Arsenal are monitoring Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes with a view to rivalling Everton for the Portugal international's signature this summer, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.

Gomes, 25, is on a season-long loan at Everton and Arsenal have followed his performances in the Premier League with interest. However, there has not yet been any official contact between the Gunners and Barca over a transfer.

Everton are also hopeful of making the loan move permanent when the campaign ends.

Barca are keen to sell Gomes, who they paid Valencia an initial €35 million for in 2016. The Catalan club are looking to bring in €30m for him as they aim to generate between €250m and €300m in sales this summer, as revealed by ESPN FC.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery is a fan of Gomes and was interested in signing him last year, too. Nothing materialised then but the looming exit of Aaron Ramsey, who will move to Juventus when his contract expires in June, opens up a space in midfield.

Gomes, who came through the youth ranks at Benfica, was one of the brightest midfield prospects in Spain when he joined Barca -- Real Madrid had also wanted to sign him.

Arsenal director of football operations Raul Sanllehi was working at Barcelona at the time and was involved in the deal to take Gomes to Camp Nou. Like Emery, he is an admirer of the midfielder's qualities.

Gomes has found stability at Everton and is enjoying his football again after a tough time in Catalonia. He struggled with the pressure at Barca, to the point that he admitted there were moments that he feared leaving his house.

He has made 28 appearances for the Goodison Park club so far this season, 26 in the Premier League and two in the FA Cup.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, while Chelsea's Eden Hazard is a surprise omission in an XI dominated by Manchester City and Liverpool.

Pogba has endured an up-and-down season, having been out of the United team during Jose Mourinho's final matches in charge before playing a starring role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Hazard, meanwhile, has scored 16 goals and assisted 13 in 34 Premier League appearances, scoring 19 in all competitions to match his most productive season in a Chelsea shirt.

City goalkeeper Ederson was selected, while title challengers Liverpool provide three of the back four with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Andrew Robertson named alongside City's Aymeric Laporte.

City, who have six players the lineup, had Fernandinho and Bernardo Silva chosen in midfield alongside Pogba -- with Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero in attack.

Liverpool forward Sadio Mane completes the lineup, which is voted for by players.

City and Liverpool also dominate the PFA Players' Player of the Year individual award, with Sterling, Van Dijk, Aguero, Mane and Silva shortlisted alongside Hazard.

Alexander-Arnold, Marcus Rashford, Declan Rice, David Brooks, Sterling and Silva have also been nominated for the PFA Young Player Award.

PFA Team of the Year: Ederson (Manchester City); Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool); Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City); Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Sadio Mane (Liverpool).

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said it will be "pretty special" if his side's title race with Manchester City goes to the final day of the season.

City overtook Klopp's side to return to the top of the table by a point when they won 2-0 at Manchester United on Wednesday, with both teams having three games left.

And the Liverpool boss told a news conference ahead of Friday's home game against relegated Huddersfield that there would be more title challenges in the season to come.

"If we win our next two games, then the title will be decided on the final matchday and that would be pretty special. That's what we are concentrating on," he said.

"This is our first time trying to be champion, not the last time. Last season, we were 25 points behind. It's all good and we will carry on. At the end, only one team will be the champion.

"We don't need to summarise the season. "If we win it, we win it. If we don't there are no regrets as long as we give our best, and that's what we've done all season.

"Yes it's a big target, and we are pretty close and have a chance. The club and the people are waiting for a long time for it."

Klopp said the summer transfer window would "probably not" be the biggest for the club, but stressed that they would be keeping their eyes open.

He backed his squad to get even better, saying: "We have been together more than three-and-a-half years. They are at the perfect age. They have a lot of space for improvement."

But he ruled out a rumoured move for Napoli striker Lorenzo Insigne, saying: "He is a very good player, but he has a long-term contract at Napoli. We will not even try it."

The Premier League has drawn up plans to have two trophies and two sets of medals on standby if the title race between Liverpool and Manchester City goes to the final day of the season on May 12, sources have told ESPN FC.

Defending champions City moved one point clear of Liverpool with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday and will retain the title if they win their remaining three games against Burnley, Leicester and Brighton.

But with Liverpool able to reclaim top spot on Friday by defeating relegated Huddersfield at Anfield, there remains a strong possibility that the title will not be decided until the final round of fixtures.

Liverpool host Wolves on the final day of the season, with City travelling to Brighton.

