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Julian Nagelsmann has revealed that he has enjoyed "valuable" chats with his Bayern Munich predecessor Hansi Flick, who he is "very grateful" to for giving him advice.

Nagelsmann was drafted in to replace Flick at Allianz Arena at the end of the 2020-21 campaign, having spent the previous two years of his career at RB Leipzig.

Flick delivered a whole host of major trophies in the same time frame with Bayern, and has been on hand to pass down some of his wisdom to the man who will be expected to usher in a new era of success this season.

What's been said?

Speaking ahead of Bayern's opening Bundesliga fixture against Borussia Monchengladbach on Friday, Nagelsmann told BR24 Sport of his conversations with the newly-appointed Germany head coach: "I talked to him, less about the past and things that might not have worked out.

"We exchanged views about the players, what is important to the players, what were his experiences with other players, what means a lot to them, what should be left out.

"It was valuable, I'm very grateful to him."

Nagelsmann & Flick compared

Flick took in spells as assistant manager for both the German national team and Bayern before taking the top job at Allianz Arena on an interim basis in November 2019.

The 56-year-old went on to deliver an unprecedented treble in his first few months at the helm, earning a permanent three-year contract in the process, and the trophies continued rolling in last season.

Bayern won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup before clinching their ninth successive Bundesliga title before Flick then took the decision to resign after a well-documented rift with sporting director Hasan Salihamidizic.

Nagelsmann was then identified as the prime candidate to step into the hot seat, with the 34-year-old having established himself as one of the best young coaches in Europe at Leipzig since joining the club in 2019.

He helped transform Leipzig into Bundesliga title contenders and Champions League semi-finalists, ultimately convincing Bayern to hand him a lucrative five-year deal.

Nagelsmann on transfers

Dayot Upamecano followed Nagelsmann to Bayern from RB Leipzig, while Omar Richards and Sven Ulreich have also been signed on free transfers, but it has been suggested that more reinforcements will be needed for the squad to challenge for silverware on both domestic and European fronts this term.

Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland is among a number of high-profile names being linked with the German champions, and their talented young manager isn't ruling out any further acquisitions at this stage.

"We are in a daily exchange when it comes to the squad," Nagelsmann added. "If something happens that suits us and we can finance it, then nobody at Bayern Munich will say: 'No, we definitely won't'."

Further reading

Massimiliano Allegri has delivered an optimistic update on Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, with the Juventus manager expecting his two star forwards to step up their pre-season preparations against Atalanta on Saturday.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner saw 45 minutes of action in the Joan Gamper Trophy clash with Barcelona on Saturday, with his Argentine colleague being forced to sit that contest out as he nurses a slight knock.

The intention is to have Ronaldo and Dybala raring to go for the opening day clash with Udinese on August 22.

What has been said?

Allegri told Sky Sport Italia after seeing his side beaten 3-0 by Barca: "He [Ronaldo] is training well and in good condition. He has made himself available to the team as always.

"Then Dybala will return as well. We will arrive at August 22 in the right conditions. Dybala is fine, he’ll be back on Tuesday. He will be available on Saturday, and I think he’ll play a part in the match."

Are Juventus expecting to make more signings?

The Serie A giants have agreed a cut-price transfer with Santos for Brazilian teenager Kaio Jorge, but other business is proving tricky.

Efforts are being made to prise Euro 2020 winner Manuel Locatelli away from Sassuolo, but Allegri insists he is not waiting on Juve to put a deal in place that will return Miralem Pjanic to Turin from Barcelona.

He added: "It’s not like I’m waiting for him, the club controls the transfer market. We have evaluated: now let’s see what happens.

"The important thing is that the team are working and ready for August 22, then if two midfielders or three defenders arrive, I don’t know.

"I have an excellent squad, [Aaron] Ramsey played a good game in front of the defence. He must improve his management of the ball. [Federico] Bernardeschi had a good attitude, there are all the right prospects for a great year."

Further reading

Valencia have emerged as the frontrunners to sign Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah on a season-long loan after he excelled in pre-season.

Like Thomas Tuchel, the Liga giants have been impressed with the youngster's season at Lorient in Ligue 1 last year along with his pre-season performances at Stamford Bridge.

Tuchel has told Chelsea not to sell the 22-year-old at any cost and that he will strongly consider promoting him from the loan group to his squad next season.

