pre-season

Scott Wright sees Rangers transfer exit route emerge as Sheffield Wednesday make their signing pitch

30/06/2024 Raymond 0

Sheffield Wednesday has shown interest in acquiring Rangers winger Scott Wright, who has a year left on his contract. The 26-year-old has caught the eye of Wednesday’s manager, Danny Rohl, who is eager to bring him to the Championship side. Wright, who joined Rangers in 2021 and played in the Europa League Final against Eintracht Frankfurt, has found it difficult to secure a regular spot under manager Philippe Clement. With Clement planning significant changes and already adding five new players to the squad, Wright’s future at Ibrox is uncertain. Sheffield Wednesday hopes to finalize a deal for Wright before the new season starts.

Manager Philippe Clement discussed his vision for the team, emphasizing the importance of a balanced squad with both young talents and experienced players. He highlighted the recent departures and the need to integrate new signings quickly. Clement expressed excitement about the upcoming pre-season and the opportunity to instill the team’s principles in the new players, despite the challenges of managing a larger squad. He stressed the collective motivation of the players and staff to perform well from the outset, ready to tackle nine top games in the first four weeks of the season.

Sheffield Wednesday arrowing in on more signings as Danny Röhl stresses importance

29/06/2024 Raymond 0

Manager Danny Röhl emphasized that Sheffield Wednesday’s recent tally of four new signings is merely the beginning of their ambitious plans. The team reported back to Middlewood Road on Friday for the first time since their impressive survival at Sunderland in early May. Röhl, speaking to the club’s media team, discussed the summer’s progress and stressed the importance of continuing their recruitment efforts. He mentioned a crucial meeting with the chairman in London to discuss the new season and outline the next steps, including friendly games and pre-season camps. Röhl highlighted the challenge of improving the squad following the departure of several players, underscoring the need to keep progressing with their new signings.

Reflecting on past games and performance metrics, Röhl and his team have identified areas for improvement and incorporated these into the pre-season schedule. He reiterated the importance of maintaining a winning mindset and high-performance culture during pre-season, a crucial period for focused development. Röhl expressed a desire for the team to play bold, entertaining football that would deliver positive results and engage fans. He emphasized the need for the team to exceed last season’s efforts to continue the club’s progression, demanding forward movement with intensity and determination.

Stoke City injury blow as midfielder ruled out for four months

27/06/2024 Raymond 0

Ben Pearson, Stoke City’s 29-year-old midfielder, faces a four-month recovery period following surgery for a persistent hamstring injury. Initially hoping to avoid surgery, Pearson ultimately required the procedure, which will likely see him miss the first ten games of the season and all pre-season preparations. Pearson, who joined Stoke permanently last summer from Bournemouth for a fee under £500,000, had a challenging season plagued by injuries, limiting his league appearances to 22.

Steven Schumacher, expressing his frustration, noted that Pearson had been working with the club’s physios all summer, but an undiagnosed hamstring issue necessitated the surgery. Schumacher remains hopeful for Pearson’s recovery and emphasized the importance of focusing on rehabilitation. Despite Pearson’s absence, Stoke City boasts a robust midfield lineup, including Josh Laurent, Wouter Burger, and emerging talent Sol Sidibe. Recent signings like Viktor Johansson and Eric Bocat further strengthen the squad. Schumacher remains pragmatic, urging Pearson to concentrate on his rehab to ensure a strong comeback.

Stoke City starting XI for next season as Steven Schumacher gets early business done

09/06/2024 Raymond 0

Stoke City has bid farewell to five key players from their starting lineup, determined to promptly fill these gaps. Goalkeeper Daniel Iversen, right-back Ki-Jana Hoever, center-half Luke McNally, and attacking midfielder Luke Cundle have all returned to their parent clubs after their loan spells, while striker Tyrese Campbell departs at the end of his contract.

Junior Tchamadeu is set to replace Hoever, with Lynden Gooch providing competition. Seventeen-year-old Sol Sidibe, recently called up to England’s under-18 team, is expected to be a major part of the first team squad during pre-season, potentially sharing minutes with midfielders Jordan Thompson, Wouter Burger, Josh Laurent, Ben Pearson, and Lewis Baker. Viktor Johansson has joined as the new number one goalkeeper from Rotherham United.

In defense, Ben Gibson joins Michael Rose and Ben Wilmot. Left-back Enda Stevens has extended his contract, but given his injury history, additional cover may be sought. The center-forward position remains a top priority, with Ryan Mmaee and Niall Ennis eager to prove themselves, and youngsters Emre Tezgel and Nathan Lowe aiming to catch the coach’s attention.

The transfer window remains open, and Stoke City expects further player movements, both in and out, marking a proactive shift from the previous year’s unsettled pre-season.

Ex-Arsenal, Liverpool, Sunderland and Rangers man an option for Sheffield Wednesday – has trained at club

28/05/2024 Raymond 0

According to The Star, Sheffield Wednesday is considering a former Arsenal and Liverpool youth player as a potential transfer option for the summer. The Owls are preparing for a busy transfer window after successfully securing their spot in the Championship under dramatic circumstances. With manager Danny Röhl having extended his contract, the club is now focusing on bringing in new players before the pre-season starts.

The Star reports that free agent Ovie Ejaria is of interest to Sheffield Wednesday, having trained with the team towards the end of their recent campaign. Although he couldn’t be registered in time, the 26-year-old midfielder could be a signing target for the 2024/25 season.

Tottenham Hotspur set for double Harry Kane reunion

20/05/2024 Raymond 0

Tottenham Hotspur are scheduled to play Bayern Munich twice within a week following the announcement of an additional friendly match. Earlier today, Tottenham confirmed they will face the Bundesliga champions in South Korea as part of the Coupang Play Series 2024, a set of pre-season games featuring top clubs from Europe and Korea. Heung-min Son, leading Tottenham in his home country for the first time since becoming club captain last summer, will play at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Saturday, August 3rd.

Tottenham had already announced a match against Bayern Munich at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, August 10th, as part of the Malta Cup. This doubleheader could see Tottenham encounter their former star, Harry Kane, twice in one week for the first time since his transfer. Kane, Tottenham’s record scorer, left the club last summer to join Bayern in an £86.4 million deal plus add-ons, after scoring 280 goals in 435 appearances for Spurs.