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Philippe Coutinho "wants to come back to the Premier League", according to his agent Kia Joorabchian, who says the Barcelona outcast "adores" English football.

Coutinho completed a £142 million ($183m) move to Barca from Liverpool in January 2018, bringing to an end a hugely impressive five-year spell at Anfield.

The Brazil international picked up a La Liga winners' medal during his first full season at Camp Nou, but failed to reproduce his best form while shrinking in the shadow of star duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

Coutinho was ultimately deemed surplus to requirements ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, and Bayern snapped him up on a season-long loan.

The 28-year-old has shown glimpses of the form he produced on a regular basis for Liverpool at Allianz Arena, but the Bundesliga giants are expected to pass up the chance to sign him permanently.

Joorabchian has now revealed that a number of clubs are keeping an eye on his client's situation ahead of the summer transfer window.

The super-agent says that, although Coutinho has not yet given up on his career at Barca, he would welcome the chance to return to the Premier League if he is forced out of Camp Nou at the end of the season.

“Because the Champions League runs until August 23, it's going to be very difficult for players like Coutinho to make any commitments or moves before then,” Joorabchian told talkSPORT.

“For him to make a commitment is very difficult.

“We've not kept it a secret that he wants to come back to the Premier League if he can.

“He adores playing in the Premier League and I think it's one of his priorities, but he's also not against staying in Barcelona so it's very open.

“There's a lot of genuine interest because he's a great player, so there's always interest.”

Joorabchian added on the possibility of another big-money move for Coutinho amid the coronavirus crisis: “I don't envisage too many deals of that nature – 80 to 100 million. There will be a lot of 10 to 30 or 40 million.”

Coutinho's last appearance for Bayern came during a 4-2 DFB Cup final victory over Bayer Leverkusen on July 4, and he could be in line to feature when Hansi Flick's side take on Chelsea in the second leg of their round of 16 Champions League tie next month.

Lionel Messi is an "animal" and will definitely play at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, according to Barcelona legend Xavi.

Argentina great Messi will be 35 by the time the next international global showpiece is held in Qatar across November and December. 

The Barcelona superstar has suffered more than his fair share of heartbreak with La Albiceleste, losing three Copa America finals and the 2014 World Cup final to Germany. 

Despite turning 33 last month, Messi's numbers continue to be phenomenal and he topped La Liga's goalscoring and assists charts with 25 and 21 respectively this term. 

Xavi, who played alongside Messi in Barca's first team from 2004 until his Camp Nou departure in 2015, is currently coaching Qatari side Al Sadd, and fully expects to see his former team-mate involved at the next World Cup. 

"I see Leo playing until he wants to. On a physical level, he is fast, strong, he is a competitive beast, physically an animal," Xavi told Marca .  

"I have no doubt that he will play in Qatar 2022."

Xavi won eight league titles and the Champions League four times during a glittering Barca career. His name was heavily linked with the coaching vacancy at Camp Nou when Ernesto Valverde was sacked and while Quique Setien got the job, there is now speculation over his future too. 

The 40-year-old has made no secret of his desire to one day return to Barca but says respect must be shown to Setien, whom he feels has done some good work despite missing out on the league title to arch-rivals Real Madrid.  

"I do not hide, and I have always said, that my main goal, when it occurs, is Barca. It is my home and it would be a dream," he said. 

"But now I am focused on Al Sadd, looking forward to the new season. When Barca has to come, in the short or long term, it will come. Above all, Quique Setien must be respected and I wish the team all the best. 

"Sometimes Barca plays very well, others well, and others not so well. But I like the idea of Setien, now and with his previous teams - dominate and make an attractive game.  

"Sometimes it is not possible, it is true, but the rival makes it difficult for you. We have seen very nice and very good games of Barca with Setien. Definitely."

It was revealed over the weekend that Xavi had returned a positive test for coronavirus, which meant he was not on the bench for Al Sadd's 2-1 victory over Al Khor. 

The World Cup winner says he is doing well but expects the transfer market to suffer as a result of the global health pandemic. 

"I am fine, although logically isolated, and wanting to train soon," he added. 

"It [coronavirus] will lower the level [of the market], like everything after this pandemic. It will be very damaged. There will be a reorganisation of everything, of clubs and players. It is a shame, but it will be so." 

The South African Football Association (Safa) has confirmed that three of their 110 match officials have tested positive for Covid-19. 

