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Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour will be out for up to four months after undergoing knee surgery, head coach Frank Lampard has confirmed.

The 19-year-old was hurt after a collision with Luka Milivojevic during the Blues' 3-2 Premier League win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday .

"Billy Gilmour's had an operation on his knee this morning, unfortunately, so he'll be out, we estimate, for somewhere between three and four months," Lampard said on Friday.

Gilmour had been flourishing this season under Lampard, making 11 appearances in all competitions, and had recently moved above Italy international Jorginho in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard says there is a stroke of fortune about the timing of the injury, with much of Gilmour's recovery likely to be taking place during the off-season between this term and the start of 2020-21, but he accepts the news was a blow to the player.

"I'm obviously very disappointed, we all are and Billy is himself," Lampard said. "I spoke with him yesterday [Thursday] at length and just gave him support, really.

"He's a tough boy. It hit him hard – I get that as well, particularly as a younger player who's just made his breakthrough in recent times and was doing so well – but it's part of football and I tried to explain he can be very pleased with the impact he's had this season.

"Part of our job as players is to get on with these things and learn our lesson quickly and his attitude will get him back as quick as he possibly can.

"His character is fantastic. Particularly with his age, the personality he has shown in getting in and around the first-team squad, getting himself into the team, I'm very sure he'll show the same character and do everything right with the rehab and tackle it.

"He's got a close-knit family around him who'll be there for him and we're his family too, we'll be there for him and the small bonus is it will hopefully cover a period that's off-season and pre-season, so he's maybe not missing as many games as he might have done."

Meanwhile, Tammy Abraham has seen his contract extended to 2023 after triggering a clause in his deal .

Chelsea, who sit third in the Premier League table with four matches remaining, face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Saturday.

If you believe the news media and the wider blogosphere, it appears that Algeria international Said Benrahma is already nailed-on to star in the Premier League next season.

A comment by Tondela’s Fahd Moufi on the player’s Instagram Live video on Thursday seemed to confirm a deal is in place for the winger to move to Chelsea this summer. Of course, this hardly works as a definitive confirmation, but perhaps the most interesting part of it all is that it does not seem far-fetched in the least.

Since the resumption of football, the 24-year-old has appeared to exist in a perpetual state of grace. His five goals and one assist in five games have kept Brentford in the hunt for automatic promotion from the Championship. Against Wigan Athletic a week ago, he struck his second hat-trick of the season; only Sergio Aguero has managed more.

It would be a mistake to gloss over that treble against the Latics though, as it is relevant beyond a tenuous relationship with Manchester City’s dead-eye Argentine assassin. So, going back to it, it can be surmised that each strike was instructive of the abilities Benrahma possesses at his best: the first: spatial wareness; the second: a capacity for flair and the absurd; the third: instinctive play around the box.

Then there are the dribbles: only Ovie Ejaria and Ebere Eze average more successful dribbles per game in the Championship than Benrahma’s 2.9.

There is an impish bent to his ability to beat a man that has left many a Championship right-back looking very foolish. There is a repertoire of nutmegs and elaborate drag-backs, powerful runs down the outside and step-overs. His rainbow flick over Bristol City’s Adam Nagy on New Year’s Day was a moment of pure genius – filth, as the kids say – and epitomizes his penchant to enjoy himself a little bit at the opponent’s expense.

The real trick for this magician has been marrying that elusiveness – “He’s such a tricky player, you think you’ve got him locked in the corner and then, all of a sudden, he’s out,” team mate Henrik Dalsgaard attests – with actual end product, and his form since the turn of the year certainly suggests something has turned. Of his 15 goals so far this season, 12 have come in 2020.

The obvious question is how these attributes and output would translate at a higher level. Aside the Chelsea link, he has also reportedly attracted the likes of Arsenal and Leicester City, all top eight Premier League sides. Would that be a jump too far?

Well, here is a theory.

Perhaps the reason players can often struggle when moving from top-level Championship sides to bottom-half Premier League clubs is that the circumstances are so different. You go from being a part of a dominant team in one division to scrapping in another, and that culture shock can lead to underperformance.

It may simply be that having the same level of expectation makes adaptation easier.

A case in point is Jarrod Bowen, who signed for West Ham from struggling Hull City in the January window. He has since integrated seamlessly into a Hammers’ squad facing the same challenges as the Tigers were in the Championship (where he excelled), and that has made it even easier for him to meet their peculiar demands. The same goes for James Maddison (Norwich to Leicester), but at the other end of the table and scale of expectation.

Brentford under Thomas Frank play a very attacking, front-foot style, and so a move to one of the Premier League’s leading lights would require more a physical step-up (his technical level is already too high for the Championship as is) than a mental one.

It is a facet of his game he already has experience refining: when he first moved to Brentford from Nice, he struggled with the sheer speed of football in England, and by his own admission it took him two months to adapt. However, adapt he did, and there is no reason he should not be able to do it again.

Then again, the question might not even arise at all. As part of Brentford’s vaunted “BMW” frontline (along with Bryan Mbuemo and league top scorer Ollie Watkins), Benrahma is powering the Bees’ push for a place in the Premier League next season.

