Former Argentina forward Franco Jara, now playing for FC Dallas in the United States, has flirted with the idea of Lionel Messi arriving in MLS.

The Barcelona captain has a decision to make come the end of his contract at the Camp Nou in June, with a move stateside one of the options being speculated over.

“If he [Messi] comes to play [in MLS], I’d kiss his feet,” Jara told 90min. “It would be insane, a madness.

“Over the course of my career, when I was in the national team, I had the chance to share [the pitch] with players like them but having him face to face is totally different.

“[MLS] have brought in Zlatan [Ibrahimovic], [Gonzalo] Higuain… let’s hope [Messi] gets the opportunity.

“As much for Messi as for Cristiano [Ronaldo], it’s an opportunity to live outside of football, to be a normal person.

“Me, you, we like to go out to eat, go to the cinema, go to the supermarket to buy… and the United States offers that.”

Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool will have achieved something significant this season if they can finish in the top four.

Liverpool have 13 games left to get back into the Champions League spots but Klopp is aware it will be easier said than done and is concerned about the buffer that clubs such as Chelsea and West Ham have.

Liverpool have finished in the top four in each of Klopp’s four full seasons at Anfield but a ruinous run of form coupled with a dreadful injury list — that was added to by Jordan Henderson recently — means they face an uphill battle.

It would not be an achievement comparable to winning a trophy but, in terms of the hurdles that have been put in front of Liverpool, there is no disguising how proud Klopp would be if they can somehow transform the situation, starting at Sheffield United on Sunday.

‘Yes it would be big,’ said Klopp. ‘You can see the competitors. It is about what we can bring on the pitch. It is about results. The table doesn’t lie. We know that points-wise we are not that far away, but results-wise we are.

‘That is what we have to change. We try but while we try and sort one problem another problem occurs. We have to think about Sheffield United. If we can do that then we are maybe a step closer but then Chelsea is coming!

‘So, if we were to do it in the end… yes, it would be big.’

Aside from Henderson, Klopp will be without Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Fabinho, James Milner and Joel Matip at Bramall Lane, while No 2 keeper Caoimhin Kelleher also has an issue that has been keeping him out.

Henderson (below) had successful surgery on a damaged adductor on Thursday after he had seen a consultant in London.

He is expected to be out for somewhere between six and eight weeks but there is no doubt about him being fit for the Euros in June.

‘It’s not a quick (injury) but we all hope there is still a possibility for him to play a few games this season,’ said Klopp.

Ghana Premier League side, Elmina Sharks, have sacked head coach, Yaw Acheampong, and his backroom staff after Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat to Legon Cities in the league.

Sharks in statement said Acheampong, who has been at the club since 2017, is leaving post with his assistant, Felix Aboagye, and goalkeepers’ trainer, Nana Mbrah.

The Cape Coast-based club has found it difficult to pick results this season, winning only three games in their 16 games this season.

They sit 14th on the league log with 17 points, two above the relegation places.

Elmina Sharks added in the statement that replacements will be announced in due course.

Ghana will face the Gambia in the semi-finals of the African U20 Cup of Nations on going in Mauritania.

The Gambia won their quarterfinal game against the Central African Republic on Friday, beating the latter by 3-0 at Stade Olympique.

This is will be the second meeting between the two with Gambia winning the first game 2-1 during the last Group C match last Monday.

Black Satellites sealed through to the last four after beating tournament favourites Cameroon 4-2 on penalties.

The Satellites have won only one in regulation time out of the four games in the tournament which came against Tanzania in the Group opener.

Meanwhile, Gambia have won two of the four games played thus far including today’s emphatic win over Central African Republic.

Both teams will go head to head again on Monday, March 01 at 4 PM kick-off time.