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Alphonso Davies is eager to point out that his "time is not done with Bayern", with the Canada international determined to land more trophies as he continues to live the dream at the Allianz Arena.

The jet-heeled 20-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence over recent years, with a standing under the brightest of spotlights in Germany embraced after leaving MLS side the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2018.

Davies has taken in 84 appearances for Bayern, collecting Bundesliga and Champions League crowns along the way, but is aware that high standards must be maintained if he is to see more minutes and claim further medals with a European superpower.

What has been said?

Davies told CNN of his ambition, with Bayern looking to replicate their efforts from 2020 when six trophies were won in a memorable 12 months: "We know it's not going to be easy. It's going to be really difficult. But I feel like with the team, we can do it again.

"My time is not done with Bayern. I still have a lot more years there and a lot more trophies to win, so I'm excited for the future."

Does Davies feel settled at Bayern?

Davies set an MLS transfer record when leaving Vancouver for Munich, with Bayern fully aware of the potential that he possessed.

They transformed him into a buccaneering left-back, with only the odd untimely injury setback stunting impressive progress.

The toughest of challenges has been faced head on by the Ghana-born star and he has only recently stopped pinching himself and started to feel as though he belongs in illustrious company.

Davies added on linking up with Bayern: "Words can't really explain it.

"In my mind, I was thinking there's no way these are the real people. And then [Arjen] Robben walks in the room, and it's a real guy, it's not a cartoon.

"[I] shook his hand and he introduced himself, very polite, humble guy, it was amazing.

"Everything I've accomplished, it's been amazing. When I got my opportunity, I told myself, 'Take your opportunity,' and I took it."

Further reading

Chelsea star Christian Pulisic admits that winning becomes an "addictive feeling", with the United States international eager to land more silverware with club and country after putting previous final heartache behind him.

Two FA Cup final appearances in as many years have delivered nothing but silver medals for the Blues, with Wembley proving to be an unhappy hunting ground.

Pulisic can, however, look back fondly on the closing stages of 2020-21 as he helped his club to Champions League glory - becoming the first man from his country to grace that particular European showpiece in the process - before then inspiring the USMNT to a CONCACAF Nations League triumph.

What has been said?

On getting a taste for major silverware, Pulisic told CBS Sports : "The end of the season is just a time I'll never forget.

"I mean, halfway through the season if you were to tell [the Chelsea squad] that we're winning the Champions League it would have been hard to believe. 

"But the work that we put in, the change in the team and how we all came together, it meant so much more at the end of the season. It was just something that we'll share with each other forever.

"It was such a special experience and then right after that to then go with the national team and getting my first trophy with them was also just incredible.

"There were finals that [Chelsea] lost the last couple of years and that makes you want to not want that feeling anymore. 

"And now winning, it's definitely an addictive feeling. And that's exactly what we want to go after again. We just want to continue to win titles."

How many trophies could Chelsea win in 2021-22?

Pulisic is set to get plenty of trophy-winning opportunities in 2021-22, with Chelsea adding two more prizes to an ambitious list of targets.

The Premier League title remains the ultimate goal for all of those in English football, with the Blues' last success there coming under Antonio Conte in 2016-17.

It could be third time lucky for Pulisic and Co in the FA Cup this season, while the Carabao Cup will be taken seriously by Thomas Tuchel.

Defending a Champions League crown will not be easy, but Chelsea will not give up that iconic piece of silverware without a fight.

Success down that path last term also means that the Blues will be involved in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup, while a meeting with Villarreal on Wednesday will offer them a shot at the UEFA Super Cup.

Further reading

David Moyes has insisted that West Ham "won't be selling" the players that they "value at £100 million" amid ongoing rumours linking Declan Rice with Chelsea and Manchester United.

Moyes guided the Hammers to their joint-highest Premier League finish in 2020-21, with a sixth-place berth securing Europa League football.

A number of players stood out in a stellar year for West Ham, most notably Rice, who went on to play a key role in England's run to the Euro 2020 final and now finds himself attracting attention from two of the biggest clubs in the country.

What's been said?