Last week, the association ran a series of tests for all the match officials that will take part in the completion of the 2019-20 season. 

And the results came back earlier this week with Safa chief medical doctor and compliance officer Dr Thulani Ngwenya confirming that only three of the tests conducted came back positive for the coronavirus. 

According to Ngwenya, the said referees are all asymptomatic.    

"Only three referees tested positive for Covid-19 but are all asymptomatic," Ngwenya told the Safa website.  

Ngwenya revealed that the three referees are being monitored daily and have been isolated on the other wing of the hotel where the rest of the match officials are.  

"We are monitoring them on a daily basis and they are quarantining on the other wing of the hotel," he said.

Safa would hope for the speedy recovery of the trio more so after the PSL announced on Monday that the season will resume on August 8. 

The country's FA had proposed August 1 as their preferred return date but the league's decision to start a week later would give the trio enough time to recover. 

Safa will need as many referees as possible to handle the remaining matches of the season.

There are 54 PSL matches, 44 NFD and three Nedbank Cup games still to play in the next few weeks. 

As PSL chairman Dr Irvin Khoza said on Monday, chances are that there will be competitive matches almost every day in order for the season to completed as soon as possible. 

While Khoza didn't disclose the date for the conclusion of the current campaign, he confirmed the season will go beyond August 31 and into the first or second week of September.    

The Nedbank Cup semi-finals will kick start the suspended season on the weekend of August 8 with the rest of the league matches expected to start by no later than August 12. 

The current season has been suspended since mid-March and the PSL together with Safa worked around the clock to ensure football returns in the country. 

Belgian First Division A club Oostende have announced the signing of Makhtar Gueye from Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne and the forward has quickly set out his target.

Goal earlier reported the centre-forward was close to sealing a deal with the Versluys Arena outfit and completed the move on Tuesday morning.

The Senegalese signed a four-year deal with an option of an additional one-year extension on the condition of impressive performances for the side.  

 Gueye believes the club would serve as a springboard for him to play in bigger leagues in future and revealed how Oostende‘s President Gauthier Ganaye influenced his decision.

"I'm good with my back to goal and I can keep up with the ball to let my teammates join in," Gueye told the club website.

"In addition, I can also take my goals. I signed at KVO because Executive President Gauthier Ganaye gave me a lot of confidence and because young players get opportunities here.

“The Belgian league is also the ideal stepping stone to the even higher ranking competitions.”

Club’s President Ganaye revealed his delight to sign the centre-forward, whom he has been monitoring for a few months.

"I have been trying to get him here for several months so this is an important asset to us,” Ganaye said.

“Now we are looking to strengthen ourselves in defence and in midfield and then our homework is done. There is some work in the pipeline, but we will be a young, attractive team to watch.”

Gueye will link up with Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa and Zambia international Fashion Sakala at Versluys Arena.

The striker has been with the Saints since the summer of 2018 when he joined the club’s youth setup and has only featured in five league games since his promotion to the first team.

Gueye spent the 2019-20 season on loan with Ligue 2 side Nancy and gave a good account of himself, helping them to finish second on the table.

The 22-year-old scored seven goals in 23 appearances across all competitions, amid other dazzling displays for the club.

Oostende finished 15th on the Belgian top-flight table last season and the addition of the forward could help them compete for titles in the 2020-21 campaign.

The forward will be expected to make his debut for the Versluys Arena outfit during their pre-season games.

Former Bafana Bafana attacking midfielder Ayanda Patosi has the desire to one day play for one of South Africa's Big Three clubs. 

The 27-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Iranian club Foolad from Cape Town City, and he revealed the two teams are currently negotiating a permanent move for him. 

He hopes for the deal to go through, suggesting he is still happy at Foolad.

His contract with Foolad expired at the end of June but the club extended it for the remaining matches of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic which forced the majority of football leagues across the globe to be suspended.   

"At the moment I am still with Cape Town City. I am here on loan but we are in negotiations to make it a permanent deal," said Patosi in an online press conference with the South African Football Journalists Association. 

"Hopefully, that can go through."

Patosi's future plans, however, are in the PSL with Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns or Kaizer Chiefs top of his priority.

The Cape Town-born player admitted he would prefer a move to the Buccaneers because they are a club grew up supporting. 

This despite giving the Sea Robbers a torrid time while on the books of Cape Town City prior to his departure to Iran.   

