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Callum McGregor is hoping to get another shot at Neymar in the 2020-21 Champions League, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward having revelled in “taking the mickey” out of Celtic in seven previous outings against the Scots.

The most recent of those came in the friendly at Parc des Princes on Tuesday. Thomas Tuchel’s Ligue 1 title holders got the better of the Scottish kings in a comfortable 4-0 win as they stepped up their preparations for the resumption of Champions League competition.

Neymar was among the goals in the French capital, with the Brazilian having now netted eight times in his meetings with Celtic. His aggregate record against the Glasgow giants stands at 32-2, across spells with Barcelona and PSG, with his antics not always being well received by the Hoops.

Neil Lennon spoke out against the South American following his last outing, while McGregor admits that he would welcome the opportunity to cross paths with the showboating 28-year-old one more time.

The Celtic midfielder said in the Daily Record: “We keep saying we owe him one before the games, but he’s that good that if you don’t switch on, he punishes you in the first minute like he did on Tuesday night. He played an unbelievable ball into [Kylian] Mbappe to score the opener.

“So you can say, ‘Get close to him next time’ but it’s not that easy. It’s a learning curve for the players as well. Hopefully we will get back there to the Champions League and have a second crack at it.”

McGregor added, with Neymar having once again brought out his bag of tricks against Celtic while also becoming involved in a heated discussion with Lennon: “Is it infuriating? Of course it is. You’re professional and you like the respect part of the game.

“You don’t like people taking the mickey out of you, but you have to respect the talent and try to get the ball back off him.

“His job is to score and you’re always going to get things like that in football. He’s a world-class talent and it’s very hard to get close to him.

“He manipulates the ball so well but if you have a kick at him he doesn’t like it, but it’s not personal. It’s my job to win the ball back and sometimes you mistime a tackle but if you stand off then top players will hurt you.

“You have to respect the quality but not respect him to the point of standing off him and letting him do his thing.

“We had a couple of nibbles at him but he seemed to take it and come back for more. That’s why he is a top, top player. He was even laughing at one point. He’s just a top talent, whether you love him or hate him. There are a lot of tussles in the game and that’s just part and parcel of football.”

Olivier Giroud says he is still "thirsty" to make history and win trophies for France, with a number of individual goals still in his sight at international level.

The 33-year-old striker was a key figure in France's victory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, however it was expected he would be moved aside in time for Euro 2020, with manager Didier Deschamps having a wealth of attacking options at his disposal for Les Bleus.

Giroud was also set aside in his club career in the first half of the 2019-20 season, as he rarely featured for Chelsea under new manager Frank Lampard and looked likely to be moved on in January.

However he stayed at Stamford Bridge and has regained his place in the first team in the second half of the season, contributing crucial goals both before and after the coronavirus-enforced hiatus in the Premier League season.

His form - four goals in his last five games for the Blues - could have seen him called up for France again for the European Championships, however they have been postponed by a year because of the pandemic, meaning the veteran forward faces an uphill battle to keep his place in the squad.

Giroud however has a number of individual aims, as well as the possibility of another major international title, to keep him focused on his France place. He currently has 97 caps at senior international level, and has scored 39 goals - the third most ever, behind Michel Platini on 41 while Thierry Henry leads the way with 51.

Giroud told Canal+ :  "I had the chance to make a Euro final [in 2016, where France lost to Portugal] and win the World Cup. I'm still thirsty for trophies and to break records with the French team.

"It would be good to pass 100 caps, and then try to get past Platini in second place in the France team's top scorers rankings. These are goals and the Euros next summer is of course a goal."

Giroud also has aims to reach at club level this season, with Chelsea needing to beat Wolves in their final game of the Premier League campaign to qualify for the Champions League, before facing Arsenal in the FA Cup final at Wembley on August 1.

Alan Shearer has backed Mason Greenwood to beat his Premier League scoring record while describing the Manchester United striker as a "potential superstar".

Greenwood became the first teenager to reach ten goals in a top-flight season since United legend Wayne Rooney when he netted in a 1-1 draw against West Ham at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The England U21 international's second-half strike also ensured that he joined Rooney, George Best and Bryan Kidd as the only teenagers to have hit 17 goals in all competitions over the course of a single campaign for the Red Devils.

Greenwood has stepped his game up another notch since last month's Premier League resumption, and his goals have helped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side close in on Champions League qualification.

Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are the only players to have outscored the 18-year-old at United this season, with both men currently on 22 goals, even though he was mostly used as a substitute before the coronavirus-enforced lockdown came into effect.

Shearer hit 260 Premier League goals over the course of his career, which stands as the highest mark in the competition's history, but he can see Greenwood surpassing that tally if he continues his current trajectory.

The former Newcastle and Blackburn centre-forward said on BBC's Match of the Day: “[He's] a potential superstar. I respect the power, left foot, right foot, and the way he gets his shot away early, he doesn’t give the keeper a chance to set himself.