It has been suggested that the midfielder will head to either Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford before the summer transfer window closes , but Moyes has now revealed that the Hammers are ready to reject any lucrative offers that come in for their best players.

The Scot told  talkSPORT : “We’ve got some players that we value at £100 million ($139m) and we won’t be selling them. That’s the way it is, you’re not going to get rid of your better players, you don’t do it. And if you are then it’s going to be for huge money.

“We’re trying to improve. What we’re saying to ourselves, or I am certainly, is I want to add to our squad if I can do so. I think I’ve got a good team but I need to add to it if I can but I want to do the right thing.

"We brought in Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal, Jarrod Bowen in the last 12-18 months, all of them have been successful. If we can try and bring in another three that are successful like that then it’ll be excellent but it won’t be an easy thing to do.

“I do think we’ve got room to improve, whether that be the squad, whether that be the team, whether it be certain positions on the pitch. I hope we’ll try to do that.”

Who else has been linked with a move away from West Ham?

Rice is not the only West Ham star to have emerged on the radar of the elite, with Liverpool reported to be considering a swoop for English winger Bowen.

Jurgen Klopp is reportedly a keen admirer of the 24-year-old, who recorded eight goals and five assists in his debut season with the Hammers, but he is contracted to remain at the London Stadium until 2025.

Meanwhile, United have also been credited with an interest in Soucek, with the Czech Republic midfielder now being valued in excess of £30m ($42m) after proving himself as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Premier League.

Moyes' goals for 2021-22

Moyes went on to express his belief that West Ham are capable of disrupting the top six again this season if he can keep his most influential players fit.

“We were two points outside the Champions League last year,” he added. “I look back and think there were games we could have got something, maybe in the run-in.

“We got an injury to Declan Rice after the March international break which really was a problem to us in the last six-seven games of the season.

“I think we have to try and compete with the top teams. I wouldn’t have said that this time last year – I know very few of your pundits would agree but I’ve got to try and challenge and push our people on and I’ve got to try and make it happen again.”

Further reading

Sofapaka FC defender Mike Kibwage has confirmed he is a free agent after terminating his contract with the club. 

The 2009 league champions have been suffering a financial crisis and Goal understands players have gone for several months without pay. It is tight for them, in that some players are struggling to honour training sessions.

What is Kibwage saying?

"It is true I am a free agent, I have gone for five-and-a-half months without pay and had to terminate my contract," Kibwage told Goal on Tuesday.

"Right now I am not contracted to any team, but once I do definitely you will know about it."

What are Sofapaka saying?

Batoto ba Mungu have taken to their official Twitter account, stating the central defender is still part of their team. The Nairobi-based charges have further confirmed the exit of three players after an inconsistent campaign.

"We wish to distance ourselves from news doing round in the social media about skipper Michael Kibwage," Sofapaka tweeted.

"We wish to confirm that Kibwage has a valid contract that runs out in October 2022 and therefore is a bonified Sofapaka player until proven otherwise.

"Sofapaka FC announce we have parted ways with three players. Pistone Mutamba and Kepha Aswani leave after the expiry of their contracts while Amissi Bizimana leaves on mutual consent. The club wishes to thank the trio for their services at the club."

When did Kibwage join Sofapaka?

The former AFC Leopards star joined the 2009 champions from KCB in 2019, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal.

He came in as a free agent after his contract with the Bankers had expired.

The towering Kenya international immediately took to leadership after being appointed the club's assistant captain, but was eventually promoted to the senior role after Willis Obayi was promoted to the technical bench. 

It is not clear whether the club will eventually give in and hand the defender a release letter or they will pay him his dues to ensure his services are retained. 

All products featured on our site are independently chosen by us. When you purchase something through the links provided, we may earn a commission.

Whether you’re setting up your very own team, playing down the park, or trying to entertain the little ones before school’s back in season, these products are guaranteed to sharpen your skills on the pitch.

1. This pop-up goal is a great way to hone your shooting and make the most of your garden at home, whether you choose to keep score or not.

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Promising reviews:

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Get it from Amazon for £15.41 

2. This training aid straps around your waist whilst you practice your solo football skills, tricks, and keepie-uppies.

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Promising reviews:

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“Great way to brush up on skills.” – superstar s

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3. If you're looking for a football, the Mitre Impel is a great choice for training and more. 

