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Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed three players and one member of staff have tested positive for coronavirus.

The Ligue 1 champions, who were crowned in April after the remainder of season was cancelled and positions decided on a points-per-game basis because of the coronavirus pandemic, are due to return to training ahead of the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue finals and the resumption of the Champions League.

Thomas Tuchel's men are through to the last eight of the Champions League, which will be finished in a tournament in Lisbon in August.

They sealed a place in the quarter-finals of the European competition prior to the season's interruption in March at the expense of Borussia Dortmund, joining Atalanta, Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig as one of the four teams who have already advanced from the last-16 stage. 

Prior to that tournament PSG are scheduled to face Saint-Etienne in the Coupe de France final on July 24 and then Lyon in the last Coupe de la Ligue showpiece on July 31, which added to Ligue 1 and the Trophée des Champions means the French side remain in the running to complete an unprecedented quintuple.

The club carried out on the tests that confirmed the cases on Monday.

A statement on PSG's website read: "These individuals had exhibited symptoms during the confinement period when they were not in contact with each other. 

"They are no longer contagious and will resume their training program."

PSG are scheduled to resume training in small groups on Thursday.

Two players who will not take part in the remainder of the club's season are Edinson Cavani and Thomas Meunier, who, as Goal revealed on Saturday, have declined the chance to extend their contracts to the end of August. 

Brazil defender Thiago Silva is also set to leave Parc des Princes this summer after eight trophy-laden seasons with the club, but talks are still ongoing to tie the PSG defender down to a temporary deal which would last until the end of the Champions League. 

Layvin Kurzawa is also discussing terms with the club, who are keen to avoid losing more first-teamers as they seek their first-ever victory in the competition.

Former Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Ramon Vega has called for more action against racism in football, saying the Black Lives Matter movement is “an enormous propaganda” which is not enough.

Racism incidences in some football stadiums around the world are rife and continue to be recorded, while concerns that they will not stop anytime soon keep growing.

This is despite some clubs being penalised to play behind closed doors and being slapped with hefty fines by football authorities, as well as players walking off the pitch in protest against racial abuse.

The resumption of football in some European leagues have seen the advancement of the Black Lives Matter movement by players standing against racial injustices but Vega, however, feels that more should be done to in dealing with racism.

“To be honest it’s not enough [Black Lives Matter], actually it’s an enormous propaganda,” Vega told Goal.

“Action is not being taken whatsoever because it’s a daily routine to live with each other. That’s the key importance of the movement and not just going on the streets and have a movement.

“Yes, of course, it’s awareness but how many times in the last 56 years [has] that happened? Nothing happened afterwards. A month later or two everybody has forgotten about this movement.”

The Swiss retired footballer has stressed education and stern action is required in the fight against racism.

“It’s not about the race here, it’s really about the human person and education of the human person and that’s what we need to be looking into action, not just movement and propaganda,” said Vega.

“Action is required here and I think that [is] key to this. For a long time in our society, I am frank to say it’s actually should [have been] cleared a long time ago but we are still here and to be honest it now needs to be action instead of just a movement.”

While Black Lives Matter has gained momentum in football, there appears to be public resistance on the movement.

A white banner was flown over the Etihad on Monday carrying a banner reading, ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ prior to Manchester City thrashing Burnley 5-0.

The controversial banner has widely received condemnation including from the likes of City manager, Pep Guardiola.

Burnley CEO Neil Hart has labelled the flying of a banner that read White Lives Matter Burnley during his side's defeat at the hands of Manchester City as "disgusting". 

Monday's Premier League clash was marred when a small aircraft flew over the Etihad Stadium carrying the message just moments after players from both sides knelt in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

City went on to win 5-0, with Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez both bagging doubles and David Silva also finding himself on the scoresheet. 

The actions of the fans that hired the plane and banner have invited wide condemnation, with Burnley captain Ben Mee admitting he was "ashamed and embarrassed" by the incident, and Hart added his voice to their critics with a furious attack on Tuesday. 

