando Pirates chance and see how it goes.”

Pirates currently have Wayne Sandilands, Siyabonga Mpontshane and Joris Delle in their goalkeeping department.

Mvuyekure will be hoping to emulate Olivier Kwizera, who played for Free State Stars in the PSL between 2016 and 2019.

The well-travelled player previously played for La Jeunesse, Police and AS Kigali in Rwanda, before leaving his home country for former Kenyan champions Tusker, who had signed him on a two-year deal.

Mvuyekure received his first call-up to the Rwanda senior national team at the age of 20 in 2010 and he played for Amavubi for the next four years.

He made his return to the national team last year when he was called up ahead of Rwanda's clash with Ivory Coast.

This was a Group H clash against Ivory Coast in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March 2019.

It was also the experienced shot-stopper's first call-up to the Amavubi squad since 2014.

Quess Corp has assured that all contractual obligations with East Bengal players will be met.

The Bengaluru-based business service-providing company Quess Corp had stated their intention to end their association with the Kolkata giants East Bengal on May 31, 2020. 

Quess East Bengal FC, a Joint Venture formed between East Bengal and their investors. Quess had 70 per cent stake in the new entity while East Bengal had 30 per cent.

In the company's response to reports that players have been denied their salaries due the contractual situation between the company and the club, Quess Corp stated, “It has come to our notice that there are untoward allegations, most of them unverified, doing the rounds on how players of the football club have been denied their salaries as an outcome of the termination of the agreement between Quess Corp and EBFC.

"We would like to clarify that we are a responsible corporate and our obligations to all will be met. We have been working closely with our representatives in Kolkata to ensure that this transition happens smoothly and with minimal discomfort. The formalities pertaining to the termination of the JV agreement between Quess, QEBFC and EBFC is underway and is expected to be completed soon. While Quess will do everything to protect the value of its shareholders, we will uphold the future of the game and its supporters.”

It was initially a three-year partnership but Quess decided to make an exit after just two years. East Bengal finished second on the league table last season with 23 points from 16 matches and the title was won by their arch-rivals, Mohun Bagan. 

Former Chelsea striker Bertrand Traore has described fans of Lyon as "very demanding".

The 24-year-old Burkinabe joined the French outfit in 2017 after four years as a youth and senior player at Stamford Bridge.

Traore has scored 33 goals and contributed 17 assists in 125 competitive outings for Lyon.

"The supporters are very demanding at Lyon as in all the clubs where I have played: Ajax, Chelsea, Vitesse," he told Sidwaya Sport.

"They want their club to win and are unhappy when they are not. And it makes sense in the end.

"I was whistled at times, I know, like other players on the team for that matter. This is life, these are the vagaries of the job. You do with it and you continue to do your job as well as possible.

"In any case, we cannot please everyone even if it feels good for anyone to hear encouragement from their audience rather than whistles. I know where I come from and what I want.

"My goal is always to give the best of myself on a football field, to honour the jersey I wear."

Traore says he has had good and bad times at Lyon, and often had to play different roles which affected his output. He is also disappointed he hasn't been able to win any trophies since arriving at the Groupama Stadium.

"There was good and not so good, for sure. I have often played on a wing, but I have always said it, I feel more comfortable in the axial position," the former Ajax player continued.

"This is also where I made my best matches and had my best statistics with Lyon when we played with Memphis [Depay] or [Nabil} Fekir in an axial position in a diamond pattern.

But it's not just positioning on a field that matters. There is also the animation around, the principle of play, the tactical choices.

"What also upsets me is that I haven't won a trophy yet, because we're playing for that, and Lyon fans deserve to win something for so many years without it. I hope this will change soon for the club."

Traore struggled for form in the abruptly-ended Ligue 1 season, scoring just one goal in 1,251 minutes on the pitch.

This has led to talks of a departure from Lyon, with Newcastle United and La Liga trio Valencia, Sevilla and Real Betis reported to be in interested in him.