“Whether it’s near-post or far-post. Everything is power, head down and hit it as hard as you can. I was taught at Southampton, by my old youth coach Dave Merrington, to concentrate on that right foot and make it unstoppable.

“Now, he can do it with his left or right foot. He gets it away early and the goalkeepers have no chance.

“I think in 12 or 13 years time, we could be talking about a Premier League record goal scorer. I know there are so many things that can happen in someone’s career, but I think he’s that good.”

Greenwood and co will be back in action on Sunday when United take in a crucial trip to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester on Sunday, which will mark their final domestic outing of the campaign.

Inter head coach Antonio Conte said the second position in the table is "just first for losers" after the Nerazzurri dropped behind Atalanta in Serie A.

Conte's stuttering Inter produced a toothless display as they were held to a 0-0 draw by visiting Fiorentina at San Siro on Wednesday.

Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez both hit the woodwork for Inter, who missed the chance to move above Atalanta into second place with three matches remaining.

Inter are one point adrift of high-flying Atalanta and seven behind leaders Juventus as the defending champions close in on a ninth successive Scudetto.

"Second place is meaningless in my eyes, it's just first for losers," Conte told Sky Sport Italia post-game.

"Some settle for that, but not me. I don't want my players to settle for that either."

"It was a good game, we played with the right intensity and passing moves, but were unlucky when hitting the woodwork twice," Conte said.

"I can't complain when the lads put in this desire and we even risked losing it at the end through our sheer desire to win. Fiorentina deserve credit for a very good defensive performance.

"When you drop points, there are always things that have gone wrong. We are trying to develop a killer instinct and I am happy if my players are disappointed at this draw, because that shows my work is bearing fruit.

"Every game is a test to prove that we are growing. I think this team hasn't reaped what it sowed this season, aside from securing a Champions League place with several rounds to spare."

Barcelona target Lautaro Martinez started on the bench against Fiorentina, with Conte preferring Lukaku and the in-form Sanchez up front.

Martinez struggled to make an impact following his introduction with 21 minutes remaining and Conte added: "We are talking about a 22-year-old who didn't really play much last season.

"He has made his mark this term, but still has a journey ahead of him, a growth process that he needs to go through. Lautaro is not the complete package yet.

"He can alternative positive and negative moments, as is natural for someone of his age. The rumours around him are insulting his intelligence and trying to stir up trouble, claiming he is thinking about another club."

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) have decided to conduct I-League 2020-21 season at a centralised venue as part of its measure to deal with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

Given that the Indian Football Association (IFA) - the governing body of football in West Bengal - have agreed to host all the I-League matches of the upcoming season, several clubs have expressed their support of the decision while some are apprehensive.

Although it is not confirmed yet when the season will start, it is expected to be commence between December 2020 and January 2021. It has been ascertained that five to six venues in the state are believed to be ready to host the matches. However, the Salt Lake stadium is not in contention as it is one of the venues for the 2020 U17 Women's World Cup which starts in February 2021.

"We are ready to play in Kolkata. We have no problem. The home advantage will not be there. But again, it will be played in empty stadiums. Gate collection would have suffered anyway, even if it was played in Manipur. So we don't have any issue playing in Kolkata," NEROCA secretary Manimohan Moirangthem to Goal.

Chennai City and Gokulam Kerala have also deemed it a positive move but sought more clarity in order to plan their campaigns, especially with regard to the summer transfer window of August 1st to October 20th.

Chennai City owner Rohit Ramesh stated, "It's good that we are having it in one place. If you take the logistics into consideration, it is a positive step to have it in one location but then you have to see with regards to the flights and all. Each state is different. Some places are under complete lockdown. It all depends on how the situation evolves over the next couple of months."

Gokulam Kerala, having clinched the 2019 Durand Cup tournament in West Bengal, feel that Kolkata is an ideal place to hold the I-League. However, they want the AIFF to support them when it comes to accommodation arrangements.

"So far, we have not heard anything officially. Kolkata is okay (as a venue). We played the Durand Cup over there and since we started from the group stage we were there for nearly a month. The only thing is, if we have it there, it should be at least for a three-month period. So we don't know how the AIFF is going to support us with the accommodation and all that because staying in a hotel will be a huge deal (expense) for us," Gokulam Kerala President VC Praveen said.

"The earlier the I-League starts, the better for us. We are signing a player for four or five months without clarity and if the I-League is going to get over in less than three months' time, then we should see to it that we have another tournament or something," he continued.

"We have finished our Indian signings. We have Ronald Singh, Roshan Singh, Zodingliana Ralte and three local players. As for the foreign signings, we have to know when the league is starting. Since the transfer window is open till October 20th, we can probably wait because more players will be available also by then."

Meanwhile, representatives of Churchill Brothers and Aizawl FC have communicated their apprehensions about such a move.

