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Former Asante Kotoko goalkeeper Isaac Amoako has stated victims of their 2017 fatal accident are still holding on to their hopes of receiving compensation, three years on.

After a Ghana Premier League (GPL) away clash with Inter Allies in Accra, the Porcupine Warriors were involved in an accident on their way back as the team bus crashed into a stationary truck on the Nkawkaw dual carriage road.

The incident saw the death of deputy equipment officer Thomas Obeng Asare while many others, including players, team officials and journalists, sustained various degrees of injuries.

“Coming Sunday, July 12, 2020, will mark three years since the horrific incident happened but [we have] still not received a penny from Kotoko and we don’t know as to when our compensations would be paid," Amoakoh told BA TV.

“The refusal of the Kotoko leadership to pay our monies has placed a heavy toll on most of the victims.

"Longest-serving team driver Nana Berchie has been at home due to the accident he had, while [players] Baba Mahama and Ollenu Ashitey have had their playing careers stymied.

“We are aware that the newly constituted board led by the previous board chair, Dr Kwame Kyei who held that position at the time of the accident, had begun paying off several debts incurred by the club but [we have] still not heard from him.

“We will not keep quiet until Kotoko's leadership pays our compensation to us [victims]."

The match ended in a 1-0 defeat to Allies at El-Wak Sports Stadium.

Kotoko's bus was carrying a contingent of 15 players, seven technical officials and two journalists.

The Kumasi-based side is arguably Ghana's biggest club and the most successful in the history of the Premier League with 23 titles.

Kotoko have also won the Ghana FA Cup on nine occasions and the Super Cup three times.

On the continental level, the Porcupine Warriors ruled Africa in 1970 and 1983.

In the 2017 Premier League, Kotoko finished the competition in fourth position behind champions Aduana Stars, academy boys Wafa, archrivals and 19-time champions Hearts of Oak and Cape Coast-based Ebusua Dwarfs.

Following his departure from Highlands Park, former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Enocent Mkhabela says he has what it takes to play in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Mkhabela says he understands his value has deteriorated and that because of his age, he knows he cannot expect a high salary.

In addition, the 31-year-old was released by the Lions of the North together with former Orlando Pirates striker Tendai Ndoro last month.

“I know that because I have not been playing regular football, I am not at the level where I can get a high salary as I used to in the past," Mkhabela told Isolezwe.

“I didn’t play regularly at Highlands Park, I didn’t even play 10 matches. By the time we won trophies at SuperSport United and Platinum Stars, I knew what I deserved to earn.

“However, I must admit that I am not at that level anymore. If you don’t play, your value deteriorates.

"I still have hope that I will get a new club in the Premiership (PSL). That’s where my focus is at. If that doesn’t happen, then I can look at the Gladafrica (National First Division).

"For now, I am training so that I can be ready and be in good shape if there’s a club that is interested.”

The former Dikwena midfielder was released by coach Owen Da Gama's troops after the 2019/20 Premier Soccer League (PSL) season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Although PSL clubs are unable to generate income since the games were halted in March, Mkhabela remains confident he will get a new deal sooner than later.

The former Amakhosi player, saw limited game time under coach Da Gama in this term having made only five competitive appearances.

In addition, the MTN8 losing finalists confirmed they have retained former Orlando Pirates midfielder and Chiefs' anchorman Reneilwe Letsholonyane's signatures until the end of August.

Liverpool should have Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez on their recruitment radar, claims Stan Collymore, with the in-form Wolves pair considered to be perfect for the Premier League champions.

Jurgen Klopp is reported to have cast his gaze in the direction of Molineux ahead of another transfer window.

The form of jet-heeled winger Traore has captured the imagination of many observers in 2019-20, with the 24-year-old having found end product to go with his blistering pace. Many believe he could be a good fit at Anfield, with Liverpool in the market for attacking alternatives to Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

Traore would not look out of place in a role on the flanks, with his qualities offering the potential for the Reds to become even more dominant in the final third.

Mexico international striker Jimenez could be another to tick important boxes in that department. He is enjoying the most productive campaign of his career to date, with the target found on 24 occasions, and is said to be attracting interest from across Europe.

Collymore believes Klopp should form part of any transfer scramble, with there every reason to believe that a double raid on Wolves could offer considerable benefits to Liverpool.

The former Reds striker, who spent time on the books at Molineux as a youngster, told The Mirror: “Liverpool should have two Wolves players on their shopping lists this summer – Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore.

“Traore is the obvious one but Jimenez has settled into the Premier League like a duck to water.

“He’s great in the box, attacks crosses exceptionally well, links play and is an all-round eight out of ten in the art of striking. He could provide real competition for Bobby Firmino at Anfield.”

Liverpool opted against joining the clamour for Timo Werner when another top frontman became available on the open market. The Germany international was allowed to link up with Chelsea and will now be a direct rival for the Reds in 2020-21.