"I was disgusted to sit in the directors' box of the Etihad and see that plane fly over the stadium," the CEO explained to BBC Sport when asked about the incident.

"It's not good, we stand in solidarity with our players, with our stakeholders, our management team, with our community and our town, and we will continue to be very strong in our words against any form of discrimination. 

"I think disgusted is the word I would use." 

Hart went on to confirm that the individual or individuals behind the banner would no longer be welcome at Turf Moor. 

"We are working very closely with the authorities, we believe we know who is responsible, a police investigation has been launched and we will be issuing lifetime bans to those individuals, 100 per cent," he added. 

"The battle is not won by banners, whether they are positive or negative, while what the players are doing with the logos and Black Lives Matter on the back of their shirts goes a long way it is not won by that, it is won by action, it is won by doing work with those communities and working with those individuals, and it is won by action and communication. 

"I still see that as an opportunity and we will continue to develop and evolve our work in that space, and I will make it one of my top priorities over the coming months and years to continue this fight."

Ghana coach CK Akonnor has expressed excitement by the exploits of Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew in the Premier League.

Back in action for the first time in three months due to the coronavirus disruptions, the 28-year-old highlighted his importance for The Eagles with a neat finish to ensure a 2-0 away triumph over Bournemouth on Saturday.

He has so far notched nine goals in 29 league matches this season, standing as the club's top scorer.

“I feel good and it’s good for us as a football nation and he is gradually growing to become a big name in the premiership and we are all happy," Akonnor told Starr Sports.

“I personally have some liking for him, the way he is growing, being a very young man and the way he is now maturing into a big player and somebody who always leads the attack, I think it’s a great thing.

“I will encourage him to continue with his fine form, it’s a great thing and it will always help us.”

There was more to Ayew's Saturday strike than just drawing him close to double figures as it put him clear as the highest-scoring Ghanaian in the history of the Premier League with 25 goals.

He tied former Leeds United forward Anthony Yeboah on 24 goals ahead of the weekend fixture.

Seven of the France-born's strikes came while he was on the books of Aston Villa, eight while with Swansea City and 10 at Palace.

He reached the 25-goal mark in 129 matches while Yeboah scored his 24 goals in 47 appearances. 

Ayew is also on the brink of breaking another record, this time at Palace, with eight more matches to the end of the season.

The attacker's goals so far have won Palace 14 points in this term, leaving him just one point behind Andrew Johnson’s contribution in 2004-05 as no single player has collected The Eagles more points in Premier League history.

Ayew joined Palace in January 2019 for a half-season loan stint from Swansea. Despite a frustrating spell which yielded only one league goal, the striker was signed on a permanent deal at the end of the season.

He first came to England in 2015, signing for Villa from French side Lorient. In January 2017, he left for Swansea.

While in France, Ayew also played for Sochaux and Olympique Marseille.

Ghana's top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt last year, Ayew will be expected to continue his fine form in national colours when the Black Stars face Sudan in an Afcon 2021 qualifying double-header in October. 

Simba SC have received a huge boost with the return of midfielder Jonas Mkude ahead of their two Mainland Premier League matches in Mbeya City.

The Tanzanian champions arrived in Mbeya on Monday in readiness for their two vital matches against Mbeya City on Tuesday and Tanzania Prisons on Saturday.

Making the squad to Mbeya, was midfielder Mkude, who has missed the first two matches since the league restarted. Mkude picked up an injury during the team’s friendly against KMC and thus missed the 1-1 draw against Ruvu Shooting and the 3-0 win against Mwadui FC.

Simba team doctor Yassin Gembe has confirmed that the player has now healed from the injury and will be in contention to play for the side in two matches.

“Mkude is now feeling better and ready to play again after the injury setback,” Gembe is quoted by the club’s official website.