It would certainly make for a great story for the club that has eschewed most traditional models and ideas – they famously shut down their academy in 2016 – and sought to find its own path through innovative scouting and targeting players released by bigger clubs.

If they make it, he would have a choice to make: stick with the fairytale, or leverage his growing profile for a move to the big time.

Playing a year in the Premier League in familiar surroundings would obviously make it even easier for him to get used to the pace of it all, but the ball would definitely be in his court and at his feet. For Benrahma, there is no happier scenario than precisely that.

Jordan Henderson will not let his injury setback spoil what he described as an "incredible campaign" for himself and Liverpool. 

Henderson suffered a knee injury in Wednesday's 3-1 Premier League win over Brighton and Hove Albion, with Jurgen Klopp confirming on Friday that it will force the midfielder to miss the remainder of the season. 

The Reds captain has featured 30 times for Liverpool in the competition, helping them to a maiden Premier League title and a first top-flight crown in 30 years. 

Klopp is optimistic the England international will be fit in time for the start of the 2020-21 season as he does not require surgery, and the player will now focus on his rehabilitation. 

Nevertheless, the injury will not prevent Henderson from lifting the Premier League trophy later this month.

"Unfortunately, following the knee injury I picked up against Brighton on Wednesday, I will now miss the last two weeks of the season," he wrote on his official social media accounts. 

"However, my rehabilitation will start immediately and I'll be working hard to be back to full fitness in just a matter of weeks in order to be fully ready for the start of the new season. 

"Of course, it's not the way I'd have preferred to finish the season on a personal level, but it's been an incredible campaign for us so far as a team and as a club, and I'll be doing everything I can to support the boys for the final games from the sidelines. I'm sure the lads will ensure we finish the season off on a high. 

"Thanks to everyone for the messages of support and I look forward to being back out there as soon as possible." 

Klopp said the news had been "a complete mood killer" but added that his captain would lift the Premier League trophy when the time came.

"He deserves to lift the trophy, and he will lift the trophy," Klopp said. "No surgery needed, that's the good news. All the rest, we can make our own decisions. Hendo will lift the trophy."

Henderson will miss matches against Burnley, Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle, bitter rivals of his boyhood club Sunderland, as Liverpool aim to reach a century of points. 

Frank Lampard addressed transfer speculation surrounding Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz and Chelsea midfielder Jorginho in his press conference on Friday.

The Blues are currently in pole position to sign Germany sensation Havertz, with other potential suitors pulling out of the race due to the €100 million (£90m/$112m) price tag being placed on him.

Lampard was asked about such speculation ahead of Saturday’s Premier League fixture at Sheffield United, but kept his cards close to his chest.

“Unfortunately it's another answer from me, that that is not something I want to broach at this moment in time,” Lampard said.

“My focus is completely on the game. So, I don't want to give you any ifs, buts or maybes for the summer, my focus has to be on the here and now.”

Closer to home, Italy international Jorginho once again finds himself being linked with an exit from Stamford Bridge.

The 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order in recent months at Chelsea, but Lampard again refused to comment on his future.

“Again, I keep getting asked about next season,” he said. “To be honest, it is irrelevant what happens next season.

“These final few games will define how we look at this season and look forward to next.”

Jorginho may find himself nearer to the action in the closing weeks of the season after fellow midfielder Billy Gilmour was ruled out for up to four months following knee surgery.

The teenager had moved above Jorginho in recent weeks, but Lampard doesn’t feel the more experienced player has anything to prove because of it.

“I don't think there is a point to prove. I have spoken about him before the last game and there is no point to prove for Jorginho.

“He proves it in training and when he plays in games for me. Simply, these things are selection. I hope there isn't a point to prove as such and we see the usual Jorginho.

“I am very pleased [with his attitude] and it is what I expect of players at the club. There is no way you go through a season without moments out of the team, moments that are difficult individually and you have to have toughness as a squad collectively and individually.

“Hence why I made the move to make him vice-captain when I came in, because I saw that in his personality.”

Bruno Fernandes has become the first Manchester United player since Cristiano Ronaldo to win back-to-back Premier League Player of the Month awards.

Fernandes also picked up June’s Goal of the Month award for his volleyed effort in the 3-0 win at Brighton.

The 25-year-old has maintained his inspirational form since joining in January, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side closing on a top-four place with four wins from five games since the season resumed.

Fernandes had previously won the award for February, with no player picked in March as the season was suspended early in the month.

His fellow Portugal international Ronaldo achieved the feat in November and December of the 2006-07 season – when he went on to be named Premier League Player of the Season for the first time.

The last player to do it in the Premier League away from United was Mohamed Salah, when he scored eight goals in seven games for Liverpool over March and April 2018.

In June, Fernandes scored once against Tottenham and twice against Brighton, and he has continued his excellent form in the opening fixtures of July with two goals and three assists in two games.

United are unbeaten in the league since Fernandes joined, and they have closed the gap to fourth place from six points to one.