What does it mean for Kounde?

Chalobah has been playing at centre back for Chelsea during pre-season with many players missing warm-up matches due to their participation in international tournaments.

However, after Chelsea secure Romelu Lukaku from Inter for £98 million ($136m), they will continue to go for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde.

Chelsea will look to sell Kurt Zouma for between £20m ($28m) and £30m ($42m) as well as loaning out Chalobah to create that space.

West Ham have already seen an approach reject by both Chelsea and the player, which fell short of both parties' expectations.

Who else could leave Stamford Bridge?

Tammy Abraham has interest from Arsenal, Atalanta and Roma after seeing the Blues spend so much on a central striker. However, none of the three clubs want to pay the £40m asking price.

Roma are searching for a possible replacement for Edin Dzeko, who could be Inter's answer to replace Lukaku this summer.

Marcos Alonso or Emerson Palmieri could be sold in the latter stages of the transfer window with both players having already been offered in swap deals for other players.

Similarly, Kenedy, Matt Miazga, Davide Zappacosta, Danny Drinkwater, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Ross Barkley are all on the transfer list.

Genk remain locked in talks with Chelsea over signing Ike Ugbo for around £5m ($7m) but haven't yet come to terms over the financial package in protracted talks.

Armando Broja has loan interest from Southampton after they lost Danny Ings to Aston Villa in a £25m ($35m) deal. Chelsea are continuing their attempts to renew the contracts of both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen. Dujon Sterling will likely renew his contract and be sent on loan.

Further reading

The prospect of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe playing together is "mind-boggling", according to Ludovic Giuly, who has expressed his excitement over the former Barcelona superstar's imminent arrival at Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi confirmed his departure from Camp Nou on Sunday, following the club's announcement that they were unable to re-sign the six-time Ballon d'Or winner amid a financial crisis that has seen them post record-breaking debt numbers.

Barca couldn't tie Messi down to a new contract without exceeding La Liga's wage limit, and the 34-year-old is now preparing to take on a new challenge away from Catalunya, with PSG reportedly set to win the race for his signature.

What's been said?

Messi is expected to commit to a two-year deal at Parc des Princes this week, which will see him reunite with former Blaugrana team-mate Neymar, who moved to PSG from Camp Nou in a world-record €222 million (£188m/$261m) deal back in 2017.

The Argentina international is also set to link up with World Cup-winning forward Mbappe, with Giuly of the opinion that an all-star attacking trident will help Ligue 1 reach a new level of prestige after many years of being seen as one of the weaker divisions in European football.

“We already had two of the four best players in the world, now we have the third," the former Barca and PSG winger told Le Parisien.

"Do you realise that Neymar, Messi and Mbappe will play together in Ligue 1? It sounds mind-boggling. Ligue 1 needed such positivity. 

"It will not reflect well only on Paris, but on all of France. Everyone will only talk about him, everyone will go to the stadium to see him. 

"It will do our league a lot of good."

The bigger picture 

Neymar and Messi struck up a great relationship at Camp Nou after the former's arrival from Santos in 2013, winning eight major trophies together in the space of four seasons.

The pair helped inspire Barca to an unprecedented treble success in 2014-15, and seemed to have a telepathic understanding in the final third alongside Uruguayan frontman Luis Suarez, who completed Luis Enrique's fearsome forward line.

Neymar ultimately decided to step out of Messi's shadow by joining PSG four years ago, but hasn't quite reached the same heights without him, and could rediscover his best form when they reconnect at Parc des Princes.

Mbappe, meanwhile, has already established himself among the elite strikers of his generation, but Messi's presence might help him achieve his ambitions of becoming a Ballon d'Or winner in the near future, and convince him to ignore the advances of Real Madrid in favour of extending his stay in Paris.

Further reading

Gor Mahia head coach Mark Harrison has conceded the team have to go into the market and bring in quality players if they are to challenge for the Football Kenya Federation Premier League title and perform well in Caf Confederation Cup this season.

K'Ogalo have recently been struggling to be effective on the pitch, but financial struggles have not made it easier. Kenneth Muguna, Nicholas Kipkirui, and Charles Momanyi are just some of the key players who have recently left the team.

The tactician, who has been in charge of the team for two matches, now believes more work is needed at the club in terms of improving the squad.