The 24-year-old did not comment on the speculation, but did stress he is keen to continue progressing with his career.

"I don't really like to comment on transfer rumours. We know that the transfer window makes people talk and that there are often rumours that come out sometimes just, sometimes completely false," Traore said.

"Lyon is one of the biggest clubs in France, with beautiful infrastructures, and great ambitions even if the season has been very difficult for the club.

"You do not leave a club of this standing overnight without thinking, unless they no longer want you.

"I am 24 years old, I have two years of contract left and I am not on the street. Me, what I want is to continue to grow, to progress, to play football and to cross levels in a sporting project that suits me and in which I am a stakeholder."

Premier League football will return on June 17 after a stretch of three months without a ball being kicked due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Diehard fans will be all too aware that the return of action also means a return of Fantasy Premier League, so it's time to get your team in order before the big restart.

The basic premise remains the same, but a few changes are being implemented for the restart, which take into consideration the extraordinary circumstances in which the season is being finished.

So, how will Fantasy Premier League work when the games kick off again? Goal brings you everything you need to know.

Contents

Unlimited free transfers

FPL managers will be able to make unlimited free transfers without using their wildcard up until the deadline of the first gameweek of the restart.

That means you will be free to totally overhaul your team to optimise it for the final gameweeks of the season, so you can figure out which players are fit and best for the restart period.

As well as that, there will be no price changes on players until after the first gameweek deadline passes.

Who are the top scoring players on FPL?

To help you pick which players you should have in your team, here are the top 10 players on FPL based on current points totals.

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Gameweek changes

For the remainder of the 2019-20 season, the gameweeks will be understood as 'Gameweek 30+', 'Gameweek 31+' and so on.

Gameweek 30+ will be a double gameweek. It will incorporate two postponed matches from Gameweek 28 (Manchester City vs Arsenal and Aston Villa vs Sheffield United) with the full spread from Gameweek 30.

When are the gameweek deadlines?

Gameweek deadlines are usually set for one hour before the kick-off time of the first fixture of a gameweek. You can see each of the remaining nine gameweek deadlines above.

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New H2H leagues can be created

Old Head-to-Head leagues have concluded, but new leagues can be created for the final nine gameweeks from GW30+ to GW38+. Classic leagues, however, will continue as normal.

Create a new H2H league on FPL here.

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Unused chips remain available

FPL organisers have confirmed that any unused chips and Wildcards will remain available until the end of the season.

The Free Hit, Triple Captain and Bench Boost chips will be available for use in GW30+, which is as mentioned a double gameweek.

Wildcards, Free Hit & FPL chips explained

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Aaron Ramsey has informed Juventus boss Maurizio Sarri that he feels most at home in a No.8 midfield berth, while also singing the praises of “one of the best in history” Cristiano Ronaldo and “unbelievable player” Paulo Dybala.

The Wales international is approaching the end of what has been an eventful debut campaign in Turin. Having been snapped up from Arsenal as a free agent, the 29-year-old has made 24 appearances and recorded four goals in a season disrupted by injury and the coronavirus pandemic.

Ramsey is starting to feel at home in Italian surroundings and believes there is more to come from him if moved out of the playmaking No.10 post that he has often been asked to fill.

Asked by The Athletic whether he feels confident operating a little deeper, the Welshman said: “That’s the position I came here to play and that’s where I feel most comfortable on the pitch. I’ve said it many times over the years. That’s my position. That’s where I play the best football.”

If Ramsey is able to nail down a regular role for Juve then he will get the chance to continue providing ammunition for fearsome frontman Ronaldo – with the Portuguese continuing to set the standards for those around him.

“He’s one of the best players in history and there’s no questioning his commitment to the game and to what he needs to do for himself,” Ramsey said of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. “He’s first into the gym doing all his bits and bobs and then he wants to win every single match on the pitch. All the players do but there’s a real determination every single time.

“He just goes out there and produces week-in, week-out and scores so many goals. So many important goals as well. Hopefully, it can help us achieve our targets this year.”