He has brought composure and creativity to United’s midfield, and is building a promising partnership with Paul Pogba in the middle of the park.

Pogba recently told United Review: “From behind I just enjoy it. I’m enjoying just watching Bruno, [Marcus] Rashford, [Anthony] Martial and Mason [Greenwood], who all played the last game [a 5-2 win over Bournemouth], and seeing them score goals.

“You just keep applauding, it’s beautiful… they make me enjoy football every time!

“As well though there is the defensive work that people don’t talk about - they do it. The pressing - they do it… that’s what you maybe don’t see that much.

“Football fans who know football see that and that’s the difference that we have and it’s great to see them at their best.”

Their 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Thursday saw them become the first Premier League team to win four consecutive games by three or more goals.

Pep Guardiola says Bernardo Silva is one of the most special footballers he has ever coached despite the midfielder's dip in form this season – something for which the Manchester City boss takes his share of responsibility. 

Silva was voted City's player of the season as he and his team-mates swept to a domestic treble in 2018-19, but his performances this time around have been indicative of a general malaise, with Liverpool storming clear of their rivals to claim the Premier League title. 

The Portugal international has featured infrequently in the right-sided attacking midfield position he occupied for a chunk of last term, with Kevin De Bruyne back to full fitness and in prime form. 

Similarly adept on the right-hand side of attack, Silva has found his path blocked by Riyad Mahrez and, more recently, Phil Foden. 

The previous campaign concluded with the former Monaco man being named player of the tournament as Portugal claimed the inaugural Nations League title, and fatigue has not been difficult to spot in his work at times. 

A Football Association ban for tweeting a racially insensitive cartoon to team-mate Benjamin Mendy placed Silva in hot water off the field and, speaking ahead of Saturday's trip to Brighton and Hove Albion, Guardiola conceded a downturn from the playmaker has been obvious. 

"That's true maybe he didn't play as much as last season," he said. 

"This season, maybe it was my fault or maybe Phil was more involved and Riyad maintained his level and the other players played good too. 

"They know the competition they have with each other, but my admiration, respect, especially my opinion about him, nothing has changed. 

"He's a special player for me. One of the most special players I had in my career as a manager, the relationship I have with him." 

Guardiola is particularly impressed by Silva's acceptance of his situation – a stark contrast to when his manager said the City team last season was "Bernardo plus 10" – and is confident the 25-year-old knows what he must do to turn things around.

"He's a guy who doesn’t change his mood whether he plays or doesn't play," he said. "There are players that just are happy when they play and they smile at me and smile at the backroom staff when they play. 

"When they don't play, they make you feel they are not happy and they behave like a little, little child. 

"Bernardo is completely opposite. He's a mature man. He's a man who knows exactly what has happened, how this moment is and always he's the same person. 

"That's why he is an incredible person for me to work with and always I will be grateful. 

"In the time we spend together, the only thing I want is to help him to come back at his best level. If there is one player in this team who I would give help and support, it's Bernardo Silva. He's the first on the list." 

Mahrez scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season during Wednesday's 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle United and Friday marked the two-year anniversary of his £60 million (€68m/$80m) arrival from Leicester City. 

Guardiola is impressed by the Algeria international's performances but suggested he could sometimes use some of Silva's good grace. 

"He's an incredible player, fantastic self-confidence," he added. "He is a guy who always creates something special, in assists and goals. 

"We are delighted to have him and hopefully he can help us when he plays and when he doesn't play. Hopefully I can help him to improve this detail." 

Rhulani Mokwena's father, Julius 'KK' Sono, has expressed his delight that his son is back at Mamelodi Sundowns. 

According to Sono, Mokwena's move to the Brazilians will settle the coach's mind out of the rift between the Sonos and Orlando Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza. 

Sono has a long-standing feud with Khoza and in 2015, he filed court paper over the ownership of the Sea Robbers.  

"That's an outstanding decision. It will settle his mind out of Orlando Pirates dispute between dad and Irvin Khoza," Sono told Sowetan.

"I'm very happy that he went to join Sundowns. It won't create an enemy between me and my son anymore because he is neutral and he is going to prove himself where he is now with Pitso Mosimane."

Sono said the relationship between him and Mokwena got strained when the young coach left the Brazilians for Pirates in 2017. 

He revealed Mokwena used to visit him regularly while at Sundowns but they only met at funerals during his two-and-a-half-year stay with the Buccaneers.  

"While he was with Sundowns back in the day, he used to visit me most of the time, but at Pirates, since he was hired, I only met him at funerals. Other than that, we were communicating via a telephone," continued Sono. 

Mokwena joined Pirates as Milutin Sredojevic's assistant and would go on to spend two years in the position. 

In his third season with the club, Sredojevic resigned, and the management elevated Mokwena to the position of an interim head coach, a position he occupied for four months before being replaced by Josef Zinnbauer in December 2019.

However, he couldn't see eye-to-eye with Zinnbauer and therefore requested 'leave' to further his coaching studies. 