'It is going to be difficult to prepare for the Caf Confederation Cup'

"We have problems since we have players missing, players injured... it is difficult especially having just three in-field players on the bench," Harrison told Goal after their recent match against KCB.

"It is going to be difficult to prepare the team for the Caf Confederation Cup because we are going to play against very strong teams, but as previously said, we have plenty of time to straighten things out. We can't make excuses, we need everyone at the club to shake it down and make things happen, if we do, we can be successful.

"The boys have given everything, in the matches I have been in charge of, but we can improve, we need more quality, that is for sure. If we are going to challenge for the championship and push in the Confederation Cup, we have to add quality to what we already have in the team. I am afraid we have a lot of work to do, but we will get time, get our house in order because next season we want to push for the championship."

'Too bad we have nothing to play for'

On Sunday, the former champions managed to get a point from title-chasing KCB in the league assignment.

The tactician concedes his charges had a poor start but they improved after the break. He further believes a draw was a fair result.

"Too bad, looking back we have nothing to play for, what we are playing for right now is pride. They are playing for the championship and we knew they were coming to us at 100%," Harrison continued. "In the first half, they really did, I felt like they controlled the game, but in the second half, I thought we slowly got back into it and took control and in the end, we felt we might steal it. 

"0-0 is a fair result."

The Bankers are on 58 points same with leaders Tusker who have a better goal difference, while Gor Mahia are on 41 points.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has claimed they struck gold by signing Sifiso Ngobeni even though the left-back position did not need strengthening.

The 24-year-old full-back was signed from Bloemfontein Celtic and according to Mokwena, the star has all the traits of becoming a big player at the Pretoria club. Just like the other new signings brought on board by the Brazilians, Ngobeni agreed on a five-year deal.

"Sifiso [Ngobeni] is an encouraging and exciting prospect that we had to go into the market and get. We felt that the left-back position was really not one that we needed to strengthen but there are certain things that you have got to do in the market," Mokwena told the club's media department.

"With good players like Sifiso with such a huge vacuum of potential, you then have to jump into the market and also because you always do not find players that tick certain boxes from a physical perspective. 

"Sifiso has the profile of a full-back that we need; speed, the capacity to go progressively, and consistently run down the line and projects himself very well to the final third.

"You also saw him at Celtic especially when they played with back three most of the times where he was used as a wing-back. He was effective in the left-back channel for Celtic. He has the quality to find spaces in the final third and creates chances. 

"Defensively, he has got the hunger but of course, there is still a lot of work to do and improve his profile and his personality."

Mokwena further stressed the need to handle the left-back with care in order to develop and grow into a big player for the Premier Soccer League champions.

"More than that, he is a boy for Mamelodi and one that can relate to the history of this club, the emotions, and connections that are attached to being not just a Sundowns player but a Sundowns supporter," he concluded.

"We feel we struck gold by bringing Sifiso, definitely one that we look forward to investing in and helping to coach, develop and help him to reach his full potential so that he can be a player we think can be for Mamelodi Sundowns."

Thabiso Kutumela, Pavol Safranko, Divine Lunga, Neo Maema, and Grant Kekana are the other players the PSL giants have signed.

Barcelona have revealed that Sergio Aguero is set to be missing for "around 10 weeks" after suffering a calf injury that will delay his start to life at Camp Nou.

The Argentina international only linked up with the Blaugrana at the start of the summer having become a free agent at the end of his contract with Manchester City.

He is yet to be officially registered amid financial struggles in Catalunya, has seen fellow countryman Lionel Messi depart Camp Nou in emotional circumstances and must now wait on a competitive debut for new employers after picking up an untimely knock.

What has been said?

Barcelona have said in a statement on the club's official website: "Tests carried out on first team player Kun Aguero have confirmed a right calf injury. 

"He will be out around ten weeks."

How many games will Aguero miss?

The experienced South American saw his start to life at Barca delayed by a successful Copa America campaign alongside Messi.

Upon starting training with La Liga giants, he has now been laid low and could be out of action until the middle of October.

If that does prove to be the case, then Aguero could miss nine domestic fixtures.

He will also be absent for the start of group stage action in the 2021-22 Champions League, as Barca look to chase down major honours without club legend Messi.

The games that Aguero is in danger of sitting out in La Liga come against Real Sociedad, Athletic Club, Getafe, Sevilla, Granada, Cadiz, Levante, Atletico Madrid and Valencia.