With 270 miles separating those two stadiums, sources have told ESPN FC that the Premier League has ruled out the prospect of a helicopter carrying the trophy being positioned halfway between them.

If the race goes down to the wire, the Premier League will adopt the same plan as on the final day of the 2011-12 season, when City and United were separated by goal difference going into their fixtures against Queen's Park Rangers and Sunderland.

A trophy presentation team travelled to the Etihad Stadium and the Stadium of Light, each carrying a trophy and set of medals,as two stoppage-time goals secured the title for City.

Sources told ESPN FC that the Premier League has two identical trophies -- one housed at the League's London headquarters and the other in the trophy cabinet of the reigning champions.

More than an hour after Manchester City's exit from the Champions League last week, Sergio Aguero was sitting in the dressing room still wearing his kit. The laid-back striker is normally the last to leave -- be it off the team bus arriving at the stadium and from the ground after the final whistle -- but this time was different. Aguero was crestfallen, tears in his eyes after City's brutal quarterfinal exit at the hands of Tottenham.

The manner of that defeat was, in Pep Guardiola's words, cruel. Raheem Sterling's 94th-minute goal was celebrated with raw passion and emotion as Spurs players collapsed to the pitch. But just 73 seconds later it was ripped away when the video assistant referee correctly chalked off the effort for offside and, with that, City's dream of European success slipped out of reach for another year.

- Ogden: City too good to let title slip
- Bernardo Silva stars as City ease past United

For some of the club's older players the defeat was hard to take, knowing that they may only have one or two more shots left at winning the Champions League. Among them Fernandinho, who turns 34 next week. The Brazilian has played some of the best football of his career this season, but he couldn't hide his anger as he slammed open the door to the mixed zone. Asked for a comment about the defeat, he simply replied: "F--- VAR."

The introspective David Silva, 33, slipped out of a backdoor from the Etihad Stadium knowing his impressive medal collection from winning the World Cup, European Championship, Premier League and FA Cup may forever be short of the Champions League. Captain Vincent Kompany, also 33 and for the past 10 years the leader in the dressing room and adept at dragging his teammates out of difficult times with his positivity, was typically the one to stay to console Aguero -- the Argentine, so often the hero, feeling the weight of his first-leg penalty miss that was to prove to be so important.

But as well as the frustration over City's exit, Guardiola was fearful that the pain of that defeat had the potential to wreck their entire season. With no let-up from Liverpool in their tight and tense title race and a Premier League rematch against Spurs just over 48 hours away, the City boss felt he needed to quickly re-energise his squad to get them focused once more.

There were no strong words from the City boss in the dressing room after the 4-3 victory that ultimately proved not enough due to the away goals rule, only praise echoed when he spoke to reporters. "I am so proud of the players and the fans," he said shortly after full-time.

The City boss was also determined to ensure his players were not motivated by revenge despite some frustration over the way Fernando Llorente's decisive goal was reviewed by VAR and the onfield referee not given an angle that showed the ball hitting the Spanish striker's elbow before going in.

His players were back at the Etihad Campus the following day with the mood considerably gloomier. Guardiola felt he had to make changes for a third game against Spurs in 12 days after a draining evening, which is when the enthusiasm of Phil Foden shone through. The 18-year-old is constantly pushing for his first-team opportunities, working tirelessly in training and heeding the advice of Guardiola, assistant Mikel Arteta and the rest of the coaching staff.

Guardiola has no doubts about Foden's ability, but has held him back to grow his experience around the first team. But with his energy and fearlessness needed for the Spurs rematch, Guardiola decided to throw him in for just his second Premier League start. It worked perfectly with the teenager scoring the only goal after just four minutes. But his players were exhausted and, in the final 20 minutes, City switched to survival mode and it was a mixture of delight and relief that greeted the full-time whistle. "As a footballer, I could not have done what my players have done today -- the title is still in our hands," Guardiola said after the game.

They would, however, only move top of they could navigate Wednesday's Manchester derby -- a date ringed on many pundits' calendars as the potential pivotal fixture of the run-in. While some Liverpool and United fans were conflicted over what result they wanted, there was no expectations from inside City for anything other than a feverish derby against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.

For all their recent bad form, United had not lost at Old Trafford in the Premier League since August. Guardiola decided he needed experience to deal with the intensity, recalling Kompany, David Silva and Fernandinho -- players who have delivered time and again on derby day.

