Looking for Soccer News?

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has now confessed it would be a big challenge to play the remaining matches in the 2019-20 season.

The KPL has been advocating for the top-flight to be played to the end despite the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) moving to end the season and declare Gor Mahia champions while promoting Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United, owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

On two occasions, the KPL's plans to issue a stand on the league have been jolted by the extension of the nationwide curfew, with the latest being on Saturday when Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed the ban on all sporting activities and social gatherings will remain in force for another 30 days.

The move by Kenyatta came just a day after the KPL had issued a statement signed by CEO Jack Oguda, in which it was said the Governing Council will meet in the course of this week to make a decision on the league because they had high hopes the previous curfew would be abolished with sporting activities allowed to resume.

Owing to the move by President Kenyatta, Oguda has now confessed they are running out of time to have the season concluded.

“It is going to be a huge challenge now,” Oguda told Goal on Tuesday. “I don’t want to talk more but will let the Governing Council make the decision but as it stands, it will be a huge task.”

Asked on when the Governing Council will meet to decide the fate of the league, Oguda explained: “I am not sure, but I will reach out to my chairman today [Tuesday] and discuss on the matter, he will be in a position to confirm the availability of other members so that they can meet and make a decision.”

Gor Mahia coach Steven Polack and AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda were among the officials who called on the KPL to make a final decision on the league after the curfew was extended for another 30 days.

The British coach called for the KPL to give Gor Mahia the title or nullify the league while Shikanda wanted the KPL to annul the season and allow teams to focus on the new season set to kick-off in August.

At the time the league was suspended, Gor Mahia were leading the 17-team league table on 54 points, seven more than second-placed Kakamega Homeboyz, who had a game in hand.

Former Orlando Pirates assistant coach Bradley Carnell said he is happy in the United States of America as he is part of the New York Red Bulls bench, and suggested he would stay as long as he is needed.

Although he is still taking his coaching career step by step, Carnell would like to ply his trade and further his career in Europe whenever an opportunity avails itself.

On the other hand, the former Bidvest Wits and Kaizer Chiefs defender is also open to a move back to his homeland, South Africa.

"It is all about building blocks and baby steps. How long am I intending to stay in the US? I don’t know. As long as I’m needed here, I’ll give everything here,” Carnell told IOL.

“If I have an opportunity to go back to Europe or do something else, wherever the profession is calling me... I’m always ready for it. I’m really happy here.

“We have good people and a good organization. It is really high quality every day. It is just about getting better, helping the team, and making sure that I’m also getting better.

“I want to hone my craft and get into step, where I’m coaching at a higher level...Getting back to Europe is a big goal of mine. But right now I’m really happy and giving my all for the Red Bulls.”

Having spent more than a decade in the Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Mönchengladbach, he still harbours ambitions of a possible return to the Premier Soccer League (PSL). 

“Obviously, in the future, yes, I’ll consider a move to South Africa,” he added.

“That’s my heritage and that’s my roots. Right now, I feel that I have unfinished business in the market here in MLS, or even in Europe.

“We don’t know, maybe in a couple of years but we’ll see how it goes. There are always ongoing contract negotiations. My deal comes up in December. We will see where that takes us.

“There were one or two things back in Europe in late November for a couple of teams and those didn’t transpire. As I said, I’m very happy at this current moment.”

Bayern Munich can afford to sign Leroy Sane and Kai Havertz in the same transfer window and should be considering raids on Manchester City and Bayer Leverkusen, claims Lothar Matthaus.

The Bundesliga giants are forever in the market for the best domestic talent, and two more Germany internationals are registering on their radar.

Efforts to lure Sane away from the Etihad Stadium were made in 2019, prior to a serious knee injury forcing the tricky winger onto the sidelines.

Interest has been retained there and the next window could be the one in which a long-standing target is finally acquired by those at the Allianz Arena.

Havertz could be another that comes into Bayern’s thinking, with the 20-year-old seeing his stock rise considerably, and Matthaus believes those in Munich should be speculating to accumulate.

The Bayern legend told Sky Deutschland on the need for ambition and long-term vision to be shown: “Leroy Sane and Kai Havertz may make this team better. But you only know that when they are there. Of course there is no doubt that both are outstanding and that Bayern Munich would certainly not get weaker, on the contrary.

“Bayern could economically handle both transfers and buy Sane and Havertz at the same time.

“Before a big change, though, every top player asks himself the question: Where can I be almost sure to play if I perform? The Leverkusen player [Havertz], who is sure to be hunted by the vast majority of clubs, should in my eyes have the character and quality to assert himself at Real, Barcelona, ​​Juventus or the top English clubs.