Juve, who are readying themselves for the completion of another title bid in 2020, will also be looking to the likes of Argentina international Dybala for inspiration over the coming weeks.

Ramsey is a big fan of the South American, saying of a forward that has returned to favour with the Bianconeri after almost being edged through the exits in 2019: “I can just confirm that Dybala is an unbelievable player. He’s very gifted — a team player — and some of the things he’s done in training and some of the games this season has been quite breathtaking.”

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has undergone groin surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the Bundesliga season.

The Spain international has been troubled by injury recently and his contribution has been limited as Bayern have closed in on what would be an eighth successive league title.

Now the club have confirmed Thiago faces a spell out of action as he recovers from his setback.

Head coach Hansi Flick said in a news conference on Friday: "Thiago has had a groin operation. He will be out for three weeks. We decided between us to get it done now. It's possible he will be back for the cup final."

Flick's uncertainty over Thiago's availability for the DFB-Pokal final against Bayer Leverkusen makes sense given that match is scheduled for July 4.

Thiago would be on the point of returning to action by that stage if Bayern's expectation of a three-week absence proves accurate, but he would be lacking match fitness.

The 29-year-old appears certain to miss the league title run-in.

The Bundesliga season finishes on June 27, with Bayern facing Borussia Monchengladbach this Saturday.

Following the completion of the domestic campaign Flick's men will then turn their attention to the Champions League, in which they hold a 3-0 advantage over Chelsea after one leg in the last 16.

Thiago has been a key figure for Bayern this season, featuring in 24 Bundesliga fixtures and scoring three goals.

He featured for 29 minutes of the 2-1 DFB-Pokal semi-final victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, however the recurrence of the injury means he is now a serious doubt for the showpiece game.

Coming off the bench, Thiago looked like a player who has had injury troubles of late, as he appeared very rusty. After his introduction, he lost the ball in dangerous places on a few occasions, and one of those almost led to a goal.

Bayern held on however, as they scored their 128th and 129th goals of the 2019-20 season from just 43 matches in all competitions.

Ivan Perisic and Robert Lewandowski were on target as Bayern reached a third successive DFB-Pokal final, while matching their own goals record set in 1972-73.

Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere has stated the club do not intend to offload Youcef Atal.

The Algeria international has put in some strong performances at left-back which has caught the eye of some suitors.

Chelsea have long been admirers of him as coach Frank Lampard looks to strengthen the left-back position at Stamford Bridge.

Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan are also rumoured to be in the race to sign him. However, the words of the Nice president could hinder such a move.

"We will not [sign] big names. Our goal is to recruit players who join the project over several years, elements that will help us grow, to be recurrently in the top five," Rivere told Nice-Matin.

"Here, we want to keep our best players.

"There will be departures for sure. We want to build a competitive team, with character. Our needs for specific positions have been identified.

"We want to keep Youcef Atal, and we will keep him."

Atal joined Nice in 2018 and has made 44 appearances, scoring seven goals and providing two assists.

The just-concluded season was a disappointment for him as he battled with a knee problem that required surgery and kept him out since December. He made just 13 Ligue 1 appearances with a goal and two assists.

His goal was in a 2-1 win over Dijon while his assists came in an away win at Rennes and a home draw with Bordeaux.

Patrick Vieira's men finished in fifth spot, eight points short of Europa League qualification.

Born in the Algerian city of Boghni, Atal has represented the Desert Foxes since 2017, making his debut in a 2-1 friendly win over Guinea.

He has earned 18 caps and scored once which came in a 4-1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier victory over Togo.

Atal played four times at the tournament proper in Egypt, providing assists in victories against Kenya and Guinea.

The 24-year-old was an unused substitute in the final, with Algeria seeing off Senegal 1-0 thanks to Baghdad Bounedjah's early strike.

It was the North African nation's second continental title after their maiden triumph in 1990.

Marcus Rashford has changed his attitude to become a "proper leader" for Manchester United, according to Louis Saha.