Aguero may be back in the fold by the time a first Clasico clash with Real Madrid is taken in on October 24, but he will be seriously short of match fitness and sharpness.

Aguero's injury history

At 33 years of age, injury struggles have become an all too familiar theme for Aguero.

He sat out 17 games for City during his final season at the Etihad Stadium, having previously missed 24 in 2019-20 with muscle and knee complaints.

Niggling knocks were commonplace prior to that, with Barca aware that they were acquiring a player that would need to be carefully nursed through any given campaign.

Those efforts have barely begun and Aguero is already in the treatment room, with a man that has been handed the No.19 shirt at Camp Nou having to wait on a debut for new employers.

Further readingPique admits ‘Barcelona are a bit broken’

Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel says he is not sure whether the referee was right to hand his team a penalty, which Kelechi Iheanacho converted, in Saturday's Community Shield win over Manchester City.

Dutchman Nathan Ake was robbed of the ball by the Super Eagle, and he ended up fouling the attacker in the danger zone. Referee Paul Tierney opted to play the advantage, but Zack Steffen pulled a fantastic save to deny Patson Daka.

However, the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot where the Nigeria forward rose to the occasion and scored the winner to earn his team their first silverware of the new campaign.

"I thought we passed through them quite well in the first half, and then we got the goal at the end," Schmeichel said as quoted by LeicesterMercury.

"I am not sure about the [penalty] ruling, but I am biased towards goalkeepers. We get the chance and their goalkeeper makes the save, but then there is the penalty, so you are getting two chances, two bites of the cherry almost.

"I feel for their keeper, he has made a great save, but that is secondary, winning is the most important thing for us."

Saturday's triumph was the first time a team from outside the Big Six has won the Shield. And the Dane believes the Foxes can go all the way and secure more trophies this season.

"We are very happy, we will never get tired of lifting trophies. It’s something we want to do," Schmeichel continued.

"It is something we want to try to do, to get into the habit of playing in these games, so we are extremely happy. I have great memories here and it is great to lift the trophy, you could see what it means to the players and fans.  

"We are not going out to prove ourselves [against the big six], because we know what a good team we can be. We are a struggle for any team."

The Foxes narrowly missed the Uefa Champions League slot last season after finishing fifth on the Premier League table.

Amid the rumours of Al Ahly are on the verge of securing a loan deal for Percy Tau, former Red Devils captain Shady Mohamed has advised the Egyptian giants to sign a "high-calibre" striker.

Mohamed believes a better striker than the ones at Al Ahly now, will help the African champions do well at the Club World Cup tournament they will participate in after winning the Caf Champions League trophy.

The Red Devils were linked with a move for Brighton's Tau after coach Pitso Mosimane revealed that he would sign a player from South Africa. The rumours went into overdrive when the 27-year-old South African was left out of Brighton and Hove Albion's final pre-season friendly game against Getafe due to 'personal reasons'.

"Al Ahly can do something positive in the Club World Cup, so they must sign a high-calibre striker, and I expect [Oluwafemi] Ajayi and Bwalya to leave," Mohamed told Ahla Sabah radio as quoted by KingFut.

"Mohamed Sherif is an annoying player because of his movements, he plays as Emad Meteb used to play. In addition to his goal-scoring abilities, and his loan spell gave him a lot of experience."

The club legend also stated why he is not convinced by the performance of DR Congo's Bwalya.

"I’m not convinced by [Walter] Bwalya’s capabilities at all, I don’t believe he’s a striker of Al Ahly’s calibre. The Reds deserve a striker with great abilities because of the amount of competition they compete for," the retired centre-back added.

"Mohamed Magdy Afsha is a great player but one of the main reasons for his success is the confidence Mosimane gave him.

"Mosimane rotates the players well during the matches, and he has a very strong bench. This is an advantage Al Ahly has and it gives them strength for the remaining matches in the league."

With six games remaining for the Egyptian Premier League to conclude, a tight title race between Mosimane's side - that is at the top courtesy of head-to-head advantage with 64 points - against their rivals Zamalek.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has declared himself 100 per cent fit for the start of a new season at Liverpool, but admits an untimely knock for fellow full-back Andy Robertson looks to be "quite bad".