“A change may be more apparent at a club like Real. [Toni] Kroos and [Luka] Modric will no longer establish an era there.

“Havertz has made a very good impression on me and that, paired with insane talent, means he has what it takes to show his class abroad. But of course Bayern will also be a factor.

“It could also be an option to agree on the season after next, with Bayern allowing him to stay in Leverkusen for another year – especially if they qualify for the Champions League. 

“Then Thomas Muller will be a year-and-a-half older and the prospects for Kai are even better than they are already. He will certainly cost at least 80 million, and only because of the current crisis. Otherwise we would be talking about a three-figure amount.

“Bayern must and will strengthen with top players. I assume that [Corentin] Tolisso may have the desire to change clubs in order to get more appearances, because he currently cannot get past [Joshua] Kimmich, [Leon] Goretzka, Thiago and [Thomas] Muller. [Javi] Martinez doesn't matter anymore either, and [Philippe] Coutinho won't play at Bayern next season. That means transfer income and salary savings.

“That's why I think FCB could buy Sane and Havertz. Whether they do this or wait for the situation with the coronavirus to be over is open to debate.”

West Ham United manager David Moyes has described Jeremy Ngakia’s decision to leave the club as a "kick in the teeth".

Ngakia, who rose through the ranks at West Ham, was handed his first-team debut in January against Liverpool, and he made three more Premier League appearances before the league was suspended in March due to the coronavirus lockdown.

He joined the Hammers at the age of 14 and he is set to seek a new adventure when his contract expires on June 30, after rejecting a new offer which is reportedly worth £5,000-a-week.

Moyes said he is disappointed by the 19-year-old’s decision to leave and also confirmed ongoing talks with the teenager to stay until the end of the 2019-20 season.

“We are really surprised and disappointed that Jeremy is not going to stay at West Ham,” Moyes told Standard Sport.

“We like him a lot, we’ve given him his debut and I’m a manager who has done that many times in my career, including Wayne Rooney, Ross Barkley, Jordan Pickford and others.

“Jeremy is another one and I feel he is making a mistake choosing not to stay with us. We’ve trusted him in big games and everyone likes him at the club.

“I also feel it’s a kick in the teeth for the academy, because they have developed a player for the first team and he’s not going to stay. We’re also really disappointed with his decision not to stay beyond June 30.

"I don’t agree with that and I also think it’s something the Premier League should not allow to happen, because it means the season is not starting and finishing in the same way.

“There’s nothing we can do about that, though, and we are still working with him. We like him, we want him to feel he’s been given the best service we can give and maybe there’s still a little hope that we can change his mind.

“We haven’t given up all hope of Jeremy realising he has got it wrong, but I have to say he has told me directly that it is not his choice to stay.”

West Ham United are 16th on the Premier League table but they find themselves struggling against relegation, level on 27 points with 18th-placed Bournemouth after 29 games.

Marco Silva claims to be unaware of whether any bid from Barcelona for Richarlison was received during his spell as Everton boss, but he is tipping the Brazilian to reach the very top of the game.

The Toffees spent big luring a South American forward away from Watford in the summer of 2018.

That deal, which saw Silva reunited with a player he had previously worked with at Vicarage Road, could end up being worth as much as £50 million ($63m).

Richarlison has justified the faith shown in him at Goodison Park, with 26 goals recorded through 69 appearances – landing him a new contract in the process.

He has also become a senior international with his country, earning 19 caps, with his rise to prominence said to have caught the eye of those at Camp Nou.

Talk of a big-money offer being tabled circulated at one stage, with a talented 23-year-old said to have become a top target for the Liga champions.  

“I don’t know if it was true or not, you know how it is with rumours in football,” Silva told Sky Sports when quizzed on the Barca links.

“When the market is coming, then you start to see the names of clubs for your best players. I don’t know if it was true or not but what I do know is that when I was in charge of the player he was always really focused on Everton Football Club in that period, and he is the same now.

“If big clubs come for him in the future it will not distract him because he likes the club and the way everyone welcomed him.”

While reluctant to speculate on what happened in the past, Silva admits that Richarlison is an exciting talent in the present and hot prospect for the future – with the potential there for him to earn further interest from European heavyweights.

“He has to prove his quality and keep improving,” added Silva, who left his role with Everton in December 2019.

“I did everything to get him to the Premier League when he was in Brazil, to come to Watford. I was not sure that he would make an impact so fast but I was sure about his skills.

“What he gets now depends on himself because with his skills, being so young, he has already been in the national team of Brazil with the quality that they have, for them to choose him is a fantastic step.