As Leroy Sane -- who had come off the bench for the injured Fernandinho -- slammed in the second to secure victory, Guardiola bent double in celebration, fists clenched, with the Premier League's destiny remaining in his hands. It couldn't have a bigger contrast to the sight of the Catalan sinking to his knees in despair almost exactly a week earlier when VAR cut short the pandemonium that followed Sterling's late strike.

Guardiola will keep minds sharp and focused on the three games that remain and the three victories required even if they have survived the two toughest games of their run-in. But there won't have been a more important week if City are to hold off the challenge of Liverpool in the fiercest title race in Premier League history.

A shoulder injury to Dale Steyn has thrown South Africa's World Cup preparations off track, with the 35-year-old fast bowler cutting his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL short after only two games.

Steyn will return to South Africa after his right shoulder - which had previously been seriously injured - flared up. He will be assessed by a shoulder specialist, with Cricket South Africa putting measures in place in an attempt to get him ready for the World Cup next month.

"Dale felt discomfort after playing his second match at the tournament," explained South Africa team manager, Dr Mohammed Moosajee. "Upon assessment and subsequent investigations, a flare-up of his right shoulder was confirmed. With the World Cup around the corner, it is our priority to get him back to full fitness before the squad departs on May 19. He will consult with a shoulder specialist upon his return and a recovery plan will be put in place."

Having gone unsold at the IPL 2019 auction, Steyn was a late addition to Royal Challengers' roster. He jetted in as a replacement for Nathan Coulter-Nile, who pulled out of the tournament with a stiff back. Royal Challengers won both the matches Steyn played in, with the fast bowler taking 2 for 40 against Kolkata Knight Riders and following that up with 2 for 29 in the one-run win over Chennai Super Kings.

"Dale Steyn has been prescribed ample rest due to inflammation in his shoulder," said Royal Challengers chairman Sanjeev Churiwala. "On account of state of his health, Dale will not be available to take part further in the ongoing season of IPL.

"His presence has helped the team immensely and we are very thankful for the inspiration and passion that he brought to the squad. The team will deeply miss his energy and presence around. We wish him a speedy recovery and all the luck for all future endeavours."

Steyn has been named in South Africa's 15-man squad for the World Cup, but it is unclear yet how much time he will take to recover. South Africa's squad will assemble for their week-long camp on May 12, prior to their departure for the tournament.

Worryingly, Steyn's current injury has flared up in the same shoulder in which he snapped a coracoid bone during South Africa's tour of Australia in November 2016. That injury almost ended his career, and required surgery and 13 months in recovery. During the Wanderers Test match against Pakistan earlier this year, Steyn left the field early on the second day clutching the same shoulder, causing worries in the South Africa camp, but that injury scare did not prove to be serious, and he later returned to the field to help wrap up a 107-run win.

The full extent of the latest flare-up remains to be seen, but if Steyn is unable to recover in time to play in the World Cup, it could signal the end of his white-ball career. Steyn has hinted that he would retire from ODI cricket after the tournament, but has made clear his intentions to keep playing Test cricket.

The World Cup squad named by South Africa can be amended until 23 May, one week before their tournament opener against England at The Oval.

South Africa allrounder Dwaine Pretorius will join Northamptonshire for this season's Vitality T20 Blast.

The 30-year-old Pretorius will link up with the Steelbacks squad for the tournament, which begins in mid-July, alongside another newcomer to Wantage Road, Faheem Ashraf of Pakistan. Pretorius may also be available for selection for the County Championship match against Worcestershire in August.

Pretorius is part of South Africa's squad for the World Cup starting on May 30, having played 19 ODIs and four T20Is.

"I am really stoked to be joining Northamptonshire for the T20 Blast and for some red ball cricket," Pretorius said. "I have always wanted to play county cricket - personally it's a dream come true and I can't wait for the opportunity. I will be doing everything I can to help the Steelbacks lift the cup and I'm thankful for the opportunity to be part of the team."

In his T20 career to date, Pretorius has scored 1426 runs with a strike rate of 141.46 - including 77 not out off just 42 balls against Sri Lanka in Johannesburg in March - and has taken 72 wickets with an economy rate of 8.22. He will join Northamptonshire subject to a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) being granted by CSA.

Northants head coach David Ripley said: "It's great to have Dwaine joining us for the T20 campaign. He is very hungry for his opportunity and gives us another hard-hitting allrounder in our line up, which in this format is always great to have."

Did Virat Kohli mock R Ashwin's controversial run-out of Jos Buttler after he caught his India team-mate at the long-on boundary? Paul Collingwood, former England captain and a staunch critic of the run-out of Buttler, certainly noticed it.