"Right now, these are unprecedented times. We have to see to the safety of the players," Valanka Alemao, CEO of the Red Machines, indicated. "Right now, in Kolkata, the infection rate is very high. I'm sure the federation will take care of the safety aspect but you cannot say at this time how it is all going to work out. I have heard that just two hotels will accommodate all the players but if you ask me, I think till the pandemic is in control, I cannot imagine what it's going to be like. 

"And it's a different state for all of us. In my region I will be able to take care of my people, but over there I will not know how. Everybody is scared to even get into a flight right now. So I understand that, that's why they want it at one venue but I am not able to have that vision of how it is going to be over there as it is said that India is going to peak in November," she aired her fears.

Aizawl FC owner Robert Royte was also concerned about the expenditure the club might incur in such a scenario.

"It depends on the support from the AIl India Football Federation for conducting the league at venue. We will be losing the home support and we have no information regarding the ticketing system. Extra expenditure will be there. At this stage, I cannot comment further until I have more details.

"We are yet to start our season. Usually, the Mizoram Premier League precedes the I-League every year but we cannot have it (yet) this year. Group training is also not allowed because of the Covid-19 situation."

Real Kashmir are also seeking subsidies from the Indian FA in case the I-League ends up being held in West Bengal.

"We will definitely approach AIFF for some subsidy. We have already wasted a lot of money in the previous season with bookings and cancellations of all sorts. Definitely, we can't blame anybody for that. The cost is going to be very high as the team will be staying in a hotel in a new city," Real Kashmir owner Sandeep Chattoo said.

"Moreover, food might be an issue. When you are staying away from Kashmir for such a long time it will have its effects on the team, apart from the fact that it is going to be very expensive. The pandemic will affect the sponsorship revenues as well. But the show must go on."

Betting firm BetKing is contemplating taking action against Kenyan Premier League (KPL) giants Gor Mahia for declining a deal with them despite, allegedly, accepting a KSh15 million downpayment. 

Weeks ago, K'Ogalo announced another betting firm Betsafe as their shirt sponsors in a three-year-deal starting in the 2020/21 season. According to the details of the deal, Gor Mahia will get KSh55 million per year from the organization.

"They have a new sponsor but it is going to put them in trouble soon," a senior source revealed to Goal on Thursday.

"The company [BetKing] were keen on sponsoring the team; it was on a Ksh30 million deal and everything had been agreed, and the downpayment already made. We were shocked by their last-minute change and the unveiling of our competitors."

Reportedly, the KSh15 million was wired in a different account with a local bank, where only three officials from the club are signatories. It is a move which has raised eyebrows considering the fact that Gor Mahia have an active bank account.

As opposed to BetKing, Betsafe paid Gor Mahia Ksh5 million as downpayment, with another amount set to hit K'Ogalo accounts in a couple of weeks.

When reached for comment, Gor Mahia Secretary-General Ronald Ngala had a different version.

"We signed a deal with our kit manufacturer Umbro who promised to bring an unnamed shirt sponsor," Ngala told Goal.

"There was no contact, no deal signed or any deal involving BetKing with Gor Mahia. Somethings we are reading are not true since Umbro had not revealed the shirt sponsors they were bringing on board.

"We went on with our search for a new sponsor and Betsafe agreed to come on board. That is when we came to understand Umbro had intentions of bringing on board BetKing who they are partnering with."

And what about the downpayment?

"We did not receive the purported KSh15 million as reported but half the amount which was from Umbro," Ngala continued.

"The monies were wired to the Gor Mahia accounts, the alleged account... does not exist... We only have one account, and it belongs to the club, Gor Mahia."

Leeds United have defended their decision to hold an open-top bus celebration outside Elland Road on Wednesday night.

The Whites' long-awaited return to the Premier League was confirmed after West Brom's defeat at Huddersfield last Friday.

They were also named Championship winners following Brentford's loss against Stoke City the next day, and they took in their final game of the season against Charlton in midweek.

Marcelo Bielsa's side ran out 4-0 winners at Elland Road, thanks to goals from Ben White, Stuart Dallas, Tyler Roberts and Jamie Shackleton.

Leeds officials organised an open-top bus parade outside the ground for later in the evening, with supporters flocking from across the city to celebrate their club's promotion to the top flight.

Social distancing measures are still in effect across Great Britain due to the continued threat of coronavirus, but the large crowd flouted those rules while singing with the players standing on the top deck of the bus.

Leeds have now come out to insist that the relevant authorities were consulted over the parade, and that the safety of the public has always been the club's number one priority throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

A spokesman for the Whites has released an official statement on the matter, which reads: "Following consultation with the SAG and Council, Leeds United arranged for a bus to be parked outside the East Stand reception as a contingency to assist dispersal should a crowd congregate at Elland Road despite a month-long campaign from the club and supporter groups to encourage supporters to stay at home.

"The safety group believed was that a brief appearance from the players with the Championship trophy, would help to signal an end to proceedings, encouraging fans to head home safely.

"In challenging circumstances, fan safety has always been our priority."

Leeds will now look ahead to their first appearance in the Premier League since the 2003-04 campaign, and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is among those excited by the prospect of Bielsa managing in English football's top tier.