Rating: 4.6/5
No. Reviews: 11,460

Promising reviews:

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4. This agility ladder helps improve the speed of your footwork whilst recreating some of the fast-moving steps you might encounter on the pitch. 

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Promising reviews:

“Really pleased with this item. Comes in a simple little bag to keep it nice and tidy when not in use. Being 6M in length is very adequate for some speed ladder training. Also like the fact that multiple ladders can be joined together to increase the length.” – A. Spencer  

“Using it for morning drills, the product is light, easy to set up, and doesn't take up much space when rolled up either.” – Maji

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5. This easy to set up football rebounder from QUICKPLAY with pre-connected poles helps you practice your volleys and free kicks without the judgement of a goalkeeper. 

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Promising reviews:

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6. These brightly coloured passing arcs stick into the ground to help you pass the ball more accurately, finesse your one-twos, or simply nail kicking in a straight line.

Rating: 4.7
No. Reviews: 40

Promising reviews:

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“Quality product. No problems whatsoever. I would definitely recommend.” – Amazon Customer

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7. This football training equipment pack includes both an agility ladder and cones for a variety of exercises and even comes with a handy sheet of different drills to try.

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Promising reviews:

“Brilliant product, a great addition to my training program over the off-season to keep me fit and sharp. The ladders are really easy to set up and I also liked that it came with a poster showing different variations to how you can use the ladder. I play football so they have been really useful with fast feet work to help keep that match sharpness during pre-season! I would 100% recommend this product!” – Luke Barlow

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8. This set of 2 pop-up football goals is perfect for setting up a mini game of football in your garden or the park.

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9. Pinpoint your shooting accuracy with this corner shot bins set that easily attaches to any sturdy goal post.

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No. Reviews: 158

Promising reviews:

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“Excellent quality - sturdy and easy to install and remove. They're a really useful training aid.” – Amazon Customer 

Get it on Amazon for £29.99

Hearts of Oak will commence their Ghana Premier League title defence in October, the Football Association has announced.

Fresh from winning the top-flight for the first time since 2009 and topping up for a double with the FA Cup title on Sunday, the Phobians will have just two months to enjoy their silverware honeymoon.

According to a publication on the GFA’s official website on Tuesday, the 2021-22 GPL season will take off on the weekend of Friday, October 29 to Monday, November 1, 2021 for an eight-month run.

“The 2021-22 Ghana Premier League will kick off on the weekend of Friday, October 29 to Monday, November 1, 2021 across all the nine Premier League centres. This follows approval of the plan for the 2021-22 football season by the Executive Council,” reads Tuesday’s release.

“The process towards the kick-off of the new season begins with the Opening of Registration window of players and officials on Monday, August 9, 2021 which will close on Saturday, October 9, 2021.

“The Premier League will run until Sunday, June 19, 2022, as the Association takes steps to re-align its football calendar after the disruptions caused by Covid-19.”

It is not only Hearts who will be eagerly anticipating the commencement of the new season as arch-rivals Asante Kotoko, who finished four points adrift of the Phobians in second position on the league table, will be looking to bounce back after also ending the 2020-21 term with disappointment in the FA Cup.

Elsewhere, Real Tamale United will be looking on with excitement as they make a comeback to the elite division for the first time since 2011 after recently securing promotion from the Division One League.

The returnees will be joined by Bibiani Gold Stars and Accra Lions as the three newly-promoted sides.

Gold Stars and Lions will be tasting top tier football for the first time in their history.

The three teams will play in GPL at the expense of Liberty Professionals, Ebusua Dwarfs and Inter Allies, who finished as the last three teams on the 2020-21 league table and suffered relegation as a consequence.

Edouard Mendy admits to fearing that a move to Chelsea would never happen, with the Senegal international expecting the Blues to favour an alternative option when looking to land a new goalkeeper.

With Kepa Arrizabalaga failing to convince at Stamford Bridge, Premier League heavyweights found themselves in the market for another No.1 during the summer window of 2020.

