Latest news with #ex-Wolves
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Inside Conor Coady's failed Rangers move as Leicester's reason for BLOCKING transfer to Ibrox revealed
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CONOR COADY was one of Rangers' main transfer targets this summer but he WON'T be heading to Ibrox. Now, some clarity has been offered regarding why the former England international's move to Glasgow failed to materialise. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 2 Rangers missed out on Conor Coady Credit: Getty 2 Russell Martin wanted to bring Coady to the Light Blues Credit: PA Coady, 32, joined Wrexham from Leicester in a £2million deal last week. The transfer brought to an end weeks of speculation surrounding a switch to Rangers for the ex-Wolves captain. Coady had been with Leicester since 2023 and had been widely expected to move on this summer following the club's relegation back to the Championship. He emerged as a major transfer target for new Gers boss Russell Martin. The suggestion, too, was that Coady himself was keen on the move to Ibrox. But as the weeks went on, there was no agreement to be found despite it appearing close at one stage. Now, of course, a move for Coady is completely off the table with the centre-back having officially gone elsewhere. But why did the move to Rangers NOT happen? Well, a Sky Sports report has shed some light on Leicester's thinking. In short, reporter Rob Dorsett says that 'Leicester will sell no one on the cheap.' Billy Dodds on returning to Rangers under Barry Ferguson, defeating Mourinho & ending Celtic Park hoodoo Dorsett claims that Coady was under the impression he would be able to leave Leicester for FREE in order to get him off of the wage bill. The Sky report says that the Foxes then 'dug their heels in and said no to a free transfer to Rangers.' They were then able to get £2m for the defender. Rangers, meanwhile, have signed nine new players this summer. That includes two new centre-backs in Nasser Djiga and Emmanuel Fernandez. Wolves loanee Djiga has already proved himself a solid acquisition, earning several plaudits for his performance against Viktoria Plzen last night. The most recent signing, Oliver Antman, also impressed in the Champions League victory having made his debut from the start just a day after signing for the club. Have YOU got a point for Kris Boyd? Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah chew over the big talking points each week SOMETHING you've just got to get off your chest from the weekend action? A burning Scottish football talking point you can't wait to bring up with Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah? SunSport's GoBallistic show wants to hear from you! So why not help set the Scottish football agenda for the week ahead! Have your say on the game's big topics by emailing us on: GoBallistic@ It's YOUR turn to Go Ballistic! Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Benjamin Sesko's Man Utd or Newcastle call shouldn't boil down to manager 'reservations'
An ex-Premier League chairman has urged Benjamin Sesko to sign for Newcastle United over Ruben Amorim's Manchester United, despite having reservations over Magpies boss Eddie Howe in the past Simon Jordan has told Benjamin Sesko to head to St James' Park over Old Trafford, stating the RB Leipzig striker will have "less scrutiny" playing under Eddie Howe than Ruben Amorim. The former Crystal Palace chairman admits he had "reservations in the past" over the Newcastle manager, but he now believes the Carabao Cup winners are the right team for Sesko to thrive in. Newcastle and Manchester United are locked in a transfer battle to sign the 22-year-old. The two sides have submitted big bids to bring Sesko to their respective clubs. The Magpies struck first with a rejected offer before coming back with an improved proposal worth £70million plus add-ons. However, the Red Devils have lodged a bid of their own worth £65.1m plus a further £8.7m in add-ons, and a final decision from the Slovenian international looks to be imminent. Jordan appeared on talkSPORT to discuss the choice Sesko faces, admitting that if money weren't an issue, then Newcastle should be his prime destination. "If I were in his shoes, if the economics of the deal were that I wasn't being compromised financially by going to Newcastle over Manchester United, I think it's a great move," Jordan said, before he went on to discuss the former Bournemouth boss. "I think Eddie Howe is a brilliant manager – I had my reservations about him in the past – I've had conversations already. I like him very much, and I think he's done a brilliant job. "So I would be looking at Newcastle rather than Man United." Jordan went on to note that everything Sesko does would be looked at under a microscope when playing under Amorim at United, whereas he would have more freedom to grow while developing under Howe. Jordan added: "I think because Newcastle comes with expectation, but doesn't come with the same pressure that Man United comes from. "Whilst people focus on Newcastle, they focus on it because Newcastle makes a lot of noise, because it's a very passionate football club and the fans are very motivated by it. It doesn't have the day-to-day scrutiny that Man United has. "It doesn't matter what happens, you can fart in the corridor of Man United – that's heard around the world. It's not the same at Newcastle." United are reportedly confident that Sesko will be heading to the north west of England