England striker Rashford was enjoying the most productive season of his career, with 14 goals and four assists in 22 Premier League appearances, prior to suffering a back injury in January.

It was feared he would miss the rest of the season and Euro 2020 but, with the football calendar having been largely suspended for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic, Rashford is now fully fit to play as United prepare to return to action against Tottenham on June 19.

The 22-year-old has also spent the pause in the season championing charitable causes and engaging with fans on social media, with his most significant work seeing him help FareShare provide three million meals to vulnerable people in the United Kingdom.

Former Red Devils forward Saha thinks there has been a shift in the application of United's younger stars, with Rashford showing the qualities of a future captain.

"Yes, I think the attitude, the drive, the actual consistency, all those things are leadership qualities," Saha told Stats Perform News.

"You said that sometimes it's really hard for a striker to lead and, if you do, you need that. You need those three: consistency, drive, and, of course, talent.

"What is very important is having that dedication to actually look around and grab someone who needs to be grabbed and shout at them. All those things are essential.

"They don't have that platform as much as I had when I was playing. I had Roy Keane, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Rio [Ferdinand], Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, [Paul] Scholes, [Ryan] Giggs, all those players. You could rely on those guys.

"There are definitely four or five players who are very important to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. I would say that, based on [his] record, he is not young anymore, almost because he started really young.

"He's one of the starters for England. And Rashford, as much as we can compare to Anthony [Martial] has done the same.

"The attitude... I'm not saying they had a bad attitude; they had the attitude that was in line with what Manchester United needed at the time.

"Maybe this attitude was okay when you had leaders around like proper players who win trophies and all that, and it was fine. Maybe I was like this at the time, but I had players to do what I can't do. I had to actually evolve and be a leader.

"When I spoke to Scott McTominay, he was young as well, he had to do it. All those players who made that improvement process for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were very important, and I think for Rashford, the introduction of [Harry] Maguire was important to give that kind of confidence aspect.

"That's why you give the platform for Rashford to make the difference all the time because he can do it because his work rate is amazing and that thing he maybe missed in one year because maybe he thought 'I've got my position, I'm respected, I've got my status so I don't need to do this or that'.

"Those things can be a bad sign for those playing behind you. Now you can see he is a proper leader."

Call of Duty: Warzone has quickly become one of the top-played games in the weeks since its release, with over 60 million players to date.

This free-to-play title features dynamic and frantic battle royale and Plunder gameplay with up to 150 players on the largest Call of Duty battleground ever.

Warzone now has solos, duos, trios, quads and plunder quads all at once. That still leaves plenty of choice for those who can't settle on just one battlefield buddy.

Download Call Of Duty: Warzone

The game features two main factions of the Operators: the Coalition and the Allegiance. Both factions include a variety of Operators to choose from. The Coalition is a multinational alliance that consists of operators from SAS, Warcom and Demon Dogs, while the Allegiance is made up of the remnants of the Russian Forces in Urzikstan, foreign mercenaries and rogue NATO soldiers.

And while the Operators are getting famous among the gamers, Goal.com has teamed up with Call of Duty to make the "Coalition vs Allegiance" ultimate team. The concept consists on choosing 11 characters from both the Coalition and Allegiance who are featuring in Warzone.

We'll then analyze the specific traits of each character and potential Footballers who fit the mould and resemble well with the character. The audience will be involved by voting for their favorite Operator-Footballer combo to make it feature in the Ultimate team.

For our new poll, we are going to be looking at Golem from the Coalition faction and Grinch from the Allegiance one.

Golem - Hamdallah : Hamdallah is a truly masterful finisher. His expertise in this area saw him score 57 goals with al Nasr during 2019. His positional sense, ability to read the play and movement are his main strengths. Golem is known to be one of the best snipers in Call of Duty. His flair allows him to find the best position in the battle field and take up the right position to create an advantage over his opponents.