Klopp is, however, considered to have his sights set on alternative targets, with it possible that Traore or Jimenez – or both – could come into his thinking at some stage.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has talked up the importance of Nemanja Vidic signing a new contract at Manchester United “with all the kids we’ve got running around”.

The Red Devils have once again looked to youth for inspiration in 2019-20. A club that was once infamously told that “you won’t win anything with kids” remain convinced that providing a platform for stars of the future to thrive on will pay long-term dividends.

The Class of ’92 proved that to be correct, with the likes of Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood now following in illustrious footsteps. United have also invested in the potential of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James, while Scott McTominay and Brandon Williams are other academy graduates seeing plenty of game time.

Potential is being complemented within the Red Devils’ ranks by experience, with two-time Premier League title winner Matic the latest to commit to a new contract at 31 years of age.

Solskjaer has welcomed that deal, telling the club’s official website: “I’m delighted that Nemanja wants to stay here. He’s really shown over the years he’s been here how important he is for us and of course his experience, he’s a Premier League winner.

“We need some experience as well with all the kids we’ve got running around! So I’m very, very happy that we could sort that out.”

Another of the home-grown stars that United have high hopes for is 22-year-old defender Axel Tuanzebe. He made five appearances early on in the 2019-20 campaign, having impressed on loan at Aston Villa last season, but is currently nursing a hamstring injury that could keep him out until September.

Solskjaer said of the promising centre-half: “He had a good start to the season then it’s been stop-start [for him]. He was really eager to come back really fit and gradually things got worse and worse and he had to take the big step and sit out for a little while.”

Victor Lindelof is another defensive option who has picked up a knock, with the Sweden international forced off at half-time in a 5-2 victory over Bournemouth, but Solskjaer is not expecting him to be out for long.

He has said of the 25-year-old: “It’s not too bad. He’ll play soon. I’m not sure if he’ll manage the Villa game, but he might do.”

Top four-chasing United are set to take in a trip to relegation-threatened Villa on Thursday.

Liverpool may have snatched the Premier League title away from Manchester City but John Stones is still “quietly confident” that the Blues remain the best side in the English top-flight.

Pep Guardiola’s side had been hoping to complete a hat-trick of domestic crowns in 2019-20, having positioned themselves firmly at the top of the tree.

They have, however, been knocked from the loftiest of perches by a record-setting showing from those at Anfield.

City have suffered nine defeats in the league this season, with Guardiola hitting a surprising low in what has been a remarkably successful coaching career to date.

Stones, though, considers uncharacteristic struggles to have been a mere blip, with City still boasting a stronger squad and greater collective quality than their rivals.

"I think, yeah, quietly confident," the England international defender told beIN Sports when asked if he feels City believe they're still the best side in the league.

"We know our abilities and I think that the standard that we've set for ourselves and each other in the dressing room is every three, four days, playing at this high, high standard over the last few years is something to be very proud of as players.

"That's what we keep striving to do and take that into next season and to finish this season off by keeping our standards and trying to better ourselves, as I said, defensively and taking our chances at the other end of the pitch."

While retaining full faith in City’s ability, with it possible for them to end the campaign with four trophies to their name, Stones admits it has been disappointing to see standards slip.

He added: "It's frustrating for all of us really.

"I think it's something we're definitely not proud of from previous seasons, breaking the record, doing back-to-back and then this season letting games slip where we've been on top and been the better team is something we need to improve on and are looking to try and do that."

Stones returned to the fold to help keep a clean sheet in a 5-0 mauling of Newcastle in City’s latest outing, with the 26-year-old pleased to be back in what has been a testing season for him on a personal level.

He said: “It’s been frustrating. I picked up an injury really early after we first came back and that kept me out for just over a month.

“It was really frustrating because in lockdown I had worked so hard in the gym and keeping fit and felt like I was I the best condition that I’ve been in.

“So to come back and get an injury that has kept me out until just before the Newcastle, it feels great to be back. I feel fit and healthy and ready to fight for the Champions League and every competition that we are in. It’s exciting times.”

Vinicius Junior has been forced to sit out training at Real Madrid after “errors” in a Covid-19 test, Zinedine Zidane has revealed, with the club taking precautionary action with their Brazilian forward.

With La Liga action back underway amid the coronavirus pandemic, those involved in competitive action are having to undergo rigorous rounds of testing.

Zidane says the latest of those have “gone badly” at Santiago Bernabeu, with Vinicius temporarily ruled out of his plans as a result.

There has been no indication that the 19-year-old is carrying the disease, but he has not been given the all clear either.

Madrid boss Zidane told reporters ahead of a meeting with Alaves on Friday: “It’s not negative or positive. Sometimes there are errors. When that happens, both we and La Liga decide that the player can’t train.

“We’ll see how it goes. He’ll have the results of the retaken test later this afternoon and I hope he’ll be with us tomorrow.”

Real are already without the services of Luka Jovic, with the Serbian striker – who broke movement restrictions during lockdown and returned to Spain nursing an injury – back in isolation after coming into contact with a friend who tested positive for Covid-19.