Injury issues decimated the Reds' plans in 2020-21, particularly at the back, and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that recent setbacks are not a sign of things to come.

England star Alexander-Arnold sat out this summer's European Championship after picking up a thigh problem prior to the tournament, while Scottish left-back Robertson damaged his ankle during a friendly against Athletic Club.

What has been said?

Alexander-Arnold has worked his way back to fitness in time for the season opener against Norwich on August 14 and told the Reds' official website when asked if he is 100 per cent: "Yeah, definitely. 

"I’ve started pre-season quite well, in training I’ve been putting the work in, got the all-clear from the medical staff early doors in pre-season and have been able to push on, get fit and get the full 90 under my belt [against Athletic Club].”

How long will Robertson be out for?

Liverpool saw Robertson forced from the field against Athletic Club on the stroke of half-time, with the 27-year-old rolling his ankle when trying to put in a block.

Klopp and his coaching team are waiting on the results of a scan before determining how long the Scot will be sidelined for, but Alexander-Arnold admits things do not look good.

The Reds right-back said: "I haven’t seen him, to be fair, but I think you know it’s going to be quite bad if Robbo has to come off.  It’s not something that he normally does so it’s disappointing to see, but I’m sure he will bounce back as soon as he can."

Liverpool have another friendly against Osasuna on Monday, before focus narrows on the trip to newly-promoted Norwich.

Further reading

Former Barcelona and Stoke City striker Bojan Krkic has joined Vissel Kobe on a free transfer.

Bojan, who began his career at Barca back in 2006, had been without a club since leaving MLS outfit Montreal Impact in December.

The 30-year-old has finally secured his return to football by linking up with Vissel Kobe, where he will reunite with former Camp Nou team-mate Andres Iniesta.

What's been said?

Bojan expressed his delight after being unveiled by the Japanese club on Monday, telling their official website: "I can't wait for this wonderful challenge. This opportunity is one of the best, both personally and professionally, and I can't wait for this big challenge. 

"I have been attracted to Japanese culture for a long time and, thanks to Vissel Kobe, I can experience Japan for myself."

The Spaniard also said he is looking forward to linking up with Iniesta again, and hopes to make the most of his quality service in the final third of the pitch.

"Iniesta is special to me and I am happy to be able to play with him again," Bojan added. "I want to score a lot of goals from his assistance."

Bojan's career journey

Bojan became the youngest player to feature for Barca in La Liga when making his debut as a 17-year-old in September 2007, and went on to score 41 goals in 163 outings for the club.

The diminutive forward won 10 major trophies at Camp Nou, including three La Liga titles and two Champions League crowns, but never quite managed to nail down a regular spot in Pep Guardiola's starting XI, and ended up being sold to Roma in 2011.

He went on to spend three years on the books at Stadio Olimpico, and took in loan spells at Milan and Ajax before completing a surprise move to Stoke City.

Bojan scored 16 goals in 86 appearances in all competitions for the Potters, with 14 of those coming in the Premier League as he became something of a cult figure.

However, he was unable to maintain any sort of consistency amid struggles with injuries and, after being loaned to Mainz and Alaves, he left Stoke by mutual consent in August 2019.

Montreal Impact then managed to arrange a one-season deal for Bojan, but he was released at the end of that agreement after failing to make their CONCACAF Champions League squad.

Further reading

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler is confident Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk will agree new contracts at Anfield, but he is also looking for Jurgen Klopp to make a "statement" signing before the summer transfer window closes.

The Reds have already added French defender Ibrahima Konate to their ranks, while fresh terms have been put in place with Brazilian duo Alisson and Fabinho and home-grown full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Salah and Van Dijk may be next to have offers put to them, but Fowler believes further reinforcements are required in order for the 2019-20 Premier League champions to come back into contention for major honours.

What has been said?

Fowler, who scored 183 goals across two spells with the Reds, told The Mirror: "I know Liverpool are concentrating hard on securing their stars on long contracts, but I’d be amazed if they don’t make a big signing before the window closes.

"It’s a big season for them after the injury ravaged disappointment last time around, and I think they do need to make a statement.

"Don’t get me wrong, to have players like Alisson, Fabinho and the rest signed up until 2026 and beyond is massive. I think they’ll get Salah and van Dijk to agree new deals too, and that’s the basis for a fabulous team.