“He needs to keep working hard at Everton and achieve important things. Everton won’t be thinking of selling him and it will be difficult for a club if they want to buy a player like Richarlison.”

RB Leipzig centre-back Dayot Upamecano has been told he will be sold when the transfer window reopens unless he commits to a new contract, as rumours linking him with Arsenal and Bayern Munich continue to swirl.

Upamecano has developed into one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe since joining Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg in 2017.

The 21-year-old has impressed consistently at the heart of the defence, although his form has tailed off since the Bundesliga season restarted and he was sent off in the 1-1 draw with Paderborn last Saturday.

Upamecano, whose current contract runs until June 2021, has a release clause of €60 million (£54m/$68m) that will expire at the end of this month.

Arsenal reportedly saw a bid for Upamecano turned down before the start of the 2019-20 campaign and are expected to revive their interest this summer, while Bayern have also been tipped to submit an offer of their own.

Leipzig sporting director Oliver Mintzlaff has made it clear that the Frenchman will not be allowed to leave on a free transfer in 2021, while suggesting the club could cash in on a prized asset at the end of the season.

"'Upa' is an extremely important player for us and one of the most sought-after talents in Europe," Mintzlaff told Bild.

"And we can assure that we have a clear understanding with him and his agent he won't leave us on a free. We can't afford that as a club.

"There are only two options: prolong or leave. I am sure we'll soon find out in which direction it's going."

Upamecano will be missing from Julian Nagelsmann's squad when Leipzig take in a trip to Hoffenheim on Friday as he serves a suspension following the red card received last time out.

The Saxony-based outfit are sitting third in the Bundesliga table after 30 fixtures and must get back to winning ways to stay ahead of their rivals in the race for a top-four finish.

Leipzig, whose stalemate against Paderborn saw their title aspirations slip away, are only three points ahead of fourth and fifth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayer Leverkusen with four matches left to play.

Former Harambee Stars midfielder Crispin Ochieng' Olando is being detained in the United States for allegedly breaching immigration rules.

The 32-year-old former international was arrested on March 18 and taken to the Jackson Parish Correctional Centre where he was detained. The Kenyan was booked because he was not in possession of the necessary immigration documents and was not granted a bond.

After moving to the US in 2013 in search of greener pastures, Olando managed to secure trials with Houston Dynamo and Vancouver Whitecaps but failed to convince their technical benches to sign him.

He resorted to playing in the lower tiers of domestic football in the country before eventually retiring and settling with his family.

While in Kenya, the midfielder turned out for then-Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Thika United before joining Tusker FC.

At the Ruaraka-based side, Olando won back-to-back league titles in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

In 2011, Tusker managed to collect 58 points from the 30 matches played, one more than Ulinzi Stars who finished in the second position. Sofapaka finished third after managing just 52 points.

Olando was at it again the following year, helping the Brewers win their 11th league title. Under Robert Matano, the team once again managed to beat their rivals on the final day, finishing with 60 points ahead of favourites Gor Mahia who had 59.

AFC Leopards finished third with 57 points; while Tusker played in Caf Champions League, K'Ogalo won the FKF Shield Cup and played in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Olando was among the players who were dropped after the conclusion of the 2012 season. Others were Dennis Mukaisi, Andrew Murunga, Isaac Otieno, Allan Kateregga, David Nyanzi, Charles Odette, Joseph Emeka and Fredrick Ajwang. 

The club stated later on that Olando was dropped owing to his struggles on the pitch, after sustaining a metatarsal injury in April that year.

Other reports indicated the player refused to extend his contract at the club which was to expire in December that year.

Olando was reportedly targeting a move from the club at the end of the 2012 campaign and the Brewers were keen on tying him down with a new contract.

It is for that reason the Brewers opted to release him.

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has attributed his progress to his ability to listen to criticism from his coaches, friends and wife.

The Nigeria international has been in top form since teaming up with the King Power Stadium outfit in 2017 from Belgian side Genk.

Ndidi’s stock has risen very high in the Premier League and he is currently regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders in the English top-flight.

Reflecting on his success, the Super Eagle praised the people who surround him for their sincere criticism which has helped him to improve on his performances.

“My circle of friends is very small, and they are people who are straight in their assertions. Even at Leicester City, the players, the coaches, and the staff are straight with me,” Ndidi told the Super Eagles media team.

“That alone is like an encouragement to me; they make me understand life in general and how I am performing.

“Kudos also must go to my wife; she is always honest with me as it concerns my game, telling me the right things and I don’t joke with her criticisms because I know she wants me to be a better player and my boss at Leicester too.”

Ndidi has made 111 Premier League appearances since his arrival at King Power Stadium and this season he has played 29 times for the Foxes across all competitions.