Patosi faced Pirates on four separate occasions during his time with the Citizens and scored four goals - including a brace in that memorable 2-2 draw at Orlando Stadium in the 2018/19 season.   

"I would really love to play for the top three in South Africa," added Patosi.

"But mostly for Pirates because I grew up supporting Pirates. So, hopefully, something can come up when I want to come back home."

Patosi was on the losing side on Monday night as Foolad let a two-goal lead slip to eventually go down 3-2 to FC Nassaji, who scored twice deep into stoppage time.  

The former Lokeren winger has featured nine times for Foolad so far this season and found the back of the net just once while recording a single assist for his efforts. 

Jan Vertonghen would be the ideal partner for Harry Maguire, according to Jermaine Jenas, who says a move to Manchester United "makes sense" for the ex-Tottenham defender.

Vertonghen confirmed his departure from Spurs in a heartfelt social media post after taking in his final outing for the club during a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The 33-year-old told his followers on Instagram: "So my time at the club comes to an end, a sad day for many reasons

"Thank you for all the support over the years. You've been amazing. We had many unbelievable memories but for now, it's goodbye."

The Belgium international racked up 315 appearances for the Lilywhites over the course of an eight-year spell in north London, forming a formidable centre-back partnership with fellow countryman Toby Alderweireld in the process.

Vertonghen declared himself open to a new challenge away from Tottenham earlier this year, citing Spain or Italy as possible next destinations.

Jenas believes the experienced defender still has plenty to offer in the Premier League, and that he could be the answer to United's issues at the back.

Maguire has helped transform Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side into a more solid outfit since completing a record £80 million ($103m) move to Old Trafford from Leicester last summer.

However, it has been suggested that the England international has been hindered by playing alongside Victor Lindelof, and Jenas says Vertonghen would be a far more reliable option for the Red Devils.

The former Spurs midfielder told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I keep touting him around everywhere but I’m sorry, Jan Vertonghen on a free is the best free transfer centre-half out there.

"If you can get Harry Maguire back on the right side and get an actual ball-playing centre-half as a left-sider, that little dynamic may change things for them as well and he’s free.

"Manchester United will know what they’re doing, they’ll have a plan but defensively they’re miles off it. I know how good he is.

"It baffles me when I see him in the stand every week because I know how good he this player is. I’ve played with him, I’ve watched him and on a free transfer, it just makes sense."

Jack Grealish “has his heart set on Manchester United”, according to Michael Owen, with the Aston Villa playmaker expected to push for a move despite his asking price rising on the back of Premier League safety.

The talented 24-year-old has helped his boyhood club to retain their standing among English football’s elite.

Severing ties with the Villans will not be easy for a talismanic figure in the West Midlands, but a fresh start may be required in order for his game to be taken to even greater heights.

Talk of that career path leading him to Old Trafford has rumbled on for some time now, with United having been heavily linked with a big-money move for much of the 2019-20 campaign.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has less of a need to bring in added creativity after acquiring Bruno Fernandes in January and seeing Paul Pogba reassess his options, but squad depth is required as the Red Devils prepare to a return to a Champions League stage.

Owen believes that will see interest in Grealish retained, with it unlikely that any other side will swoop in and lure the England hopeful elsewhere.

The former Red Devils striker told Premier League Productions: “I think he’s after Manchester United as well.

“I’m told he has his heart set on Manchester United. I’d be surprised if he went anywhere else.”

While tipping Grealish to end up at Old Trafford, Owen concedes that Villa’s successful bid to stay in the Premier League means that they can now demand even more from any deal involving their captain.

“He’ll be more expensive now to possible suitors,” Owen added.

“There is that tie now that it’s his team and they’re still in the Premier League – it would have been an easier decision if they went down.

“You can’t have someone like that playing in the Championship. He’s a top player, he would suit an awful lot of teams; he’s exceptional.

“People compare him to James Maddison and others like that but I think he’s head and shoulders above him. He can run with the ball well, score goals, he’s in double figures this season, he assists.

“He’s actually much better out of possession and I think that’s where this season he has developed that side. He covers a lot of ground. He’s not one of those flashy players where you give him the ball and he turns it on, he actually works hard out of possession as well."

Gor Mahia have finally caved in and remitted a confirmation form that will allow the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to transfer the first payment from new sponsors BetKing Kenya.