“We have travelled with him to Mbeya, he is not feeling the pain like he was after sustaining the injury and it is now upon the coach to either use him or not, it will now depend on the format the coach will want to use in the matches but Mkude is ready and available to play.”

Meanwhile, Simba assistant coach Suleiman Matola has called on club fans in Mbeya to turn out in large numbers on Tuesday to cheer the team to victory against Mbeya City.

“We have managed to train in Mbeya, it is very cold here than in Dar in Saalam but the players are coping well, all we need now is the support of our fans around Mbeya, we want them to come out in large numbers and rally behind the boys.

“We need the points as if we get six from the two matches, we are almost certain going to be crowned champions, and that is why we want their support, the players are eager to win and they will not disappoint them.

“Our main aim now is to make sure we seal the title in Mbeya, we want to be crowned here, the coach is happy with players’ attitude and response after the 3-0 win against Mwadui, we want to keep the winning run going and we are confident of getting six points.”

Simba will then take on Tanzania Prisons on Saturday.

Techiman Eleven Wonders chief executive officer Takyi Arhin wants the Government of Ghana to take up the responsibility of player testing for the proposed return of football in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.

All domestic competitions have been on hold since a national ban on public gatherings, including sporting and religious events, came into effect as part of measures to curb the spread of the deadly disease on March 15.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has seen the first request for the prompt return of football under tight safety protocols turned down by the national government, partly due to the cost of tests which are to be a major part of affairs under the proposed system. Further discussion between the GFA and relevant stakeholders are still ongoing as the football's governing body has not given up on its ambition.

“Why should clubs pay for testing? I don’t get it," Arhin quizzed, as reported by Footballmadeinghana.

“The 'burgers' [Ghanaians in diaspora] that were brought from abroad and given free accommodations and free meals, did they pay for their testing?

“Ghanaians that are tested so far, who pays for their testing? Why do we always cheapen ourselves like that? In terms of employment to the economy, football alone employs more than 4000 people.

“We pay taxes to clear our goods from the ports. We pay social security for our employees. We pay for VAT on matches played."

Before the West African country closed its borders to regular human travel, 1030 travellers from abroad were mandatorily quarantined in Accra, all at the cost of the Government of Ghana.

Generally, over 270,300 tests have been conducted in Ghana.

“Players that we transfer outside are helping the economy. We feed the various national teams with our players without taking anything from the government," Arhin added.

“So the government should support us financially to play matches behind closed doors, else the players will become rusty.

“We need to convince the government with these factors stated above rather than thinking of payment for the testing of our players and other stakeholders."

Ghana's ban on all contact sports, including football, remains in effect until at least July 31.

The championship was at the matchweek 15 stage - with Aduana Stars leading the table - when the competition was brought to a halt.

The GFA has set a June 30 deadline to make a final decision on the future of the 2019-20 Ghana football season in the wake of disruptions.
 

Arsenal have confirmed that Bernd Leno suffered a sprain to his right knee against Brighton, while Gabriel Martinelli is set to miss "months" of action with a knee injury. 

Leno was hurt during Saturday's clash after contesting a ball with Brighton striker Neal Maupay, and had to be taken off on a stretcher as Emiliano Martinez came into the action. 

In his absence, Arsenal took the lead through Nicolas Pepe but later faltered, with Lewis Dunk and Maupay himself scoring to secure three points for the relegation-threatened Seagulls. 

The Gunners initially feared that Leno may have suffered damage to his cruciate ligament, with manager Mikel Arteta stating after Saturday's game: "Bernd’s injury doesn’t look good, we have to assess it tomorrow to know what’s happening.

"We don’t know [if it’s a cruciate injury], he is still in some pain. We will have to wait until tomorrow at least to see how bad the damage is."

On Tuesday, though, the club released a medical update on several injured players, with good news to share about their No.1. 

"Right knee. Positive news after detailed assessments," the bulletin posted on the club's official website said of Leno's condition.