"Players don’t live in bubbles. They can see what’s happening elsewhere, they see their rivals making signings they know will make a difference, and they want their own club to do the same.

"Signing a player the rest know is quality and can make a difference can be massive for morale, as well as results. Going into a season there is a real buzz, and a sense of excitement.

"Liverpool need it. If they have an injury free season they won’t be far away from the top, but as I’ve said, not signing players means you’re going backwards these days, especially when others are signing proven Premier League performers.

"Konate is a good signing, but one for the future. He’ll add depth and can develop, but I think Liverpool do need someone who can come in and make a difference for them. They’ve lost [Georginio] Wijnaldum who was a key player, and signing a top player to replace him would be huge."

Are Liverpool looking to add players?

The Reds have been linked with a number of players during the current window, with West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Florian Neuhaus, Brighton’s Yves Bissouma, Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez and Lille star Renato Sanches all having moves to Anfield mooted, and Klopp has admitted that more business could be done before the latest window closes.

He has said: "I am very happy with the squad, but it doesn't mean that we don't look at the market.

"As long as nothing happens, I am more than happy with the squad I have. I am more than happy with the players I have.

"We have a big squad and there might be something happening until the end of the transfer window, but I cannot say anything about that at the moment."

Further reading

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paul Stewart has urged the North London charges to make a move for Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Yves Bissouma.

The Mali international has been consistently linked with a move away from the Seagulls, with Arsenal FC reportedly keen on the player to bolster their midfield. The African has been consistent for his current team after joining them in 2018 from Lille in a fee that could rise to £17 million.

It is for this reason the now 56-year-old wants Spurs to go for the player who 'stood out more than any Brighton player.'

"I think he is a quality player and I would love Spurs to get him," Stewart said as quoted by ToTheLaneAndBack.

"He is 24, and Brighton did ever so well, but he was a standout player. Bissouma stood out more than any of them."

The Eagles star started his football in 2014 with AS Real Bamako back at home, before Lille II snapped him up two years later. He played 14 matches for them, scoring three goals and his displays quickly caught the eye of the senior side. Bissouma managed to play 47 matches and scored three goals for the senior side before Brighton made their move.

Bissouma has gone on to play 86 matches for the English club, scoring two goals.

Back at home, the midfielder has played 19 matches for Mali since 2015 and scored three goals.

Whether the Seagulls will let Bissouma leave is open for discussion after they let another key player, Ben White, leave for Arsenal on July 30.

The 23-year-old signed a four-year deal that will keep him at the Emirates until 2025 after passing a medical and joined up with his new team-mates Nuno Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga, who arrived from Benfica and Anderlecht respectively.

"Ben was a top target for us and it’s great that we’ve completed his signing," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said after White signing.

"Ben has been educated with two very good clubs, Brighton and Leeds, in recent seasons. He has benefitted well from two very good coaching set-ups and has shown with both Brighton and on loan with Leeds what a strong talent he is. 

"Ben is an intelligent defender who is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and his style fits perfectly with us. Of course, he is still young, so his age and profile fit with what we are building here. We are all looking forward to Ben being central to our future long-term plans."

Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Gor Mahia have entered the race to sign Malian striker Emmanuel Sanogo.

Sanogo is currently contracted with Futuro Kings of Equatorial Guinea and the club believes he is an upgrade on the current strikers serving the local giants.

Jules Ulimwengu, Benson Omala, and Tito Okello are the centre-forwards at Gor Mahia now after the departure of Wilson Silva who had been signed by Manuel Vaz Pinto.

"The club is interested in Sanogo and we have initiated moves to make our interest known to all parties concerned," a source privy to the development confirmed to Goal. "We want to engage the player, of course, we have been in contact with him, and also with the club, and our hope is that we will get him to join us.
 
"If you look at our striking department, it seems that it is our weakest link, and thus we need to add a player that will give us not only more options but also ensure that we upgrade that area.

"Gor Mahia are known for signing players who end up being dependable goal hunters, and we hope Sanogo is going to be another on that list. Just in recent seasons, we have had Meddie Kagere and Jacques Tuyisenge, and both did marvellous jobs for Gor Mahia."

Locally, K'Ogalo have shown interest in Dennis Ng'ang'a, Rooney Onyango, Boniface Omondi, Bernard Ochieng of Wazito FC and Rodgers Ouma of Western Stima. The former Kariobangi Sharks duo Duke Abuya and Ovella Ochieng are also considered as potential new players for the 2021/22 season.
 