Zidane added on the frontman who has endured a testing debut campaign with Madrid: “He’s not with us today. I hope he’ll be with us soon.

“As a footballer, he is a very good footballer. He is a striker who scores many goals. It’s true that he hasn’t played much, but he is young and we’re counting on him for next season.

“I know there is a lot of debate over the players, but we’ll see next year. This year he has had little things that have hurt him, but we’ll see.”

Marcelo is another currently out of action, with the Brazilian left-back requiring a scan on a knock he has picked up, but Zidane is hoping to have Eden Hazard back at his disposal in the near future.

The Belgian forward has been struggling with an ankle complaint, but his manager said: “Hazard wants to play and he isn’t scared.

“Those who know more about the medical situation tell me what is happening. Everything is fine, but sometimes there is a bit of pain after a match or a tough training session. Tomorrow, he’ll be with us.”

Former Manchester City and Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini is back in management after agreeing to take over at La Liga club Real Betis next season.

Reports in Spain claimed Pellegrini had been in talks with Betis for a number of weeks, and he has now agreed a three-year contract at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Betis will be the experienced Chilean’s 15th club in senior management, and represents a relatively swift return to the game following a brief period away.

Pellegrini had been out of a job since being sacked as manager of West Ham in late December 2019.

Betis are currently 13th in the Spanish top flight as they look for a positive end to an inconsistent season.

Former manager Rubi was sacked after taking just one point from the first three games after Spanish football returned from its coronavirus-enforced break.

Sporting director Alexis Trujillo took over on a temporary basis until the end of the season.

He has overseen two wins from his five games in charge so far with games against Atletico Madrid, Deportivo Alaves and Real Valladolid still to play.

Betis aren’t mathematically safe from relegation as 18th-placed Mallorca sit 12 points adrift with four games to play, but safety is essentially guaranteed.

Pellegrini will no doubt be hoping to get a good look at his new squad in the final three games under Trujillo before he takes over.

He knows La Liga well, having spent close to a decade managing in Spain with Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga.

Pellegrini guided Villarreal to second place in Spain's top flight, and a Champions League semi-final, and was moments away from reaching the last four with Malaga before finding himself on the wrong end of a famous Borussia Dortmund comeback.

His success at Malaga convinced Manchester City to hire him, and he won the Premier League title in 2013-14 as well as a pair of League Cups.

After being replaced by Pep Guardiola in Manchester, Pellegrini managed Hebei China Fortune before moving on to a difficult spell at West Ham.

Betis’ next fixture is away to in-form Atletico on Saturday, July 11.

Matteo Guendouzi would require “huge improvement” in order to make the grade at Barcelona, says Nigel Winterburn, with the Arsenal legend considering rumours of the Liga giants showing interest in the Frenchman to be “a long shot”.

Questions continue to be asked of Guendouzi’s attitude, with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta having dropped him from his Premier League plans as a result.

Barcelona are among those said to be monitoring Guendouzi’s situation, with the Catalan giants mulling over a move for a player who still boasts plenty of potential.

Winterburn, though, cannot see the Blaugrana taking a punt on an enigmatic talent who is far from being the finished article on both ability and character fronts.

The former Arsenal defender told bookmakers.co.uk: "I think there would need to be a huge improvement in Guendouzi’s game for Barcelona to be willing to take him. He’s a young kid who’s made big improvements but there’s a long way to go, so that would surprise me if it turns out to be true.

"Arsenal wouldn’t just let him go easily even if they do decide to sell him, it would need to be a substantial fee, so would Barcelona think he’s worth the risk? If the price is right, maybe, but it seems like a bit of a long shot to me."

Big things were expected of Guendouzi when he burst onto the scene at Arsenal in 2018-19, with a promising debut campaign in England seeing him play more minutes than many had expected.

He is, however, enduring a testing time at present and Winterburn believes Arteta is taking the right approach in showing those at his disposal who is boss.

The ex-Gunners full-back added: "Arteta doesn’t seem to be the type of manager to accept any excuses, we’ve already seen that he’s not afraid to leave players out of the squad who don’t toe the line and I really admire him for that because he’s clearly trying to instil some discipline.

"With Guendouzi, it all comes down to the player’s actions as well as the manager. I don’t know exactly what issues there are with Guendouzi, but it looks like the manager has had a word with him and asked him to show that he can do what is asked of him for the benefit of the team so everyone can move forward.

"If the player is not willing to do that, or has taken offence in some way, then you usually find that the player will ultimately force his way out of the club. He’s a young player who has made some improvements over a short period of time but there’s a lot more room for development from him.

"It’s up to the player to turn this situation around. It looks as though Arteta has thrown down the gauntlet to try and test his resolve, and if Guendouzi reacts in the wrong way then he’ll be gone. You can’t have someone in your squad who is disturbing the rest of the team.

"I have to say I like the way Arteta is organising the team and how he is dealing with these situations, it seems as though he won’t take any messing around and that’s a good thing – it’s been too easy at Arsenal for too long."