Having previously struck gold when luring Petr Cech away from Rennes in 2004, a familiar transfer path was trodden as Mendy was lined up for a £22 million ($30m) switch that has delivered more value between the sticks in west London.

What has been said?

Mendy was left sweating before that deal was done, with the 29-year-old telling UEFA's official website ahead of a Super Cup clash with Villarreal on Wednesday: "I often spoke to [my agent] who told me about Chelsea's interest. 

"I tried not to think about it because Chelsea are a pretty big deal and I'd come a really long way, but when the phone conversations started escalating, I realised that there was real interest from Chelsea and that I had to go for it.

"I told myself that Chelsea might sign another goalkeeper, but Petr called me. He said: 'Listen, only one goalkeeper is going to sign for the club, and it will be you. I only want you'.

"When a keeper like Petr, with the career he had and being the Chelsea legend he is, tells you that, it calms you down a bit."

Is Mendy now one of the best in the world?

Mendy was thrown in at the deep end following his move to Chelsea, but quickly proved that he was up to the challenge and would take in 44 appearances across all competitions.

He kept six clean sheets through his first seven outings for the Blues and ended his debut campaign with 25 shutouts to his name.

Such exploits have seen Mendy's stock soar, but a humble character is reluctant to give himself a big billing.

He added ahead of another shot at major silverware in midweek: "Am I one of the best goalkeepers in the world? I couldn't tell you, but for me the most important thing is to be the best for my team. 

"Being the best for my club means being the best every day and being the best I can on the pitch, helping my team to win trophies. 

"I've progressed every year, and I did last year too, and that's something I want to do every year. It's something I want all the time."

Further reading

Lionel Messi has agreed a two-year contract to join Paris Saint-Germain and is expected to undergo his medical on Tuesday, Goal can confirm.

The Argentina international star spoke tearfully on Sunday as he confirmed his departure from the club where he has spent the last 21 years.

Messi is now set to arrive in Paris on Tuesday and, providing he passes the medical without a hitch, he will sign a two-year contract with PSG, which has the option of a further 12 months. 

How much will Messi earn at PSG?

It is expected that Messi will receive in the region of €30 million-35 million (£25m-30m/$35m-$41m) per season during his time at PSG, while there will also be team and individual bonuses.

Did Messi have any other offers?

Messi did receive offers from two other clubs, but PSG was always the option that he liked the most.

Reports have claimed that Atletico Madrid were one of the clubs to make an approach, while he was also linked with the likes of Manchester City and Inter.

What has Messi said on PSG move?

Messi has not yet confirmed that he will move to PSG.

Speaking on Sunday, he stated: “Paris Saint-Germain is a possibility, yes.

“At the moment nothing is confirmed, I received a lot of calls after the Barcelona statement. We’re talking about it.”

Nevertheless, everything appears to be in place for Messi to join the Ligue 1 side, following stars such as Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi and Georginio Wijnaldum in making their way to Parc des Princes this summer.

Messi’s Barcelona record

Messi leaves Barcelona not only as one of the club’s greatest players of all time, but arguably the greatest player of all time.

He is both Barca’s top scorer and top appearance maker of all time, with 672 goals from 778 matches.

During his time at Camp Nou, where he made his professional debut in 2003 after joining the academy in 2000, he has won La Liga 10 times and four Champions Leagues.

Additionally, Messi has won the Ballon d'Or a record six times, eclipsing his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who only has five to his name.

Further Reading

Kenya will kick off their campaign to Qatar in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers with a home game against regional rivals Uganda.

The two East Africa neighbours will meet in the 'Migingo Derby' on Thursday, September 2 at Kasarani.

They were pooled in Group E of the qualifiers alongside West African giants Mali and Rwanda as well with the top team qualifying for the third qualifying round. 

The second match for the Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee-led team will be away to Rwanda on Tuesday, September 7 of the same month in Kigali. The East Africans will then have to wait until October to make a trip to West Africa to play Mali in Bamako.

The Harambee Stars will be hoping to have a better campaign after failing to make it to Cameroon for the Africa Cup of Nations finals to be played in 2022.