The Kenyan champions alongside Kakamega Homeboyz and Nzoia Sugar missed out on the first instalment last week after they developed cold feet and refused to fill in the forms which were mandatory and were to include the club’s bank accounts to allow Ksh500, 000 to be wired in.

Gor Mahia and Homeboyz maintained they will only sign the forms after scrutinising the deal signed between the FKF and the Nigerian-based betting firm.

Nzoia stated the forms they had initially received were faulty, but they made their submission on Monday.

The rest of the KPL clubs including promoted sides Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United have already received the payments, awaiting the second instalment which will be remitted if and when the new Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season gets underway.

However, Goal can now report after a closed-door meeting between top Gor Mahia officials and partly the federation, the club has finally agreed to sign the contentious form and the money will hit their bank account on Tuesday.

“It is true we have signed the forms, we really needed to know whether the contract signed between FKF and BetKing was genuine and it was the reason we had to take our time,” a top club official, who did not want to be named, told Goal on Tuesday.

In a previous interview, Homeboyz chairman Cleophas Shimanyula told Goal they will only fill the form after getting a clearance from their legal team.

“We are not in a hurry to get the money, first of all, we want to know whether the deal signed by FKF is genuine or not,” Shimanyula told Goal on Friday.

“We are not starving, and furthermore Ksh500, 000 is very little to even pay player salaries so we are not in a hurry to go for the money, we will sign the form and remit our bank account when we are very sure that the deal signed between FKF and BetKing is binding.

“I know some other club chairmen have been lured to sign and submit their bank accounts but I can assure you Homeboyz, will be the last, we have to be very sure what we are doing is legal and binding.”

A week ago, the FKF signed a lucrative sponsorship deal worth Ksh1.2billion with the betting firm, who is replacing SportPesa and will see each club in the top-flight receive Ksh8million annually.

Simba SC assistant coach Seleman Matola has rubbished transfer reports linking him with a move to Azam FC ahead of the new season.

The ‘Ice Cream Makers’ have been linked with the former Taifa Stars player for many seasons and recent reports indicated they were very close to acquiring his services.

Matola joined Simba from Polisi Tanzania at the start of the current campaign and has been working under Belgian coach Sven Vandenbroeck.

Matola, who recently guided Simba to their third straight Mainland Premier League title after they finished the season on 88 points, has now come out to clarify the transfer issue, insisting he is still contracted to the Wekundu wa Msimbazi and has never been approached by Azam.

“I am a coach of Simba and that is where I do my work, and with reports, I have landed a new job at Azam, I don’t know where those reports are coming from, I don’t have any idea, no team has approached me for my services, and I am contracted to Simba,” Matola is quoted by Sokaletu.

According to reports gathered by Goal, Matola was picked from a pool of other assistant coaches who had submitted their CVs for the job, which also included Kagera Sugar head coach Mecky Maxime.

In a recent interview, a source privy to the deal but did now want to be named told Goal: “It is true that Matola will cross over from Yanga to handle Azam on the same capacity.

“Matola was among the coaches Azam officials were looking at and he has been picked ahead of Maxime, Azam are keen to build a strong technical bench as they want to challenge for titles in the coming season.”

Azam are currently under the tutelage of Romanian coach Aristica Cioaba and lost their fight to finish second on the 20-team league table as Young Africans (Yanga SC) beat them to the spot on the final day of the 2019-20 season on Sunday.

Azam have already confirmed they will sign at least 15 players to help beef up the squad ahead of the new season.

With the team also missing out on winning the FA Cup after losing 2-0 to Simba in the quarter-finals, the club officials have now asked coach Cioaba to go for quality players so they are able to challenge for trophies next season.

Azam information officer Thabit Zakaria has confirmed they have given the Romanian coach a free hand to pick the players he wants for the team and they will not care about the number even if he signs 15 new players.

Polokwane City goalkeeper George Chigova is looking forward to the resumption of the 2019/20 season despite his future at the club being uncertain.

The current season is set to resume in the first week of next month having been suspended since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Chigova recently admitted that he was unsure of his long-term future at Rise and Shine after signing a two-month contract with the club.

The Zimbabwe international's initial deal with Polokwane expired at the end of last month and the Limpopo-based side has decided to keep him until the end of the current campaign.

“I’m feeling happy now we know that we going to resume our games,” Chigova told Zimbabwean publication, The Herald.