As the new players are being linked with the 19-time Premier League winners, up to 10 current stars are understood to have engaged different clubs secretly looking for moves. Clifton Miheso, Goal understands, is unwilling to extend his deal as he wants the outstanding arrears on his current contract cleared before agreeing to start new contract negotiations.

Arsenal continue to be linked with Leicester midfielder James Maddison, but any deal there will not come cheap as Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers considers a star turn in his squad to be "the same" as Jack Grealish - who has just joined Manchester City for £100 million ($139m).

Some big numbers have already been discussed when it comes to Maddison's future, with there plenty of speculation to be found regarding an imminent move away from the East Midlands for a highly-rated 24-year-old.

Leicester, though, are reluctant sellers and have suggested that they would demand a figure close to the British record free that took Grealish from Aston Villa to the Etihad Stadium if they were to part with another England international playmaker.

What has been said?

Rodgers is aware of the speculation surrounding one of his most prized assets, but has told reporters of a player he places in the Grealish talent bracket: "I think they are both close. They are both very talented players.

"Stylistically, I think they're the same. They are both creators. But I would say they are both totally different. One is a dribbler - one commits people down the sides.

"James is more central and he's more of a passer. So yes, they are both creative players but stylistically they are both very different.

"Everyone could see today how hard James works for the team, his quality and how he takes the ball. His eye for the last pass.

"He is a wonderful talent and I thought he was excellent tactically because they really challenge you in that respect. I thought he was brilliant."

Rodgers added: "James was unfortunate in that he suffered from a number of injuries which curtailed his progress last season.

"This will be a big year for him, trying to maintain that fitness - you need a little bit of luck with that as well.

"All he can do is play to the highest possible level for Leicester and see where it takes him."

Why do Arsenal want Maddison?

The Gunners have been in the market for another creative influence for some time.

After freezing out Mesut Ozil and eventually offloading him to Fenerbahce, Martin Odegaard was drafted in on loan from Real Madrid.

The Norway international may yet become available again, as no decision has been made on his long-term future at Santiago Bernabeu, but alternative options are being considered.

Maddison forms part of that group, alongside Wolves star Ruben Neves, with the Leicester man proving himself on a Premier League stage.

Through 119 appearances for the Foxes, Maddison has recorded 27 goals and 20 assists - helping Rodgers' side to FA Cup and Community Shield glory, while also becoming serious challengers for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Arsenal would welcome an opportunity to buy into that ability, but they will have to dig deep if a successful raid on domestic rivals is to be completed before the next transfer deadline on August 31.

Further reading

Bukayo Saka received a standing ovation from Tottenham fans during Arsenal's final pre-season friendly clash against their arch-rivals.

Saka came off the bench in the second half of Arsenal's game with Spurs on Sunday, making his first appearance since England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy.

The 19-year-old was racially abused after the Three Lions' loss at Wembley on July 11, but received a rousing reception from both the home and away fans upon his return to club action at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

What happened?

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made way for Saka in the 63rd minute of the contest, and both sets of supporters stood to clap the winger onto the pitch in a moving show of support for one of England's most talented young players.

Arsenal ended up losing 1-0 courtesy of a late Son Heung-min goal, but Saka will now be pushing for a start when they open their latest Premier League campaign away at newly-promoted Brentford on Friday night.

What's been said?

Saka took to social media after the game to express his gratitude towards Spurs fans for their classy gesture.

"So much respect for this, thank you!" the Gunners starlet wrote on his Instagram story.

Meanwhile, Tottenham posted a video of Saka's introduction on their account with the caption: "Rivalries aside. What a moment this was this afternoon."

Football world rallies around Saka

Saka missed the decisive fifth penalty as England were beaten in a dramatic shootout by Italy in the European Championship showpiece, and was subsequently subjected to racist abuse online along with Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho - who also failed to convert from 12 yards.

The FA quickly came out to condemn the abuse and called for social media companies to change their policies in order to provide players with more protection, while the Metropolitan Police launched a full investigation.

Saka took some time off for his summer holidays before returning to Arsenal's training ground last week, where he was presented with a wall of messages and tributes from fans.

After also being greeted warmly by the Spurs faithful, the teenager can likely expect to receive more support from clubs across the country as the new season gets into full swing later this month.

