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BBC News
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
🎧 'No-brainer' - why Kostoulas signed for Brighton
A new episode of BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast is now available on BBC agent and family of Babis Kostoulas discuss his move to Brighton - plus the team discuss the latest from the transfer window and assess the Seagulls' Premier League to the full episode on BBC Sounds
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Who do Premiership clubs need to sign as window opens?
The Scottish summer transfer window is open - and, no, Scottish summer is not an decisions Premiership clubs make now - about how stays, who goes, and who arrives - will have far-reaching consequences in the what do supporters are the requirements for 2025-26? Aberdeen - 'Don't want any loan players back' Scottish Cup winners Aberdeen had an up and down Premiership campaign, finishing fifth after a very strong start to the season. What or who could make the difference next time round?Russell: We need an out-and-out number nine. Someone around the age of 23 making a name for themselves. Would also like to see a young, combative central midfielder. [Dunfermline's] Ewan Otoo looked good against us in the cup Need a left-back, two midfielders and two strikers as a priority. I feel there needs to be a pathway for some of the youngsters to get some game time. Alfie Stewart, Findlay Marshall, Fletcher Boyd, Adam Emslie and Alfie Bavidge and, obviously, Jack Milne after his outstanding performance in the cup Some players do still need to depart. We don't really want any of the loan players back and could do with moving Peter Ambrose on. Need a couple of strikers, a centre-back, left-back, a couple more midfielders and a good number Squad needs trimmed. A couple of full-backs and some midfield legs required. This season has to see some of the sterling talent in the youth ranks getting more opportunities. Celtic - 'Centre-back is a must' Celtic have already announced the return of Kieran Tierney six years after he left for Arsenal. The Scotland left-back/left centre-back would appear to be a direct replacement for Jeffrey Schlupp, who had been on loan latterly, and Greg Taylor, who seems to be on the move as a free agent. Plenty more to come, fans will I think it's clear signings are needed after watching the past few Glasgow derbies and the Scottish Cup final. With that said, I think our priority has to be keeping Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda, especially if we are to do similar or to even better our performances in Europe last Celtic need to invest in a striker as Adam Idah isn't good enough. We also need a centre-back and a winger, plus a new central midfielder, because Paulo Bernardo and Arne Engels aren't good A centre-back is a must. Since Carl Starfelt left, we've had a few in alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers but none who look capable of really taking us to the next level. I'd like to see us really push the boat out to get a centre-back who is more around CCV's Celtic need a proper striker in the mould of recent stalwarts like Scott McDonald. I'm a big fan of Lawrence Shankland and think they should go for him. Goals, goals and more goals. Dundee - 'Hale would be a good signing' New Dundee head coach Steven Pressley is just getting his feet under the table at Dens Park. What are his signing priorities?Richard: No brainer. [Ronan] Hale would be a great partner for [Simon] Murray. Between the two players last season, you have nearly 30 goals. This would be the signing of the close season for We need to try and hold on to Josh Mulligan. Hale would be a good signing. There are a lot of good players in the market now, but will they come to Dundee?Alan: Hale would be a marquee signing for Dundee and show the club have ambition - not many signs of that up to now! We should be competing for the top six every season and pushing the boat out, for once, on players. Hale will make that I'd like to see Dundee show some fresh ambition with our signings this year under a new coach, but the owners haven't spent hard cash for transfers historically, which would have to happen to sign him. More loan deals are likely. We definitely need support for Murray. Dundee United - 'Fresh start and a big summer' Dundee United's first season back in the Premiership following promotion ended on a high as they beat Aberdeen on the final day to pip the Dons to fourth place. Consolidation and, indeed, progress are the next obvious Ronan Hale at Ross County is a must. Scored a good amount for a struggling side and has pace in behind, which we have lacked for a We let half the team walk away and the recruitment team. It's a fresh start and a big summer. Most fans are expecting 15 new players, but I'd go as far as saying we need 20 new players in. It's exciting times, but scary, as you never know with United shopping list - an experienced goalkeeper, cover for full-backs, two experienced centre-backs, a creative midfielder, right winger, big physical striker and a smaller strike partner with pace - not much to ask for!Eddie: We need at least three strikers. One needs to be pacey. Two fast, tricky wingers, two experienced centre-backs, cover for both full-backs and three in central midfield, one a warrior and one creative at least, and a replacement for Jack Walton [in goal] too. I make that 13 in to replace the 15 that have left. Anything else is a bonus. Falkirk - 'Need a solid spine that has experience' Falkirk return to the top flight after a 15-year absence, having achieved successive promotions. John McGlynn is one the league's most experienced head coaches and now faces the task of keeping the Bairns in the Falkirk have done a tremendous job working back up the leagues. I've always said they belong in the Championship and that's not a bad thing. I wish them well, great club and great spirit, but for me, I can't see their board spending Premiership money on I think we need a solid spine that has experience of Premiership football. A new