Mokwena never returned to his position as he was loaned out to Chippa United for the remainder of the season. 

He only took charge of one match at Chippa United - and this was before the league was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

When his contract with Chippa United expired on June 30, Mokwena wasn't offered an extension to at least finish the season and Sundowns offered him his old position alongside Pitso Mosimane and Manqoba Mngqithi. 

The 35-year-old mentor is expected to reunite with his colleagues in Rustenburg later this week as he awaits his Covid-19 test results.  

Former Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari says he is open to playing in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), and would choose to Kaizer Chiefs over Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns if an opportunity arises.

Muntari says he has alerted a South African agent, who contacted him about the possibility of playing PSL football, that Chiefs would be his first choice, although he is yet to make up his mind.

Describing Chiefs as his “favourite” club in South Africa, the 35-year-old ex-AC Milan star who is currently a free agent, said he has been closely following Amakhosi.

“I spoke to an agent. He gave me a call. I have forgotten his name. Sipho...I don’t know how to pronounce his name,” Muntari told Marawa Sports Worldwide on Metro FM.

“I would love to come and play in South Africa because they have great teams that I like. For instance, Sundowns are there, Pirates are there but my favourite one are Chiefs.

"I don’t know why but I have been following Chiefs for a moment now, I love the way they are and everything.

“So I said if I am going to South Africa, there is the only team I want to play for, that is Chiefs.

"And with all due respect to Pirates and Sundowns and the other teams that are in the South African league of course this is what I prefer, so that’s the only plan, that’s what I spoke [about] with the agent.

“That’s it and I haven’t said anything more. But why not? It’s home, Ghana is home, South Africa can be home, any part in Africa can be home. It would be good to come [to South Africa] but I haven’t made my mind as yet.”

Muntari said he needs to first consult his family before making the final decision to join a PSL team.

“I don’t know [how much time I have to make the decision]. I also need to discuss it with my family because now I have two little kids so for me being around them is important to see them growing up. I have one boy, he is five, he has to go to school and everything...,” continued Muntari.

After leaving Albacete, Muntari has been in his native Ghana where he was training with Liberty Professionals before the coronavirus outbreak brought football to a halt ion the West African nation.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is revelling in Liverpool’s record-breaking Premier League title triumph, but he is looking to add one more entry to the history books by finishing the season on 104 points.

The Reds have 92 to their name at present, with four games left to take in.

Manchester City set a new high for the English top flight back in 2017-18 when reaching triple figures.

Liverpool need three wins to better that mark, but could raise the bar even further by taking in a faultless finish.

Form is definitely on their side when it comes to chasing down such targets, with a stunning tally of 30 victories having been taken from their 34 outings to date – a record haul.

“It is historic and probably something people haven’t seen before, but it just shows how good we’ve been over the course of the season and how consistent we’ve been,” Alexander-Arnold told the Reds’ official website of their efforts to date.

“We’ve worked hard to be able to set these type of records. We want to keep pushing, we want to keep winning and go into every game with the confidence and belief in ourselves that we can win and we should win.

“So it’s about our mentality now in the last four games and making sure we go into them with the right mentality knowing that next season is going to be tough for us.”

On potentially breaking the 100-point barrier, with 12 more there to be shot at by Jurgen Klopp’s side, Alexander-Arnold added: “After we won the league I think that is the main one we wanted to go after, making sure we are remembered as an historic team in the Premier League and making sure that it’s a season people will never forget.

“I think there’s no better way to do that than to set a points record that people will find hard to achieve, so it’s something that we want to do.

“We want to push ourselves, we’ve got four games left… why not go for the full 12 and see how far we can get. Like I said, our focus is on our mentality and making sure that we are right going into these last four.”

Liverpool will be back in action on Saturday when they welcome Burnley to Anfield before finishing off the season with games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle.

Kenya and Wazito FC defender Johnstone Omurwa has agreed to join Angolan side Petro Atletico.

A source close to the Harambee Star has confirmed he has agreed to join the 15-time Angolan league champions.

Initially, it said he was reluctant to make the move but his stand softened following a serious pursuit from the team’s officials.

“It is true [Johnstone] Omurwa will join Petro Atletico soon. After wide consultations he has decided to make the move as the Angolan officials stated and restated they were interested in him,” the source told Goal.

Should the defender make the move he will join former Gor Mahia striker Jacques Tuyisenge, who left for the club last year.

Allan Wanga became the first Kenyan to sign for the Luanda team in 2007.

A few days ago, Omurwa revealed he had been approached by the Petro Atletico officials.

“Petro Atletico officials first approached me last month, but I never knew they were serious. So, I jokingly referred them to the club because I still have a running contract,” Omurwa told The Standard.

“They [Petro] told me they were ready to give Wazito about Sh10 million for my release. But coach Hall called me and told me he still needs me in his team and promised to engage the club to review my contractual terms.  

“Interestingly, that has not stopped Petro officials from calling me. It seems they have not given up on me. But I have told them to be patient as I engage my club.”

