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Daily Record
a minute ago
- Daily Record
Jimmy Thelin on Aberdeen lessons as Ipswich named 'the level we are aiming to'
The Scottish Cup holders rounded off their pre-season with defeat the Championship side Jimmy Thelin has insisted the challenge of Ipswich Town and Fulham will help get his new-look Aberdeen squad ready for the new season. The Scottish Cup holders finished off their pre-season campaign with a 3-1 home defeat to Ipswich and lost to the Cottagers in a closed door friendly. Thelin knows it is still early doors and it is all about peaking for Monday's trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts. The Swede said: 'We are ready for the season to start and looking forward to it. We're fully ready for the first game. 'Our opponents tonight are the level we are aiming to, you want to push yourself and learn as a team. 'Both of the games, Fulham and now Ipswich, were good for us to play. 'We wanted opponents with extra intensity, speed of the game and teams who will punish you. 'Some parts were good, but when these teams break against you with their speed and decision-making you get punished. 'So it was good for us because we will learn from this. We tried to be compact but we still have things to adjust.' You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Celtic community here.
Daily Mirror
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Ollie Watkins' telling exit comment as Man Utd add Aston Villa star to three-man wishlist
Manchester United have expressed an interest in Ollie Watkins but Aston Villa insist their player isn't for sale, even though the Englishman has made it clear he will not accept a squad role Ollie Watkins has made it clear he will never be one of those players who his "happy to sit on the bench" after Aston Villa rejected an advance from Manchester United to land the striker. The Red Devils are on the lookout for a No 9 and have shortlisted three players with the England international among them. Villa signed Watkins several years ago after he impressed in the Championship and he's since proven himself in the Premier League. Villa, who lost Jhon Duran back in January, have made it known that they have no interest in selling their forward despite interest from those on the red half of Manchester. Watkins will hope to return to the club's first choice striker after a difficult few months to end the season. Ironically it was the loan arrival of Marcus Rashford from United that saw Watkins' playing time suffer as a result. Rashford has since left and joined Barcelona on loan, but it means Watkins will face less competition as things stand. Last term Villa enjoyed a run to the last eight of the Champions League, beating Club Brugge, before running PSG close in the quarter-finals. For that tie Unai Emery opted for Rashford over Watkins - which was not well received. The ex-Brentford striker made it clear that was not a role he wanted. Watkins said last season: "He's the manager at the end of the day and you've got to respect his decision, but I'm not one of those players that's happy to sit on the bench. I was fuming I wasn't playing and I let him know that." Emery also had Marco Asensio as a loanee for the second part of the season, but he and Rashford have since left. Villa are yet to make any major attacking additions this summer and the Spanish manager has rejected the prospect of Watkins leaving with Arsenal keen on him back in January. Emery said: "I don't want (to sell Watkins). It is good news to have offers from other clubs. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad." He also maintained: "Watkins is our striker." United are also thought to have considered moves for PSG's Randal Kolo Muani and Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic. Ruben Amorim though has claimed that he would be happy to go on with his squad as it stands, claiming: "If I start the season with this squad I will be happy."
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Wrexham ‘make ambitious approach' for former Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen
Wrexham have made an approach for Christian Eriksen, according to the former Manchester United midfielder's agent. The 33-year-old Denmark international is without a club after his contract with United expired at the end of the 2024-25 season. And now the Championship newcomers have reportedly made an ambitious proposal to sign him. Eriksen's agent Martin Schoots told the Daily Mail: 'Wrexham are really upgrading everything both on and off the field, and it is a hugely impressive project, as you can see from the presence of people like (chief executive) Michael Williamson there. 'But Christian still wants to play in a first-tier competition and he absolutely wants to stay in Western Europe. 'There are some contacts going on but it has to suit both sides.' Signing Eriksen, who has won 144 caps for Denmark and has also played for Tottenham and Brentford in the Premier League, would be a major statement of Wrexham's Championship intent. Eriksen made 35 appearances in all competitions for United – scoring five goals – and has also played for Ajax and Inter Milan in his distinguished career. Wrexham's Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have showed plenty of ambition ahead of the Red Dragons' return to the second tier of English football after a 43-year absence. They have already added Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward, left-back Liberato Cacace, midfielders Lewis O'Brien and George Thomason and forwards Josh Windass and Ryan Hardie to their ranks after a third consecutive promotion. It has been reported that Wrexham, who begin their Championship campaign at Southampton on August 9, have broken their transfer record twice this summer.