David Silva's legacy at Manchester City is one of a man who changed the club forever, according to director of football Txiki Begiristain.

Veteran playmaker Silva is set to leave City at the end of this season, following a 10-year stint that has yielded four Premier League titles, five EFL Cups and two FA Cups – the first of which in 2011 ended a 35-year trophy drought.

He offered a reminder of his enduring qualities with a masterful display in Wednesday's 5-0 rout of Newcastle United.

Silva supplied his 120th and 121st assists in City colours by setting up Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling, while he also dispatched a 65th-minute free-kick – the 76th goal of his time in England.

Begiristain feels Silva holds a special place in City history, along with club record goalscorer Sergio Aguero and the recently departed Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany.

"He's been unbelievable in football in the world - especially here," he told the club's official website. "He's spent 10 wonderful years, winning trophies and changing the dynamic of the club.

"He's been one of the leaders – with Vincent, with Yaya and Kun [Aguero]. No one will forget what they've done for this football club.

"Not only the way David plays football but helping us be a successful club. David is always going to be remembered because of that."

Silva's two assists on Wednesday mean he has now reached 10 or more in all competitions in all 10 of his seasons at the Etihad. He has also been directly involved in 151 Premier League goals - more than any other midfielder since 2010.

Brazil forward Jesus opened the scoring with his 11th Premier League goal of the season – ending a nine-match drought that stretched back to February's 2-1 Champions League win at Real Madrid.

Echoing the sentiments of Pep Guardiola, Begiristain praised Jesus' selfless work for the team during a period of personal toil.

"His work rate, he's unbelievable," he said. "He helps a lot by creating space for the midfielders. He's the number nine and he likes to score and [against Newcastle] he could. We are always happy with the work rate."

An international forward in Ligue 1 has been placed in police custody for the second time in little over two months after admitting to public masturbation.

Angers and Algeria striker Farid El Melali, who turns 23 next week, admitted performing a sex act in the public courtyard of his building complex in early May.

Now another individual has come forward to make a complaint over a similar incident believed to have occurred prior to the one which he had previously admitted.

El Melali’s legal counsel, Sandra Chirac Kollarik, provided the following statement: “Farid El Melali was heard this Wednesday morning by Angers police, about acts committed during the recent period of confinement, which he acknowledged, and about which he had already been interviewed before being summoned to court.

“Once again, Farid El Melali answered the questions asked of him and all the necessary checks could therefore be made, so that his hearing was quickly closed.

“He once again gives his sincerest apologies to the women he may have upset with inappropriate attitudes.”

Angers deputy chairman Fabrice Favetto-Bon, said the club made no further comment, having addressed the issue previously.

He said: “We consider that we have already expressed our views on the subject. We heard the player apologise.

“Obviously, this kind of behaviour, still subject to judgement from the Justice, does not align with the values of the club and the duty of an example which we expect from our players. The procedure is continuing.”

Now El Melali will be heard by the prosecutor of the Republic of Angers. He could face a fine of €15,000 and a one-year prison sentence, plus any punishment which may be given by his club.

El Melali will be tried in a pre-conviction appearance (CRPC), which essentially presupposes a guilty plea, and reports suggest he will likely face a fine.

He admitted to his indiscretions and will not contest the charges brought against him. In May, it was reported El Melali’s lawyers would argue he was unaware anybody could see him as part of their legal defence.

Melali has represented Angers for two seasons, having joined from Algiers-based Paradou AC in 2018. He recently signed a contract extension until 2023, and has three senior international caps for Algeria.

Harry Maguire makes a mockery of Manchester United for paying him so much despite a lack of talent, according to former Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

Van der Vaart slammed the England international centre-back, who cost a world-record £80 million ($100m) when United signed him from Leicester City last summer, after he was nutmegged in the lead up to Bournemouth's opening goal in the Premier League clash last Saturday.

Maguire was left standing by Junior Stanislas, who then slammed the Cherries into a surprise lead at Old Trafford - although the home side came back to comfortably win 5-2 and keep up their challenge for the Champions League places.

The win was not enough to spare Maguire from stinging criticism, as former Netherlands international Van der Vaart accused the player of taking his club for a ride.

Speaking on Dutch TV station Ziggo, Van der Vaart said: "I think Maguire goes home every day and tells his wife: ‘I screw up, but I earn so much. They really believe I’m good.’ I really think so, he laughs at everyone."

It is not the first time van der Vaart has criticised Maguire on the same channel this season, saying his performance in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool last October was not worthy of a professional footballer.

He said: "If he is worth so much money, Virgil van Dijk is worth £300m. If I am going to play with the amateurs on Sunday afternoon, I can easily find three who can do this (what Maguire does on the pitch). I mean that seriously. A bit silly to say, but I really think so."

Van der Vaart went on to suggest that United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should sign Bournemouth centre-back Nathan Ake as a replacement for Maguire.

Television cameras captured the United manager having a conversation with the Bournemouth defender at the final whistle, with some claiming he had said to the Dutchman that he needed a left-footed central defender.