Wazito FC's CEO Dennis Gicheru then confirmed they were yet to receive official prayers from the Angolan counterparts.

“Nobody has approached us about Omurwa and we are not aware of Petro Atletico’s interest,” Gicheru said.

Omurwa has seen his star shine even more since the appointment of Francis Kimanzi as the Harambee Stars head coach.

The former Mathare United coach has called up Omurwa for a number of the national team’s past engagements.

Meanwhile, Wazito have parted ways with two more players. Experienced midfielder Lloyd Wahome and Paul Kiongera are the latest to leave.

“Wahome and Kiongera have left the club,” a source told Goal.

“Kiongera is set to join a local club after his departure. For now, I have no information concerning the club Kiongera is planning to join.”

Wahome left Tusker after five seasons in March 2019 to join Wazito while Kiongera arrived in January and signed a short-term deal.

Tusker FC tactician Robert Matano has strongly condemned Wazito FC owner Ricardo Badoer for the abusive language used against the released players.

The 2018/19 National Super League champions released several players at the beginning of the week. Among those released are forwards Victor Ndinya, Derrick Otanga and Pistone Mutamba. 

The outspoken owner went on to say the cleaning exercise is on and referred to the released players as "f*cking hyenas" who 'lacked self-respect".

"Badoer went overboard with his remarks, it was totally uncalled for," Matano told Goal on Friday.

"Has he forgotten he won promotion back to the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) with the so-called hyenas? So, what about those he has left, are they not hyenas as well?

"It is a lack of respect to players and Kenyans in general to use such abusive remarks and I condemn it.

"These are the same players who have been performing well prior to joining his team. It is right to release players when they do not meet your expectations, but not in abusive remarks."

The KPL-winning coach has also hit out at the Wazito president for expecting too much in a short time.

"I respect what Badoer has done in Kenya football, his investment is good, I have to admit," Matano continued.

"However, it does not mean because you have invested, results will come instantly. It takes time to build a team, you cannot wake up and demand a league title just because you have assembled good players. Patience is needed.

"Football is a technical game which entirely depends on teamwork, and not on an individual."

Others who were released by Wazito are former KCB and Gor Mahia midfielder Teddy Osok, Kenya international striker Pistone Mutamba, goalkeepers Kevin Omondi and Steve Njunge.

The foreign quartet of Paul Acquah from Ghana, DR Congo's Piscas Kirenge, Augustine Otu of Liberia and Togolese Issifou Bourahana were not spared either. 

On Monday, July 6, the Kenya Premier League (KPL) side and coach Stewart Hall parted ways. Hall left the team after joining them in November 2019.

The British tactician had managed to steady the club after it had struggled to cope with the pressure in the top-tier since their promotion at the start of the season.

Hall's departure marks another exit in Wazito's long line of coaches. Fred Ambani was relieved of his duties in October 2019 after helping the Nairobi-based club to earn promotion. 

Ambani's place was taken by Melis Medo who was subsequently sacked after just three matches at the helm.

Morgan Schneiderlin blames himself for his premature exit from Manchester United.

The French midfielder moved to Old Trafford from Southampton in 2015, but made only 32 Premier League appearances before moving on to Everton 18 months later.

In the first half of the 2016-17 season, Schneiderlin played only 14 minutes in the Premier League under Jose Mourinho.

Schneiderlin was originally signed by Louis van Gaal – who he later said made him play “like a robot” – but fell totally out of favour once the Dutchman left.

He jumped ship for Everton and became a first-team fixture again, rediscovering the regular football he had lost at United. Still, he looks back on his exit with disappointment.

“In terms of the commercial side, all the aspects off the pitch and on the pitch make it for me the biggest club in the world,” Schneiderlin told Nice-Matin.

“It was a source of pride for me [to play there], an honour.

“I would have preferred my time there to be longer, that it took a different direction. But it is certainly my fault, I should have been more patient yet again.

“But I don’t regret it at all, it was a fantastic experience.”

Schneiderlin made almost 100 appearances in all competitions for Everton, eventually leaving for Nice this summer after three-and-a-half seasons on Merseyside.

He says the decision to return to France was made purely for football reasons, and appreciates Everton's candour in allowing him to leave.

"My wife didn’t want to come back to France, that is the truth," he said. 

"I am not coming for the Cote d’Azur, the sun and the wonderful view each morning when I wake up.

"I experienced several years in Manchester where it rained all the time. That never scared me. The number one criteria was football related.

"I wanted to leave already last year, I was close to doing so, but [Everton] held me back, saying that they were really counting on me for this season, but that they would allow me to leave the following summer.

"I said to the sporting director to close all other negotiations. I had chosen Nice and I was not going to go anywhere else. From that moment on, they were very classy."

Mikel Arteta says Jose Mourinho is still a world-class manager as he prepares to face the Portuguese coach in his first north London derby on Sunday.

Arsenal go into the game one point above Tottenham in the Premier League after Mourinho’s side were held to a 0-0 draw at relegation-threatened Bournemouth on Thursday night.