"He is unique in world football because of the special way he plays," Guardiola told a press conference on Monday. "He is an authentic manager. No other manager in the world plays the way he plays.

"He is an incredible person. He is so special. It is my personal opinion but it will be incredible for English football to have him in the Premier League next season."

Ajax Cape Town chief executive officer Ari Efstathiou says the Premier Soccer League (PSL) should consider having 18 teams in the top-flight league.

This comes after a report by City Press revealed the current season could be cancelled if the league's executive committee members have their way.

There is a stand-off between the PSL and the South African Football Association (Safa) over the resumption of football with the campaign having been suspended from last March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

PSL had plans to resume the suspended season in a Biologically Safe Environment (BSE) in Gauteng on July 18, but Safa insisted football can only start in August 2020 as the match officials were not ready.

Efstathiou feels it is time for the league's Board of Governors to look at the possibility of going back to an 18-team league.

“It’s an option that needs to be considered, there are obviously cost implications to that," Efstathiou was quoted as saying on The Citizen.

"But I also believe that a country like ours should have always had an 18-team League, not a 16-team League.

“So, maybe this is the right opportunity to go back to an 18-team league, so I think that’s a strong option that must be considered by the Board of Governors.”

The PSL was an 18-team league when it started, but it was reduced to 16 teams in 2002 in order to address the issue of fixture congestion.

The league bought out the statuses of Ria Stars and Free State Stars, whose late chairman Mike Mokoena revived the club as he bought and renamed the franchise of National First Division (NFD) side Maholosiane.

Free State Stars were back in the elite league in 2005 after winning the NFD title which was called Mvela Golden League at the time.

Efstathiou's Ajax looked destined to secure promotion to the PSL as they were in top form in the NFD, while also sitting at the top of the league standings.

The Urban Warriors are seven points above second-placed Moroka Swallows with six matches left.

The PSL Board of Governors is set to hold a meeting on Friday to discuss the way forward regarding the resumption of football.

Mohamed Salah is “undervalued and underappreciated” at Liverpool, claims Jamie Carragher, while Sadio Mane is considered to be “the best left-sided attacking player in the world”.

The Reds got their hands on the Premier League title after playing out a 5-3 thriller against Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday.

Neither Salah nor Mane were among the goals in that contest, but they have contributed 36 between them this season as a 30-year wait for English top-flight glory has come to a close on Merseyside.

Salah, who landed Golden Boots in each of his first two campaigns with the Reds, has led the way once again with 19 league efforts and 23 in total across all competitions.

His numbers have dipped since finding the target on 44 occasions in 2017-18, with Carragher admitting that a “freak” first season with Liverpool has seen unrealistic expectations form around the Egyptian.

The Reds legend told Sky Sports of Salah:  “He's now actually undervalued and underappreciated a little bit, even by Liverpool supporters.

“The reason is because he started with 47 goals in a season. That was a freak, it was like the best season of his life. Whatever he does after that feels like a drop-off. In real terms, it’s not.

“He’s a player who’s going to get you 25 goals every season. His numbers are off the scale, in terms of goals and assists – higher than any other Liverpool player in history.”

Mane is another now expected to deliver the goods every time he steps onto the field, with the Senegalese rarely disappointing after becoming a prolific presence from the flanks.

Carragher added on the 28-year-old forward: “I think he’s the best left-sided attacking player in the world right now. He only had a week off in the summer after the Africa Cup of Nations, after he got to the final. He was on the bench against Norwich in the first game of the season.

“For me, I think he’s been Liverpool’s best player. In those early weeks, his goal against Southampton, the Super Cup and having no rest, it's just phenomenal and he doesn’t stop.

“His pace, what he brings to the team and his all-round game - he’s an absolute superstar.”

The qualities of Salah and Mane are complemented by Roberto Firmino, with the Brazil international ending his long wait for a Premier League goal at Anfield in the Reds’ victory over Chelsea.

The 28-year-old has never been prolific, but he is the perfect fit for Jurgen Klopp’s system and a man who can be relied upon to deliver important goals and tireless running.

Carragher said of the South American: “He's been brilliant. His numbers aren’t amazing for a centre forward playing in the best team in Europe but you judge him on how he influences the rest of the team - not goals.

“He makes team-mates play better, he wins the ball back. He’s never injured. He’s always there and that performance level you get from him.

“You always think of the man through the middle as the one who gets the goals, but Liverpool’s main scorer plays down the right wing. If Salah played down the middle and Firmino down the right, you’d say Firmino's numbers are good.

“He’s a vital player for Jurgen Klopp, and you also have to remember what Klopp’s done for him, making him the centre forward, because when he first came to Liverpool a lot of people were scratching their heads asking where he fits in.”

Real Madrid knew their recent trophy drought would not last and that they would keep winning without Cristiano Ronaldo, says Luka Modric.

The Blancos were crowned champions of Spain for the 34th time following their 2-1 victory over Villarreal at Santiago Bernabeu last week.