Van der Vaart said: "That is nice if there is no crowd and no music after the game. Then you hear things like this. A transfer? I hope for him, I think he’s doing very well. Why not?"

However, Solskjaer subsequently dismissed the amateur lip-readers and said he has no intention of signing any more defenders this summer.

"I’ve got seven centre-backs, so I don’t know where that comes from. We’re fine," he said.

Kevin De Bruyne has seen a move away from Manchester City mooted, especially if a European ban is upheld, but his agent insists no thought has been given to leaving the Etihad Stadium.

The Blues are waiting to discover whether an appeal against a two-year suspension from continental competition will be successful.

If sanctions are overturned, then Pep Guardiola’s side will once again compete among the elite in 2020-21, but if UEFA’s initial ruling is upheld, then it could be ambitious performers decide to head for the exits and open new chapters in their respective careers elsewhere.

De Bruyne is among those seeing a switch mooted, but Patrick De Koster claims there is no substance to the reports.

He has told Sporza: “At the moment he is not at all busy with that. He still has a three-year contract with a team that belongs at the top of the world, at a club and in a city where Kevin feels good and appreciated.

“There will be many people who find this woolly, but he's not thinking about a transfer.”

While seeking to bring the unwelcome rumours to a close, De Koster admits that tentative interest from afar has been registered in a player who has previously been linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid.

De Koster added: “There is always an informal interest for a good player in the football world. Whether that is KDB or Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo or Antoine Griezmann.

“If everything I read in the papers were correct, then I would need a 48-hour watch and to be all over the world at the same time. I can declare in good conscience here and even swear on my children's head that everything I read is 90% rubbish.”

For now, De Bruyne is focused on ending the 2019-20 campaign as positively as possible.

City have surrendered their Premier League title to Liverpool this season, but have countered that disappointment by lifting the Community Shield and Carabao Cup and still having the FA Cup and Champions League in their sights.

“Kevin wants to end the season with one or two cups,” said De Koster. “If all these prizes are won, no one will complain about Manchester City’s season, I think.”

It won't be long after the curtain falls on the 2019-20 Premier League season that the 2020-21 campaign kicks off.

Having resumed play on June 17 following the coronavirus-enforced lockdown period, Premier League clubs will have squeezed nine (and a bit) matchdays into the space of a month, with the last games of the season being played on July 26. The FA Cup final will then bookend the term on August 1.

So when exactly will the next Premier League season begin? Will clubs have much of a pre-season? 

Goal takes a look at the dates and which teams will be involved as English football looks to rebuild in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Contents

When will Premier League 2020-21 start?

There are currently two potential 2020-21 Premier League start dates: Saturday August 29 or Saturday September 12. 

The Daily Mirror reports that the Football Association favours an August start date, a position that is understood to be influenced by the fact that England's UEFA Nations League fixtures against Iceland and Denmark are scheduled for September 5 and 8 respectively.

However, Premier League clubs themselves are reportedly more keen on the September start date and it is understandable given that their players will have just played out a gruelling end to the 2019-20 season.

In normal circumstances, teams are granted a three-month break from competitive action, with the league season usually concluding in May and starting up again in August.

Pre-season, the period when players hone their match fitness, tends to kick off around a month before the first competitive games, but that will be impossible ahead of the 2020-21 season.

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When will Premier League 2020-21 finish?

The finish date for the 2020-21 Premier League season has not yet been confirmed, but it is expected to be wrapped up in May 2021 in order to minimise further disruption to normal schedules.

If the league commences at the end of August or start of September, it is entirely achievable to finish in May.

Indeed, it would be even more likely if, as has been speculated, the Carabao Cup is temporarily scrapped in order to ease fixture congestion, thus freeing up fixture slots.

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Which teams will be involved in Premier League 2020-21?

There will be 20 clubs in the 2020-21 Premier League and a number of them have already been confirmed as it becomes mathematically impossible for them to be relegated.

Three clubs will be relegated to the Championship, with Norwich City, Aston Villa, Bournemouth, Watford and West Ham all very much fighting to retain their place at the top table.

The three relegated clubs will be replaced by three teams from the Championship. Leeds United, West Brom, Brentford and Fulham in the mix for the two automatic promotion spots.

The final promotion will be decided through the play-offs, with Nottingham Forest, Cardiff City, Swansea City, Preston, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers all staking their claim - though it has not yet been confirmed.

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Paul Pogba is enjoying watching Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United and claims the Red Devils remain “the biggest club in England”.

The arrival of another playmaking midfielder in the January transfer window threw down the gauntlet to the World Cup winner at Old Trafford.

With Fernandes hitting the ground running, questions were asked of whether Pogba could raise his game when fully fit and form a devastating partnership with the Portugal international.

The early signs have been encouraging, with United stretching their unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted to being hopeful when it comes to thrashing out fresh terms with Pogba, bringing the endless speculation regarding his future to a close, and the 27-year-old feeling good again about his game.

The mercurial Frenchman has 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.