The midfielder has consistently ranked among the top three best tacklers in the Premier League and currently ranks third on the list, behind his teammate Ricardo Pereira and Manchester United’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

His solid performances ensured Leicester’s current third position on the league table, behind leaders Liverpool and Manchester City.

Ndidi has also been in excellent form for the Super Eagles and in 2019, he played a key role as Nigeria clinched their eighth bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The 23-year-old was also one of the standout players as Nigeria defeated the Republic of Benin and Lesotho in their 2021 Afcon qualifying games, which saw them sit atop Group L with six points.

He was part of Gernot Rohr’s team scheduled to face Sierra Leone in their third qualifying game before the match was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The combative midfielder has made 36 appearances for the three-time African champions since making his debut against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2015.

Ndidi will hope to continue his solid defensive displays for Leicester when the Premier League resumes on June 17. 

Clubs can breathe a sigh of relief as the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has given them the green light to continue playing friendly matches in preparation for the league restart on June 13.

In a statement dated June 8, the federation had suspended all preparatory matches, until a meeting was held with clubs. Fans had entered the fields to cheer their respective teams without taking into consideration the guidelines given to curb the spread of Covid-19.

This meeting had since taken place and clubs are once again allowed to continue with their warm-up matches.

"Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has allowed friendly matches to be played but with permission from TFF to ensure all guidelines and measures to curb coronavirus are followed," read a statement signed by the federation's head of communications and obtained by Goal.

"The decision has been reached after sitting with Azam, KMC, Simba, Transit Camp and Yanga who engaged in a friendly match without following the guidelines and measures given by the Ministry of Health.

"From the meeting, all the clubs agreed to adhere to the guidelines and measures given, including employing Social Distancing Agents whose main job will be to ensure fans respect the social distancing rule."

The clubs involved have also shown remorse after failing to control the supporters who attended the matches.

"The clubs have requested to be pardoned following the situation witnessed in their friendly games regarding the supporters who attended. The teams will also sensitize the fans on the importance of adhering to the guidelines by respective authorities," the statement added.

"Simba will also not use their facility Mo Simba Arena to play their friendly matches since the facility is only fit for training sessions."

The new development gives the friendly match between Azam FC and KMC the green light to be played as scheduled on Wednesday.

The FA Cup champions played out a goalless draw with Trans Camp in their friendly played at Azam Complex in Chamazi on June 7. 

KMC will be playing their third friendly match - they defeated Yanga SC 3-0 before falling 3-1 to 20-time champions Simba. 

After almost three months, the Tanzania Mainland League resumes this weekend. Wekundu, who are on 71 points, need a maximum of five wins from the remaining 10 games to be crowned as champions.

Yanga and Azam are targeting the FA Cup to represent Tanzania in the Caf Confederation Cup.

Cape Town City have announced the departure of one of their midfielders, Ronald Putsche.

The Austrian player has seen limited game time this season having made only 10 appearances in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and scored once.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the indefinite suspension of the current season since March 2020 and Putsche has joined a list of players, who have decided to leave PSL clubs for Europe in recent times.

Dean Furman, Boy De Jong and Simon Murray have all left PSL clubs and returned to Europe in the last three months.

City released the following statement on Tuesday morning indicating that Putsche has left the Western Cape-based side.

"Roland Putsche leaves City after a decorated four years at the club."

"Roli will be returning home to Europe, leaving a lasting legacy on the success story of Cape Town City."

"A true club legend, until we meet again Roli," a club statement read.

Putsche joined City from Austrian Bundesliga club Wolfsberger AC ahead of the 2016/17 campaign.

His four-year spell with the Citizens has proved to be a success having helped the team clinch two major trophies.

The lanky player lifted the 2016 Telkom Knockout Cup in his first season with the Mother City side - playing all four matches in the tournament.

Putsche also helped City clinch the 2018 MTN8 under the guidance of Benni McCarthy with the team having lost to SuperSport United in the 2017 final.

His consistent displays reportedly attracted interest from unnamed overseas clubs during the 2018/19 season.

However, the Citizens managed to retain his services and he helped the team secure a top-four finish on the PSL standings.

The current campaign has seen Putsche struggle with injuries and he fell out of favour under City's Dutch coach Jan Olde Riekerink.

Thabo Nodada and Mduduzi Mdantsane have been preferred ahead of Putsche in midfield with the 29-year-old player forced to settle for a place on the bench.

It remains to be seen whether Putsche will return to his former side, Wolfsberger where he spent four seasons before moving to City.

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has suspended all friendly matches until they meet all clubs on the matter.