Grinch - Gomis : Gomis is known among fans as the "Lion" and he fits his name to perfection. He is clinical in front of goal, and the ways in which he scores goals show that he’s not just a threat in the six-yard box. Grinch would also befit the "Lion" nickname. A bold operator who is merciless with his opponents and always ready to make sacrifices.

Who should feature is the Coalition vs Allegiance utlimate team? vote below

Arsenal remain “too open”, says Paul Merson, with Mikel Arteta warned that he could have Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi at his disposal and still concede goals with the way the Gunners are currently set up.

Attacking spark is not an issue for those at Emirates Stadium, with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil proven performers at the highest level.

Defensive leaks have been difficult to plug, though, with questionable transfer deals and confusing tactical messages resulting in a long-standing problem still holding Arsenal back.

Merson believes that will remain the case for as long as the Gunners try to entertain rather than address their obvious failings, with a return to contention for top-four finishes likely to remain “a few years” off as a result.

The former Arsenal forward told Sky Sports: “You've got Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a world-class centre forward who scores goals. He's a one out of two merchant, where you get two chances and score one, there aren't many of them in the world. There's a lot more to come from Alexandre Lacazette, he's a top-drawer player.

“We talk about the defence at Arsenal, but it often comes from the front. If you're not closing down from the front, and then the midfield aren't connecting, I don't care who is playing at the back for you. It could be [Paolo] Maldini, [Alessandro] Costacurta, [Franco] Baresi, if you've got players running at you left, right and centre, you're going to leak goals.

“I think it's important they play as a team, but at the moment I don't see it at Arsenal. I know Arteta is trying to change it, but it seems like the forwards have their game, the midfielders have their game, and then we then just see what the defenders do.

“I think they've got to get back to basics, get tight at the back. We all like watching Arsenal play because you know you're going to get action and goals at both ends.

“I think they need to say: 'Right, let's get tight, if we have to win games 1-0, we will.' I just think they are too entertaining, it's too open, they don't move up the pitch as a unit or move back as a unit.

“It could be a few years before Arsenal reach top four again. I do believe in Arteta, I like him and I think he'll get it right, but it's hard as an inexperienced manager. You've got to be careful not to just try to entertain the fans. When you're inexperienced, you often try to entertain the fans behind the goal.”

There will be no supporters in attendance when Arsenal next take to the field for a competitive fixture, against Manchester City on June 17, and Merson fears that could also work against a side that often needs motivation to pour over from the stands.

He added, with Arteta’s side having come unstuck in their latest behind-closed-doors friendly against Brentford: “I worry for Arsenal. I watched the goals they let in against Brentford, and I worry about them playing behind closed doors. When you're not a great defender, and Arsenal have a few of them, not top-drawer defenders, I think the fans keep you honest.

“I mean that they keep your concentration levels. You need the fans there to keep you concentrated. One of the goals against Brentford, David Luiz tries to play out, flick it over the lad's head, and that's not honest. The fans try to keep you honest.

“I think with Arsenal that's going to be a little bit of a problem defensively. I think they will switch off behind closed doors with no crowd, and there could be mistake after mistake.”

Kai Havertz has been advised by Dietmar Hamann that Chelsea would be the obvious transfer option for him if he faced a choice between the Blues and Manchester United.

The Bayer Leverkusen starlet has emerged as one of the most sought-after talents in European football.

Sides from across the continent are monitoring both his development and situation in Germany.

Premier League suitors appear to be heading the chase for his signature, with it also suggested that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp may be tempted to join the clamour for a fellow countryman.

Chelsea, though, have already shown that they can fend off the Reds when it comes to pursuing top targets, with a £54 million (€60m/$68m) agreement in place for RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner.

Frank Lampard has also tied up a swoop for Hakim Ziyech and has Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell in his sights.

Similar ambition is expected to be shown at Old Trafford, with United in the market for the likes of Jadon Sancho and Jack Grealish, but Hamann believes Stamford Bridge is showing itself to be the best fit for Havertz.