Zinedine Zidane's men picked up the title for the first time since 2017, and ultimately finished five points clear of arch-rivals Barcelona at the top of the table.

Madrid won three consecutive European Cups and one La Liga crown during Zidane's first spell in charge, with the club's all-time record scorer Ronaldo spearheading the attack.

However, the French head coach left his post in 2018, while the Portuguese superstar completed a big-money move to Juventus.

The Blancos endured a miserable transitional season following the pair's departure, which saw them fail to land a single trophy while coming a disappointing third in La Liga.

Zidane returned to steady the ship in March 2019, and Madrid gradually rediscovered their best form, but Modric insists he never doubted that the glory days would return to the Bernabeu.

Asked whether Ronaldo's exit affected the winning mentality within the squad, the Madrid midfielder told Sportske Novosti: "It is not necessary to discuss how important Cristiano was for Real Madrid.

"But I must say that we were not overwhelmed by the fact that he was not there in the sense that we could not have the same ambitions.

"We were convinced that we would continue to win without him."

Modric added on Zidane's expert man-management skills: "Zidane once again proved to be a great person. He is reassuring and he is very correct in his approach to the player.

"There are always those who do not play as much as they would like, they are not happy and that makes sense.

"But the coach's approach has helped everyone feel part of the team and accept their situation.

"In this dressing room, everyone is a good guy, there is no one who creates problems for their own reasons, there are no bad apples."

Madrid are now looking ahead to a return to Champions League action, with a round of 16 second-leg tie against Manchester City on the cards next month.

Zidane's side must overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit at Etihad Stadium in order to reach the last eight, with the next stage of the competition set to take place in Lisbon.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita have shared their feelings after Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions on Wednesday.  

Jurgen Klopp’s men were presented with the trophy during their last home game of the 2019-20 season against Chelsea at Anfield.

The Reds secured a 5-3 thrilling victory over the Blues with goals from Keita, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Georginio Wijnaldum, Roberto Firmino and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain which rendered efforts from Olivier Giroud, Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic as mere consolations.

Salah was a key man in the title success, the Egypt international bagged 19 goals in the division and provided 10 assists in 33 appearances amid other dazzling displays.  

The fleet-footed forward joined the Reds in the summer of 2017 from Serie A side AS Roma and he has not failed to live up to expectations in all three seasons at Anfield.  

Salah has now scored 73 league goals since teaming up with Liverpool and will now add the Premier League trophy to his Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup diadems he had previously won at Anfield.  

Mane has stood out as one of the consistent players in front of goal for the Reds since signing for the club from Southampton in the summer of 2016.  

The forward had scored 62 league goals in his four-year stay so far and this season, he has bagged 17 strikes and provided nine assists in 34 appearances to ensure his side scooped the coveted trophy.

Keita’s campaign at Anfield has been blighted with injury problems which have prevented him from featuring regularly for Klopp’s side.

The midfielder is, however, now back to his best and scored a cracking opening goal against Chelsea. He has made 17 league appearances, scoring two goals and providing three assists for the Anfield outfit.  

The Guinea international had taken to social media to express his feelings after adding the Premier League title to the previous trophies he won at the club.  

The African stars will hope to help Liverpool finish the 2019-20 campaign with a victory when they face Newcastle United in their last game of the season on Sunday.  

Mason Greenwood’s 18-goal return for Manchester United has seen him better the achievements of Wayne Rooney and George Best, with Harry Maguire admitting that the youngster is a “special talent”.

An exciting Old Trafford academy graduate found the target again on his most recent outing against West Ham.

That effort helped United to claim an important point from a 1-1 draw, as they continue to chase down a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.

It also saw Greenwood become the first teenager to hit 18 goals for the club in a single campaign, with iconic figures such as Rooney, Best and Brian Kidd all managing 17.

At just 18 years of age, there is plenty still to come from a highly-rated forward who has burst onto a senior stage.

Maguire is among those expecting Greenwood to reach the very top, with the United captain telling the club’s official website of a mercurial talent: "When he gets into the box and he can manoeuvre his feet - to either foot - he's a nightmare for defenders, I know from training.

"He's been excellent; he's playing with confidence and he always seems to get on the scoresheet, especially since we've returned from lockdown.

"He's a special talent and he's got a big future at this club."

While United were pleased to see Greenwood find the target against West Ham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side had been hoping for more from a crucial clash on home soil.

Stalemate with the Hammers prevented the Red Devils from cementing their standing in third place with just one game left to take in.

Maguire added: "We're disappointed. It was an important game; a very important game not to lose.

"But no, we wanted to win the game."

United will now face Maguire’s former club Leicester on the final day of the campaign in what has become a decisive fixture for both sides.

Solskjaer’s side will secure a top-four finish if they avoid defeat, but the Foxes could snatch a place among the European elite away from them with victory at the King Power Stadium.

