Latest news with #SheffieldUnited
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
16-cap Scotland man targeted by four as Europa League club ponder bid despite second successive relegation
The Scotland striker suffered his second relegation in succession - but is wanted by a quartet of clubs. Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland international Oli McBurnie is set to be one of the most in demand strikers of the summer after he emerged as a key transfer target for four clubs despite suffering relegation from La Liga with Las Palmas. The 28-year-old striker spent the last season in the Spanish top flight, alongside Scotland centre-back Scott McKenna, after joining the Gran Canaria-based club on a free transfer after being relegated from the English Premier League with Sheffield United in 2024. However, he is available on a free again this summer due to a clause in his contract enabling him to depart for no transfer fee. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad McBurnie enjoyed a fruitful debut campaign at Las Palmas, providing nine goal contributions in 34 appearances at Estadio de Gran Canaria, though he could not prevent their demotion to the Spanish second-tier as he suffered the disappointment of back-to-back relegations with two separate clubs. Scotland striker Oli McBurnie is now playing his football with Las Palmas in La Liga. | Getty Images Despite his double relegation, the 16-cap Scotland international is set to be one of the most in-demand strikers in this summer's transfer window, with up to four clubs set to be ready to rival each other for his signature - including one club set to play in the UEFA Europa League next season. According to a new report from Alan Nixon, the 28-year-old has attracted interest from two of his former clubs, with both Swansea City and Sheffield United both hoping to add the Las Palmas striker to their ranks next season, alongside fellow EFL Championship club Hull City. However, all three clubs could be gazumped with Europa League outfit Celta Vigo ready to battle the trio by launching a bid that would see McBurnie remain in La Liga. It is claimed that head coach Claudio Giráldez González wants to add further depth to his squad after leading his side to the Europa League, with McBurnie said to have made enough of an impression in La Liga to warrant significant interest in his services. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
16-cap Scotland man targeted by four as Europa League club launch bid despite second successive relegation
The Scotland striker suffered his second relegation in succession - but is wanted by a quartet of clubs. Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland international Oli McBurnie is set to be one of the most in demand strikers of the summer after he emerged as a key transfer target for four clubs despite suffering relegation from La Liga with Las Palmas. The 28-year-old striker spent the last season in the Spanish top flight, alongside Scotland centre-back Scott McKenna, after joining the Gran Canaria-based club on a free transfer after being relegated from the English Premier League with Sheffield United in 2024. However, he is available on a free again this summer due to a clause in his contract enabling him to depart for no transfer fee. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad McBurnie enjoyed a fruitful debut campaign at Las Palmas, providing nine goal contributions in 34 appearances at Estadio de Gran Canaria, though he could not prevent their demotion to the Spanish second-tier as he suffered the disappointment of back-to-back relegations with two separate clubs. Scotland striker Oli McBurnie is now playing his football with Las Palmas in La Liga. | Getty Images Despite his double relegation, the 16-cap Scotland international is set to be one of the most in-demand strikers in this summer's transfer window, with up to four clubs set to be ready to rival each other for his signature - including one club set to play in the UEFA Europa League next season. According to a new report from Alan Nixon, the 28-year-old has attracted interest from two of his former clubs, with both Swansea City and Sheffield United both hoping to add the Las Palmas striker to their ranks next season, alongside fellow EFL Championship club Hull City. However, all three clubs could be gazumped with Europa League outfit Celta Vigo ready to battle the trio by launching a bid that would see McBurnie remain in La Liga. It is claimed that head coach Claudio Giráldez González wants to add further depth to his squad after leading his side to the Europa League, with McBurnie said to have made enough of an impression in La Liga to warrant significant interest in his services. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Man Utd transfer target LEFT OUT of Man City's Club World Cup squad as Red Devils ‘eye controversial deal from rivals'
JAMES McATEE has reportedly been left out of Manchester City's Club World Cup squad amid links with rivals Manchester United. Shock reports claim McAtee, 22, has emerged as a target for the Red Devils this summer. 1 The playmaker has been at City since 2013, rising up through the academy before taking in a double loan spell at Sheffield United. This season saw McAtee emerge as a rotation player under Guardiola, with the ace netting seven goals in 27 outings. However, City have numerous attacking options both in midfield and out wide. Guardiola is also said to be plotting swoops for the likes of Lyon's Rayan Cherki and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White. And that could see McAtee become available for a transfer away from the Etihad, with United thought to be circling. Now, speculation regarding his City future has heated up after McAtee was left out of the squad for the Club World Cup. The tournament runs simultaneously alongside the U21s Euros in Slovakia. Having initially not been included, McAtee has now been added to England's pre-tournament training squad. And the Mail claims it means he is unlikely to feature for City ever again, with Guardiola seemingly happy to not have him on board for the lucrative club tournament in America. To compound things, teammate Rico Lewis was also eligible for U21s selection. Bruno Fernandes enjoys dinner with Al-Hilal 'secret agent' Joao Cancelo as he faces Man Utd exit decision But unlike McAtee, he has not been called up by England as City want him to travel to the Club World Cup instead. Another factor at play is that McAtee's contract expires in 2026, with City needing to either hand him a new deal or cash in before he becomes a free agent. Guardiola previously indicated he wanted McAtee to stay, but admitted the youngster could struggle for minutes if he remains at City. Guardiola in April: 'For the age, I'd like him to stay. But I understand players want more minutes. 'He can play different positions but I don't know how the squad will be and we will see.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How to watch Sheffield United vs Bristol City: TV channel and live stream for Championship play-off today