"Sustained moderate ligament sprain during Brighton & Hove (a) on Saturday. Aiming to return to full training in four to six weeks."

Arsenal also welcomed back Sokratis and Granit Xhaka, who have both resumed full training after suffering a thigh strain and ankle sprain respectively. 

But the north London club are bracing themselves for bad news over young sensation Gabriel Martinelli, who pulled up with a knee complaint during training. 

"Left knee. Sustained cartilage injury during training on Sunday. Further assessments and tests to take place in forthcoming days," Arsenal signalled in Martinelli's assessment.

"We had some really bad news against yesterday [Monday]. In training in the last action he got hit by another player," Arteta told reporters on Tuesday.

"He’s damaged his knee, the doctors are assessing the extent of the injury but it’s not looking good at all.

"How bad? We don’t know, but he’s looking at months.

Martinelli is set to join the likes of Pablo Mari, Lucas Torreira and Calum Chambers in missing the rest of the 2019-20 campaign, while Leno is also unlikely to feature again with Arsenal's final match of the Premier League campaign five weeks away. 

"If two players bang each other, or if what happens with Pablo on his own and a lot of others we’ve had in recent months, they are not muscular injuries. They are more traumatic injuries," Arteta added on Arsenal's injury misfortunes.

"But again, we’ve been really unlucky with that and we have to deal with it."

Arsenal are back in action on Thursday, when they travel to St. Mary's in order to take on Southampton before resuming their FA Cup campaign three days later away to Sheffield United in Sunday's quarter final.

Louis Saha has advised Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey to join his former club Manchester United.

The African stars have been recently linked with moves away from their respective clubs and Saha who played for the Red Devils between 2004 and 2008, thinks they will be good additions to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team.

Aubameyang is set to enter the final year of his Arsenal contract at the end of this month and he is reportedly attracting interest from several European clubs.

The Gabonese star shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane last season, and he is currently trailing Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy for the same prize with 17 goals in 28 league appearances so far this season.

Saha disclosed he would be excited to see the 31-year-old at Old Trafford boost the attacking force in Solskjaer’s team.

“Arsenal fans may not like this, but I’d like him to join United, I’d be very happy with that [laughter]. I’m sure Arsenal fans would not take that well, but that’s my advice to Auba,” Saha told Compare Bet.

On Tuesday, Manchester United rewarded Scot McTominay with a long-term contract that will keep him at the club until 2025 but the former France international feels Partey's arrival might boost the midfield options.

He described the Ghanaian, who has been linked with a move to the Premier League, as a ‘Fabinho-like’ midfielder who could support United’s attack and protect the defence at the same time.

“He’s a top player. He’s a defensive presence and a tremendous prospect. Whether he can make an impact right away remains to be seen, as we have McTominay, Fred and Matic,” he said.

“However, we have seen the impact that someone like Fabinho has had on Liverpool. He has mastered that position. Fabinho has improved the players around him.

“This guy is a rock, he defends in such a way that allows the Liverpool frontline to play their game knowing he’s protecting the defence. Perhaps a Fabinho-like player is already at United, but if not, then we need to find someone, whether that’s Thomas Partey or anyone else.”

Partey has scored two goals in 28 La Liga matches in this campaign and he has three years left on his Atletico Madrid contract.

Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal are planning on signing Pablo Mari and Cedric Soares on permanent deals.

Mari signed on loan from Flamengo in January and Soares arrived soon after from Southampton until the end of the season.

Both have struggled with injuries since joining, with Mari currently facing two to three months out with an ankle injury he sustained against Manchester City last week.

Indeed, Soares has yet to even play a game since his moved. The Portugal international was suffering with a knee injury when he arrived and didn’t feature before lockdown.

He was subsequently hit by a ball in training just ahead of the restart and needed to undergo a small procedure on his nose. He has now recovered, however, and is aiming to be available for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at Sheffield United.