centre-half, central midfielder and another striker to compliment Brian Graham. Also feel an upgrade at left-back is needed for us to I think we need a couple of defenders and a midfielder. Former Bairn Murray Wallace is out of contract at Millwall. He'd be good to bring back. Could do with a left-back too, such as Stephen Kingsley. And, while we're at it, might as well bring Jay Fulton home as well. Hearts - 'Quality not quantity' Derek McInnes is another head coach taking on a new job in the shape of Heart of Midlothian. The former Kilmarnock boss knows the Premiership well, but who will he recruit?Alan: Definitely think we should re-sign Lawrence Shankland. It would be great to see him recapture his form with the team set up around We need pace and physicality in midfield. So many need to go - Aidan Denholm, Kenneth Vargas, Sander Kartum, Cammy Devlin, Lewis Neilson, Jamie McCart, Musa Drammeh and, sadly, Beni Baningime. Beni is worth something, he's skilful, but he frequently slows down our movement going forward and we lose impetus. Alan Forrest is a bit hit and miss and he is not ready for regular first-team A top-class goalkeeper as Craig Gordon is getting on a bit - and a strong, speedy striker. Need to transfer some of the current squad out What is required is quality not quantity. We seem to get English League One or Two types and we gamble with foreign lower-league players. Stump up higher wages for the few who will drive up standards. Hibernian - 'Take Porto back in a heartbeat' Hibs became the Premiership's third force last season, despite being bottom as recently as November. Head coach David Gray now needs to show if he take the Easter Road side that next step If Rocky [Bushiri] doesn't sign, bring [Ryan Porteous] back. Always gave you everything and was good for winding up the opposition. He needs to play to get a sniff of the Scotland I'd take Porto back in a heartbeat. That lad has untapped The return of development boys to Easter Road has worked well in the past, but I remain unconvinced that Ryan Porteous has requisite maturity yet to consistently be the seasoned pro needed in There is a good balance in the team and dressing room at the moment but feel Porteous might rock the boat a bit - and not in a good way. He left, leave it that way. Kilmarnock - 'Two strikers & two wingers' Killie are under new management with former Ross County and Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell taking over at Rugby Park. Where do his recruitment priorities lie?Kenny: We desperately need some firepower up front and we need to hopefully get Stuart Findlay, Joe Wright and Fraser Murray re-signed. We struggled last season due to lack of signings. When Findlay was injured, we let in goals like a sieve. Hopefully we get a couple of big signings We have a team full of ageing players where the most you will get out of them is a yearly contract. This is good for the players concerned but not the team. Findlay and Bruce Anderson will probably go. Bobby Wales and Innes Cameron have gone and we don't exactly have money available to buy decent players. We are in deep If nothing else, we need to sign at least two strikers who are capable of scoring 15 to 25 goals apiece per season and two wingers capable of servicing them competently week in, week out!Steven: The team needs a strong spine, a new goalkeeper, central defender, passing midfielder to partner David Watson and a goalscoring striker. The team should be built around Watson. Livingston - 'Squad miles better than one relegated' Livingston are the other promoted side, but they are not strangers to the division, having only been relegated in 2024. They still have the same manager in David Martindale, who knows a thing or two about getting the best out of For Livi to be competitive this season, we need to get a holding midfielder that can play with the ball at his feet but isn't going to be a bombscare. I'd like to see Robbie Fraser or Macaulay Tait come back to Livi, but that will never happen because I think they excelled too much when they played with us. In terms of sales, get Tete Yengi out the door, as well as Daniel Finlayson. Both not good enough for the top This squad is miles better than the one that was relegated. I think two full-backs would be wise. A left-back to replace Fraser and a right-back with Jamie Brandon and Tait departing. Some back-up at centre-back seems essential, but I'm hoping we don't revert to the low block straight Livi are going to need some extra manpower across the park to mitigate the impact of our loanees returning to their clubs of origin and an ageing squad. A striker with a ruthless edge is required, wing-backs on both sides and the departure of Michael Nottingham means we need more options in central defence. An attacking midfielder would also be nice, but we mustn't wish for too Livi has the basis of a very good team. A bit of strengthening up, especially creative players, for David Martindale to go out and win games. Motherwell - 'Younger legs in from front to back' Jens Berthel Askou was somewhat of a surprise appointment by Motherwell, but will the Dane tinker or overhaul the squad he inherited?Mark: We need depth. Not quantity over quality, but meaningful depth. A solid central defender is a must after Dan Casey's exit. A creative midfielder would also come nicely with the money we should get for Lennon Miller. A new wide player and a striker who's not allergic to goal would also be a step in the right Pace! Tom Sparrow and Tawanda Maswanhise aside, we were too pedestrian going forward and back. If our new manager is true to his word on a preference for pressing, he'll have to get some younger legs in from front to He needs youth and energy in the team. So many last season were going through the Definitely some pace. A must. A goalscorer/poacher, doesn't need to be a great player. Strength in midfield. Suppose a lot will depend on the money coming in for Miller. Maybe some hidden gems the manager is aware of. Rangers - 'Keep Raskin but improve all areas' Former Rangers defender Russell Martin has returned to Ibrox as head