Sheffield United have one foot in the Championship play-off final as they host Bristol City tonight. Chris Wilder's side hold a 3-0 lead heading into the second leg of the semi-final tie at Bramall Lane, and will be confident of now booking their place at Wembley with minimal drama. Advertisement It was a nightmare night on home soil for Bristol City, who had Robert Dickie sent off late in the first-half and then conceded three goals to leave them needing a miracle. Sheffield United finished third in the Championship this season with 90 points and were therefore the favourites to come through the play-offs, despite their miserable record. The Blades have been involved in the play-offs nine times in either the Championship or League One, and have failed to secure promotion on each occasion. They will be hoping that changes here, with either Coventry or Sunderland waiting at Wembley for whoever comes through this tie. How to watch Sheffield United vs Bristol City TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event at 7pm BST, ahead of kick-off at 8pm. Live stream: Fans can catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Ben McKinney: The 6ft 7in former Sunderland footballer turned England cricketer
There are a lot of dangers opening the batting, not least a clonk on the head from a fast bowler, but Ben McKinney suffered one of the more bizarre injuries this season. McKinney, the Durham opener fancied by England and playing for the Lions against India this week, missed a championship match against Hampshire earlier this month after injuring himself pressing a button in a lift. 'I had a heavy bag on my shoulder and bent down to press the button. My back went into spasm and that was it,' he says. McKinney was on a roll at that point, and since missing the Hampshire match has recorded two ducks, although one of them, against Somerset last weekend, did come with an upside. 'I was already out so was able to watch the play-off final [on the TV in the dressing room]. One of the only occasions I've been glad to be out.' McKinney is a lifelong Sunderland fan, and was on their books until the age of 16, so his happiness at seeing their win over Sheffield United is understandable. Now it is time to think about cricket and England. Zak Crawley's century against Zimbabwe has cemented his place but 20 year-old McKinney, a 6ft 7in left-hander with a touch of Matthew Hayden about him, is likely the next candidate. 'I think about it every day,' he says of playing Test cricket. 'Right from when I was a kid. It's the dream, it's the end goal for me.' McKinney has gone from strength to strength in a short period of time. He stroked an action-packed 110 off 100 balls for the England Lions in a first-class match against Australia A in January and showed another side to his game against Warwickshire last month with a patient 186-ball century to anchor the Durham innings on a tricky pitch. Those two ducks have brought his average down to 31 this season, but opening the batting in county cricket, when seven championship matches are played on pitches in April and May, is a risky existence. McKinney is the latest graduate of the Durham talent pipeline: state-school educated and brought up in Durham club cricket playing for Seaham Harbour. The family lived 'about five minutes' from the Seaham ground, McKinney says. His father Neil was a decent club cricketer and fired his son's early ambitions. 'I think my dad still loves cricket more than me. I couldn't even tell you how many hours he put into me as a kid. I was down in the nets for four or five hours at least. Yeah, I can't thank him enough.' With his height, he has the build to be a Brydon Carse-type fast bowler, but McKinney has always been a batsman and feels he has really learnt to put his own stamp on his game over the past year, partly by accepting that at his height he is not going to look like a classically trained batsman such as Joe Root. 'First of all I really want to just be a well-rounded batsman. Sometimes you can feel a million dollars and climb around the front foot banging people through the covers, but I think the best part of batting is doing whatever the scenario needs. The innings against Warwickshire, for example, probably the slowest I've batted but against a very good seam attack on a slow wicket, sometimes you can't score with a strike rate of 100 or 80. 'When I was in the second team I always wanted to look like a proper batsman and by that, I mean, like a nice technique. For some reason I had in my head that I wanted to look perfect, and I just don't think you can with how tall I am. As soon as I put that out of my head, learnt my own game, and did things how I wanted to to do them, it really just simplified things. You can then set realistic goals for yourself because there's nothing worse than coming off the field and thinking that is not how Joe Root would have got out.' McKinney is a talented sportsman. He was in the Sunderland academy until the age of 16, playing as a central midfielder. While his team-mates are yet to make it at Sunderland, several of his regular opponents in age-group teams are now in the Premier League. He played against Manchester City's Rico Lewis, who is the same age, and Lewis Hall, who joined Newcastle last year for £28 million. 'I was, to be fair to myself, a decent footballer, but it's obviously really hard to break through. I'm not saying it's not hard to crack cricket, but the chances and the amount of people that play football make it tough. And, you know, there's people that loved it [football] more than me as well. Cricket was always the number one for me.' The Lions tour was a breakthrough for McKinney. Powerful on the front foot and off side, he really caught the eye of the England management, particularly Lions coach Andrew Flintoff, whose influence in the set-up is massive. With his attitude and positivity, McKinney fits the bill and we know this England set up is not averse to picking a player at his age. 'Freddie spoke to me about self confidence and presence. I used to actually be quite a small presence at the crease in terms of posture and body language. The big thing I got from him was, actually, yeah, I'm at the crease now, and no one's gonna get me out and I'm gonna try and bully the bowler. It's not a disrespectful thing to anyone. It's just that self confidence. It does help. I'm quite the opposite person off the field.'