The former Germany international, who spent time in England with Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester City in his playing days, has told Sky Deutschland: “Chelsea and Manchester United are fighting for fourth place [in the Premier League].

“If United miss out on the Champions League again, the Red Devils are at risk of falling behind the other clubs.

“United has lost its appeal in recent years. They have been the measure of things for many years, they are still the largest club in England, but they have major internal problems.

“If there was a player on the market in the past, Manchester United was the first point of contact for years. I believe that is no longer the case today.

“When a player like Kai Havertz changes clubs and signs somewhere for five years, the long-term perspective is more important than participating in the Champions League next season.

“The player may have to make the decision in the next few weeks and cannot wait until the season in England, which runs until the end of July or beginning of August, is over. Perspective is important for a player, but Manchester has been in a vacuum for years.

“On the other hand, if I look at Chelsea, they have a coach with Frank Lampard who did a great job for the club as a player, and I have the feeling that the Blues are growing again.

“They had the two-year transfer embargo and, with [Mason] Mount and [Tammy] Abraham, brought back two young players who were on loan. [Andreas] Christensen is an incredibly interesting player.

“For the first time in a long time, you have a team with which the fans can really identify. If a Timo Werner or possibly a Kai Havertz were to be added, it would be an incredibly exciting and interesting story.

“If I think about where I see the clubs now and in two or three years, the decision for Chelsea would be a relatively easy one for me as a player.”

Express FC skipper Disan Galiwango has suggested he will stay at the club for the new Ugandan Premier League (UPL) season.

The Red Eagles have been on a high alert after reports emerged that former UPL champions KCCA FC had shown keen interest to sign the defender.

According to reports in Uganda, Galiwango had already been promised a three-year contract should he accept a move away from Express and could have become the second captain Express lost to KCCA after John Revita left as a free agent in 2019.

“We should pull it off if all goes well. Both parties are interested. He is coming as a free agent but terms with the player have not been concluded yet. When done with all our targets, I’ll let you know,” a source close to KCCA was quoted saying by Daily Monitor.

However, in a bid to cool things down, Galiwango has now taken to his Twitter handle to deny the transfer report, insisting he will stay at Express to get more success.

“Success comes to those who are honest and confident in their endeavour,” Galiwango tweeted. “Am to stay at Express.”

In a recent interview, new Express CEO Isaac Mwesigwa, however, denied the rumours their captain is a free agent.

“I assure you Galiwango is not a free agent. He is our player contracted up to 2022. He is not going anywhere,” Mwesigwa told reporters in Kampala.

Galiwango’s statement will come as a huge boost to Express, who were on the verge of losing their best player in the just-ended season where he managed to score six goals after being moved to a more advanced role.

The news will also excite new team coach Wasswa Bbosa, who recently revealed that he had been tasked to win the UPL title in the next three years.

Bbosa was given the mantle fully a few days ago after serving from February as an interim boss. He was brought on board when George Ssimwogerere was fired early in the year.

Bbosa joined when the club was battling relegation but helped them move up the ladder and to finish ninth when the UPL season was cancelled.

Burnley winger Dwight McNeil has been warned off a move to Manchester United, or any of his other suitors, by his own father.

The highly-rated 20-year-old has seen his efforts at Turf Moor start to attract admiring glances from afar.

A move to Old Trafford has been mooted for the youngster, with it suggested that he could soon head back to familiar surroundings.

McNeil spent time in United’s youth system before being freed to join the academy ranks at Burnley, with his potential surprisingly being allowed to slip the Red Devils’ net.

He has gone on to star on a Premier League stage, with England U-21 recognition also coming his way.

United, along with the likes of Leicester and Crystal Palace, are said to be interested in signing McNeil.

His father has, however, urged a midfielder who is still learning his trade to give careful consideration to his next move.

Burnley have presented him with the perfect platform on which to build a productive senior career, and it is important to realise that moving away too soon could actually have a detrimental impact on his development.