In Group G, Kenya finished third with seven points while Egypt and Comoros made it to the finals. The Pharaohs managed to collect 13 points from the six matches played with the islanders getting nine. Togo finished at the bottom of the group with two points. 

Mulee is currently riding high in confidence owing to good results in the last two Afcon qualifiers. Despite being in a process of rebuilding the team, Kenya managed to hold the Pharaohs to a 1-1 draw in Nairobi before defeating Togo 2-1 away.

Just like Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda also failed to qualify for the Afcon finals and will be aiming at having a better campaign.

Harambee Stars fixtures
Kenya vs Uganda, Thursday, September 2 at Kasarani, Nairobi.
Rwanda vs Kenya, Tuesday, September 7 in Kigali.
Mali vs Kenya, October in Bamako
Kenya vs Mali, October, in Nairobi
Uganda vs Kenya, November, in Kampala
Kenya vs Rwanda, November, in Nairobi.

Real Madrid have opened legal proceedings against La Liga president Javier Tebas and CVC's €2.7 billion (£2.3bn/$3.2bn) investment deal in the Spanish top flight.

It was announced on August 4 that a private equity firm had acquired a 10 per cent stake in one of world football's biggest brands.

Opposition to that agreement came from the very top, as Real and Clasico rivals Barcelona questioned the legality of it, and the Blancos have now taken matters a step further.

What has been said?

A statement from Real on the club's official website reads: "At its meeting today at 11 am (CEST), the Real Madrid C.F. board of directors unanimously agreed to initiate both civil and criminal legal action against the La Liga president, Mr Javier Tebas Medrano, Mr Javier de Jaime Guijarro, head of the CVC Fund, and against the CVC Capital Partners SICAV-FIS Fund itself.
 
"In addition, the board of directors has resolved to take any legal action it considers appropriate to annul and render ineffective any possible resolutions adopted by the La Liga Assembly, due to be held on 12 August 2021, in relation to the agreement between LaLiga and the CVC Fund."

What is the deal between La Liga and CVC?

La Liga says that 90 per cent of the cash injection from CVC will go to clubs throughout the country, with €100m (£85m/$117m) going to the women's game.

As the top-performing teams in the Spanish top flight, Barcelona and Real Madrid would get the biggest share of the funds.

But only 15 per cent of the money will be permitted to be used on transfers and players' wages, according to reports, with the rest being devoted to infrastructure.

"There are challenges in the short term that must be faced urgently and that require a significant financial investment," Tebas, who claims to have discussed the matter with Barca president Joan Laporta before a deal was announced, has said.

"The strategic agreement with CVC will revolutionise the management model of football clubs and will make the competition much more attractive and exciting.

"There will be better facilities, better players and a better fan experience in everything related to clubs.

"And all this is supported by a competition model that will be more digital, more focused on the generation and analysis of data and more international.

"We are laying the foundations to make La Liga the most attractive football competition in the world."

Barca and Real have opposed the CVC despite vows to raise salary cap limits, with those at Camp Nou refusing to back the deal amid financial struggles that have forced them to sever ties with club legend Lionel Messi.

Further reading

Cristiano Ronaldo had sparked talk of interest from Paris Saint-Germain before the Ligue 1 giants were presented with an opportunity to sign Lionel Messi, but Leonardo Bonucci claims the Portuguese superstar was never looking for a way out of Juventus.

Speculation regarding the future plans of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner surfaced on the back of a testing 2020-21 campaign in Turin that left Juventus without a domestic title and reflecting on more Champions League misery.

With Ronaldo approaching the final year of his contract, a move elsewhere was mooted for the legendary 36-year-old, but it is his eternal rival Messi that has delivered the biggest transfer shock of the summer by severing ties with Barcelona as a free agent.

What has been said?

The Argentine icon is now expected to link up with PSG, ruling out any chance of Ronaldo treading that path, but Bonucci claims the decisions made by Messi have not impacted those of his current club colleague.

The Juve defender told Gazzetta dello Sport: "I think that Cristiano Ronaldo would have stayed even if Messi had not gone to PSG.

"For us, it’s an added value and I’m sure that this year, more than in past years, he will help us reach all of our goals."

Will there be more arrivals at Juve?