For that to happen, Arsenal need to strike a short-term agreement before midnight tonight with the player and Southampton which would allow him to see out the campaign with Arsenal before signing permanently.

The deal for Mari is not under the same time constraints, however, due to his injury, but Arteta is still hopeful that the transfer will be wrapped up soon.

Arsenal paid Flamengo an initial loan fee of £4.25 million ($5.5m) to take the 26-year-old in January, it was a deal that included an option to make the move permanent for a further figure of £8m ($9.9m) paid in several instalments.

“We’ve been trying to get the deal done because we are happy with what Pablo can bring to us,” Arteta said ahead of Thursday night’s trip to Southampton.

“The club were trying to finalise the deal and I think the club will announce that as quick as possible when everything is sorted.

“I think there was some legal issues there to get done, but our intention still is to keep him.”

On Soares, Arsenal’s head coach added: “That was the plan from the start [to sign him permanently], but he’s been so, so unlucky.

“He was injured when he joined, then he had a fracture in his nose. He hasn’t played at all for us.

“But we think he is a player who will improve and help the squad depth so hopefully we can do it as well.”

Arteta is also hopeful that short-term contracts with David Luiz and Dani Ceballos will be signed before tonight’s deadline which will allow both players to stay for the final five weeks of the season.

Luiz's Arsenal contract expires on June 30 while Ceballos is currently due to return to Real Madrid at the end of the month.

Both, however, are expected to stick around.

“It is very complicated,” said Arteta. “The timing of it and some of the legal issues that are involved with that.

“The club is trying to finalise everything in the next few hours. We have no choice, we have to do it - and even more with the injuries we’ve had.

“So we are trying to resolve this. I am confident that we can do it. I hope so.”

Ismaila Mabo has thrown his weight behind local coaches to get the nod for the vacant senior women's national team coaching post.

Thomas Dennerby left the Super Falcons job last September after 18 months in charge following a 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations triumph and a 2019 Women's World Cup Round of 16 berth.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has begun the search to fill the void left by Dennerby's exit last year, with its president Amaju Pinnick promising to name a world-class coach for the team.

And Mabo, who enjoyed successful stints in charge of the team, urged the NFF to banish thoughts of engaging an expatriate, stressing the country has good indigenous coaches for the job.

"After qualifying and playing in all but one of the previous Women’s World Cups with Nigerian coaches, the NFF cannot just be thinking of another foreign coach for Super Falcons again," Mabo told CompleteSports. 

"The only one we tried did not do better than the previous coaches, so why hire an expatriate again? I am urging the powers that be at the NFF to jettison the idea of a foreign coach for our senior women's national team. 

"We have quality and proven coaches in our domestic leagues who can do the jobs. They should let our coaches get the experience and exposures to get better.

“We have coaches whose clubs have dominated the domestic cups and the league over the years as well as ex-international players who are making forays as coaches in women's football. 

"These coaches should be given the chance to develop themselves and the Super Falcons. Our last experience with a foreign coach (Thomas Dennerby) was flawed as the man abandoned the Falcons without notice.

“Our ex-international women have also delivered when given the chance and I want to plead that if they are not given the head coach’s job, they should get the assistant. 

"I admire the Rivers Angels and Bayelsa Queens' coaches. They are doing well like Ann [Chiejine] and Eucharia [Uche] are also faring well.”

Nigerian coaches accounted for eight of Nigeria's nine African Women's Cup of Nations titles, with Mabo leading the nation to a first-ever Women's World Cup quarter-final finish in 1998.

Wilfried Ndidi has urged his Leicester City teammates to keep fighting to secure qualification for next season’s Uefa Champions League.

Brendan Rodgers’ men remain third in the Premier League table after playing out a goalless draw against Brighton and Hove Albion at home on Tuesday.

After a three-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, they resumed league action on Saturday against Watford with Ben Chilwell’s strike helping them earn a 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road.

