Gossip: Seagulls set to sign out-of-contract Boscagli
Brighton have agreed a deal to sign 27-year-old French defender Olivier Boscagli on a free transfer from PSV Eindhoven. (Sky Sports), externalWant more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport
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BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
Have your say on Rangers takeover
A new era has begun at American consortium, led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises, has taken control of the Ibrox club and promised £20m of investment in football operations this health tycoon Cavenagh is now the Rangers chairman, with 49ers Enterprises president - and Leeds United chairman - Paraag Marathe joining as say the new consortortim's vision for the club will prioritise "on-pitch performance and long-term financial sustainability".Rangers fans, what is your initial reaction to the takeover? Pure positivity or are there any reservations? And what should the new owners' priorities be this summer other than appointing a manager?Share your views here.
The Sun
17 minutes ago
- The Sun
England ace Michelle Agyemang insists ‘there is more to come from her' with the Lionesses
SURREAL is how Michelle Agyemang described her emergence as a senior England international this year. Last month the versatile Arsenal striker, 19, showed why Gunners and England legend Kelly Smith sees her as one of the club's "fearless" rising stars. 5 5 5 5 Less than a minute into her senior debut, the England ace let fly with a stunning volley that found its targets in a Nations League duel with Belgium. While the Lionesses fell to a 3-2 away loss in that game on April 4 Agyemang's 16-minute cameo underlined why her rise through England's ranks has been rapid. After scoring a hat-trick in a 10-0 demolition of Lithuania in the Women's Under-19 Championship last July, the striker moved up to England's Under-23s two months later. And just two months after scoring a brace against Germany in a friendly for the side, she received first call-up into Sarina Wiegman's England squad. Of her emergence as a senior international player, Agyemang said: "I'm a person of few words, so I'm struggling already. "I think it's 'surreal', like, just the manner in which it happened. "There are so many more things to come and I'm just really grateful for the opportunity." Agyemang's appearance in England's last Nations League outing came at a time of the team contending with injuries to Alessia Russo and Lauren James. Forward Lauren Hemp, now back in the squad after her comeback from injury, was also yet to return to match action for her club Manchester City. With the trio out, Wiegman opted to bring in Agyemang who impressed during her loan spell at Brighton from Arsenal last season, as well for the young Lionesses. Reflecting on her first call-up and being in England's squad this month, she added: "When I got the phone-call [from Sarina when I was] just literally coming out of the shower, "It was unexpected, but I'm really grateful that she's put the trust in me to come in and show what I can do for a longer period of time. "It was amazing to get that call and to be here again. "My family has been so supportive. When I was telling them my mum was screaming, my dad was shouting as well and then my friends as well." Playing across three different age groups for England within 11 months does not phase Agyemang. The player who grew up in Southend, Essex and whose club journey with Arsenal began in their academy at six, is determined to deliver no matter which Lionesses side she plays for. Agyemang said: "Wherever I am (in whichever England team) it's about just going out there, helping the team prepare and winning the trophy. "We still have the Under- 19's Euros coming up (in June) as well as the senior Euros "It's been interesting going through the different age groups, meeting different players and coaches. "But I think the England pathway is so similar across the board so it's really easy to settle in no matter where I am." Against Portugal at 7:45pm tonight Agyemang hopes to get another chance to make her mark and help England return to winning ways in the Nations League. Should Spain lose to Belgium, a defeat of their opponents at Wembley would see Wiegman's side return to the top of their group. Agyemang's last experience of being near Wembley's pitch was during England's 4-0 defeat of Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifier in October 2021. She said: "I was 15 and was a ball girl. They had a few of the girls from (England's) pathway there. Beth Mead scored (a hat-trick)." Tonight's game will provide a chance for Agyemang to continue to impress with the striker targeting a place in Sarina Wiegman's squad for this year's Euros. In Switzerland on July 5 the Lionesses will begin their push to win the tournament for a second time with a group stage clash with France. 5 And Agyemang hopes to be among the players included in Wiegman's 26-strong group. The Arsenal starlet added: "I like to take things one at a time. "Coming here (to England's camp), showing what I can do in order to maybe get on that plane is my first thought right now."