Spurs failed to muster a single shot on target during the dour stalemate and there are some who are beginning to question the direction the club is heading in under Mourinho.

But Arteta, who briefly trained under the 57-year-old while he was a player at Barcelona B during the early stages of his career, is adamant that the two-time Champions League winner is still one of the best in the business.

“Absolutely,” he said, when asked if Mourinho was still a world-class coach.

“They have had some up and downs, but overall you can clearly see what he wants to bring to the club.

“He manages the energy, the momentum and established a really strong culture in a strong football club that does it. And as well, he makes sure that he wins, and he has won in every single club that he has been.

“Obviously the situation, the timing when he arrived, is different than starting a new project right from the summer, but I am sure he will be successful.

“He has always been. He always finds the right way to do it and it will take him a bit of time, but I am sure he will do it.”

Arteta added: “He has a very clear way of playing, a clear way of how he manages games.

“I think clean sheets are obviously a big thing that he wants to do, but his teams - don’t forget - always score a lot of goals. They have been really successful and they have been able to win titles because of that.

“I think in a long period they [Tottenham] have had a lot of injuries. So he hasn’t had the chance to be consistent as well with his team and that’s a big disadvantage that they have.

“I know he has done it. I know people have worked with him and he always finds a way to be successful and I am sure he will do it again.”

Sunday’s north London derby will be refereed by Michael Oliver, who was the VAR official for Tottenham’s draw at Bournemouth on Thursday when Spurs felt they should have had an early penalty for a push on Harry Kane.

Match official Paul Tierney didn’t award the spot kick and Oliver stuck with the on-field decision having reviewed replays of the incident. The Premier League admitted after the game, however, that a penalty should have been given.

The incident came just a few days after Oliver - again on VAR duty - had ruled out a goal scored by Kane for handball during Tottenham’s 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United.

Mourinho was highly critical of Oliver during his post-match interviews at Bournemouth, “like against Sheffield United, the man of the match was not one of the players,” he said.

It’s led to some suggestions that Oliver should be taken off duty for Sunday’s game, but Arteta insists he has no concerns over him taking charge of the derby.

“I never have any concern about the decision of the referee,” said Arsenal’s head coach. “Nowadays, everything's so professional, dedicated and they're under so much pressure and criticism.

“I know they try their best with the decisions that they have to make. They're getting more and more complicated because of the speed of the game and how quickly they have to react, and the pressure they have with the new VAR system as well.

“We're here to support them, we need them, they're a big part of that. Now we complain that we don't have the fans and we realise how important they are, maybe one day we won't have referees and we're going to say, 'Wow, they were crucial for this game to work'.

“So we have to support them.”

Lille forward Victor Osimhen has asserted he is keen to win the Champions League at some point in his career.

The 21-year-old Nigerian shone brightly for Les Dogues last season, scoring 18 goals in all competitions after arriving from Belgian club Charleroi.

Two of those goals came in the Champions League, in a 2-1 home loss to Chelsea and a 4-1 defeat at Valencia, with Lille finishing bottom of Group H with a solitary point.

Three Nigerians have won the prestigious tournament - Kanu Nwankwo and Finidi George claimed ultimate honours after Ajax Amsterdam saw off AC Milan in the 1995 final in Vienna, while John Obi Mikel was among the Chelsea contingent that got the better of Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in 2012.

Osimhen – who is heavily linked with Napoli - also insisted he wants to play for a big club and also win trophies with the Super Eagles, where he has earned eight caps and scored four goals.

"Among the aspirations I have for my career is to play in one of the most important clubs in the world, to win the Champions League, to win something with Nigeria. I want to win, I hope it is not too big a dream." Osimhen said on Out of the Home Podcast.

Osimhen credits former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba as one his idols. The retired Ivory Coast international was the catalyst for the Blues’ Champions League triumph in 2012, scoring the equaliser in the 88th minute and scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout.

Osimhen was the star of the Golden Eaglets side that won a record fifth Under-17 World Cup title in 2015, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals.

He admits several of Europe’s big clubs were after him but he opted for German club Wolfsburg, were he was plagued by injuries which limited him to 16 appearances before moving to Charleroi.

"Idols? There are several strikers that I like, but I try to steal some movement from Drogba, even if I am not like him for the player I am,” he continued.

“After the Under-17 World Cup I was looking for Barcelona, ​​Juventus, Arsenal and Inter Milan, but I wanted to grow and become a good striker. Wolfsburg was a good option, but when I went there, I hurt my shoulder.”

With the growing speculation Osimhen will join Napoli, especially as striker Arkadiusz Milik is reported to be on his way out, Lille president Gerard Lopez has declared Osimhen would be a superstar at the San Paolo if he joins.

"For Victor, we had several offers. He asked me and I told him what I think was the ideal club for him,” Lopez told La Voix du Nord.

“Napoli is just below Juventus or Barcelona but is at the same level as Atletico Madrid. If he goes there, he will become their superstar.

“Having a city like Naples at your feet must be exciting for a footballer. Victor has the strength to perform under pressure."