“It’s been tough for the last four months; not doing what we love most but now we are happy that we going to be able to finish the games."

Chigova is in his fifth season with Polokwane having joined prior to the 2015/16 campaign after being released by SuperSport United.

The towering shot-stopper also provided an update on Rise and Shine's preparations as they look to avoid relegation from the PSL to the National First Division (NFD).

“During the lockdown, they gave us programmes to follow and we were doing training sessions via the zoom app," he added.

“But, since we started training as a team, three weeks ago, we have been working to prepare for the games.”

Polokwane are placed 14th on the league standings - three points above the relegation zone with six matches left in their league campaign.

Chigova is set to continue his battle with Mwenya Chibwe for Rise and Shine's number one spot when the season resumes.

Chigova will have to impress the club's head coach Clinton Larsen in order to reclaim his place in the starting line-up.

Chibwe joined Polokwane from NFD side Jomo Cosmos in June 2019 and the Zambia international has managed to dethrone Chigova as the team's first-choice keeper.

Arsenal have been “in freefall and haven’t fixed things in six years”, says Charlie Nicholas, but Mikel Arteta has offered enough encouragement to suggest that he can be the man to turn the tide.

The Gunners could only muster an eighth-place finish in the Premier League during the 2019-20 campaign, and that is a long way short of expectation in north London, with the three-time title winners having taken in a humbling fall from grace.

FA Cup glory could still salvage their season and offer a route into European competition for 2020-21.

Major silverware would, however, be masking serious faults, with Arsenal having been in decline for some time now.

Arteta has been charged with the task of getting a fallen giant back on its feet, with cause for optimism offered through the early months of his reign.

The Gunners remain a work in progress, though, and Nicholas concedes that there will be no quick fix to be found at Emirates Stadium.

He told Sky Sports when offering his assessment of Arsenal in what has been a testing season for all concerned: “It's not Mikel Arteta's fault, it's a club that have been in freefall and haven't fixed things in six years.

“They finished eighth because they only won 14 games - that's the lowest I can recall in the Premier League era. I could probably look back while Arteta has come in and say why am I giving them a D?

“But I have to take it as a whole season. He's made it better. I'm not a great man for stats, and his stats have not been great, but I think as Arsenal people we want to see progress and we are.

“There's been too many draws, I look at Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - his goals have been great, both goalkeepers have been good, and other than that, I'm looking at Bukayo Saka. But no other players of real substance.”

Arsenal need to find that inspiration from somewhere, but Arteta is still waiting to discover what his budget will be for a summer transfer window that is now open for business.

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Sergio Aguero will sit out Manchester City's Champions League clash with Real Madrid.

Aguero has been out of action since suffering a knee injury during a Premier League victory over Burnley in June.

The Argentine recently stepped up his recovery in the gym after undergoing surgery on the issue, and Guardiola dropped the biggest hint yet over a possible return date for the striker prior to City's final day win against Norwich at the weekend.

"I think against Madrid everyone will be fit," the 49-year-old head coach said before watching his side beat the Canaries 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

After the match, however, Guardiola performed a U-turn regarding the status of Aguero, who was left on the bench when City beat Madrid 2-1 in the first leg of their round of 16 tie at Santiago Bernabeu back in February.

When asked if the 32-year-old will be a part of his squad for the second leg on August 7, the City manager told reporters: “No, I think it will not be possible for the timing.”

Aguero has 23 goals to his name from 32 appearances in all competitions this season, with Raheem Sterling the only man in the City squad currently boasting a higher tally, as he reached the 30-mark for the first time in his career by scoring against Norwich.

Gabriel Jesus will likely continue to lead the line in Aguero's absence when Madrid arrive at the Etihad, having scored an all-important equaliser at the Bernabeu earlier this year.

City's latest five-goal haul in the Premier League took them to 100-plus goals in the competition for the third time in their history, but Guardiola insists that thrashing Norwich will have little bearing on the Madrid encounter.

“Different competition, different opponent, cannot compare,” he added. “We have two weeks.

"We are going to start to prepare the game, tell them what they should do, try to play the game, do a good game. Arrive in the best conditions and we are going to do it.”

Should City finish off Madrid in Manchester, they will be rewarded with a quarter-final showdown against either Juventus and Lyon, which will be held in Lisbon under the new straight knockout format.