While the Bianconeri have been able to retain Ronaldo's services, bringing fresh faces on board has proved tricky.

A deal has been done for Brazilian teenager Kaio Jorge, but he remains one for the future and talks elsewhere have not been as productive.

Euro 2020 winner Manuel Locatelli remains a top target, but is proving difficult to prise from Sassuolo, while a return to Italy for Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic has also been mooted.

On a possible retracing of steps by the Bosnian midfielder, Bonucci said: "We spoke, but not about the transfer market. We spoke as friends, not as former team-mates.

"He’s a great player, if he comes back, he would certainly be an important player for the group and for the team."

Juventus suffered a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy last time out and have a final friendly date with Atalanta to take in on Saturday before opening a new Serie A season away at Udinese on August 22.

Further reading

Nigeria midfielder Frank Onyeka's jersey number at the Premier League side Brentford has been revealed.

The newly-promoted side confirmed the arrival of the 23-year-old on July 20 from FC Midtjylland and signed a five-year deal.

Since then he has been part of the team, taking part in friendly matches against Manchester United and Valencia. 

The Super Eagle is among the three players confirmed at the club, and the Bees have revealed the jersey number the West African will wear while revealing some changes to the team as well.

"Summer arrivals Frank Onyeka, Kris Ajer, and Myles Peart-Harris will wear 15, 20, and 25 respectively..." Brentford confirmed on their official portal.

"Marcus Forss has taken the number 9 shirt while Josh Dasilva is now the owner of the number 10. Josh's previous number, 14, will be worn by Saman Ghoddos with the other change seeing Mads Bidstrup take the number 28 shirt. 

"Returning loan players Dominic Thompson, 2, Halil Dervişoğlu, 21, and Julian Jeanvier, 23, have all retained their previous numbers."

Recently, Onyeka revealed France and Chelsea FC midfielder N'Golo Kante is his favourite player.

The midfielder will be rubbing shoulders with the Blues man in the Premier League this season. He also stated he was a Yaya Toure fan and went on to explain why.

"I do of course watch the Premier League, one of the best leagues in the world, I watch Premier League back home and I've been following the Premier League all these years," Onyeka told the aforementioned media outlet. 

"I'll say Kante [is my favourite player] but before he moved to Leicester City I followed Yaya Toure but now it is more of Kante. Toure was amazing, good on the ball, the way he played his own football was amazing, a box-to-box midfielder.

"I think it is more of Kante now because I watch him a lot. The way he plays is pretty amazing. I have never seen a midfielder like him. But he is different, I am different. He is Kante, I am Frank so we are different. I play my own way, he plays his own way."

West Ham are closing in on the signing of Nikola Milenkovic after being priced out of a deal for Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma, Goal can confirm.

Milenkovic has just entered the final year of his contract at Fiorentina, who are thought to be ready to cash in on the centre-half after receiving an offer from West Ham.

The Hammers had also been in talks with Chelsea over a possible transfer for Zouma, but have turned their attention to Milenkovic due to the fact he is currently available for a cut-price fee.

What's the situation?

Goal has learned that the Blues are demanding £25 million ($35m) for Zouma, who was open to linking up with West Ham, but they cannot afford to match that valuation or his current wage packet at Stamford Bridge.

The Hammers have been in contact with Marseille over Duje Caleta-Car too, but Milenkovic now appears the most likely man to join David Moyes' ranks at the London Stadium.

West Ham are hoping to finalise a £14m ($19m) deal for the Serbian centre-back, with just a few small details left to work out with Fiorentina before he can make his way to England.

What will Milenkovic bring to West Ham?

Milenkovic has emerged as one of the top defenders in Italy during his time at Fiorentina, having initially moved to the Artemio Franchi Stadium from Partizan Belgrade in 2017.

The 24-year-old has appeared in 133 games in all competitions for La Viola to date, scoring 11 goals, and his presence could help West Ham fight for European qualification again in 2021-22.

Moyes already has the likes of Angelo Ogbonna, Craig Dawson and Issa Diop to call upon in the heart of the defence, but Milenkovic has the quality and experience to slot straight into his starting XI if the Hammers can push the transfer over the line.

