Stoke appoint Torrance as head of recruitment
Stoke City have named Ian Torrance as their new head of recruitment.He has spent the past year in Italy in a similar role with Serie A club Como and replaces Lee Darnbrough who left the club in February after just eight months at the bet365 Stadium. Torrance spent 13 years with Southampton, eventually becoming their chief scout before leaving to join Como in time for their first season back in Italy's top flight."We know our work in the transfer market will need to be smart, agile and diligent for us to be successful and we believe Ian is the right person to help us implement that moving forward," Stoke's sporting director Jon Walters said., external
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Arsenal reject approach for £42m star but sanction another transfer exit
Arsenal have rejected an approach to sell Riccardo Calafiori during the summer transfer window, according to reports. The Gunners beat London rivals Chelsea to a deal for Calafiori last summer, spending £42m to sign the Italian defender from Bologna. Calafiori only spent one season at Bologna but impressed for the Serie A side during the 2023-24 campaign and was then one of Italy's best players at a disappointing Euro 2024. Given he was one of Arsenal's marquee signings last summer, Calafiori was somewhat of a disappointment last season, missing many games through injury and then being used as a left-back by Mikel Arteta. Calafiori is unlikely to play as a centre-back given the impressive partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes but his left-back prospects are also bleak following Myles Lewis-Skelly's breakout season. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Despite this, Calafiori will be given a chance to revive his Arsenal career, with the club rebuffing a transfer approach from AC Milan. The Daily Mirror say Serie A giants AC Milan contacted Arsenal to discuss a possible deal but were rejected by both Arsenal and the player, who is keen to stay in London. Arsenal are willing to sanction outgoings, however, and have given AC Milan permission to talk to Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukraine international was a key player for Arsenal in the first few years following his move from Manchester City but struggled for game-time last season. The same can be said for Jakub Kiwior but Arsenal are considering keeping the 25-year-old at the Emirates Stadium despite interest from AC Milan. Last month, Calafiori responded to speculation linking him with a move away from Arsenal and bemoaned his stop-start 2024-25 campaign. Asked about the AC Milan rumours, Calafiori told Gianluca Di Marzio: 'I am very happy at Arsenal. 'In my opinion, what was missing was just continuity this year,' Calafiori added. More Trending 'I will try to be more consistent next year. When I was good, I always played and I also made the difference. The goal is just to stay in shape all year. 'For me personally, [my first season in England] was a great experience. Obviously when you win trophies it's always better. 'Here I measured myself against the most important and difficult championship in the world. 'I saw that I can be there easily, this made me very happy and I am convinced of the choice I made. A regret? None, absolutely.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal told to sign Manchester United transfer target instead of Chelsea flop MORE: Man Utd pushing to sign Liverpool and Chelsea targets after Viktor Gyokeres chooses Arsenal MORE: Edwin van der Sar tells Ruben Amorim to give under-fire Man Utd duo another chance
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
Chelsea make £30m transfer bid for former Real Madrid defender
Chelsea have made a 35m euros (£30m) bid for former Real Madrid defender Mario Gila, according to reports in Italy. Gila, 24, spent three years in Real Madrid's reserve team before making his first-team debut for Los Blancos during the 2021-22 campaign. The former Spain U21 star only made one more appearance for Real Madrid, however, before being sold to Lazio in the summer of 2022. Lazio spent £5m to sign Gila from Real Madrid and the centre-back has been a mainstay in the team over the past two seasons. Gila made over 40 appearances last season as Lazio finished seventh in Serie A and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri, who previously managed Chelsea, does not want to lose the Spaniard this summer but a number of clubs are interested in a deal. Italian outlet Il Messaggero say Chelsea, Tottenham, Bournemouth and PSG have all expressed interest in signing Gila. They also claim that Chelsea have already made an offer worth £30m, which was quickly rejected by Lazio. Lazio are also believed to have rejected a £35m bid from Bournemouth but will be prepared to sell if they receive an offer in the region of £50m. Gila is yet to represent Spain but was included in the senior squad for their Nations League quarter-final against Netherlands earlier in the year. In: Liam DelapDario EssugoEstevao Willian Mamadou Sarr Out: Marcus Bettinelli Bashir Humphreys Defence is one of several areas Chelsea are looking to bolster this summer after an encouraging 2024-25 campaign. Enzo Maresca's side finished fourth in the Premier League to qualify for next year's Champions League and won the Conference League. The Blues have already signed £30m striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town and welcomed Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr to Stamford Bridge after sealing their signatures earlier in the year. More Trending Chelsea are keen to sign another forward – either a striker of a winger – as well as more defenders. The west London club were in advanced talks to sign French goalkeeper Mike Maigan from AC Milan but the deal collapsed over the asking price. Chelsea are also open to offers for a number of unwanted players, including Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku. Following a brief opening earlier in the month, the summer transfer window re-opens on Monday and shuts again on September 1. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Man Utd pushing to sign Liverpool and Chelsea targets after Viktor Gyokeres chooses Arsenal MORE: Tottenham transfers: Spurs plotting to hijack Manchester United's bid for Bryan Mbeumo and chasing fellow Bees star Yoane Wissa MORE: Edwin van der Sar tells Ruben Amorim to give under-fire Man Utd duo another chance
STV News
6 hours ago
- STV News
Former Rangers midfielder Gennaro Gattuso named Italy head coach
World Cup winner Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed Italy head coach. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced the 47-year-old had been handed the reins following Luciano Spalletti's departure. A statement on the FIGC's official website said: 'The Italian Football Federation announces that it has appointed Gennaro Gattuso as head coach of the Italian national team. 'The Calabrian coach will be presented on Thursday 19 June at 11am at the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Rome.' Spalletti revealed in the wake of a 3-0 World Cup qualifier defeat in Norway on June 6 that last Monday's home clash with Moldova, which Italy won 2-0, would be his last at the helm. Former Leicester boss Cladio Ranieri said he had rejected the job as the FIGC looked for Spalletti's successor and it has ultimately turned to 73-cap midfielder Gattuso, a World Cup winner in 2006. President Gabriele Gravina said: 'Gattuso is a symbol of Italian football. The blue is like a second skin for him. 'His motivation, his professionalism and his experience will be essential to better face the next commitments of the national team. 'Aware of the importance of the goal we want to achieve, I thank him for the availability and total dedication with which he has accepted this challenge, sharing the FIGC's project for the overall development of our football, in which the Azzurri jersey plays a strategic role.' Gattuso enjoyed a glittering playing career which included spells with Rangers and Salernitana before a 13-year stint with AC Milan which brought two Champions League successes and two Serie A titles among a host of honours. His managerial career to date has taken him back to Milan, Napoli, Valencia and Marseille and he left his most recent post at Croatian club Hajdu Split earlier this month. Gattuso inherits an squad which lie in third place in World Cup qualifying Group I after their opening two fixtures, with Norway top having taken a maximum 12 points from their four games to date and Israel second on six after three fixtures. They entertain Estonia in Bergamo on September 5 before facing the Israelis in Debrecen three days later. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
