Linfield boss David Healy laments failure to make most of ‘golden' chances after Champions League exit to Shelbourne
The 1-1 draw at Windsor Park saw Shelbourne edge the Champions League First Qualifying Round tie 2-1.
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Metro
24 minutes ago
- Metro
Sesko 'gentleman's agreement' revealed after transfer interest from English club
Benjamin Sesko has a 'gentleman's agreement' to leave RB Leipzig this summer with Newcastle United interested in move, according to reports. Sesko has long been tipped for a transfer to the Premier League, with Manchester United and Arsenal both previously linked to the striker. Newcastle are now thought to be keen on the Slovenia international as a potential replacement for their unhappy superstar forward Alexander Isak. Isak dropped a transfer bombshell on Thursday, telling Newcastle he wants to leave after being linked with a £150m record move to Liverpool. Following Isak's decision, Newcastle are now keeping tabs on Sesko's situation, and have been informed on how much the deal will cost. That's according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who has revealed a 'gentleman's agreement' between Sesko and RB Leipzig. The agreement is that Sesko will be allowed to leave for a fee of around €70-80m, plus €5-10m add-ons. However, the agreement is only valid for a few clubs which have been considered 'special' by Sesko – and it's unclear if Newcastle are on the list. It should also be noted that Newcastle are working on 'multiple deals' and are strongly considering a move for Brentford forward Yoane Wissa. It's been quite a tough season for Leipzig, which forced them to change coach after a disappointing Champions League campaign. They've been struggling, which reflects on his output, but he's still been one of their best and most consistent players. Sesko's strengths are certainly his physicality and speed – he's great at making dangerous runs in behind defences, but he's also a very clinical and instinctive finisher, especially when the ball drops to him in the area. His work rate is good and he's a willing runner off the ball as well. His hold-up play is quite strong, but I think his link-up play is a side of his game that he can still improve. It's not that he's bad at that side of the game, but compared to someone like Kai Havertz, he's not at that level. But during his young career, he's shown he can take those steps forward. His mentality is definitely a strength – he's a player who wants to learn and wants to improve so in that sense he will be a quick learner. Rune Gjerulff, German football expert and editor of Bulinews Sesko came close to joining Arsenal 12 months ago before Euro 2024 – but opted to remain at RB Leipzig – and ended up signing a new contract. More Trending Arsenal reignited their interest this summer – but ultimately decided to focus on signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP instead. Andrea Berta, Arsenal's sporting director, had appeared to be making progress in talks with RB Leipzig – but walked away with the German club digging their heels in. Arsenal were still at least €10m away from meeting Leipzig's asking price and were unhappy with the structure of an €80m deal, The Independent reported earlier this month. MORE: Alan Shearer accuses Newcastle of lying as Liverpool target Alexander Isak MORE: Arsenal announce signing of 'intelligent' £13m Valencia star Cristhian Mosquera MORE: £46m Chelsea 'impostor' set for transfer move with club to take huge financial blow
Daily Record
24 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Russell Martin wants to build Rangers side round Raskin and Rothwell as Findlay Curtis touted for starring role
Belgian ace Raskin has suitors across the continent but Ian Durrant hopes he remains at Ibrox under the new boss - while he has also backed teen ace Curtis to shine. Ian Durrant hopes Rangers can fend off interest in star man Nico Raskin and allow Russell Martin to build a team around the Belgium ace and Joe Rothwell. Raskin was a standout in the latter part of last season and his tenacious performances saw the midfielder force his way into Rudi Garcia's Red Devils side, winning four caps since March. Record Sport revealed how Wolves have been tracking the 24-year-old for 18 months while city rivals Aston Villa and La Liga big guns Real Betis have also been linked. Ibrox chiefs are eager to tie Raskin down on a new deal with just two years left on his current contract. And while Durrant knows every player has his price, he hopes Martin gets the benefit of his services for at least another season beside new signing Rothwell. The 9-in-a-row hero said: 'Of course, the manager will outline that. He wants his best players here. But sometimes money talks. I hope it doesn't, but that's the nature of it he beast. 'He'll want to keep him because you see he's wanting to get Raskin and Joe Rothwell together. The more they play, the better they'll get.' Meanwhile Durrant reckons Rangers need to start producing more top team stars of their own as he backed Findlay Curtis to be the flag bearer for a new generation of academy starlets. The 19-year-old swept home a dream opening goal in the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos at Ibrox on Tuesday night - his first senior goal in just his sixth top team game, Durrant remembers the moment Jock Wallace handed him his own ticket to the big time as an 18-year-old rookie against Morton. And while football has changed massively in the four decades since, he insists the required mindset is still the exact same as Curtis looks to become a regular under Martin in the Old Firm goldfish bowl. He said: 'You can't just kind of go, okay (I've achieved something). Findlay will be flying just now in terms of getting a goal in the Champions League qualifier. But it will be a rocky road. Now it's a question of how he goes about it. 