Gossip: Everton pursue Freiburg's Rohl
Everton have spoken to the representatives of Freiburg's 22-year-old Germany midfielder Merlin Rohl over a potential move. (Kicker - in German), externalWant more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport
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Daily Record
41 minutes ago
- Daily Record
David Gray relives wild Hibs scenes that saw him showered in pints as he targets giving fans another Euro night to savour
Hibs are in the Netherlands stepping up their preparations for the July 24 Europa League second qualifying round first leg against Midtjylland in Denmark David Gray's memorable goal for Hibs against Brondby in Europe literally left a nice taste in his mouth. And as he gears up to oversee the Leith side's return to continental football from the dugout, the Hibees legend knows exactly what these trips mean to the fans. Hibs are in the Netherlands stepping up their preparations for the July 24 Europa League second qualifying round first leg against Midtjylland in Denmark. Some nine years ago in the same country they racked up a famous 1-0 win over Brondby to level their qualifying tie in the same competition - before agonisingly bowing out on penalties. Just two months one from heading in the iconic Scottish Cup winning goal at Hampden, Gray notched another important one on the night and the celebrations that followed still live fresh in the memory. Gray, whose team face German outfit MSV Duisburg on Wednesday before wrapping up their trip against Dutch giants Ajax in another closed door clash on Saturday, said: 'What are my memories of Brondby? Actually, scoring the goal was great. And it was just a brilliant day - I thought we were fantastic in the game. 'I was fortunate enough to score the goal and I think someone threw a pint over me after that went in. 'I could taste that in my mouth when the fans were celebrating. The scenes after it were amazing. But I know a lot of people that went over in the game, and the fans all talked about the trip and how good the actual trip was. 'We went over there and won on the day. Clearly, we went to extra time and lost on penalties. But it shows the level that we can get to. At the time, Bronby were a top side and still are a topside in Denmark. So I think these are games that you want to look forward to. "These are brilliant memories that I was very fortunate to be involved in. When you come to this football club, you've got an opportunity to try and play in Europe and that doesn't come for everybody and I think you need to look forward to that.' Hibs fans will descend on the Danish town of Herring in good spirits on the back of last season's stunning third place finish in the Premiership. The players will relish the challenge of trying to upset the odds, especially in the wake of Midtjylland boss Thomas Thomasberg's boast about coming through the tie with ease. Gray added: 'It''ll be a really tough draw, but one we can really look forward to. You're always going to get a difficult opponent because of the result of the (Scottish) cup final, meaning we were unseeded. This is the position we find ourselves in. But it's a brilliant one to look forward to. "It's a really good trip for the fans as well and it's a great opportunity to test yourself against a team that qualified for the Champions League. "I know they went quite far in the competition, dropping into the Europa League last year. They've missed out on winning the league by a point so it'll be a tough test, but one that the players should definitely look forward to and one we'll be going into with confidence. 'Ultimately, the ambition is to get into the next round and I've already said to the players, they should relish it. They should look forward to it, and it's a reward for such a good season last season that we want to keep this feel-good factor going. 'You can feel it already around the club, the fan base, everyone looking forward to it when the draw came out. So I think it's a real positive time at the football club and we want to keep that going.' Gray is likely to dispatch a member of his staff to watch Midtjylland in their upcoming pre-season games against Dynamo Kyiv and Slovan Bratislava in Austria before the Danes face OB in their first domestic clash just four days before the first leg. It will be a case of gathering as much information as possible on their opponents. Gray added: 'They'll be gearing up towards their first league games and their first competitive game is the week before. 'Clearly, we'll do as much work as we do with every opponent. We'll do as much as we possibly can to make sure the players know exactly what they're going into, what they're going to face. We'll have a game plan in place to go over there'.
