Brazilian winger Willian could be on his way to Emirates as a possible replacement for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

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Aubameyang will enter the final 12 months of his contract in the summer and Arsenal face the decision of whether to agree to a new contract, try to sell the player this summer, or risk extending talks with the possibility that he may leave for nothing in the future.

According to sources, Arsenal are hesitant to renew Aubameyang’s contract after he demanded an upgrade to his £200,000-a-week wages, a decision that could prove difficult for the Gunners given  the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis.

Willian could prove a cut-price replacement for the Gabon international, with the 31-year-old winger looking for a three-year deal matching his current £120,000-per-week wages.

Willian will however have to wait a little bit longer to know whether he’ll be making Mike Arteta’s squad after sources said that the north London club are balking at his contract demands.

The 31-year-old is reportedly demanding a three-year deal which matches his current £120,000-a-week salary in west London, but Arsenal are against signing off such a long-term deal for a player who will be 32 in August.

Nicholas Musonye

Former Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) General Secretary Nicholas Musonye said on Thursday that he was considering joining the race for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidency.

Musonye spoke after a section of former Kenyan footballers proposed him for the job on Wednesday.

He, however, noted that the current situation was not conducive for politics, adding that he would state his real position, hopefully, after the country has successfully tackled the coronavirus pandemic.

“At the moment, we need to support the government in the fight against Covid-19, so that even if I become the FKF president I will still have players. I don’t want to be a president without people to lead,” he said.

Former footballers Austine Oduor, Josephat Murila, Tony Lidonde and Peter Lichungu who featured for the national team in the 80s and 90s say they believe Musonye is the right person to occupy the seat, having been in football for many years.

Oduor, who captained both the national team and Gor Mahia insists that the local football fraternity should do away with individuals who harbor selfish interests while vying for office.

“Majority of people who eye positions in football management do so to accomplish own desires. Musonye would be the best bet having been in the game since he was a boy,” said Oduor.

Former Harambee Stars defender Ricky Solomon echoed Oduor’s sentiments, pointing out that Musonye had already proven his mantle as a capable leader by securing huge sponsorship deals for Cecafa.

“What he now needs is our full support for him to clinch the top seat. He has gathered adequate experience to rescue our football,” he said.

Former AFC Leopards center back Josephat Murila whom dotting fans affectionately referred to as “Controller” believes that Musonye can muster sufficient support from the branches because of his good reputation as a football administrator.

Said he: “He has managed Cecafa well enough. He has also displayed a deep passion for football since his days as a sports reporter with Nation. I believe he has an idea of what could be ailing Kenyan football.”

Lidonde said Musonye was the right man to lead Kenyan football because he had enough experience to manage the game after successfully doing so in this region.

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Harambee Starlets forward Esse Akida has joined Turkish premiership side Besiktas on a two-year deal.

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