With seven games remaining for Leicester City in the English top-flight this season, Ndidi believes they can still keep their spot in the top-four and stage a return to Europe since the 2016-17 season.

“It will be a plus to us as players, in our careers, if we can play in the Champions League. But it is something we have to work for,” Ndidi told Football Daily.

“It is not about what we have done in past matches. These eight games remaining, it is important for us to actually fight hard and pick the Champions League ticket.

“It is something we have to work for, we have to stay there. If we do our best and get the points, then we will get there.”

Ndidi made his Champions League debut with the Foxes back in February 2017, a month after joining them on a five-year contract from Belgian outfit Genk.

He played against Sevilla in the Round of 16 and then played against Atletico Madrid with the Spanish side knocking them out in the quarter-final after a 2-1 aggregate win.

The Nigeria international has been a key player at the King Power Stadium with his dominant displays in the midfield and tackling abilities which rank as one of the best tacklers in England.

Out of the 25 appearances he's made in the Premier League this season, the Super Eagles midfielder averages 3.8 tackles per game, 2.7 interceptions per game and 2.2 clearances per match.

Ndidi be will hoping to guide Leicester City past Chelsea in their FA Cup fixture scheduled for June 28 before they travel to Merseyside to take on Everton for their next league match on July 1.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has nothing but compliments for Ghana striker Jordan Ayew ahead of Wednesday's clash with Premier League leaders Liverpool.

The Eagles top scorer this season, Ayew displayed his sharpness once again on Saturday, scoring to seal a 2-0 away triumph over Bournemouth.

The goal took his season tally to nine in 29 matches. There was more to Ayew's Saturday strike than just drawing him close to double figures as it put him clear as the highest-scoring Ghanaian in the history of the Premier League with 25 goals.

"Jordan has been very good. I have seen a constant improvement in his game," Hodgson said at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday as reported by his club's official website.

"He has always had the attitude and desire and now he's fitting in better and better here.

"All the work he has been doing is now being crowned by scoring and making goals."

Hodgson then shed light on Liverpool who are close to clinching the title.

The Reds currently sit 20 points of second-placed Manchester City.

"You relish facing Liverpool and Manchester City not because you think we’ll have an easy game, you relish it because it proves to you that you are at the very top level of football you can reach in England," Hodgson said.

"These are the flagships of our league - not the only ones but they're in that bracket. You relish playing against them because it means you’ve given yourself a chance against them.

"You don’t relish it because you’ll find it easy and be able to play your football comfortably. You’re playing a team who’s won the league this year deservedly so.

"They [City and Liverpool] are slightly different in their style of play and pose slightly different challenges. Both provide challenges that are not insurmountable but cause you plenty of concern. You’ve got to find a way with your team to combat that quality.

"It’s wrong to make comparisons. Last year, it was a fight to the wire and Man City took it and this year Liverpool have kicked on or had the rub of the green, they might say."

Palace are ninth on the league table.

Rennes president Nicolas Holveck says they “have done everything to convince” Real Valladolid’s Mohammed Salisu to join the Ligue 1 side, but the defender has turned them down while opting for a possible Premier League move.

Manchester United, Everton and Southampton are reportedly targeting the Ghanaian who has two years left on his Valladolid contract.

Football-Espana, recently reported Salisu was headed for Ligue 1 after Rennes had agreed to meet his €12m release clause, but the defender changed his mind.

Rennes had tried to entice the defender with the prospect of playing Champions League football next season.

“We have several targets. We are on three-four players, a level higher than the Europa League. If we succeed, there will be real reinforcements. There will be ambitious recruitment whatever happens,” said Holveck as per Foot Mercato.

“Salisu is currently prioritising the Premier League. Forcing a player despite agreements between clubs is something we don't necessarily want to do. We have done everything to convince him, a priority, he would like to go to the Premier League.

“We want players who want to come. This is not a reproach to Salisu, who during our discussions, seemed very sincere. He prefers an English speaking country. We're not going to force people.”