Most Tanzania Mainland league teams are preparing for the restart on June 13. Reports have it the federation wants to set the record straight regarding fans who attend matches.

On Monday, hundreds of fans had turned out, amidst Covid-19 pandemic, to watch the games without protective gear and Goal understands it is what the federation want to discuss with the clubs.

"The TFF has suspended all the friendly matches effective immediately until it meets all the clubs," read a statement signed by TFF Communications Officer Cliford Ndimbo and obtained by Goal.

"No friendly game will be played without permission from the TFF. Tomorrow [Tuesday], TFF will meet Simba SC, Young Africans SC, Azam FC, KMC and Trans Camp."

The federation went on to hint on the agenda of the meeting.

"TFF has been insisting on the importance of clubs following the guidelines given by the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children and that of Communication, Sports... on how to protect ourselves from Covid-19," the statement added.

On Monday, Wekundu wa Msimbazi played two friendly matches, against Trans Camp and KMC, winning 4-2 and 3-1 respectively.

In the first match, forward Deo Kanda was the first to strike for the Msimbazi-based side in the third minute.

Gerson Fraga scored the second for Sven Vandenbroeck's charges in the 15th minute before Tairone Santos added the third goal of the encounter two minutes after Fraga's strike.

Simba did not add a fourth goal until after the first half ended but they also could not keep Transit Camp at bay, as their opponents reduced the deficit in the first minute of added time courtesy of Hamadi Habibu.

In the 46th minute, Meddie Kagere added his name onto the scoresheet as he stretched Simba's lead further. Transit Camp answered back in the 64th minute from Nisile Kisimba's strike but their resurgence did not deny Simba a convincing win.

Against KMC, captain John Bocco scored a brace with Ibrahim Ajibu getting the third for the hosts while the visitors scored what turned out to be the consolation courtesy of Charles Ilanfya.

Simba SC striker Meddie Kagere has confessed how difficult it has been for him to score 19 goals so far in the Mainland Premier League.

The Rwandan striker won the Golden Boot last season after notching 23 goals and he is currently leading the race to win the gong again.

However, Kagere, who joined Simba from Kenyan champions Gor Mahia two seasons ago, has admitted reaching 19 goals this season has not been easy for him.

“I have had difficult times to score goals this campaign because every defender is watching on me whenever we play against them,” Kagere is quoted by Sokaletu.

“Whenever the defenders see me in the starting XI, they come wanting to deny me a chance to score and that is always difficult for any striker to achieve your target.

“Other defenders always use a lot of force to defend against me, putting me on tight marking but sometimes I enjoy the moment because when I sneak and get a chance, I will score, so that is why I only have 19 goals this season.”

In a recent interview, former Young Africans (Yanga SC) defender Oscar Joshua revealed he will be a happy man if Kagere is beaten to the Golden Boot this campaign.

With the league set to resume after it was halted in mid-March owing to the coronavirus pandemic, Kagere has a good chance to claim the award with only nine rounds of matches remaining to the end of the season.

Joshua went ahead to challenge other strikers in the top-flight, led by Reliants Lusanjo, Paul Nonga, and Yusuph Mhilu, to make sure that they catch up with Kagere and beat him to the crown.

Lusajo and Mhilu, both of Kagere Sugar, have scored 11 goals while Nonga of Lipuli FC has managed 10 goals.

“First Emmanuel Okwi took the Golden Boot and then came Kagere and won the award last season, and still it seems Kagere will do it again this season,” Joshua told reporters.

“But I have a feeling that we have Nonga, Lusanjo, and Mhilu who can also challenge for the gong and I want to urge them to make sure they don’t allow Kagere to win the award again, nine matches are enough to give them the award.”

Simba will resume their hunt for a third straight title against Ruvu Shooting on June 13 at National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana says he "was never the same person" following an encounter with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in England more than a 20 years ago.

A trip to Manchester for a schools tournament proved to be mentality-changing for the gritty midfielder, who still hears Ferguson's words ringing in his head.

Ferguson, a guest in the stands, was impressed after watching a 12-year-old Kekana in action against a school from Luxembourg.

The former Manchester United boss then predicted a bright future for Kekana, who went on to claim six Premier Soccer League titles (PSL), a Caf Champions League trophy and a Caf Super League crown among his career accolades.

Kekana says after meeting Ferguson, he did not see anything blocking his way to stardom although he faced rejection at SuperSport United, where Gavin Hunt reportedly deemed him as surplus before shipping him out to Bloemfontein Celtic.

“It was just surreal [meeting Ferguson],” Kekana told Far Post.

“After watching us play against a school from Luxembourg, he came up to me and asked for my name. I told him with my broken English.