“I think it’s about the mentality – the attacking and defending that they do every time – that helps us, it helps the midfielders and the defenders and obviously the talent speaks for itself - the goals and the action and the football, everything.”

United remain in the hunt for a top-four finish this season, along with FA Cup and Europa League glory.

Hitting all of those targets would make the 2019-20 campaign a productive one, despite the many challenges that have been faced, but there remains a desire on the part of all concerned at the Theatre of Dreams to come back into contention for the most prestigious of prizes.

Pogba believes the Red Devils are capable of doing that, saying of the 13-time Premier League champions: “To become a top, top team we just need to forget about the last game. We do it, we play well, we do great but then we forget about it and we think about the next one.

“We have to always keep having the goal to improve ourselves and never get satisfied with what we did.

“For example, Martial scored three goals [against Sheffield United], his first hat-trick, then he goes again, you have to carry on… he wants to take another ball home, you know! You have to have this mentality, score a goal and do it again and again.

“Bruno, Rashy, Mason… hey if you got two goals, great, but go for three, why not. You have to keep this mentality, keep a clean sheet too, we want to keep working on this and we have the mentality to do it.

“That’s also the mentality of this club, it’s always been like that. We’re never satisfied with one trophy or one game we win or two games or 10 games, you want more, you always want more. That’s what makes Manchester United the biggest club, for me, in England.”

You would have received long odds on the first real transfer saga of the summer involving a Nigerian player...but here we are.

There is one thing that is known about Victor Osimhen for sure. He will not begin the 2020/21 season with Lille, or in Ligue 1 for that matter. Les Dogues have a model that is hinged on buying low and selling high, and have reportedly begun to plan for a future without their sought-after number nine.

Where will he play then?

At this time, Napoli hold the best hand. They received Osimhen in Naples last week, ostensibly to hammer out personal terms, but as part of a charm offensive. Being a showbiz man, president Aurelio De Laurentiis knows a thing or two about entertaining in style.

And yet, doubts remain. Not least for the player himself, who has previously expressed admiration for Chelsea, and is reportedly holding out for interest from the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur enquired, but were rebuffed in the understanding that, with Harry Kane as club captain and first-choice centre-forward, playing opportunities would be scant. The truth, heartbreaking as it might be for Osimhen, is that none of England's top sides have a pressing need for a starting striker.

As such, it seems only a matter of time before the transfer to Napoli finally gets over the line.

That logically leads to the next consideration: just how good a move is it?

Well, it depends on what the indices are. In terms of history, Napoli is very attractive, both as a home and a launch pad for a number of great players down the years. Diego Maradona is the most obvious one, but even narrowing it down to just strikers – Careca, Edinson Cavani, Gonzalo Higuain, Dries Mertens – leads one to conclude there is a fine tradition there into which Osimhen can immerse himself.

The club's profile in Europe is also very respectable. Per Uefa's club coefficient, they are ranked 16th in Europe—just outside the true elite, but still one of the heavyweights. Make no mistake, there will be pressure at a club of this level, but perhaps not the cloying, intrusive kind that is characteristic of the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United, for instance.

Napoli is also a club that has shown a willingness to embrace its own. All the aforementioned forwards mentioned have enjoyed almost godlike adulation in Naples, and Osimhen's earnest play, work rate and humility would no doubt endear him to the Neapolitan crowd. "He will become their superstar," Lille president Gerard Lopez told La Voix De Nord.

That is not to say it is all positive, of course.

Despite a revival under Gennaro Gattuso, the club will not be playing Champions League football in 2020/21. That is far from a deal breaker, but it is an important stage for the very best players in Europe, and one on which Osimhen already excelled with a callow Lille side last year. In that sense, and that sense alone, the Europa League (if they qualify for that) would represent a real step down.

There is also a concern over the continued viability of the Napoli project.

For all his good work so far, it is simply impossible to accurately parse Gattuso's influence on the actual mechanics of the team's play. Sure, he has made them grittier and more solid defensively, and there seems a real calcification of their overall mental approach to the game.

That said, a lot of the play still draws heavily on the influence of former manager Maurizio Sarri. The combinations are not as crisp, of course, but the muscle memory remains, as does the system.

What happens when that wears out?

The timeline for this is short too, as a rebuild is afoot at Stadio San Paolo. The likes of Jose Callejon, Kalidou Koulibaly and Allan are set to depart; all were stalwarts under Sarri, steeped in his ways. Beyond the concomitant instability that is associated with the process of a rebuild, this drain could expose Gattuso's lack of an attacking strategy even more.

A look at the Expected Goals numbers for Serie A is revealing: Napoli have an xG of 49.9, a tally only good enough for sixth in the league. With few(er) chances created comes greater pressure on the centre-forward to be perfect, hardly an optimal situation for a young striker still learning his craft and figuring out how to best utilize his admittedly considerable gifts.

It is a potentially precarious situation into which Osimhen would be walking. However, the 21-year-old is nothing if not resilient; so far in his career, he has shown the capacity to rise to the level required, and the aptitude to learn quickly. As Lopez said, "Victor has the strength to perform under pressure."