Picking the Premier League as his preferred next destination would also dash Atletico Madrid’s reported hopes of landing the player who could have joined his compatriot Thomas Partey at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Salisu is yet to be capped by Ghana but has already been a hot transfer target for the next window following some impressive La Liga outings this season.

He has featured in all league matches for Valladolid in the current campaign, with former Barcelona goalkeeper Jordi Masip and forward Oscar Plano his only other teammates to clock all La Liga games this term.

That is a vast improvement from last season where Salisu only managed to sit on the bench on four occasions.

Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed two coronavirus cases within their squad.

The Soweto giants revealed that they conducted preliminary tests last Friday as PSL clubs prepare to return to training.

Chiefs released the following statement on Tuesday afternoon after 70 individuals were tested at the Naturena-based side.

A club statement read: "Following a series of Covid-19 tests conducted last Friday, two Kaizer Chiefs players’ results have come back positive from the laboratory."

"A total of 70 individuals, including players, members of the technical team and other club officials were tested for Covid-19 in preparation for the restart of the 2019/20 season."

"At the time of doing these tests, players and officials were screened and monitored by healthcare workers and team doctors. None of the people tested showed any signs or symptoms of Covid-19."

"All the players and officials were given different timeslots and did not come into contact with each other."

"The affected duo will be in self-isolation for the stipulated period of 14 days. They will be retested after the isolation period as required. If their tests come back negative, they will then be able to rejoin the team."

"Kaizer Chiefs’ medical team and management are working around the clock to provide the necessary support to the affected individuals and ensure they follow the guidelines."

The total number of coronavirus cases in the PSL is now seven with the current season having been suspended since mid-March 2020 due to the deadly virus.

Chiefs' arch-rivals, Orlando Pirates announced that one of their players, Ben Motshwari had tested positive for Covid-19 last May, but the central midfielder has since recovered from coronavirus.

On Monday, June 22, Bloemfontein Celtic's Given Mashikinya became the second known player to test positive for Covid-19.

While Stellenbosch FC confirmed that three of their staff members have tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday, June 23.

Scott McTominay is “very excited” about the future at Manchester United, with the Scotland international having committed to a new contract with the club through to 2025.

The 23-year-old midfielder is one of a number of home-grown talents to have been handed regular first-team football by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He is now the latest to commit to fresh terms, following the likes of Marcus Rashford, Andreas Pereira, Brandon Williams and Tahith Chong in putting pen to paper over the course of the last 12 months.

McTominay is delighted with the show of faith he has earned from the Red Devils and intends to play a prominent role in what he believes will be a productive period for an ambitious outfit.

He told United’s official website when asked about the future at Old Trafford: “Very excited.

“You see the team we’ve got now and it’s amazing. For everybody from the outside looking in they should be saying that we’ve got a real chance to go and do really well.

“For us we have to keep our feet on the ground, keep training well every day and listen to the coaching staff and the ideas they’re portraying to us and put that into practice on the pitch.

“It’s strange with no fans at the minute but hopefully in time we’ll be able to get back to normal and resume where we left off after the last game.”

United returned to competitive action after a coronavirus-enforced break with a 1-1 draw away at Tottenham.

That result has kept them in the hunt for a top-four finish, with Solskjaer continuing to lean heavily on academy graduates when it comes to complementing the big-money signings in his squad.

United have always prided themselves on their youth development, with their current coach billing that process as the “bedrock” of the club.

McTominay agrees, saying: “The manager is not wrong and has hit the nail on the head!

“You see other boys in the same situation to myself like Marcus [Rashford] and Jesse [Lingard] and Axel [Tuanzebe], boys who are doing tremendously well, and I want to be a role model for younger kids growing up and show them how you can get to a certain level with the first team.

“That’s by maintaining hard work throughout a number of years and for me that hard work doesn’t stop, it continues, and that’s the way I’ve been brought up through the football club.