"He then said, ‘if football is what you want to do, I can see you playing anywhere in the world with that attitude.’

"I was never the same person after hearing those words. I knew I had something special. Those words have carried me through all my career.

“I didn’t see anything stopping me after the talk with Sir Alex. I wanted to perfect my passing, I wanted to perfect my shooting. I don’t often score goals but when I do, people talk about them for a while. I score goals that are special.

“Everyone was excited to see this kid wearing an oversize football jersey, enjoying the game.

"But for me, Sir Alex’s words opened the way for me to see football and life differently.

"He said I was such a special kid. Each time I get onto the field to play I think of those words – my attitude has got to be right.”

Despite Kekana being 35 years old now, Mamelodi Sundowns still invested faith in the midfielder who signed a new four-year contract in March.

If he manages to see out his contract, he would be 39 years old by then and would have completed 13 seasons at Sundowns.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has expressed his belief that Mario Gotze is still "an exceptional player", while wishing the exit-bound Borussia Dortmund star luck at his next club.

Gotze emerged as one of Europe's most exciting young talents under Klopp's stewardship at Dortmund between 2009 and 2013.

The World Cup winner helped BVB win five major trophies, including two Bundesliga titles, before joining up with their arch-rivals Bayern Munich.

Unfortunately, he was never quite able to live up to expectations at the Allianz Arena, and made his way back to Westfalenstadion in 2016.

Gotze's second spell at Dortmund has been disrupted by a metabolic illness, which has restricted the midfielder's playing time and overall contribution to the team.

The 28-year-old will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season, and is expected to undertake a new challenge away from Germany.

Liverpool have been strongly linked with Gotze in recent weeks, but Klopp says his former charge needs to join a club that can guarantee him regular minutes.

The Reds head coach told Sky Deutschland: "Everyone in the business knew that his contract was expiring.

"If things have not been settled a year in advance, there are some indications that it is coming to an end.

"Mario will probably need a few games in a row. He needs a club that gives him the feeling that he doesn't have to change the world in every game.

“Instead, Gotze has to just play normally and then play again and play again. Then I think we'll see the old Mario Gotze again.

“That is obviously not possible in Dortmund at the moment with the quality that they have in the offensive area.

“It makes total sense that Mario leaves the club. I couldn't wish him more luck, to be honest.

“I think he is an exceptional player and also an exceptional character. I like him very much and wish him all the best."

Gotze has not featured for Dortmund since their 1-0 defeat to Bayern on May 26, missing subsequent wins over Paderborn and Hertha Berlin.

He will, however, be back in contention for a place in Lucien Favre's squad when BVB take in a trip to Fortuna Dusseldorf on Saturday.

Former Portugal captain Costinha has been impressed with Bruno Fernandes' fantastic performances for Manchester United and feels that the midfielder can bring the glory days back to Old Trafford.

Fernandes joined the Red Devils from Sporting CP during the January transfer window in a deal worth an initial €55 million (£47m/$60m) and made an instant impact on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.

The 25-year-old has contributed three goals and four assists in his first nine appearances for the club as United push for a place in the Premier League's top four, as well as gunning for trophies in the FA Cup and Europa League.

Costinha, who famously scored Porto's goal at Old Trafford to knock United out of the Champions League in 2004, believes that after seeing his compatriot struggling in his first appearance for the club, Fernandes has since proven his worth to a team in transition.

"He is a fantastic footballer," Costinha told Goal. "I don't know him as a person, but sometimes I message him on Instagram

"I remember his debut at United (against Wolves) and his socks were down after 70 minutes. I said to him: 'Don't worry about that.' I saw in his head he was tired and wanted to come off. He wasn't used to the rhythm. 

"I just said: 'Don't worry, once you get used to that rhythm with all the intelligence in your head and ability in your feet, then it will be easier for you.'

"He is making very good progress and he is playing very well for United. They need time after moving on from Sir Alex Ferguson under new leadership and with a different mentality, but they still play to win every tournament.

"The history of Manchester United tells you to win every tournament. If you go there, you have to win all the cups, and that includes the Champions League. You are talking about Man United – it is one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"How many players want to play for Man United? Many would love to play there. It is a fantastic club."

Costinha almost got the opportunity to do just that after he was approached by former United assistant coach Carlos Queiroz regarding a short-term transfer in late-2005.

United were in the market for a combative midfielder but were unable to strike a deal with Costinha's club at the time, Dynamo Moscow, given he had only moved to Russia six months previously.