"If you can't get ready for the game on Sunday, you're in the wrong sport," said Maguire, who swapped Leicester for Manchester as a part of a record-breaking £80 million ($102m) transfer in 2019.

"It's a huge game. We've got three days to prepare for it... we'll be ready."

Tanzania captain Mbwana Samatta could be on his way out of Aston Villa as Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Galatasaray have reportedly developed an interest in him.

Birmingham Mail has reported the Taifa Stars skipper could be granted permission to leave the club at the end of the current campaign that is almost ending.

Samatta scored against Bournemouth and Manchester City after just signing for Dean Smith’s side but he has failed to regain his form since football resumed.

He is under immense pressure to deliver goals for Aston Villa especially after he has failed to do so since the club resumed their league assignments.

The Tanzanian was signed by the Birmingham club to help fill the void that was left when Brazilian striker Wesley Moraes got injured at the start of the year.

Birmingham Mail reports further indicate Fenerbahce are ready to offer the former Simba SC centre-forward a loan deal first.

A deal, according to the publication, between the Turkish giants and the player has already been agreed on.

Aston Villa signed the former TP Mazembe star from KRC Genk after good performances with the Belgian side.

Meanwhile, Samatta’s captain Jack Grealish explained the difference in the team before and after the coronavirus pandemic.

“Since we’ve come back, we’ve deserved more than we’ve got. We had certain things before Covid-19 that we were struggling with – one of them being set-pieces,” Grealish told the club’s website.

“We conceded too many goals, and over that time [during lockdown] we had Zoom calls twice a week and once we were back in training, we were working on it every single day.

“Since we’ve been back, we’ve defended brilliantly and we’ve also been brilliant from set-pieces, so it shows we’ve been working hard.

“The ball’s in our court now, so it’s up to us what we do on the last day now. Nothing’s done yet and we have a massive game on Sunday against West Ham. We’ll be giving our all again.”

The win against Arsenal on Wednesday, which is the first one against the Gunners since 1998, helped Aston Villa move out of the bottom three for the first time since February.

Mesut Ozil looks to be “gone” at Arsenal, admits Ian Wright, with Mikel Arteta having made it clear that life at Emirates Stadium is now “all about attitude”.

A World Cup winner in north London has seen his application called into question.

It is not the first time that Ozil has faced such scrutiny, with his laid-back approach to filling a creative No.10 post having seen him fall short of expectations on a regular basis.

He may, however, find himself ushered towards the exits on the back of his latest struggles to convince.

Arteta has taken to dropping the 31-year-old from his plans, with a former Germany international yet to see a minute of competitive football since Premier League action resumed in mid-June.

Ozil still has 12 months left to run on a lucrative contract at Arsenal, with his representatives stating that the intention is to see that deal out, but Wright feels a parting of ways may be on the cards.

He is among those who believe that the former Real Madrid star could still have something to offer the Gunners, but concedes that Arteta appears ready to take things in a different direction.

Arsenal icon Wright told Premier League Productions of Ozil: “I think that he’s gone.

“It’s all about attitude. The thing is when you look at Dani Ceballos, he had an attitude problem, Mikel turned him round and now he’s in the team.

“Matteo Guendouzi – they’re talking about him having a problem – he’s not in the team.

“Mikel’s given people the opportunity to get into the team if their attitude is right but at the minute their attitude is not right.

“Arsenal need him [Ozil], of course.

“But I believe that he’s somebody that’s gone from Arsenal - whether he stays or Mikel gets rid of him, we’re not going to see much of him.”

Part of the problem for Arsenal is going to be finding a club willing to take on Ozil’s considerable salary.

They would also expect to generate a fee from any deal done in the next window, as an experienced figure remains under contract, but few sides have expressed a willingness to do a deal at present.

KF Tirana coach Ndubuisi Egbo has described becoming the first-ever African coach to win a title in Europe as “unexplainable”.

The former Nigeria international made the historic feat after the Albanian capital club defeated Flamurtari 2-0 last Saturday to go seven points clear of second-placed Kukesi with two rounds left to play.

Egbo’s accomplishment sent Nigerians and Africans into joyous mood with congratulatory messages flowing from different corners.

Tirana’s league triumph was their first in 11 years and their 25th overall as Albania’s most successful club. They also have a cup final against Teua Durres on August 1 and have also booked a berth in the next season’s Champions League from the first qualifying round.

"It's unexplainable," Egbo told ESPN.

"I am still trying to let it sink in because I didn't know how huge the success of what God used us to do was until I started hearing I'm the first African coach to achieve this feat. Many people from Nigeria, Egypt -- where I played before -- and other places have been reaching out.”

Tirana faced the agony of relegation during the 2016-17 season after finishing ninth in the 10-team Albanian top-flight. They gained promotion back in 2018-19 and Egbo admits it had not been an easy ride for the team he played with during his playing career.

"They were completely down and knocked out, and you can't imagine the psychological work that we did just to get them back," Egbo continued.

"I played for this team, and in two out of the three years we won the league, the cup and Super Cup; we needed to bring that winning mentality back, and that is what we did.