to add to their attacking line, having secured the signatures of Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo and ex-Wolves man Matheus Cunha already this summer. Sesko, though, is considered a ready replacement at Newcastle for Alexander Isak, whose form has understandably caught the attention of Premier League champions Liverpool. The Reds have already submitted a £110m bid for the Swede – which has been rejected – but Howe looks destined to sell the wantaway star should the Magpies first land Sesko. The Red Devils are in yet another period of transition. In November 2024, they appointed former Sporting CP boss Amorim to help the club compete back in the European places of the Premier League, but another disappointing campaign last season saw them ultimately finish in 15th and without a trophy. Meanwhile, Newcastle are on the up after securing their first piece of silverware in 70 years in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. They finished fifth last year in the Premier League and are set to compete in the Champions League once again this season. Meanwhile, United will be without European football this campaign after losing the Europa League final 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur. All of these things may well factor into Sesko's decision to pick black and white or Manchester red, with both sets of fans eagerly awaiting to see his choice made soon. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
The Irish Sun
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Chelsea files: Blues must admit defeat and take huge hit on Joao Felix as wonderkid, 16, gives Maresca happy dilemma
CHELSEA are facing up to taking a big hit on Joao Felix. Reports in Portugal say Benfica are ready to step up efforts to bring Advertisement 7 Chelsea are likely to take a massive financial hit on Joao Felix Credit: Getty 7 Enzo Maresca may have some more huge decisions on his hands this summer Credit: Getty But the Portuguese side are not in so much of a hurry to get a deal done that they are willing to pay the Although Benfica would love to have Felix in place in time for the Super Cup game against champions Sporting next week, they are prepared to wait. With potential bidders from Saudi Arabia not yet making a move for Felix, Benfica reckon they could be the only game in town if Chelsea want to get him off their books. Benfica will probably have to increase their last offer, which was about £17.3m in cash plus giving the Blues also half the fee from any future transfer. Advertisement READ MORE SPORT STORIES But it will be very hard to persuade anyone to match Felix's current value on the Chelsea books, a year after they agreed to pay Atletico an initial £38.2m. The former wonderkid hardly set the world alight in his initial spell on loan at Stamford Bridge in the 2022-23 season. And Felix only rejoined Chelsea from Atletico last summer as an emergency bit of financial shenanigans. Conor Gallagher's £34m transfer in the other direction - which was crucial to the Blues meeting Premier League financial rules - was in danger of collapse before they agreed to buy Felix from Madrid. Advertisement Most read in Football CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS He soon became surplus to requirements again and was shipped out to AC Milan for the second half of the season. Felix did little in Italy to enhance his value and fading reputation. Man Utd eyeing shock Nicolas Jackson swoop Yet Benfica want to reunite him with ex-Wolves boss Bruno Lage, who is back at the club for a second spell in charge and won the league with a teenage Felix as a star player in 2018-19. Advertisement Unless a Saudi side or another club with more money than sense emerges, Chelsea may have to admit defeat and focus on getting top dollar for their other misfits. LOAN RANGERS CHELSEA are also going to have to be cute about how they play the loan system again. The Blues sent TWENTY different pros out on temporary deals during the course of last season. Fifa rules say clubs can only have a maximum of six players out on loan and six players in at any one time - but players aged 21 and under and those who have spent three years in the club's Academy between 15 and 21 are exempt. Advertisement At the end of 2024-25, 16 Chelsea players were out on loan but they all met the terms of the exemption, except Felix, Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben Chilwell, and Djordje Petrovic. The Blues have focused on recruiting young talent and use the loan system to test the players' mettle. If they return good enough for the first team, great; if not, but they do well enough for other clubs to pay good money for them, also great. 