Former Orlando Pirates midfielder Joseph Makhanya believes coach Rhulani Mokwena’s departure to Mamelodi Sundowns is a big loss for the Soweto giants.

‘Duku-Duku’ hopes his former club and the astute tactician have an agreement that he can return to the former African champions once he feels he matured in his coaching career.

The Soweto-born legend’s sentiments come after the Brazilians have confirmed the 35-year-old’s return to Chloorkop to re-unite with coach Pitso Mosimane.

“For me, I think it’s a loss because we expected a lot from him. He has a bright future there’s no doubt about that,” Makhanya told Goal.

“I thought he’s somebody they are grooming for a head coaching job in the future. One thing that I like about him is the undying passion he has for the game. Not all coaches have Rhulani’s passion for the game - it’s a loss in that sense.

“Pirates should have kept him in a different capacity. He would have grown and three or four years down the line, he would be an asset for the club. He is learning and that’s what I like about him.

“Maybe he could have been used as a scout. This is not just a coach based on his professional profile but you can go back to the grassroots level, you’ll still find his name.

"He didn’t neglect the grassroots development projects and that says a lot about his personality and passion.

“He invests a lot in the youth and even if he was involved with Pirates, he was still working with the youth development structures and that's rare.”

The retired player also shared a message to the Ghost, saying they must accept that in football, players and coaches come and go.

“I am certain that the supporters are also hurt by his departure. I just wish there could be a kind of a decision or arrangement to say, ‘Rhulani you can come back if you want to’,” he added.

“The supporters are hurt because they loved him. Even if the new coach [Josef Zinnbauer] has come in and managed to bring back the club to winning ways, they still had that soft spot for him.

“I think all the supporters saw him as one of the best coaches and one for the future. Let’s just wish him all the best at Sundowns.”

Mokwena left Pirates early this year to replace Norman Mapeza at Chippa United where he led the Chilli Boys to a draw against Bidvest Wits in his only match in charge before the 2019/20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He left Chippa to return to Pirates after his contract ran out at the end of June.

David de Gea remains a “top goalkeeper” and Manchester United do not need to be considering a change any time soon, claims Ryan Giggs, with the Red Devils legend rejecting any suggestion that the Spanish shot-stopper is in “decline”.

Questions have been asked of the last line of defence at Old Trafford on the back of a few costly errors.

As a four-time Player of the Year at the Theatre of Dreams, De Gea has been a model of consistency across much of his spell in England.

He has, however, faced criticism in 2019-20 for supposedly allowing his high standards to slip.

With Dean Henderson now breathing down his neck, with the 23-year-old having impressed while on loan at Sheffield United, a change in goal has been mooted.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has, however, offered his full support to De Gea and seen his first-choice keeper pass Peter Schmeichel on United’s appearance chart as he closes in on the 400-game mark.

Giggs believes the Red Devils will continue to back a player they have tied to a lucrative contract, with there no reason to write an experienced figure off on the back of a few mistakes.

The United legend told Premier League Productions after seeing his former team-mate Roy Keane claim that De Gea is “overrated”: “I don’t see David’s decline as big as what people have been making out.

“I think he’s still a top goalkeeper. I think the introduction of Alisson and Ederson as well as the form of Man City and Liverpool hasn’t helped him but he’s a top goalkeeper.

“I’ve played with him and I’ve coached him, he’s a brilliant goalkeeper but he has made a few more mistakes than he has done in the previous five or six years.

“I think he’s had a very unsettled defence in front of him and that hasn’t helped him; that wouldn’t help any goalkeeper no matter how good you are.

“He’s a top, top goalkeeper. When you start messing about in the goalkeeper position as we found out when Peter [Schmeichel] left it can be tricky. I don’t think he’s at a stage where you need to think about changing him.”

Pressed on whether Henderson is putting De Gea under pressure, Giggs added: “It is a tough one.

“Dean Henderson has had a fantastic season so you can understand the conversation being had but De Gea is still one of the best in the world.

“Henderson is still on his way up. He looks a fantastic prospect and he’s had a good season. He’s got a decision to make next year.”

Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus could face Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals as the draw for the rest of the tournament was made on Friday.

Madrid trail Manchester City in their unfinished round-of-16 tie, while Juventus trail Lyon 1-0 ahead of the second leg.

Bayern Munich look likely to face either Barcelona or Napoli as they hold a commanding 3-0 lead over Chelsea, while debutants Atalanta will face Paris Saint-Germain.

Meanwhile, RB Leipzig will play Atletico Madrid after both teams knocked out Premier League opposition in the last 16.

With the route through the tournament drawn all the way to the final, fans can also look forward to some potentially huge clashes in the final four.

Madrid could face Barcelona in a Clasico semi-final, with Pep Guardiola also potentially up against one of his former sides in Barca or Bayern if his City side makes it through.