Times
17 minutes ago
- Times
New American owners plan to inject £20m into Rangers after takeover
Rangers have been bought by new American owners who plan to plough £20million into the club this summer. A consortium led by the healthcare tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and backed by 49ers Enterprises, the sports investment wing of NFL giants San Francisco 49ers, took control with a 51 per cent stake. Months of negotiations were finally completed just before midnight on Thursday. Pennsylvania-based Cavenagh is an entrepreneur in the health insurance industry and takes over as chairman. His fellow American, Paraag Marathe, of 49ers Enterprises, is vice-chairman. Marathe is also the chairman of Premier League club Leeds United and the dual ownership aspect of the Rangers' takeover has been approved by the Scottish FA. The consortium will make an initial investment via a share issue, although The Times understands that a sizeable percentage of the intended £20million will come from existing shareholders who pledged to reinvest as part of the deal to sell to the Americans. An extraordinary general meeting will be held on June 23 to secure shareholder approval for a rights issue. Rangers fans have longed for the American takeover and embraced it in the hope it will transform the club's fortunes after years of domination by their Old Firm rivals Celtic as well as off-field turbulence and heavy financial losses. Kevin Thelwell starts as Rangers' sporting director on Monday, having left his previous role as director of football at Everton, but he already has been driving the club's search for a new manager. Either the frontrunner Davide Ancelotti or former Rangers and Scotland defender Russell Martin is expected to be appointed next week. Cavenagh and Marathe released an open letter to fans as the takeover was announced at 1pm on Friday. 'Dear Rangers supporters, we are proud to be entering a new chapter for this extraordinary club,' they said. 'This moment is the result of months of thoughtful discussions with club leadership and our shared confidence in Rangers' success going forward. To that end we'd like to tell you a bit about our thinking. Simply put — our goal is to win trophies in Scotland and be able to compete at a high level in Europe, while laying a foundation of financial sustainability for the future. 'As our first step, we are investing fresh capital into Rangers, which will be strategically deployed on and off the pitch. While we recognise the importance of resources, we believe that thoughtful, disciplined investment, guided by a clear strategy, is the path to enduring success. Every decision, whether sporting or business, will be made with the club's long-term success and sustainability in mind. 'We aim to leverage the full strength of 49ers Enterprises' sporting expertise and operational experience, and are confident in Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell to lead this next phase. Our first priority together is clear: hiring a new men's head coach. That process is already well under way, and we look forward to sharing more updates soon.' Rangers said the consortium's vision was to prioritise on-field results and 'long-term financial sustainability'. In a statement released along with the open letter, Cavenagh said: 'This club's history and traditions speak for themselves but history doesn't win matches. We know that the true way to honour the club's heritage will be to drive performance. Our focus is simple: elevate performance, deliver results, and bring Rangers back to where it belongs — at the top.' The consortium members Mark Taber, Andrew Clayton and Gene Schneur will join Cavenagh and Marathe as directors on the new Rangers board. Taber is a Boston-based managing director of a growth equity firm in the healthcare business. Clayton is Philadelphia based and is a colleague of Cavenagh's as a co-founder of ParetoHealth in the healthcare industry. Schneur, who is also a board member of Leeds United, lives in Miami and is the managing director of a real estate firm. The Rangers chief executive Patrick Stewart, Fraser Thornton — who was replaced by Cavenagh as chairman — John Halsted and George Taylor will also continue as directors. Graeme Park, Julian Wolhardt, and Alastair Johnston have stepped down. The former Rangers chairmen Dave King and John Bennett sold all of their shares to the American consortium while others with prominent stakes, such as Taylor, Halsted, Stuart Gibson and another former chairman, Douglas Park, will remain as shareholders and will continue to invest. Following the takeover Rangers will become a private company.