It is a strength he will need to summon if he is to succeed in Italy. For all that Napoli are enamored with him now, there are enough caveats that suggest it might not be plain sailing all the way through.

Matteo Guendouzi has seen his attitude questioned on a regular basis of late, with the Arsenal midfielder’s former boss at Lorient, Bernard Casoni, the latest to suggest that the 21-year-old needs to change his ways.

The Gunners knew they were getting a spiky character when luring a player of considerable promise away from his homeland in 2018.

The hope was that Guendouzi would mature and mellow as part of a star-studded squad in north London, allowing him to unlock his full potential and become a long-serving star at Emirates Stadium.

Questions are now being asked of whether the youngster will see out another transfer window, with Mikel Arteta having taken to dropping a divisive figure from his plans over recent weeks.

That decision has been made after Guendouzi sparked controversy again with his actions in a 2-1 defeat at Brighton, overstepping the line of acceptable behaviour.

It is not the first time that the Frenchman has found himself under the microscope, with Casoni revealing that the Lorient academy graduate has always been difficult to handle.

He told reporter Freddie Paxton: "Guendouzi's problem is not physical and is not technical. It's his attitude, it's not good for the team or the coach.

“My relationship with him wasn't very good. I picked him for a cup game against Nice but he got booked early on. The ref told me at half time to warn Guendouzi: one more foul and you're off, but in the second half nothing changed.

“I was left with no choice but to sub him off. When I did, he refused to shake my hand.”

Casoni added: “He took his job seriously, his training was no problem, and his character is to always want to win.

“Sometimes when he talks it's good. But sometimes he talks badly. He talks too much.

“His talent isn't in question, that's not the issue. He can be a top, top player and I think he can still succeed abroad. It's up to him to change his attitude.”

It may be that Guendouzi has to go and prove his worth away from Arsenal, with Arteta now favouring other options and showing that he is not afraid to make big decisions for the benefit of the greater good.

Stiliyan Petrov suggested Graeme Souness' criticism of Jack Grealish might be motivated by "bitterness" as he defended Aston Villa's captain.

Grealish has been linked with both Manchester City and Manchester United after a fine Premier League campaign in which he has scored seven times and created six assists for a Villa side fighting relegation.

However, the 24-year-old's suitability for a leading top-flight side was questioned by ex-Liverpool skipper Souness, who accused him of being a "passenger" when his team do not have the ball .

"Everyone rolls their sleeves up to be the first, second or third one to press. That is something that is not in his game right now," Souness said in his role as a Sky Sports pundit.

"I'm not denying he has talent - but for me there's a big question mark."

The Scot went on to suggest Grealish is the Premier League's most fouled player because he holds onto the ball too long, with the midfielder biting back on Twitter when he retweeted the statistic that showed he has created the second-most chances in the division.

Former Villa skipper Petrov has no doubt that Grealish could cut it with a bigger club.

"Everybody has a view or an opinion about certain players. I have a completely different view of Jack," he told Stats Perform News .

"I believe he has enormous potential to be a great player. At the moment, Jack believes that everything depends on him. He tries to do everything on his own. He tries to create, he tries to assist, he wants to score. So literally he tries to do everything.

"If Jack moves to a bigger team, there will be certain elements of his game that are going to improve. Jack has everything to be a top player. At the moment, with the current situation at Aston Villa, he is the one everyone looks up to. He wants to be everything for Aston Villa, which is great.

"We forget he's only 24. I don't agree. Yeah, he holds the ball longer because he has to, he needs to do it, and he knows that. But if he moves on to play with better players he knows how to play, he knows how to adapt. Good players do that and he's certainly a good player.

"So I wouldn't really agree with what Graeme is saying. I think sometimes it can be a little bit bitterness, could be a challenge from Souness – he may believe that he's a good player and he's challenging him with what he's saying.

"I can see his point of view is very different to what I think. I believe Jack would be a big asset for a big club."

Petrov, who spent 13 years with Villa, then highlighted Pep Guardiola's praise of Grealish, who the Manchester City boss called "one of the best players in the league" earlier this season.

"That compliment comes from one of the best managers in the world," Petrov added.

"Those managers don't waste their words saying these things. That's why Pep comes out and said he's one of the best and said his performances have attracted attention. It's completely normal."

Simba SC head coach Sven Vandenboeck has revealed no plans have been made regarding Sunday's FA Cup semi-final match against Yanga SC at the National Stadium.

The two sworn rivals are set to meet for the third time this season in all competitions. The last two Kariakoo Derbies were in the league and they ended 2-2 and 1-0 in favour of the Jangwani based side respectively.

While Wekundu wa Msimbazi are targeting a double this season, Timu ya Wananchi are aiming for the domestic Cup to represent the nation in the Caf Confederation Cup.

"Somewhere in the back of your heads, you all, already have the semi-final on Sunday," Vandenbroeck told reporters after a ceremony to hand his team the Tanzania Mainland League trophy.