coach and the ex-Southampton boss has a busy summer of rebuilding on his hands if the Premiership runners-up's fans have their I don't think that anyone in the current squad is safe from being moved on. In truth, we need to strengthen right across the squad. Priorities should be a central defender, an attacking midfielder, wide players on both wings and a proven goalscorer. All that before we need to replace anyone who moves on. Stephen: Keeping [Nicolas] Raskin is a must. Getting in a couple of centre-backs, also a couple of strikers, also getting rid of the dead wood - [Kieran] Dowell, [Ben] Davies, We need a top goalkeeper and two overlapping full-backs who can defend. We remain lightweight in our wide areas. Two attacking wingers should be brought in. We need an out-and-out proven goalscorer if [Cyriel] Dessers leaves. Another centre-back alongside [John] Souttar. Midfield is where we already have options, but another creative player would not go amiss. Big transfer window coming The priority needs to be a long-term deal for Raskin and the captaincy. Keep [Mohamed] Diomande in there as well. Souttar is solid 90% of the time, bombscare and horrendous the rest of the time - the entire defence needs an overhaul. Jack Butland is never a first choice goalkeeper, so he needs replaced by someone dependable - he makes too many mistakes. If Dessers is going, I'd happily put Hamza [Igamane] through the middle as well as try to sign [Dor] Turgeman. We need quick/stong wingers as well. Too much change needed for one transfer window I What we need is movement. It's only 336 days until the Euro qualifiers and we've only seen Lyall Cameron come in so far. If there are to be big changes, the new faces are not going to have much of a pre-season before being expected to turn this around as usual. How long before the naysayers in the stands lose patience with yet another manager and his players? Plenty exits, but surely it might have been a good idea to keep more of the current squad for continuity. At this rate, we'll be lucky to field a five-a-side The centre of defence has to be the priority. Build from the back. With the amount of work needing done to the squad, I think either or both of Raskin and Igamane will have to be sold to generate the necessary funds. Massive summer ahead and we need to get a move on with pre-season starting next Two centre-backs, one midfielder, preferably a six, one left-winger, one right-winger. I feel we should retain both Dessers and Igamane but bring in a new attacking number 10. I also think that Raskin should be the captain on the pitch and we should be looking through our own and other teams junior ranks for a back-up to Tavenier, letting Tav play fewer games in which could be his last I'm worried that we seem to be moving on a striker first before anything else. For the first team 11, two to three centre-backs, a right-winger and a left-winger are all arguably missing, never mind needing an upgrade. We can't get to end of window needing extra funds for any of the above positions having spent cash on forwards. I'd also upgrade Tav or [Dujon] Sterling and bring another right-winger before I'd look at forwards. Brian: The defence needs to be toughened up as a priority - Butland's frailties on crosses and his slack passing out from the back were exposed and [Liam] Kelly was far from convincing as a replacement. No doubt lack of confidence in the keeper led to near enough blind panic by the defenders in clearing balls and defending corners. Recruit tough, no-nonsense defenders and build from Raskin - unless he signs new contract and takes the armband, should definitely be moved on for maximum profit. Dessers - will be looked back on fondly, but the Nigerian Nightmare's tenure in Glasgow is over (£5m for a 31-year-old is not bad). [Robin] Propper - What's he hanging about for? Go back to the Netherlands, where you're suited. Diomande - Maybe one more year here. Butland - back down south for couple of Rangers should definitely keep Raskin and Dessers. Let Propper go and get someone solid beside John Souttar. We're good between the sticks and for full backs. Wide men needed to provide opportunities for Spend £9m and bring [Vaslav] Cerny back in. We know his quality and fit with the club. Build the team around him, Raskin & Diomande. I'm actually pro-Dessers, but if money is being offered, take it and sign an established striker. I think we missed a trick with the knowledge and influence [Davide] Ancelotti would have had bringing in upcoming stars, but I'll back Martin for now and hope for smart Would be very fun to see [Jamie] Vardy come. Of course, they're only rumours though. As big as my loyalty to the SPFL is, I still think we should be taking advantage of Martin's links and connections to the English leagues. St Mirren - 'Replaces Olusanya & Taylor' After a third successive top-six finish, Stephen Robinson's stock as St Mirren manager is Certainly cover up front, with injuries and loss of form, which are commonplace in that part of the team. At least one new face at the back is essential as Richard Taylor overall had a good season and he will be missed if we can't find an equal replacement. The loss of a left-footed midfielder will also be hard to fill, but we have reasonable cover there. However, again, injuries and age can catch up with you at any point in the season. Yes, a few new faces and permanent deals for a couple of last year's loanees will be We badly need a striker with pace to replace Toyosi We need a centre-half to replace Taylor. If we can't get Ryan Alebiosu signed then a right wing-back would be needed. Also some pace up front I think is important after Olusanya left.A: Most of the squad is pretty settled. We could do with another centre-back to replace Richard Taylor, a midfielder to replace Caolan Boyd-Munce, a right wing-back and a speedy centre forward (one that could guarantee 20+ goals a season would be nice). Apart from that, more competition for places would also be a bonus.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
How are you feeling about Ait-Nouri's departure?