Champions League quarter-final draw:

QF1: Real Madrid or Manchester City vs Lyon or Juventus

QF2: RB Leipzig vs Atletico Madrid

QF3: Napoli or Barcelona vs Chelsea or Bayern Munich

QF4: Atalanta vs Paris Saint-Germain

Champions League semi-final draw:

SF1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF3

SF2: Winner QF2 vs Winner QF4

Champions League final:

Winner SF2 vs Winner SF1

The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will all be played as a straight one-leg knockout tournament in Lisbon throughout August.

Games will be split between Benfica’s Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Sporting CP's Estadio Jose Alvalade.

The remaining last-16 second leg ties will be concluded over August 7-8, before the quarter-finals are played over four days in Portugal, beginning August 12.

The semi-finals will take place on August 18-19, with the final at Benfica’s stadium on August 23.

Atalanta, Atletico, Leipzig and PSG are all already qualified for the quarter-finals having knocked out Valencia, Liverpool, Tottenham and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

UEFA confirmed on Thursday that the remaining last-16 second leg matches will be played at home grounds as previously scheduled.

Manchester City will host Real Madrid while Chelsea will travel to Bayern Munich, among the four last-16 fixtures still to be played.

There are still six second legs to be played in the Europa League, meanwhile, with two ties to be played as one-off fixtures after the first legs were cancelled. The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals of that competition also take place on July 10.

Andreas Christensen believes his long-term future will lie at Chelsea, with the Danish defender having earned the “trust” of Frank Lampard.

The 24-year-old centre-half has flitted in and out of favour during his time at Stamford Bridge.

His potential was acquired back in 2012, with the Blues holding high hopes for a ball-playing option in their back four.

Christensen was, however, to get much of his early senior experience out on loan at Borussia Monchengladbach, with two seasons spent with the Bundesliga outfit.

He returned to west London to take in 40 appearances in 2017-18, but took in only 29 last season – with only eight of those outings coming in the Premier League.

Exit talk was sparked as a result, with Chelsea welcoming Kurt Zouma back onto their books alongside Antonio Rudiger, but Christensen has played his way back into contention.

A further 25 appearances have been taken in, including five since the Premier League restart, and the commanding Dane is feeling happy and settled once again.

“At least that’s what I think [that Lampard is betting on him for the future],” Christensen told BT.

“I can only try to show that I deserve that trust, and I try to show that in every single match.

“When you [are on the bench], of course, you are not happy, but when the others play well, I can do nothing but train.

“I’ve been getting a lot of games again [and] then you feel that you are believed in and that they trust you.”

Christensen signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Chelsea in January 2018 and has previously stated a desire to honour that agreement.

He told Sky Sports at the start of July: “I’ve never looked anywhere else. I’ve never doubted my situation. I’ve always had my eyes at Chelsea.

“I’ve had my contract and I’ve always expected to finish that and I’ve always dreamed of even more than that. Nothing has changed.

“Obviously it was a different situation last season but I still love being here, that’s the short answer.”

Express FC CEO Isaac Mwesigwa has stated they are in search of new players ahead of the new season.

Express made news when they released 18 players recently and the CEO has assured they are negotiating deals with potential new signings.

“What I can assure our fans is that we are active and smart in the market,” Mwesigwa said as he was quoted by Kawowo Sports.

The official said the talks are running smoothly away from the public eye and he hopes the players who will come on board will help the six-time Ugandan Premier League (UPL) champions compete for honours.

“So far, we have completed 85% of the deals and in the near future, our communication department will reveal the completed deals,” Mwesigwa added.

“And we have looked at players that we hope will take us to another level in terms of position but also lift our brand – the biggest in Ugandan football.”

Tonny Kyamera, Joshua Adea, Mohammed Yiga, Emmanuel Bafoe, Martin Kizza, Joseph Zziwa, Hamis Batega, Andrew Kiwanuka, David Kakeeto, Hamdan Nsubuga, Axel Konan, Lawrence Kigonya, Dennis Sserukwaya, Peter Mutebi, Isaac Doka, Shafiq Avemah, Baker Lukooya and Idris Kabonge were the players released to create room for the new ones.

Meanwhile, Malaba Youth Development Association (MYDA) FC have reportedly signed Isaac Doka.

Doka, a former Express star, is said to have agreed to an offer from the newly-promoted side and is set to become MYDA’s first signing.

Doka is said to have agreed on a two-year deal after the Red Eagles released him in June.

Finally, outgoing Busoga United media officer Fred Mwambu is confident the club and the Busoga Kingdom will resolve issues around the ownership.

The dispute saw the kingdom withdraw the use of its name by the club.

“Those small issues will be sorted out soon. And Busoga United are not only for Basoga, but they are also for everyone in Busoga and Eastern region,” Mwambu told Sports Nation.

Mwambu also stressed the need for the region to avoid disputes that might see top-flight teams reduced to 12, from the current 16.

“Football should go back to Jinja. I witnessed when Jinja had four teams – JMC Hippos, BUL FC, Sadolin Paints and Kirinya Jinja [now Busoga],” he added.

“A lot of wrangles led the four teams to be trapped in the relegation zone, many people don’t know that.

“They should think of the young talents of the region otherwise they will end up like Northern Uganda which has no football club in UPL or Mbale.”