Love @imVkohli reaction catching @ashwinravi99 Great entertainment @RCBTweets and @IPL !! Mother cricket always gets you!! #mankad

— Paul Collingwood (@Colly622) April 24, 2019

With 27 required off the last over against Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab's captain Ashwin hit the first ball for a six. The next only made it as far as Kohli at the long-on boundary. Kohli made a hand gesture before moving his right hand - which held the ball - behind his body, an action not too dissimilar to flicking the bails behind you when you effect the run-out without delivering the ball.

Ashwin then proceeded to throw his gloves furiously upon reaching the dugout. He was asked about what had been going on between him and Kohli - Ashwin has been animated whenever his side has got Kohli out. Ashwin's response was short and crisp: "I just play with passion, so does he. That's it. As simple as that."

No current India cricketer has openly come out in support of Ashwin - or made any comment - on the run-out debate whereas current England cricketers - and others - have taken to Twitter to criticise him. The support for Ashwin has only come from former cricketers.

Ashwin did pull out of his delivery during his match against Delhi Capitals with Shikhar Dhawan, the non-striker, not leaving the crease. When Ashwin ran in to bowl the next ball, Dhawan danced outside the crease but with the bat inside it. Kohli reacted similarly when Sunil Narine pulled out of his delivery but without any intention to run the non-striker out. He squatted low to send the message he was doing all he can to keep his bat inside the crease.

Sam Billings' return to action for Kent lasted just a matter of minutes, as he suffered a dislocated shoulder that may rule him out of England's ODI trip to Ireland next week.

Billings, Kent's captain, had returned to the team for his first county fixture of the season, against Glamorgan at Cardiff in the Royal London Cup, after completing his stint with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

However, he suffered a dislocated left shoulder in attempting to stop a shot in Harry Podmore's first over of the match.

In obvious pain, Billings was left prone on the outfield for several minutes, and treated with oxygen before being helped from the field.

Kent later confirmed that he had been taken to hospital, where the shoulder was relocated, and returned to Sophia Gardens afterwards. He is scheduled to see a specialist on Friday, where he will undergo scans.

Billings had not been included in England's 15-man squad for next month's World Cup, but was likely to play against Ireland in Dublin next Friday, and had also been named for the one-off T20I against Pakistan in Cardiff two days later.

He is one of a number of concerns for England, particularly among their batsmen, as they build towards the World Cup opener against South Africa at The Oval on May 30.

Jason Roy is missing for Surrey in the latest round of Royal London Cup games, after suffering a back spasm earlier this week, while Eoin Morgan also sat out the same fixture for Middlesex after complaining of sore shins before the toss.

Kent's other England selection, Joe Denly, was not included for the trip to Glamorgan after himself suffering a back spasm while batting against Gloucestershire on Tuesday.

Alex Hales, meanwhile, has been put on indefinite leave by Nottinghamshire for personal reasons, but is expected to link up with the England squad for a pre-season training camp in Cardiff this weekend.

Toss: Rajasthan Royals chose to bowl v Kolkata Knight Riders

Rajasthan Royals captain Steven Smith decided to field first against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. Smith said that it was a welcome change to play on a slightly more grassy pitch, which his opposite number Dinesh Karthik also said would help the batsmen.

The home side have dropped Harry Gurney and KC Cariappa, and have brought in Prasidh Krishna and Carlos Brathwaite. That means there was still no room in the XI for Robin Uthappa and Kuldeep Yadav, who had been left out in Knight Riders' previous game, against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Royals have given an IPL debut to fast bowler Oshane Thomas and also added Varun Aaron, dropping Ashton Turner and Dhawal Kulkarni.

Knight Riders are looking to break their five-match losing streak this season, having slid down to sixth on the points table after beginning the season well. They also have the worst bowling economy rate, conceding runs at 9.10 per over in IPL 2019. Royals have had problems of their own, chiefly to do with their team's batting and bowling not clicking together. They are currently in last place on the table with just six points.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Chris Lynn, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dinesh Karthik (capt, wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Carlos Brathwaite, 8 Rinku Singh, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Prithvi Raj, 11 Prasidh Krishna

Rajasthan Royals: 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Steven Smith, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Riyan Parag, 6 Stuart Binny, 7 Jofra Archer, 8 Shreyas Gopal, 9 Jaydev Unadkat, 10 Oshane Thomas, 11 Varun Aaron