Further reading

Lionel Messi broke down when giving his final press conference as a Barcelona player.

Barca confirmed recently the Argentina attacker would leave the Catalan-based heavyweights after negotiations over a new deal fell apart. Initially, the 34-year-old was set to accept a new contract that would have seen his wages slashed by 50 percent.

However, the 26-time LaLiga champions' financial status made it impossible for them to register the attacker for the new campaign, albeit, without reducing their wage bill significantly.

The PSG-linked star joined the Spanish giants at the age of 13 and progressed through the youth system to make his debut in 2003 when he was just 16. He went on to win 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns among a plethora of other trophies.

It explains why he was in tears as he gave his final speech as a Barcelona player. Here are some of the fan's reactions after the emotional farewell. 

Toni Kroos "would not be surprised" if Kylian Mbappe ends up at Real Madrid this summer, with the Blancos continuing to be heavily linked with the Paris Saint-Germain contract rebel.

Mbappe has entered the final year of his current deal in France and has offered no indication that an extension will be agreed.

That situation is keeping La Liga heavyweights interested with Madrid having made Mbappe a top target for some time, and Kroos thinks a deal could be done before the next deadline.

What has been said?

Discussing the long-running transfer saga with SportBild, Kroos said of Mbappe: "I prefer to talk about signings that have already been completed, but since Real always want the best, I would not be surprised.

"Next to him, [Erling] Haaland is definitely the most interesting player on the market, and therefore [would] not exactly [be] cheap. We must not forget that we are in a period where there's not an endless flow of money and, at the same time, we are completing our stadium, [which] is not free either."

Who have Real Madrid signed this summer?

Madrid have been relatively quiet in the current window, with no transfer fees paid.

Much of the focus in Madrid has been on outgoings, as Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane have headed through the exits, but David Alaba has been signed as a free agent.

The versatile Austrian is considered to be quite a coup for Carlo Ancelotti's side, with Kroos expecting big things from a man he previously played alongside at Bayern Munich.

The German midfielder added: "I knew relatively early that Alaba would come, not from David but from Real Madrid.

"As for what he brings, I see it like this: with Ramos and Varane, we have lost what has been our pair of central defenders for the last eight years. Just counting Ramos, he has made more than 600 appearances, scored more than 100 goals and won 22 titles.

"Consequently, he and Varane also did not play for free. If you want to replace those players at a similar level, then it costs. Also, Real Madrid received a transfer fee for Varane, but did not pay anything for Alaba. You have to take everything into account."

Further reading

Joe Willock is edging towards a move to Newcastle after Arsenal agreed a fee of around £25 million ($35m) with the Magpies for the midfielder.

The 21-year-old has been the priority target for Steve Bruce all summer following his superb loan spell at St James' Park last season, which saw him end the campaign by scoring in seven successive Premier League games.

But talks between the clubs have proved slow going, with Arsenal looking to strike a permanent deal for their academy product, while Newcastle had preferred to land him on another loan.

What is the latest?

Newcastle have now agreed to Arsenal’s demands and submitted a bid for Willock, who was left out of the Gunners’ squad to face Tottenham on Sunday in their final pre-season friendly of the summer.

The fee for the England Under-21 international is believed to total around £25m, including add-ons.

Willock will now hold talks with Newcastle over a permanent move to the north east, with Bruce keen to bring the midfielder in before the start of the new Premier League season.

What has Arteta said?

The Arsenal boss was reluctant to discuss Willock’s future when asked in the aftermath of Arsenal’s defeat at Spurs.

“We will explain the reasons when we can,” Arteta said.

“It’s all I can say now. When I can say more I will let you know.”

Why are Arsenal open to selling Willock?

Arsenal are well aware of the need to sell some players this window as they look to reshape their squad.

So far, Matteo Guendouzi, William Saliba and Konstantinos Mavropanos have all left this summer, but only on loan.

Arsenal have spent around £75m ($104m) to bring in Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares, but now need to generate cash to help fund further signings.

A fee which could reach around £25m for Willock, who is not seen as a regular starter by Arteta, will boost Arsenal’s chances of bringing in a new attacking midfielder this summer, with James Maddison and Martin Odegaard the top targets.

The Gunners also want to sign a new goalkeeper and are interested in Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale.

Further reading