Rayan Ait-Nouri has completed his move to Manchester City, bringing a five-year spell at Molineux to an signing on-loan from French side Angers in October 2020, the Algerian international made a permanent move to Wolves July then, the wing-back has made 157 appearances for the club, scoring 12 goals and delivering 19 want to know how you're feeling about his exit - will Wolves miss him next season or will he be easily replaced this summer? What are your hopes for the transfer window?Let us know your thoughts here
The Independent
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Liverpool's hunt for German superstar Wirtz heats up
Liverpool has made a second bid of £113m for Florian Wirtz as they chase a marquee signing this Transfer Window. Bayer Leverkusen reportedly wants €150m for Wirtz after Liverpool's initial proposal came to £109m. If Liverpool signs Wirtz, he will become the club's most expensive signing after paying £75m for Virgil van Dijk and £64m, rising to £85m, for Darwin Nunez. Liverpool has already signed Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen for £29m as they prepare for life after Trent Alexander-Arnold. Liverpool is also in talks with Bournemouth for Milos Kerkez, with a potential commitment of almost £200m to new signings in the coming weeks.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd's 'brutal response' after getting £5m tip-off about Tottenham star
Manchester United take on Tottenham in the final of the Europa League next weekend, nearly a decade after snubbing the chance to sign a Spurs superstar for just £5million Manchester United turned their noses up at a young James Maddison when offered the chance to sign him back in his Coventry days. The Tottenham superstar, 28, has been one of the Premier League's top creative midfielders for a while, after turning heads at Leicester before sealing a £40m move to Spurs in 2023. But United could have snapped him for a fraction of that price back in 2016. At the time, Coventry were in the mire financially, and were thus forced to sell many of their best players, including 19-year-old prodigy Maddison. In 2020, transfer expert Ian McGarry, who, at the time, was working as a football consultant for the Sky Blues, claimed he contacted United to see if they'd be interested in bringing Maddison to Manchester, but claimed they "didn't take any notice" of his recommendation. "When Maddison was in the process of leaving Coventry City because the club's financial crisis meant they had to sell their best players and Maddison even then was considered one of the best players," McGarry explained on the Transfer Window podcast. "I contacted someone I knew at Manchester United in their recruitment department and said look you're going to get a bargain here, this guy's going to be a huge player in the future and he's available for around £5m and he's also a Manchester United fan. "They didn't take any notice. Manchester United could have had Maddison four years ago. In saying that there's no guarantee he would have developed the way he did at Norwich and then Leicester." Maddison would have almost certainly been lining up against the Red Devils in the Europa League final later this month, but will miss the clash due to injury. The England international was ruled out for the season after limping off in the first leg of Tottenham's semi-final against Bodo/Glimt, meaning he'll have to catch the action from the stands. "Gutted. Just absolutely gutted," Maddison wrote on social media after learning he'd miss the showpiece. "We've had our sights on that European final in Bilbao from day one of this campaign. So to accept not being able to take part out on that pitch with the boys is really tough to take. "Injuries are just part of this game that can be so cruel at times. But I truly believe that it can be a special night for my football club. Bring on the 21st. All together." Maddison has notched 23 goal contributions in all competitions this season, including 12 goals - the second-best tally of his top-flight career. He's been a bright spark in an otherwise gloomy season for Spurs, who are on course for their worst-ever Premier League finish. The same can be said of Ruben Amorim's United, who are a place and a point above Ange Postecoglou's men in 16th. For both clubs, the Europa League final represents a shot at redemption, but also an unlikely path to Champions League football next season. For Maddison, watching from the sidelines will sting all the more knowing how different things could have been - not just in terms of his fitness, but in terms of an Old Trafford career that could have been but never was. Had United paid attention to McGarry's recommendation all those years ago, the creative spark that's been so often missing in their midfield might have been theirs to harness. Instead, Maddison stands as a living reminder of United's muddled recruitment strategy - an emblem of the talent they've let slip through their fingers during a decade of drift.