Deputy Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Leagues and Competitions manager Doreen Nabwire is optimistic the Harambee Starlets will soon be playing in the Fifa World Cup.

In the recent past, the East Africa team has tasted some success, including competing with the best on the continent as well as winning the regional title. It is for this reason the former forward believes gracing the biggest stage is within their grasp.

"There has been a lot of growth for the women’s game in Kenya over the last four years. Though we have a long way to go, I believe we have made some huge strides," Nabwire told Cafonline.

"We qualified for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in 2016 and missed out of qualification narrowly in 2018.

"This year, we have come through to the penultimate round of qualification to the Olympics and we have won the Cecafa Cup for the first time too.  

"I believe that soon we will be contending to play in the Fifa Women's World Cup."

The former FC Koln striker is, however, adamant the country must remain consistent in top-level football to achieve the feat.

"If we can consistently play at a high level and compete with some of the top teams, we will mature as a team," Nabwire added.  

Nabwire has been one of the key people in the Federation as far as women's football in the country is concerned.

"We started off by re-modelling the Premier League in 2016 and in 2017 we started the second-tier," the former international, who was forced out of the game owing to a knee injury, continued.

"The growth up to now has been immense but we can still do better. We have been forced to revert to zonal leagues because of lack of funds but if we can get more sponsors on board, we can grow the league to be one of the best in Africa."  

The administrator was the first-ever Kenyan to play in Germany, initially for Werder Bremen and also managed to win the Golden Boot after scoring 13 goals.

She is also Fifa and Caf Instructor as well as a qualified coach.

Bruno Fernandes believes Jesse Lingard is unfairly singled out for criticism, with the Manchester United midfielder delighted to see a much-maligned colleague get back among the goals against Leicester.

The Red Devils knew that a positive result was required from a trip to the King Power Stadium in order to secure Champions League qualification.

Fernandes opened the scoring from the penalty spot against the Foxes, before Lingard settled any nerves late on when he capitalised on a mistake from Kasper Schmeichel to wrap up a 2-0 win.

That effort was the England international’s first in the Premier League since December 2018, with a lengthy barren run seeing the 27-year-old fall under the microscope for all of the wrong reasons.

Lingard has admitted to finding the going tough at times, with many picking him out as an easy scapegoat, but Fernandes believes the perfect response has been offered to the detractors.

The Portuguese playmaker told MUTV: "Of course it's a mistake from the keeper also but if Jesse doesn't go there the goal doesn't come so it's for this we work.

"For me Jesse deserved this goal because of what he works for all week, for all the comments everyone is saying about him and other players because they don't play too much or they don't play good enough. 

"I think this is the reason Jesse scored because we're training hard, training hard to help all the team."

Fernandes’ second-half spot-kick on the final day of the Premier League season was his 10th goal in just 20 appearances for United.

A stunning contribution has been made to the collective cause on the back of his January arrival, but the 25-year-old is not one to dwell on the past and will continue to look forward.

Quizzed on his goal return, Fernandes said – with United now readying themselves for the resumption of Europa League competition: "I think the most important one will be the next.

"I'm always thinking about the next one. I'm happy, all goals are important in different ways.

"It was important for us and for me to score this goal because it gives us the chance to be more calm in the game."

The Red Devils will be back in action against LASK on August 5, with a 5-0 advantage in that contest meaning that they already have one foot in the quarter-finals and are a step closer to securing major silverware.

Sofapaka have revealed they have tabled a good offer to sign former Gor Mahia defender Musa Mohammed.

Mohammed is currently a free agent after his two-year contract with Nkana FC of Zambia came to a close at the start of June.

Batoto ba Mungu boss Elly Kalekwa has now revealed to Goal they have already made their first approach for the services of the player and are now waiting for his response.

“I held a meeting with Mohammed, we have been talking and gave him an offer we feel he deserves, he asked us to go and think about it, so we are waiting for him to get back,” Kalekwa told Goal on Tuesday.

“Mohammed told us he does not want to rush into signing a deal before he goes through it, and as a club, we gave him time to go and look at it, it is a good offer which fits the player and I cannot reveal further details until he puts pen to paper.”

In a recent interview, Kalekwa told Goal he was a keen admirer of the defender who guided Gor Mahia to five Kenyan Premier League (KPL) titles before he left for Nkana FC of Zambia where his contract ended in June.