Chelsea still working on sales

West Ham's decision to cool their interest in Zouma comes as an untimely blow for Chelsea as Thomas Tuchel bids to trim his squad down ahead of a Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Blues are still eager to get Zouma off their books, with Tiemoue Bakayoko, Davide Zappacosta and Danny Drinkwater also expected to be sold after returning to Stamford Bridge following loan spells in 2020-21.

Tuchel has 41 players to choose from at the moment, and Goal has learned that Tammy Abraham, Emerson and Marcos Alonso could also be offloaded if suitable offers come in.

Abraham is the closest to the exit door at the moment, with Arsenal, Roma and Atalanta all thought to be in the hunt for the England international's signature.

Further reading

Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn has insisted that the club are not planning to re-sign Franck Ribery.

Ribery joined Bayern from Marseille back in 2007, and went on to play a key role in one of the most successful periods in the club's history while establishing himself among the elite wingers in European football.

The Frenchman eventually left Allianz Arena at the end of his contract in 2019 before being snapped up by Fiorentina, but has been training with the German champions again after leaving the Serie A side in June.

What's been said?

Ribery is currently available on a free transfer, and it has been suggested that Bayern will look to bring the 38-year-old back onto their books for their first season under new head coach Julian Nagelsmann, but Kahn has now ruled out the possibility.

"We're not thinking about signing Franck Ribery," Kahn, who replaced Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as CEO earlier this summer, told a press conference.

Matthaus' view on Ribery

Lothar Matthaus has been among those to endorse a potential return to Bayern for Ribery, who he believes has shown that he can still play at the highest level over the last two years with Fiorentina.

"If Bayern can't find a winger they want and can sign, I would definitely consider a one-year contract for Franck Ribery," the Bayern great wrote in his latest column for Sky Germany.

"It goes without saying that he won't be able to play two games over 90 minutes every week.

"But Franck is still fit, it would be a very positive factor in the dressing room and whoever has played in 29 league games in Italy can still play a good role in the Bundesliga."

Ribery's Bayern record

Ribery made 425 appearances across all competitions for Bayern, recording 124 goals and 182 assists.

The mercurial winger helped the club win 23 trophies during his 12-year stay at Allianz Arena, including nine Bundesliga titles and the Champions League, while forming part of Jupp Heynckes' legendary treble-winning squad in 2012-13.

Further reading

After Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns launched their home and away kit, it has created an intense debate among the online fraternity.

Some have claimed Kaizer Chiefs launched far better kits, while some said the new jerseys are the true definition of the "yellow nation".

The club's spokesperson, Alex Shakoane, explained what influenced the new design for their 2021/22 season kits: "Looking at the individual elements in the design, they depict the rivers, deserts, and mountain ranges found all the way from the North right through to the South," said Shakoane on Tuesday.

"Our supporters can expect to wear a trendy jersey that stands out amongst the crowd and is a proud statement of African excellence. The launch of this unique shirt marks the fifth year anniversary of Mamelodi Sundowns’ Caf Champions League victory; it represents the club's ambitions to become the best football club on the continent and share our African artistry with the world."

The new kits have been designed by Puma - who have partnered with the Brazilians since 2016 - and its local marketing manager, Brett Bellinger said the new colours will be envied by many, although some fans might not agree with him.

"We believe the striking new kit will ensure Masandawana remain the envy of many fans and provide a strong statement about Mamelodi Sundowns FC's African roots, aspirations and achievements across both South Africa and the continent," said Bellinger.

How Twitter reacted to Sundowns' new kits:

Antonio Rudiger has earned a "legend" billing from some at Chelsea, but the Germany international defender is not ready to drop himself into that category just yet.

Champions League-winning exploits last season have ensured that the Blues' class of 2020-21 will forever enjoy a special place in Stamford Bridge folklore.

Rudiger played a key role in that European triumph, with one memorable challenge put in to deny Phil Foden during a 1-0 final win over Manchester City, but the 28-year-old centre-half is not convinced that he has done enough to enjoy icon status.

What has been said?

Discussing his efforts with Chelsea's official website, including that tackle on Foden, Rudiger has said: "It was good, but legend, I wouldn’t say that.