7 Djordje Petrovic is a success story of Chelsea's cute loan policy Credit: Getty Sending goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic to sister club Strasbourg last season worked a treat and the Ligue 1 side will be key to the strategy again. Advertisement Petrovic was impressive as the Ligue 1 side qualified for Europe and the Blues were able to sell him to Bournemouth last week for £25m, which represented a tidy profit. Young Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos also had a good year with Strasbourg and could find himself in Enzo Maresca's first-team plans. For the coming campaign, it seems keeper Mike Penders, defender Mamadou Sarr and attacking midfielder Kendry Paez - all under 21 - will go to Strasbourg. Chelsea would love to get fees for all the players who don't have a future at Stamford Bridge, but at least some of them are likely to end up on loan again. Advertisement 7 ACADEMY BLUES THE average age of a starting XI player for Chelsea in the Premier League last season was 24 years and 36 days - the youngest in the competition's history. But the path from the club's Academy itself to the first team won't be as straightforward as it was last season. The quality of opposition in the Conference League gave Enzo Maresca the ability to run two squads, one for the PL and one for Europe. Advertisement No fewer than eight Academy graduates made their debuts in the competition, including In the coming season, the demands of the Champions League will give less room for youthful experimentation. Most of the 22-strong squad that contested last Saturday's friendly defeat at League Two Bromley will be eligible for the Uefa Youth League, which is for Under-19 players. Chelsea will also compete in the FA Youth Cup and Under-21 Premier League 2 competition. Advertisement But in terms of first-team exposure, all but the very best young players are likely to be seen only in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. It will be a different challenge for them, Maresca and the Academy staff. 7 Reggie Walsh and his fellow youngsters may find their game-time limited in 2025-26 Credit: Alamy LIGHTNING McQUEEN RYAN KAVUMA-McQUEEN caught the eye in the game at Bromley. Advertisement The left winger, 16, scored the opening goal with a Thierry Henry-style first-time finish across home goalkeeper Grant Smith. And after the League Two side scored twice, Kavuma-McQueen would have grabbed a brilliant equaliser but for Smith's fine save. The England Under-16 international really has a bit about him. As well as showing off his pace and skill going forward, he was more than happy to do defensive work and kick some of the grown men playing for Bromley in the air when required. Advertisement Outside of a friendly, Kavuma-McQueen might have been booked. But in his 45 minutes on the field - before U21 boss Filipe Coelho made wholesale changes at the break - he showed why he is among the most exciting prospects at Cobham. Kavuma-McQueen, who joined the club at Under-8s level, was one of 16 players to sign scholar contracts last week. But he is on the fast track, having starred for the U18 team last season and scored for the U21 side against Manchester United and Ipswich. Watch out, too, for Landon Emenalo, son of former Chelsea director of football Michael Emenalo. Advertisement The midfielder, 17, has very good feet and excellent awareness for a player his age. He showed his versatility by playing centre back for the U21s last season and was on the bench for the first team's Conference League quarter final second leg against Legia Warsaw. 7 Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is earmarked as a future Chelsea first-team star Credit: Getty HAMMER BLOW WEST HAM have nabbed another recruitment figure from Stamford Bridge. After former Blues boss Graham Potter was appointed at the London Stadium in January, the Hammers moved quickly to appoint his close ally Kyle Macaulay as head of recruitment. Advertisement Now, senior scout Simon Gillett has made the switch from West to East London. Gillett, a former Southampton and Nottingham Forest player, has been with Chelsea for six years, having joined from Bournemouth in 2019. The ex-midfielder has been working as a positional scout for the Blues but will now join a growing recruitment overhaul at West Ham. Chelsea are doing some of their own hiring when it comes to staff, however. Advertisement The Club World Cup winners have appointed Calum McFarlane from Southampton as the new Under-18s assistant coach. 7 Chelsea fans have a new pub option for game days - a Wetherspoons built in the former entrance hall to Fulham Broadway station Credit: Market hall SPOONS-FED A DOWNSIDE of being a match-going Chelsea fan is the lack of places near Stamford Bridge to get a drink or two without having to take out a second mortgage. So the newly-opened pub in the Grade 2 listed building that was once the entrance hall and ticket office at Fulham Broadway station, will provide a cheaper option. Advertisement The Walham Green Wetherspoons branch is bound to be popular. But not too popular, the club will hope, after revamping its own alcohol offering for the new season. Chelsea 2025/26 Home Kit: Available Now! *If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue. Step into the future with the Available in a range of sizes for adults and children, ensuring fans of all ages can show their support in style . £64.99 Celebrate the Blues and wear your pride for the city –
Scottish Sun
22-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Chelsea files: Blues must admit defeat and take huge hit on Joao Felix as wonderkid, 16, gives Maresca happy dilemma