McNeil senior has said in The Sun of the transfer talk surrounding his son: “He's doing really well. It would be best for him to stay put at the moment and go that way.

“That’s instead of him going to a top team and just sitting there and getting drip fed into it. He's got to keep working hard and listening to his manager and coaches.

“I believe with improvement he can be good enough for the top teams.”

McNeil is used to such statements by now, with former Burnley star Kieran Trippier – who left Lancashire for Tottenham in 2015 – another of those to have warned a hot prospect against leaving his comfort zone too soon.

The now Atletico Madrid right-back told the Burnley Express in April: “Dwight has burst onto the scene, and when he trained with us last season for England he was brilliant.

“He’s got to stay focused, keep performing well while he’s young, and his time will come.

“I’d say ‘don’t rush anything, just keep playing’ and Dwight is at the right club to do that. He just needs to keep playing games, because that’s the most important thing for somebody his age.

“He’s got the right manager to guide him and he’ll be in no rush to go anywhere. If I was him I’d stay put and keep playing games.”

Mohun Bagan are looking forward to a new partnership with Indian Super League (ISL) side ATK, but a few loose ends of the previous regime remain to be addressed. Sukhdev Singh is yet to receive his salary and the player has sought the intervention of the Player Status Committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). 

In 2018, the Mariners fought tooth-and-nail with East Bengal to secure the services of Singh from Minerva Punjab and even shelled out a hefty transfer fee (INR 16 lakhs) to the Chandigarh-based side. But the defender was banned for six months for contract malpractice by the AIFF, after an attempt by East Bengal to sign him. The club also were given a transfer ban as a result. 

Though Sukhdev finally ended up moving to Bagan, he also had to pay a fine of INR 50000 each to the federation and Minerva Punjab.  Subsequently, he was plagued by a series of injuries that forced him to spend significant time on the sidelines during his tenure at Mohun Bagan. In fact, he made no appearance in I-League during his entire stint at Bagan. He played a few matches in the Durand Cup and Calcutta Football League (CFL).

It was clear that the player was not in the plans of Kibu Vicuna and he continued to be in the fringes. Singh had a two-year contract which was finally annulled in January 2020, after the club failed to pay multiple installments. Both parties tried to settle the matter mutually but no agreement could be reached. 

Hence, Singh has now knocked on the doors of the Player Status Committee of the federation voicing his grievance. The committee is set to meet soon, though no date has been fixed yet.

Mohun Bagan will take part in ISL 2020-21 season as 'ATK Mohun Bagan', as Goal had revealed earlier, but they have some unfinished business to settle which must be taken care of by the erstwhile management.

ATK Mohun Bagan Private Limited has already been 'reserved' on the official site of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) which means the name cannot be allocated to any other entity henceforth. The name has been approved and set 'reserved' for concerned parties and they can now move to further formalities.

The new entity was supposed to come into existence on June 1, 2020, but due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic and the resulting nationwide lockdown since March 25, the deal got delayed. With the new company already being reserved, an official announcement from both parties is expected soon.

Other than participating in the ISL, the merged entity will also take part in the group stages of AFC Cup 2021 by using Mohun Bagan’s I-League 2019-20 champions’ slot.

Chennaiyin FC's star midfielder Anirudh Thapa is enjoying some well-earned time with family after an engaging season of football that saw him help his side reach the final of the Indian Super League (ISL).

Thapa has finally had some chance to spend some quality time at his hometown in Dehradun, albeit amid a lockdown imposed due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. However, the midfielder is not impressed by the popularity of football in the Uttarakhand capital compared to when he was growing up.

"We used to have a lot of players training in Dehradun back then," Thapa told Goal. "We have two big grounds here and most of the players would come and play in the morning and evening. But last year, there were very few players. That too, not many from Dehradun. Some are from Uttar Kashi and other adjoining districts. This year, of course, there is the lockdown."

While Thapa has been left heartened by the improvement in facilities, he thinks Dehradun needs more.