"No plans yet against Yanga; we first have to go home in Dar es Salaam and that is when we can make plans and prepare as good as we can for the Sunday game."

The 40-year-old Belgian has also revealed how it felt by guiding his charges to the league title.

"After the [Tanzania] Prisons game, we felt very nice, very good and happy," the youthful tactician recalled.

"It was a long trip to the league, now it is already [11 days] ago. Now it is nice to take pictures, put it in our albums for later, but we are happy to have [won the league]."

It was Simba's third consecutive league title, and their 21st in history; Yanga hold the record having won the league 27 times.

On Wednesday, July 8, the Msimbazi-based charges drew 0-0 with fourth-placed Namungo.

Meddie Kagere, who is on course to defend the Golden Boot, should have scored his 20th goal of the season but his 31st-minute strike went off the target from a vantage point.

John Kelvin would have scored for the hosts in the 42nd minute but his final shot, from inside the penalty area, went out after a clear pass from Abeid Athuman.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi’s forward line have to blame themselves for a failure to utilise a few chances that would have made their day even more joyful.  

Thiago Alcantara has been warned that he may not fit “the Premier League and the Jurgen Klopp style of playing”, with Christian Ziege suggesting an extended stay at Bayern Munich should be favoured over a switch to Liverpool.

A move to Anfield for the Spain international continues to be mooted ahead of the next transfer window.

Bayern have been unable to tie Thiago down to fresh terms, with his current contract due to expire in the summer of 2021.

That has the Bundesliga champions reluctantly accepting that sales may have to be sanctioned, with David Alaba – who has been linked with Manchester City and Chelsea – another to have slipped into that category.

Ziege can appreciate why Liverpool would have their eyes on Thiago, as the Premier League title winners seek to bring more graft and guile into their midfield.

The former Reds star is, however, not convinced that accepting a new challenge on Merseyside would be the best career call for the talented 29-year-old.

“I have to say I love this player,” Ziege told CaughtOffside.

“He is a fantastic player but I’m not sure he fits into the Premier League and the Klopp style of playing.

“I think where he is, Bayern Munich, is a good place for him. Or maybe a Spanish team.

“I’m not 100% sure [about him joining Liverpool], although he is a fantastic player so he will handle it somehow.

“I’m just not 100% sure it’s right for him.”

Liverpool have already passed on one Bundesliga raid in 2020, with Germany international striker Timo Werner allowed to leave RB Leipzig for Chelsea.

Ziege was slightly puzzled by that call from Klopp, given the need for greater attacking depth at Anfield, but can appreciate why the Reds may be exploring other options.

He added: “In the first place I was thinking ‘why is he going to Chelsea? And why is Liverpool not trying harder to get him?'

“But I think Chelsea is working through big changes and making progress through (Frank) Lampard … bringing in good new players, good young players, having success at the moment in the Premier League.

“So it might be the right decision for him. If you come to Liverpool you have (Roberto) Firmino, (Sadio) Mane, (Mohamed) Salah, and it might be really difficult to get a place.

“Liverpool obviously have good forwards, fantastic forwards, (but) at some stage it has to be changed, get another good player to push those guys who are there.

“Every story ends at some point. The bigger the success you have, the more you have to think about the next step.”

Riyad Mahrez has proclaimed that every Manchester City player has to quality to score after they ran out 5-0 winners over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Citizens headed into the tie on the back of a disappointing 1-0 loss at Southampton having previously seen off newly-crowned league champions Liverpool 4-0.

The rout started in the 10th minute with Gabriel Jesus followed by Mahrez who was assisted by Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgian providing his 18th assist of the season which is the most of any player in Premier League history and also equalling the same tally he set in 2016-17.

Newcastle’s Federico Fernandez put the ball into his own net to make it 3-0 in the 58th minute before Silva netted his brace seven minutes later and Raheem Sterling sealed the deal in the injury time.

Mahrez’s goal was his 10th in the Premier League this season, making him the fifth City player to score double-digit league goals after Sergio Aguero (16), Sterling (13), De Bruyne and Jesus (both 11).

It is also the first time since Everton in 1984-85 that five players in the same team have scored at least 10 goals in a season.

“That's our team – [we know] that everyone can score - everyone has the quality to score,” Mahrez said on the club website.

“For me, I want to try to help the team and score the most goals that I can.

“It’s not easy but we made it easy by scoring early in the game. And after we had more control and could try to score more goals.

“I think we played good [at Southampton but] we missed a lot of chances, today we scored - that's the difference.

“We need to keep it up and to keep working and helping the team to improve so we arrive in the best form in the important games for us.”

Mahrez now has 12 goals and 15 assists in 44 competitive matches this season.

City meanwhile have all but guaranteed second place on the log, with nine points separating them and third-placed Chelsea with four games left to play.

Pep Guardiola’s men have Brighton and Hove Albion, Bournemouth, Watford and Norwich City in their remaining league fixtures. In between is an FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley on July 18.