Find out why Chelsea's young talents may be in for a rough season YA BLUE IT Chelsea files: Blues must admit defeat and take huge hit on Joao Felix as wonderkid, 16, gives Maresca happy dilemma Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHELSEA are facing up to taking a big hit on Joao Felix. Reports in Portugal say Benfica are ready to step up efforts to bring Felix, 25, back to the Estadio da Luz six years after his £113million departure to Atletico Madrid. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Chelsea are likely to take a massive financial hit on Joao Felix Credit: Getty 7 Enzo Maresca may have some more huge decisions on his hands this summer Credit: Getty But the Portuguese side are not in so much of a hurry to get a deal done that they are willing to pay the Blues anything near the £35m they are said to want for two-time Stamford Bridge flop. Although Benfica would love to have Felix in place in time for the Super Cup game against champions Sporting next week, they are prepared to wait. With potential bidders from Saudi Arabia not yet making a move for Felix, Benfica reckon they could be the only game in town if Chelsea want to get him off their books. Benfica will probably have to increase their last offer, which was about £17.3m in cash plus giving the Blues also half the fee from any future transfer. READ MORE SPORT STORIES OUT OF THE BLUE Chelsea flop set for immediate transfer after having his contract ripped up But it will be very hard to persuade anyone to match Felix's current value on the Chelsea books, a year after they agreed to pay Atletico an initial £38.2m. The former wonderkid hardly set the world alight in his initial spell on loan at Stamford Bridge in the 2022-23 season. And Felix only rejoined Chelsea from Atletico last summer as an emergency bit of financial shenanigans. Conor Gallagher's £34m transfer in the other direction - which was crucial to the Blues meeting Premier League financial rules - was in danger of collapse before they agreed to buy Felix from Madrid. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS He soon became surplus to requirements again and was shipped out to AC Milan for the second half of the season. Felix did little in Italy to enhance his value and fading reputation. Man Utd eyeing shock Nicolas Jackson swoop Yet Benfica want to reunite him with ex-Wolves boss Bruno Lage, who is back at the club for a second spell in charge and won the league with a teenage Felix as a star player in 2018-19. Unless a Saudi side or another club with more money than sense emerges, Chelsea may have to admit defeat and focus on getting top dollar for their other misfits. LOAN RANGERS CHELSEA are also going to have to be cute about how they play the loan system again. The Blues sent TWENTY different pros out on temporary deals during the course of last season. Fifa rules say clubs can only have a maximum of six players out on loan and six players in at any one time - but players aged 21 and under and those who have spent three years in the club's Academy between 15 and 21 are exempt. At the end of 2024-25, 16 Chelsea players were out on loan but they all met the terms of the exemption, except Felix, Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben Chilwell, and Djordje Petrovic. The Blues have focused on recruiting young talent and use the loan system to test the players' mettle. If they return good enough for the first team, great; if not, but they do well enough for other clubs to pay good money for them, also great. 7 Djordje Petrovic is a success story of Chelsea's cute loan policy Credit: Getty Sending goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic to sister club Strasbourg last season worked a treat and the Ligue 1 side will be key to the strategy again. Petrovic was impressive as the Ligue 1 side qualified for Europe and the Blues were able to sell him to Bournemouth last week for £25m, which represented a tidy profit. Young Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos also had a good year with Strasbourg and could find himself in Enzo Maresca's first-team plans. For the coming campaign, it seems keeper Mike Penders, defender Mamadou Sarr and attacking midfielder Kendry Paez - all under 21 - will go to Strasbourg. Chelsea would love to get fees for all the players who don't have a future at Stamford Bridge, but at least some of them are likely to end up on loan again. 7 ACADEMY BLUES THE average age of a starting XI player for Chelsea in the Premier League last season was 24 years and 36 days - the youngest in the competition's history. But the path from the club's Academy itself to the first team won't be as straightforward as it was last season. The quality of opposition in the Conference League gave Enzo Maresca the ability to run two squads, one for the PL and one for Europe. No fewer than eight Academy graduates made their debuts in the competition, including Reggie Walsh, who - at 16 years and 200 days - became the youngest Chelsea player ever to start a European game when he played in the second leg of the semi final against Djurgardens. In the coming season, the demands of the Champions League will give less room for youthful experimentation. Most of the 22-strong squad that contested last Saturday's friendly defeat at League Two Bromley will be eligible for the Uefa Youth League, which is for Under-19 players. Chelsea will also compete in the FA Youth Cup and Under-21 Premier League 2 competition. But in terms of first-team exposure, all but the very best young players are likely to be seen only in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. It will be a different challenge for them, Maresca and the Academy staff. 