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Dominic Calvert-Lewin announces Everton exit after nine years with the club
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has announced that he will be leaving Everton after nine years with the club. The striker arrived at Goodison Park in August 2016 and confirmed in a post on Instagram that he has made the 'incredibly difficult decision' to leave the club. Advertisement Last season saw Calvert-Lewin endure a difficult campaign, scoring three goals in 26 league appearances and missing over three months between January and May due to injury. The forward made 239 Premier League appearances for the Toffees since his debut in December 2016 and he enjoyed a breakout year in the 2019-20 season with 15 goals in all competitions. Dominic Calvert-Lewin will leave Everton (Peter Byrne/PA) Calvert-Lewin continued to thrive the following season with 21 goals in all competitions, but injury issues have since posed problems and the 28-year-old is set to leave Everton with his contract due to expire at the end of June. Calvert-Lewin said on Instagram: 'To Everton Football Club and the Evertonians. After nine remarkable years at this club, I've made the incredibly difficult decision – together with my family – to begin a new chapter in my career. Advertisement 'This isn't something I chose lightly. Everton has been my home since I was 19 years old. It's the place that saw potential in me, challenged me to grow, and shaped me both as a footballer and as a man. 'I want to express my gratitude to all the managers and coaches I've worked with over the years and to my teammates who have become lifelong friends. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (@dcl) 'Above all I want to speak to you, the fans. Your passion is the beating heart of this club. Whether times were good or tough, your unwavering support never faltered. Celebrating goals at Goodison Park, feeling that roar, is an experience I'll carry with me forever. 'This choice to move on was not simply about me – it was a decision my family and I spent a long time considering together. We believe it's the right moment to seek a new challenge and continue growing, but that doesn't lessen the bond I'll always have with Everton. Advertisement 'I'm deeply proud of what we've shared, fighting for this club when it mattered most, scoring big goals in crucial moments, wearing the shirt with commitment and pride. 'My hope is that I leave with your respect, knowing I always sought to uphold the values of this great club. 'Thank you for everything. From my very first day, I always knew what it meant to play for Everton.'
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Arsenal 'suddenly' consider signing £85m Liverpool and Chelsea transfer target
Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Hugo Ekitike, with club bosses growing increasingly frustrated in pursuit of their primary attacking targets. The Gunners are intent on signing an out-and-out number nine this summer having received widespread criticism for their inactivity over the last two transfer windows. The loss of both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to injury last season only amplified calls for Arsenal to strengthen in the transfer market and there is mounting pressure on sporting director Andrea Berta to find a solution up front. Viktor Gyokeres, 27, has been placed at the top of Arsenal's wishlist on the back of an exceptional season in Portuguese football, in which he scored 54 goals in 52 games to help Sporting win a domestic double. However, Sporting's flat-out refusal to lower their demands for Gyokeres has complicated Arsenal's pursuit of the prolific Swede, prompting the Gunners to strongly consider RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko as an alternative. 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. But Arsenal have encountered similar difficulties in their attempts to hash out a deal for Sesko, 22, with Leipzig rejecting the north Londoners' opening bid worth around (£46.8m) – plus €10m (£8.5m) add-ons – for the Slovenia international. It's understood the Bundesliga outfit are holding out for an offer of between €80m and €100m (£68m and £85m) for their star striker. According to German publication Bild, this has led Arsenal to 'suddenly' turn their attentions to Ekitike, who enjoyed an eye-catching first full season with Eintracht last term. The report claims Ekitike is a 'serious' option at the Emirates and the 23-year-old Frenchman will come to the fore should the Gunners give up hope of landing either Gyokeres or Sesko. As has been the case with both Gyokeres and Sesko, though, Ekitike's asking price could prove problematic as Eintracht are said to be demanding an eye-watering fee of €100m (£85m) from potential suitors. 'If the price isn't right, then he'll just stay with us,' Eintracht sporting directorMarkus Krosche told Wiesbadener Kurier when quizzed on Ekitike's future earlier this month. 'We don't have to sell Hugo.' While Krosche has refused to rule out the possibility that Ekitike could leave, he insists a sale will only be possible Eintracht's demands for the 'exceptional' striker are met in full this summer. 'He's one of the most interesting strikers on the European market,' he added. 'Hugo has to decide that [his future]. I'm glad we have him. More Trending 'If he decides otherwise, that's our belief: if a player develops faster than us, then we let him go – as long as our demands are met.' 'Hugo is an exceptional player who played a major role in our qualification for the Champions League,' he added. 'He certainly still has a lot of potential for development as he's only 22 years old.' Ekitike – who has also attracted interest from Liverpool and Chelsea in recent months – is tied into a contract at Eintracht until June 2029. MORE: Man Utd eyeing bargain Andre Onana replacement as decision made on goalkeeper's future MORE: Sporting dig out Man Utd star in new Viktor Gyokeres message to Arsenal MORE: Jonathan David transfer odds: Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle and Co up against it in race for Lille striker