It marked the second occasion on which a potential transfer to the Premier League had fallen through for Costinha, after his former boss at Porto, Jose Mourinho, attempted to bring him to Stamford Bridge after being appointed Chelsea manager in 2004

"But then [Claude] Makelele stayed at the club," Costinha explained. "I don't think Mourinho wanted two players who were ambitious to play in the same position.

"If Claude was playing, I wouldn’t have been happy, and if I was playing, then Claude wouldn’t have been happy. Jose would have been happy because he would have had two players he trusts!

"Porto didn’t allow me to leave anyway. That summer, Jose Antonio Camacho also made an offer from Real Madrid for Ricardo Carvalho and myself, but I didn’t go there either.

"After I went to Russia, I was in the airport in Frankfurt back to Moscow and I received a call from Carlos Queiroz of Man United. At the time, I think they had a lot of injuries in midfield and they wanted to sign me. He asked me if I wanted to go and I said yes.

"Of course, I was sad [it didn't happen] because it was Man United, but I had a five-year agreement [with Dynamo] and I couldn’t fight them. I understood why the president didn’t want me to go.

"The first offer [from United] was a half-year contract from January to June. Then, my agent got it up to a two-and-a-half-year contract. Dynamo Moscow had bought me and I had five years left on that deal, so they didn’t accept the offer."

Timo Werner’s proposed transfer to Chelsea is “perfect for all concerned”, says Stan Collymore, with the former Liverpool striker eager to point out that the Germany international is “not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo” and would likely have flopped at Anfield.

A switch to Merseyside appeared to be on the cards for the RB Leipzig forward as speculation regarding his future began to build.

Werner had left a door open for Jurgen Klopp to make a move, while many had talked up the qualities that a hard-working and prolific 24-year-old would add to the ranks of the current Premier League leaders.

No approach was made by Liverpool, though, and Chelsea have stolen in to put a £54 million (€60m/$68m) deal in place.

Some have suggested that the Reds may be left to rue their decision not to rival a domestic foe for Werner, but Collymore believes too much has been made of Klopp’s call not to table an offer for a player who would likely miss out on a place in his preferred starting XI.

The former Liverpool striker told The Mirror: “The deal to take Timo Werner to Chelsea is a perfect arrangement for all concerned.

“Perfect for the player, perfect for the Blues, perfect for RB Leipzig, who are trousering £53million, and perfect for Liverpool as well.

“He’s a good, solid striker with promise — an all-rounder who holds the ball up well, is mobile, gets into the box and scores goals.

“But the Liverpool fans sobbing about missing out on him can spare me the tears because he’s not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo and the way some have reacted, you’d be forgiven for thinking he was some sort of reincarnation of both.

“Liverpool are the European champions, world champions and soon-to-be Premier League champions, and there would be massive pressure on him as the summer’s marquee signing at Anfield on the back of all that.

“Add in the fact that Liverpool already have arguably the best-balanced front three in the world and I’m struggling to see where Werner would have fitted in.

“I wouldn’t have seen him displacing any of them and, given everything that team has done together, I could even have seen him flopping.

“Why? Because walking into that dressing room would have been massively intimidating for a 24-year-old.

“At Chelsea, though, he will look around and see Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud, and think, ‘Yes, good players, but I’ll have that challenge’.

“He knows he’s not the finished article yet and that’s what Liverpool will be looking for even if they aren’t the sort of signings Jurgen Klopp is fabled for making.”

Collymore added: “As for the notion that Jurgen Klopp couldn’t justify Werner’s fee, I’m sure there is an element of the Kop boss not wanting to appear gaudy or louche in the current climate.

“He’s not a Billy Bullsh*tter after all.

“Had he firmly believed Werner would be the next Sergio Aguero or Fernando Torres, though, I’m pretty sure he’d have been whipping out the old chequebook in a heartbeat.”

Simba SC will have to wait a little longer to know the extent of the injury suffered by midfielder Jonas Mkude during a friendly against KMC on Monday.

Mkude was injured in the 53rd minute at Mo Simba Arena and was immediately rushed to Rabininsha Memorial Hospital, where he was later treated and discharged.

However, the club’s doctor Yassin Gembe has now confirmed the player is out of danger, but he will have to undergo more tests to determine whether he will be fit to play when the Mainland Premier League resumes on June 13.

“For now, Mkude has left the hospital and he is looking good and doing fine, however, he will have to undergo further scans and tests to know how bad the injury was,” Gembe told the club’s official website.

Despite losing Mkude in the fixture, Simba went on to beat KMC 3-1 with captain John Bocco notching a double while Ibrahim Ajibu grabbed the third.

Simba had suffered an early scare in the match as KMC, who had earlier beaten Young Africans (Yanga SC) 3-0 in another build-up, took the lead courtesy of Charles Ilanfya.