“It is not an open secret Sofapaka have always wanted to sign Musa [Mohammed], since we engaged him last season before he left for Zambia,” Kalekwa told Goal.

“I am informed he is now a free agent after ending his contract with Nkana but we have not reached out or talked to him, we will talk to him when the right time comes, he is a good player, who can fit in well into our squad and give us the leadership quality that we want in the team.”

Tanzanian giants Young Africans (Yanga SC) are among the clubs that have reportedly shown a keen interest in signing the defender.

At Nkana, the central defender was parading alongside other Kenyan stars, including former AFC Leopards captain Duncan Otieno, former Gor Mahia captain Harun Shakava and Duke Abuya, who joined in January 2020.

Mohammed featured for K'Ogalo from 2010 to 2017, before moving to Albania for a short stint with KF Tirana.

When he ended his contract with the European club, he returned home before moving to Zambia in 2018.

Fulham midfielder Josh Onomah has dedicated his goal in their first leg of the semi-finals of the Championship play-off against Cardiff City on Tuesday to the club’s manager Scott Parker.

The 23-year-old's strike and an effort from the Democratic Republic of the Congo international Neeskens Kebano gave the Cottagers a 2-0 advantage ahead of the second leg on Thursday.

After a cagey first half, Onomah, brought life into the game in the second half when he received the ball from Harrison Reed and beat three of his markers in the box before slotting home his effort, beyond the reach of goalkeeper Alex Smithies.  

The midfielder has been a key component of the Craven Cottage outfit since joining the side from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur last summer.

Onomah is delighted with his strike in the encounter and praised Fulham boss Parker for giving him the opportunity to showcase his ability.

“Harrison Reed gave it to me and when I got into the box I knew they couldn’t really touch me so I triple-pass them and when I hit the back of the net I was over the moon,” Onomah told FFCtv.

“It was a great feeling for men and my family, we will go into the second leg and do the same again. I relaxed, stayed calm and gained composure and did that and got the reward for it.

“He [Parker] is someone I looked up to, I dedicate that goal to him because he someone who always believes in me and I thank him for giving me the chance.

“From the day one I have come in he has always believed in my ability trying to get the best from me and towards the end of the season, I started to show him.  

“We started the game quite slowly and in the second half we came out strong and we got the goal after the goal we defended as a team and worked hard and it shows how good the morale is

“We must be composed, stay calm and do the same thing on Thursday.”

Onomah has now scored four goals and provided three assists in 34 appearances across all competitions this season and will hope to help Fulham achieve their target of playing in the Premier League next campaign.  

The midfielder has featured for England at U16, U17, U18, U19, U20, U21 level but he still eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents, having not represented the European country at senior level.

Manchester City are expecting comings and goings in what promises to be a “strange” transfer window, with Txiki Begiristain confident that the Blues can “improve the squad”.

With an elongated Premier League season having come to a close, another recruitment market has opened for business.

There are just seven weeks until the 2020-21 campaign is due to kick off, with City still hoping to challenge for Champions League glory before the curtain is pulled down on the current campaign.

Focus at the Etihad Stadium is very much locked on the pursuit of a much-coveted continental crown.

Attention will, however, be given to the tweaks required in order to keep the club competitive on multiple fronts.

Director of football Begiristain has a leading role to play there, with plans already being drawn up when it comes to freshening up the ranks.

Arrivals are expected, with Pep Guardiola still in need of another commanding centre-half, while sales could also be sanctioned as City prepare to part with those deemed surplus to requirements.

Begiristain has told the club’s official website: "We are working a lot, we have to be ready.

"It will be a strange window because people have to move fast, we have to bring in players who can improve our squad but also it means that maybe someone can leave.

"It will be strange also because we have the Champions League so we have to wait to move forward until the Champions League is finished.

"We might have less time than ever but we’ll have time to make the changes we need to improve the squad."

One of those that City will definitely be parting with is long-serving midfielder David Silva as, after a decade of loyal service in Manchester, the World Cup winner is preparing to depart at the end of his contract.

Silva has been showered with plaudits as he readies himself for a new challenge, and Begiristain hopes City can deliver the perfect send-off by capturing a first Champions League trophy.

He added: “He deserves it for his career.

“He has been winning leagues, cups, World Cups, Euros. We want to try to help him win the Champions League.

“It will be the best way to say goodbye. And also the best way for him to say thank you to the City supporters and the club.”