"Ground conditions and facilities in and around the sports hostels are developing. That is a good thing. But honestly, we need more infrastructure and coaches here so that players get chances and grow."

The ongoing Coronavirus pandemic has made it tough for footballers to keep themselves fit, given that access to grounds and training facilities have been limited. Thapa too has found it challenging but has been keeping himself fit with rehabilitiation and condition workouts from his home.

"I used to go to the ground to do some cardio and maintain my fitness at first in Dehradun. But now, after the lockdown, I can’t go out. I try to remain fit however. It is important because we don’t want to get injuries when I properly go back out to train on the pitch later. I do some rehab workouts, core workouts and some strengthening."

The time with family, however, is a massive plus for him, feels Thapa.

"But then again, there is my family. I haven’t got a chance to spend time with them much. So that’s a plus for me during this time. 

"It’s very difficult to maintain a diet at this time. Of course, my mother gives me a lot of food to which I can’t say no," he adds with a smile.

The 22-year-old feels that the pandemic has brought about a lot of uncertainty to Indian football with no clarity on when the new season will start. The Central Government is yet to clarify when live sports action can resume and as such, the AIFF and ISL are also unable to fix a start date for the new season.

There is also talk that football might have to return behind closed doors, with Covid-19 cases rising in India. Thapa, however, is not a fan of playing without fans but understands that it might be the only way forward.

"Things have changed a lot. Many people have lost jobs and people are finding it difficult to even move back to their homes. If you talk about football, we are not sure when the new season is going to start. And if there are no fans, it will be difficult for us too. The aggression we show on the pitch, the way we abuse and talk between players on the pitch, I’m not sure people would want to hear that. 

"We will miss the fans because they give a lot of motivation and support from the stands. It is very important. Our celebrations are for the fans. We will miss their welcoming and these things we will miss for sure if football is held behind closed doors."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has heaped praise upon the club's younger players who stepped up in a 6-0 friendly win over Blackburn. 

With the Reds preparing for the Premier League's imminent return, they got the chance to sharpen up against Championship opposition. 

While Arsenal fell to a surprise 3-2 defeat against Brentford, there was no such slip up for Liverpool as they fired freely in front of goal. 

Leighton Clarkson, 18, bagged the Reds final goal in the comfortable win, with Klopp happy to see the club's younger player showing their quality. 

"It is just so nice. Not only the goal, but when you see the situations when he came on, I think the first pass was between the two strikers, he got it in the No.6 position where he is calm, turns and passes the ball out," Klopp told Liverpool's official website of Clarkson's goal.

"We can teach the boys a lot, but they have to bring a lot. Obviously the basis for Leighton is not too bad and Jake [Cain] did really well, as well. All of the boys.

"For Sepp [Van den Berg] it is always hard for centre-halves. We have four, so sitting outside [but] he looks really promising in training sessions. Ki-Jana, centre-half and right-back and looks really good.

"You see them – when Harvey [Elliott], Curtis [Jones] and Neco [Williams] played, it looked good as well. It’s coming, it’s nice and nice they are here and training with us.

"The way we play helps the players to feel safe; everybody is defending and you should never feel alone in a big area where you have no chance to sort the situation. That’s what I really like and for the boys it was really good." 

Following such a long break in play due to the coronavirus pandemic, Klopp felt the friendly was crucial ahead of Liverpool's competitive return against Everton on June 21. 

"It was not only a workout; for us, it was a really important test and we wanted the players to go for 45 minutes [but] because of a few little issues we couldn’t do that, so we didn’t have enough ‘first-team players’, I would say, so that’s why we decided to let three players go for 60 minutes," he said.

"That’s ok. It looked really good, obviously. It looked really good, pretty much from the beginning. Yes, you have to get used again to playing against a deep-defending side and stuff like this.

"Blackburn had a playing build-up from time to time, so we could work on the high press as well. So [the] counter-press was brilliant, the football was really good, the goals were nice and it was a really good afternoon.

"I am really thankful that Blackburn came here and we could do that, so I wish them all the best."