7 Reggie Walsh and his fellow youngsters may find their game-time limited in 2025-26 Credit: Alamy LIGHTNING McQUEEN RYAN KAVUMA-McQUEEN caught the eye in the game at Bromley. The left winger, 16, scored the opening goal with a Thierry Henry-style first-time finish across home goalkeeper Grant Smith. And after the League Two side scored twice, Kavuma-McQueen would have grabbed a brilliant equaliser but for Smith's fine save. The England Under-16 international really has a bit about him. As well as showing off his pace and skill going forward, he was more than happy to do defensive work and kick some of the grown men playing for Bromley in the air when required. Outside of a friendly, Kavuma-McQueen might have been booked. But in his 45 minutes on the field - before U21 boss Filipe Coelho made wholesale changes at the break - he showed why he is among the most exciting prospects at Cobham. Kavuma-McQueen, who joined the club at Under-8s level, was one of 16 players to sign scholar contracts last week. But he is on the fast track, having starred for the U18 team last season and scored for the U21 side against Manchester United and Ipswich. Watch out, too, for Landon Emenalo, son of former Chelsea director of football Michael Emenalo. The midfielder, 17, has very good feet and excellent awareness for a player his age. He showed his versatility by playing centre back for the U21s last season and was on the bench for the first team's Conference League quarter final second leg against Legia Warsaw. 7 Ryan Kavuma-McQueen is earmarked as a future Chelsea first-team star Credit: Getty HAMMER BLOW WEST HAM have nabbed another recruitment figure from Stamford Bridge. After former Blues boss Graham Potter was appointed at the London Stadium in January, the Hammers moved quickly to appoint his close ally Kyle Macaulay as head of recruitment. Now, senior scout Simon Gillett has made the switch from West to East London. Gillett, a former Southampton and Nottingham Forest player, has been with Chelsea for six years, having joined from Bournemouth in 2019. The ex-midfielder has been working as a positional scout for the Blues but will now join a growing recruitment overhaul at West Ham. Chelsea are doing some of their own hiring when it comes to staff, however. The Club World Cup winners have appointed Calum McFarlane from Southampton as the new Under-18s assistant coach. 7 Chelsea fans have a new pub option for game days - a Wetherspoons built in the former entrance hall to Fulham Broadway station Credit: Market hall SPOONS-FED A DOWNSIDE of being a match-going Chelsea fan is the lack of places near Stamford Bridge to get a drink or two without having to take out a second mortgage. So the newly-opened pub in the Grade 2 listed building that was once the entrance hall and ticket office at Fulham Broadway station, will provide a cheaper option. The Walham Green Wetherspoons branch is bound to be popular. But not too popular, the club will hope, after revamping its own alcohol offering for the new season.
Scottish Sun
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Conor Coady deals Rangers major transfer setback on eve of Champions League squad announcement
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS boss Russell Martin will have to confirm his squad for the Champions League showdown with Panathinaikos on Thursday night. And it's pretty much a given that Conor Coady will NOT be a name on that list. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Conor Coady is a player who Rangers would like to sign Credit: Getty 3 Coady was briefly spotted boarding Leicester's plane Credit: INSTAGRAM/@LCFC 3 Eagle-eyed fans had previously spotted him in this clip Credit: INSTAGRAM/@LCFC Rangers face the Greek giants in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie at Ibrox on Tuesday. Before that, Gers head coach Martin has until midnight on Thursday to confirm his squad of players for the two-legged tie. He's added seven new faces to the squad this summer, with Djeidi Gassama becoming the latest of those earlier this week. But one player who Martin has NOT been able to land so far is Conor Coady. The former England international is currently with Leicester City and he emerged as a target for the Gers earlier this summer. The ex-Wolves captain, 32, IS a player Martin would like to have at Ibrox. But on the eve of the Champions League squad confirmation, there's been a development in Coady's situation. Reports had suggested that the defender was hoping to be excluded from the travelling Leicester squad flying out for a pre-season camp in Austria. But eagle-eyed punters spotted that Coady was indeed ON the flight to Vienna when Leicester posted clips of the players boarding the plane. In what was already a race against time to get Coady - or anyone else for that matter - registered by Thursday night, it now seems an impossibility barring a frantic day of activity. Rangers boss Russell Martin opens up on transfer plans as he delivers updates on Dessers and Igamane All is not lost, however. Rangers will be able to register two more players AFTER the squad deadline has passed. Uefa rules state that two late additions can be added up to 24 hours before kick-off, meaning they have until Monday night to get Coady or anyone else included. Rangers have added two central defenders this summer with Manny Fernandez and Nasser Djiga signing-up. But in a major injury blow, the Light Blues could be WITHOUT another key summer acquisition against Panathinaikos. SunSport exclusively revealed that Thelo Aasgaard is a major doubt for the big game. The £3.5million signing will undergo scans after being hurt in the behind closed doors win over Dunfermline. The 23-year old, signed from Luton, would've been a certain starter in the seismic clash. He started in a strong Gers XI against the Pars in a 4-1 win for Russell Martin's men. Aasgaard now faces a big race against time to be ready for action. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