'That's when your manager and coaches have got to see that. Just give him enough to feed, but if he performs like that, he'll be a starter. 'The manager's been delighted with him in pre-season. That was the one thing he said to me. 'There's a couple of other ones like Joshua Gentles who was out on oak to Alloa last season and was on the bench the other night. 'They'll knows how to manage it. There's tough games coming up. The young players, they're up, they're down. The manager will know that. It's hard work all the time. 'If you don't put the hard work in, you'll not get it. You can't just relax and say 'OK, I've made it after one game.' 'My debut, Morton away, Cappielow, Coisty got a hat-trick. I think what helped me then was the club was redeveloping at the stadium. 'So myself, Derek Ferguson, Robert Fleck, Hugh Burns were given the opportunity because there wasn't a lot of money to go and spend on players. 'We never really had the academy, we were more apprentices. We were given the opportunity. I didn't think for a minute I'd be a Jock Wallace player as he liked players who were six-foot-plus and could head the ball further than they could kick it. 'He came across on the Friday, we had a practice match and he just gave me two complimentary tickets. 'He just said, 'right, you're playing tomorrow.' There was no time to think about it. 'That was it. Just get a good night's sleep. Cheers gaffer. And you just go and play. 'I'd struck up a wee relationship in training with Davie Cooper at the time and obviously Coisty. 'When it's thrown upon you, you've got a lot of time to think about it and you maybe dwell on things. 'The manager was brilliant at the time. Big Jock just said, right, you're playing tomorrow night. I was 18. 'There wasn't an age barrier then. 'It's a different beat now. Phones and all that. I was lucky enough when I made my debut there were no mobile phones so you could get away with it a wee bit. 'He'll know that. They are consummate professionals now in terms of diet and everything. Everything gets monitored. You'll know how to cope with it. 'It helped I had big players to feed off. You're in a tunnel. I'm standing next to Graeme Souness. 'I'm playing with one of the finest Scottish midfielders. I'm playing with England captain (Terry Butcher), Chris Woods, Ray Wilkins, Trevor Francis. 'I lived the dream playing with Davie Cooper. I was in awe of Davie Cooper. 'I wasn't going to knock that back. 'The youth system has always been important. If we're going to criticise, I don't think we've produced enough over the years due to circumstances. Maybe the fact that now you're having to chase Celtic, there's a reluctance to play kids. 'Just now, I think the new manager's come in with a breath of fresh air. When I met them the other day at Auchenhowie he said if they're good enough, no matter the age, if they're good enough they'll get a game. 'Young Finlay Curtis has come in and done well. 'Every club, they always like to see their own coming through. There's a few there. 'The way the managers speak, there's not just Finlay, but there's a few. 'I'm really impressed with them pre-season. If it comes, I think they'll get their opportunity.'
Daily Record
24 minutes ago
- Daily Record
What Russell Martin told the Rangers legends as Ibrox icon opens up on big pow wow
The Ibrox boss invited a gang of greats into the club to hear their thoughts and spell out his own vision Ian Durrant has pulled back the curtain on the meeting he and other legends had with new Rangers boss Russell Martin. Martin invited a clutch of Ibrox icons into the fold so he could glean some advice – and set out his own vision for the Scottish giants. Durrant got a close-up feel for the new manager and his plans for Rangers when the 58-year-old was ushered into Auchenhowie along with fellow ex-Gers greats Lee McCulloch and John Brown. And first impressions were positive. Durrant said: 'It was nice. I've been doing a wee bit of work with the club and they invited us over. 'He was just bouncing a few things off us, asking us what we think. 'We told him - you just need to win. That's the be all and end all. 'Get your the recruitment right. He was good. 'He spoke very well, just the way he outlined the way he wants to go. You've got to back him. 'He's certainly got the backing of the club now with the new regime coming in. As I said, there will be tough games, especially the Champions League qualifier. 'You've got the second leg now. There's a financial burden in terms of what that could do for the club. It's come at an early time but he's working every day. 'He spoke about the fitness levels of the team. 'It looked like the second half on Tuesday that he's worked them really hard. He had a great week down at St George's. He's got all his players back. 'He's hopefully got a couple more players now. Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers missed a fair chunk of pre-season. 'They're a wee bit behind but they'll get game time on Saturday. 'He wants his team so fit. He said that the way he plays, it might take the last 10-15 minutes to break teams down but the only way they're going to break them down is if they are fitter than the other teams.'