"You need to put fear in opponents, and when you get into a game, you have to enter like a king into the arena. It's your arena, and no one else should command it apart from you.

"[This is the] winning mentality every team should have, and this is the mentality and culture of this team, KF Tirana. This is a team that when they go away, they go to get a win and not a draw because draw away is like a loss."

Egbo has been with Tirana since 2014 and has taken on the managerial role on an interim basis on multiple occasions, saying he turned down offers to take on the job permanently as he believed he was not qualified enough.

Despite turning the fortunes of the club around, the former goalkeeper narrates racial discrimination shown towards him in some quarters at the club. Egbo’s name is ringing at a time when calls are being made for more inclusion of black managers in European leagues.

"They attacked me many times, saying things like 'he doesn't have experience,' 'he is just a goalkeeper coach,' even though I took the UEFA Pro Licence [the highest coaching certification] before some of them that are analysing me," Egbo said.

"They have other local coaches that are coaching in the league, but they don't attack them the way they attack foreign coaches.

"They have an Italian coach in one other team and same thing is done to him, but because he is European, his attacks aren't as much as mine. Because I'm a Black man, the attack is more because they can't accept it.

"These are the things that make it very difficult to be able to work. You need patience, you need endurance, you need the grace and will of God to succeed."

Egbo also cited former Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu and assistant Joe Erico as having a big influence on his managerial career.

"When I took over this time, I felt like I had got the experience passing through many coaches, learning from all the coaches that I have worked with in the club, coupled with everything I have learnt from my career and all the coaches I worked with -- especially back home," he said.

"Coaches like Christian Chukwu and Joe Erico, one of the best coaches I have gone through in my career, who taught me more than just about football. And his lessons got me to where I am today.

"Also, his playing pattern. They used to say back then that if you don't come to the stadium on time, you won't see our first goal. That is the way I have my team playing here. We attack as a team and defend as a team."

Egbo is keen to take Tirana into the Champions League group phase, something no Albanian team has been able to achieve. He is also hopeful the mark he has made will give room for more African coaches to have more opportunities.

"First of all, our objective is to reach the group stage, and from there, we would set another objective for ourselves," Egbo said.

"Because no Albanian team has been able to do it. So we are expecting that we can go into the group stage. That would be a huge achievement for an Albanian team.

"I hope this achievement isn't only for me, but it will help other African coaches to be given opportunities to showcase what they can do and to be an encouragement to push them to do more for themselves."

Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas has stated the club are not interested in M’baye Niang, insisted he is not among their transfer targets.

The 25-year old has been talked about for some time now about a possible move to the Stade Velodrome. There have however not been any concrete discussions about such a deal materialising.

Villas-Boas however did acknowledge there had been previous interest in Niang, with ex-Marseille sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta having contact with his agent.

“I don’t know why the Niang name has come out,” Villas-Boas told La Provence.

“We contacted his agent in February because Andoni [Zubizarreta] had a good relationship with him. We made our interest known about a transfer at the end of the year.

“His profile is interesting, but on the one hand we don’t have the money required and on the other hand, we did not put his name on the list of players to buy.

“It started to gather momentum and I do not know why, to the point where the player was in contact with certain members of our squad.

“I let the player’s entourage know that we are not in for him, we have not made an offer. We have neither the means nor the interest in bringing him in.

“I wish him the best. It is not because he does not have quality, but because we don’t have the capacity and we are looking for a different profile.”

Rennes previously stated there was interest for Niang no official bid has been made for him of which Marseille are among.

“We received a lot of expression of interest, but no offers,” Rennes chairman Nicolas Holveck said.

“No agreement as I have heard on some platforms, with Marseille in particular. We didn't even get a phone call from Marseille. M'baye is here today. He has expressed his wish to develop under different skies, but not as vehemently as the press reported it.”

Niang scored 15 goals in all competitions with Rennes finishing third in Ligue 1 after 28 matchdays and making it into the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

A new Ligue 1 season will begin on August 23 with Julien Stephan’s men travelling to a Lille side which finished just a point adrift of the final Champions League berth.

Joe Aribo found the back of the net as Rangers claimed a 4-0 win over Motherwell on Wednesday.

The Gers had come into this match with a 100% record in their friendly games, keeping clean sheets in all.

They first saw off French giants Lyon before edging past Patrick Vieira’s Nice by the same scoreline.

Wednesday’s match at the Ibrox saw Rangers take a 3-0 lead thanks to Ryan Kent, Ianis Hagi - who scored a brace in the victory over Nice, and then Aribo on the stroke of half-time.

Ricki Lamie then went on to put the ball into his own net in the 68th minute to complete the scoring.

Rangers are participating in friendly games in a bid to get players fit after the 2019-20 Scottish Premiership was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Celtic were declared champions for the ninth consecutive season, finishing 13 points clear of Rangers. Both sides faced off in the Scottish League Cup final and it was the men in green and white that came out victorious 1-0.