“There are obviously a lot of other things going on in the world right now which are far more important than what’s happening with me, but it’s a real pleasure to be involved with this football club and hopefully going forward we’ll do really well.”

Jurgen Klopp hopes next week's crunch Manchester City vs Liverpool clash will be played at the Etihad Stadium.

The Reds are due to travel to Manchester next Thursday, in a game which could see them clinch the Premier League title at the home of their nearest challengers.

Liverpool will be guaranteed their first championship since 1990 if they take four points from their next two games, starting against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Wednesday evening. 

Should they win that game, City would need to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge 24 hours later to keep the title race going. 

There have been concerns that, if it was the case that Liverpool could win the league at the Etihad, the game may need to be moved to a neutral venue due to the risk of supporters congregating in and around the stadium. 

Manchester City Council's Safety Advisory Group will meet on Thursday to decide whether that will be the case, but Klopp believes the example of Sunday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park, which passed without incident, should mean the game goes ahead as planned at the Etihad.

"Honestly, I would prefer it is at Manchester otherwise it would be really difficult to organise it," the Reds boss said. "I don't know how it would be but it would not be in Liverpool so it would mean we both have to go somewhere where we both need a hotel. That is the only issue.

"Apart from that we play where they send us to but I would prefer it in Manchester. I don't know about the process, I wait until the final information is confirmed whether it is Manchester or not. It would be a challenge for both clubs."

He added: "I don't know enough about the history of English football to be concerned about the City game against us, but the City stadium is pretty well located to close it down if someone was there close to the stadium.

"But I don't see that. The whole period we are in showed that the massive majority of people really behaved responsibly and seriously and take this situation as it is: the discipline level is probably as high as ever before.

"I was not worried about that. I know football fans since I was five years old and 98 per cent of them are completely fine and have the same view on life as I have, and love similar things that I do.

"At this moment in time I was not worried about that, but maybe I don't know enough about it when we go there (to City). But Sunday was a good example, 100 per cent."

Manchester City are monitoring the progress of Fulham teenager Cody Drameh as they consider a transfer, Goal has learned.

The England Under-18 international is yet to play for the Cottagers, but is seen as one of a raft of promising players coming through at the club.

London-born Drameh has become a regular for the Championship side's U23 team and has caught the eye with seven assists from right-back.

Fulham have built up a strong reputation for producing young talent. with Ryan Sessegnon the standout player to come through the club's academy before his £25 million ($30m) move to Tottenham in the summer of 2019.

City previously signed 18-year-old winger Patrick Roberts from Craven Cottage in 2015, though he is still to make an appearance for the first team after loan spells at Celtic, Girona, Norwich City and Middlesbrough.

Pep Guardiola has already signed a right-back this summer, with Brazilian teenager Yan Couto having agreed to join from Coritiba FC on a five-year deal.

Any move for 18-year-old Drameh would, therefore, likely be followed by him being loaned out so as to gain first-team experience elsewhere.

City, meanwhile are reported to be leading the chase for highly-rated Belgian youngster Romeo Lavia.

The 16-year-old has turned down a contract with Anderlecht, who are now managed by former City captain Vincent Kompany. Lavia, who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre back, has been with the club since the age of eight.

He announced on Instagram last week that he was leaving the club stating: "It’s with great emotion that I announce the end of my adventure at Anderlecht."

A number of Premier League clubs have been linked with a move for Lavia, including City, Manchester United and Liverpool.

Belgian outlet Het Laatse Nieuws reported that City have emerged as favourites to sign him on a free transfer and are already in advanced talks.

A busy end-of-season schedule could present an opportunity for City's current academy players to earn first-team minutes, though Guardiola has revealed that only players living close to Manchester were recalled to train with the senior squad due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As well as regular first-team players Phil Foden and Eric Garcia, a group of Tommy Doyle, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Cole Palmer and Felix Nmecha have been training with Guardiola's squad for the past few weeks.