However, Simba fans were up on their feet cheering louder as Bocco scored the equaliser four minutes later. The two teams headed to the half-time break on level terms.

Taifa Stars striker Bocco completed his brace with a quarter of an hour to go after getting the better of the defenders before Ajibu’s fine strike sealed the win in the 88th minute.

It was Simba’s second friendly since earlier in the day, the league leaders defeated Transit Camp 4-2 at the same venue.

Simba will face Ruvu Shooting on June 14 at home as they restart their title defence.

The Wekundu wa Msimbazi enjoy a good lead at the top and coach Vandenbroeck had urged them to ensure they bag the first 12 points to win the title in earnest.

With three of their four foreign players already in Tanzania, Simba are assured of an almost full squad for the matches, which also includes the FA Cup quarter-final tie against Azam.

Sharaf Shiboub, from South Sudan, is the only foreign player yet to report for duty.

Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta hopes Barcelona do not pay Lautaro Martinez's release clause but vowed to replace the forward with a star if he leaves.

Lautaro has been heavily linked with a move to the La Liga giants, with Inter reportedly insisting the Argentina international's buy-out clause of €111 million (£99m/$125m) will need to be paid.

Marotta again reiterated the Serie A side had no interest in selling Lautaro, but said a new talisman would be signed if the 22-year-old does end up moving on to pastures new.

"It is difficult to pronounce on his future at this moment, but I say to him – stay focused on the present, there is a season that resumes, there are goals to hit," the Inter CEO told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There is no desire of the property to sell Lautaro. He is young, has the future of his own and is a functional element for [Antonio] Conte. Then, of course, there is a clause.

"I don't know what Barcelona think, maybe they will also have alternatives. I hope they don't pay the clause. If Lautaro [leaves], a top player will arrive.

"But in this market, at European level the real difficulty will not be having to buy, but being able to sell. I would say one thing in general – Neymar-style operations, in which one team goes and takes one player away from another, will not be seen for many years."

Inter have been tipped to move for Edinson Cavani, whose current contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires at the end of the season.

But Marotta said a deal for Cavani, who has scored seven goals in 22 games this season, was still some way off.

"It is one of the opportunities, it is being monitored as an expiring footballer," he said.

"But we did not go into the matter further: at the moment he is quite far from Inter."

Antonio Conte is currently preparing his Inter squad for their first fixture in three months, with a trip to Napoli in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final scheduled for June 13.

The Nerazzurri lost the first leg 1-0 shortly before the season was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak in March, and the reverse will be played behind closed doors at Stadio San Paolo.

Inter will resume their latest Serie A campaign eight days later as they play host to Sampdoria at an empty San Siro, where nothing less than a win will do as they look to close the gap on leaders Juventus.

Neymar is capable of filling Lionel Messi’s boots at Barcelona when the day comes for a six-time Ballon d’Or winner to walk away from Camp Nou, says Jofre Mateu.

Such a move will not be made any time soon, with an exit clause that exists in the Argentine’s contract having expired for 2020.

A mercurial talent is, however, only tied to terms with the Blaugrana for another 12 months and is yet to commit to an extension beyond that point.

At 32 years of age, and having been a one-club man to this point, it has been suggested that Messi will look to head home before hanging up his boots.

He has made no secret of the fact that he would like to take in competitive outings for Newell’s Old Boys – the club that initially spotted his potential – prior to heading into retirement.

If a move away from Catalunya is to be made, then somebody will be required to follow in the footsteps of an all-time great.

Former La Masia academy graduate Mateu, who was on Barca’s books as Messi’s star began to rise, believes Neymar could be the man to provide inspiration for the Liga giants.

A return to Camp Nou from Paris Saint-Germain has been mooted for the Brazil international, with the next transfer window expected to see that interest rekindled.

“Some players will be very happy if he comes back because they are very good friends,” Mateu told IANS.

“When he left Barcelona it came as a shock for us, the supporters. He certainly isn't the same player anymore because of his age and also his off-field problems. But as a player there is probably no discussion that he is one of the best in the world.

“When Messi isn't there, then probably he can take his place.”

While talking up Neymar’s ability to fill the void created by a legend, Mateu admits that he would prefer to see Barcelona build even more long-term and raid the ranks at PSG for an alternative frontman.

He added: “I prefer Mbappe now. I think because of his age and mentality, I think Mbappe is going to be the next top player in the world.”

Barca have rarely been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Mbappe, with speculation regarding a possible switch to Spain for the World Cup winner seeing Real Madrid head the queue for a talented 21-year-old.