A new Premiership season commences on August 1 with Rangers tackling Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Aribo joined Rangers from Charlton Athletic in last summer and was an instant hit for Steven Gerrard’s team, making a total of 48 appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing eight goals.

Three of them came in Premiership wins against Livingston, Hibernian and a 2-2 draw at St. Johnstone.

Aribo also scored three times during Europa League qualifying in victories against St. Joseph’s, FC Progres Niederkorn and FC Midtjylland.

Rangers made it into the group phase and finished second in Group G, one point behind FC Porto and ahead of Young Boys and Feyenoord. They beat Braga 4-2 on aggregate in the Round of 32, but have a molehill to climb in the Round of 16 with a 3-1 first leg home defeat by Bayer Leverkusen.

Aribo switched international allegiance from England to Nigeria and made his Super Eagles bow in a friendly with Ukraine in September 2019, scoring on the occasion, before netting his second in the next encounter this time a 1-1 draw with five-time world champions Brazil.

The 24-year-old’s energetic displays in the middle of the park have made him become a fast fan favourite in the country after just four caps and is largely seen as an upgrade to former captain John obi Mikel.

Jordan Henderson savoured the "amazing" experience of lifting the Premier League trophy on the Kop after Liverpool beat Chelsea 5-3 in an Anfield thriller.

The Reds finally got their hands on the silverware on Wednesday, almost a month after ending their 30-year wait to be crowned champions of England.

There were no fans inside the stadium to watch Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish present captain Henderson with the trophy, but that certainly did not spoil the party.

Midfielder Henderson, who is sidelined with a knee injury, said it was extra special to dethrone Manchester City after coming so close last year.

"Walking up there was amazing. The lads deserved their moment. Thankfully, the families were up there watching, that was a big thing for us. It's been an amazing season, to crown it off like that was special," the England international told Sky Sports.

"The start was really good and from there we just grew and grew as the season went on. We were stronger, more confident, more ruthless, really.

"We found a way to win on so many occasions and that was down to mentality. The lads have been great all season and deserve what they are getting now."

He added: "To get 97 points last year and not win was hard to take. We reacted a few weeks later, won the Champions League and then started the season a few weeks later with unfinished business.

"It's been an amazing season and I am so thankful to be part of this club and team that has won the Premier League after 30 years.

"Winning the Premier League has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. That's why you join Liverpool, you want to win trophies, the expectations are so high.

"When you come as a young player it was so difficult, but it has been a process, a journey that doesn't happen overnight. It's been five years since the gaffer came in and every single player has been a part of that journey."

Liverpool travel to Newcastle United for their final game of the season on Sunday knowing a win will take them to 99 points.

Frank Lampard believes Christian Pulisic's impact on Chelsea is comparable to Eden Hazard's at Stamford Bridge.

Pulisic scored and provided an assist after coming off the bench during the second half of Chelsea's 5-3 Premier League loss to Liverpool on Wednesday.

The United States international, 21, has scored nine league goals and provided four assists in 24 games, comparable to Hazard's first campaign (nine goals and 11 assists in 34 matches) at Chelsea in 2012-13.

Lampard lauded the attacker and said Pulisic's impact on Chelsea was similar to Hazard's, with the Belgian having left for Real Madrid last year.

"He is hugely important. He has had that impact," the Chelsea head coach told a news conference.

"I was here for Eden's first year and it's not easy to come into the Premier League, even for Eden in that first year, and adapt to the Premier League. Christian has had his moments of that.

"Since mid-season he's had a really good patch, since the restart he has been in incredible form. Only the injury he picked up in the Norwich game has kept him out of the [FA Cup] semi-final when he is flying.

"Today he comes on and has 40 minutes, which is great for the injury to feel confident with it and shows the quality that he has been showing. He's so young, he has got such natural talent. He scores goals, he creates goals and he is a big player for us. Delighted to see him come through fit. Clearly he will be a big player for us in these next few games but going forward as well."

Chelsea twice trailed by three goals against Liverpool, who sealed their win late on after the visitors had come back to a 4-3 deficit.

But Lampard had no criticism for under-fire goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, with Liverpool producing several good finishes.

"I wouldn't talk about individuals in a game where we have conceded those goals. Some were real quality Liverpool finishes, particularly the free-kick [from Trent Alexander-Arnold]," he said.

"There were some collective and individual errors for them but what we did do was contribute towards a really good game. At 4-3 it felt like we would get back into the game. I felt it throughout. At 3-0 it was difficult but even at 3-1 and what that gave us and the way we were playing in the game.

"We know where we're at and we know if we make mistakes like that against a team of the quality of Liverpool, this is what can happen. But there were a lot of good things in the game so I certainly don't want to get into an individual conversation about players. 

"We've now got two big domestic games to play this week. It's important we go in together as players, fans, everybody, to finish the season how we want."

With one league game remaining, Chelsea are a point clear of fifth-placed Leicester City, while they will face Arsenal in the FA Cup final on August 1.