"We did it as a team, as a group, and a legend is for other people to decide. But for me it is just that we won the Champions League together as a group and it was good.

"It was not only that challenge by me, it was Azpi’s [Cesar Azpilicueta] challenge, it was also Reece’s [James] challenge, [Andreas] Christensen’s challenge and Kai’s [Havertz] goal, Mason’s [Mount] assist. It was a good team effort."

Can Chelsea build on that success in 2021-22?

Having savoured continental glory and secured a top-four finish last season, the challenge facing Chelsea is how to build on that success.

Thomas Tuchel is looking to bolster his ranks before the summer transfer window closes, with a £98 million ($136m) deal in place for Inter striker Romelu Lukaku.

Stability and continuity will also be important for the Blues, with Rudiger seeing plenty of cause for optimism in a squad that blends youth with experience.

He added: "Obviously, with success, everything is good, but here there was a good bond already. 

"There’s a lot of young players and we have Thiago Silva who is the grandpa and the youngest I think is Tino Anjorin, who is the child. It’s a good mix."

Chelsea are set to face Europa League winners Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup final on Wednesday before opening their 2021-22 Premier League campaign at home to London rivals Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Further reading

Chennaiyin FC have signed Polish midfielder Ariel Borysiuk for the 2021-22 Indian Super League (ISL) season.

Besides the experience of playing for FC Kaiserslautern in the Bundesliga for one of the three seasons with the German side, Borysiuk mostly plied his professional senior club career in the Polish top division.

Where all did Ariel Borysiuk play?

He was last at Polish outfit Jagiellonia Bialystok where he clocked over 1,300 minutes over two seasons. On the international stage, Borysiuk turned up for various Poland junior teams, featuring in the UEFA U-19 and U-21 Championship finals. He made his senior national team debut in 2010 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup European qualifiers.

Among majority of his club career that the defensive midfielder spent in the Ekstraklasa - Poland's top division league - he had multiple spells with Legia Warsaw and Lechia Gdańsk.

Among his previous foreign exploits, Brysiuk made 12 appearances in the Bundesliga with 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the 2011-12 season and was later loaned from the 1. FC Kaiserslautern II side to Russian Premier League outfit Volga, besides a spell at Queens Park Rangers in the Championship 2016-17 from where he returned to Poland with Lechia Gdańsk and Wisła Płock before a season with Moldovan National Division side Sheriff Tiraspol.

Who are the other foreign signings at Chennaiyin FC?

Chennaiyin FC have roped in Serbian defender Slavko Damjanovic and Kyrgyz forward Mirlan Murzaev.

Murzaev scored four goals in the last two matches with his national team's 2022 World Cup qualification games in June, including a hat-trick against Myamar. He was part of the Kyrgyz squad that finished second in the third round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers wherein India topped Group A and where Murzaev had scored against India.

Like Brysiuk, Damjanovic also has experience of playing in the Europa League with Montenegrin side Buducnost. Brysiuk represented Legia Warsaw at the Europa League in three seasons between 2008 and 2011, as also with Sheriff in the European competition in the 2019-20 season.

Other than that, Brazilian midfielder Rafael Crivellaro is the only foreigner to continue with two-time ISL champions from last season. He suffered an ankle injury in the game against ATK Mohun Bagan that kept him out of action for nearly half the term. Crivellaro raked seven goals and eight assists in the 2019-20 season when Chennaiyin finished as runners-up. 

What was said of the Ariel Borysiuk signing?

Commenting on the signing, Chennaiyin FC co-owner Vita Dani said, "We are delighted to bring in someone as experienced and well-travelled as Ariel [Borysiuk]. This is a real positive signing for us and our vision this season."

"There’s not much to say about Ariel [Borysiuk]. He has operated at such a high level for all his career. It’s a great signing," Chennaiyin head coach Bozidar Bandovic added.

Speaking after putting pen to paper to join the two-time ISL champions, Bandovic stated, "I am very excited about joining the club. It's a new experience for me to play outside of Europe and I'm looking forward to it.  I promise that I will do my best so that we can have wonderful moments together."