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Sunderland close in on former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka

Sunderland close in on former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka

Glasgow Times3 days ago
The PA news agency understands the Black Cats have agreed personal terms with the 32-year-old former Arsenal skipper and are attempting to thrash out a fee with Erik ten Hag's Bundesliga club.
Switzerland international Xhaka, who began his career at Basel before heading for Borussia Monchengladbach, spent seven years with the Gunners and is well acquainted with England's top flight.
Granit Xhaka won two FA Cups during his seven-year stay at Arsenal (Adam Davy/PA)
He joined Arsenal in a £35million switch from Monchengladbach during the summer of 2016 and made 297 appearances for the club, winning two FA Cups, before returning to Germany with Leverkusen in July 2023.
Xhaka, who has been caped 137 times by his country, won the league title at the end of his first season and made 49 appearances in all competitions, 10 of them in the Champions League, during the last campaign.
A combative player, Xhaka was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy in November 2019 after a heated exchange with home fans at the Emirates Stadium.
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Kilmarnock star ‘flies out for medical' to become latest player to swap Scottish Premiership for Serie A
Kilmarnock star ‘flies out for medical' to become latest player to swap Scottish Premiership for Serie A

Scottish Sun

time12 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Kilmarnock star ‘flies out for medical' to become latest player to swap Scottish Premiership for Serie A

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ITALY's top flight looks set to recruit another Scottish Premiership star. The likes of Lewis Ferguson, Aaron Hickey, Josh Doig and Liam Henderson have all left Scotland and played in Serie A in recent years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Lewis Ferguson won the Coppa Italia with Bologna this year Credit: Alamy 3 Josh Doig won promotion to Serie A with Sassuolo last season Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk Scotland national team stars Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour joined them last season and would go on to win the Scudetto with Napoli. Now according to several reports in Italy, Kilmarnock defender Corrie Ndaba is due to fly out for a medical before completing a transfer to Lecce. The left-back, 25, has two years remaining on his deal at Rugby Park so the Ayrshire club will bank a nice fee for the player if the move follows through as expected. Ndaba joined Kilmarnock last year from Ipswich Town, having previously spent time on loan there. A Republic of Ireland youth international, Ndaba came through the Ipswich youth ranks but never played a competitive league match for the Tractor Boys. He instead had several loans spells, including one at Killie's local rivals, Ayr United. According to Sky Italy, Ndaba will sign a three-year deal with the option of extending for a further two. Ndaba made 38 appearances in all competitions for Killie last season as a key member of the squad under Derek McInnes. He became a fan favourite the year before during his initial loan stint. Ndaba scored once and provided one assist from left-back in the 2024-25 campaign. Rodgers' message to Celtic board, striker woes & huge Champions League risk He had similar stats the previous season, with a single goal and assists across 37 total games. As well as left-back, Ndaba can also play at centre-back or on the left of midfield. Lecce finished three points clear of the drop zone last term and new boss Eusebio Di Francesco has been keen to strengthen his defence. The team conceded 58 goals in 38 league matches. Based in the south of Italy, Lecce currently have former Rangers midfielder Lassana Coulibaly and ex-Aberdeen star Ylber Ramadani on their books. 3 Corrie Ndaba evades Tony Watt of Motherwell when in action for Kilmarnock Credit: Roddy Scott Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Newcastle target £70m Sesko but insist Alexander Isak is not for sale
Newcastle target £70m Sesko but insist Alexander Isak is not for sale

Times

time14 minutes ago

  • Times

Newcastle target £70m Sesko but insist Alexander Isak is not for sale

Newcastle United remain adamant that Alexander Isak is not for sale, despite a breakdown in talks about a new contract and the player's desire to explore possible moves. Senior Newcastle officials are steadfast in their position and maintain that they have not received a bid for the Sweden forward, now the subject of strong interest from the Premier League champions, Liverpool. Newcastle, eager to strengthen and not weaken their squad before a return to the Champions League, are targeting the RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, although it is unclear if they will meet the £70million asking price before the Isak situation is resolved. Leipzig failed to qualify for Europe this season and are thought to be open to a sale. Newcastle have scouted the 22-year-old Slovenia player extensively, with great reports. Newcastle's players have arrived in Singapore, where they will play friendly matches against Arsenal, a K-League XI and Tottenham Hotspur, without the 25-year-old Isak, who has not travelled. Liverpool have privately insisted they will make a move for a forward who scored 27 goals last season only if they are given encouragement by Newcastle. That was certainly not forthcoming on Friday, with Newcastle digging in their heels to repeat the message, from the very top of the club, that the player is not for sale. Contract talks about improving the six-year deal Isak signed when he joined Newcastle for £63million in the summer of 2022 were always planned for this summer. Only then could Newcastle, free of the headlock of the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules, emphatically break their own pay structure, very much on the understanding that Isak deserved that special status and that a substantial pay rise would not unsettle the dressing room. So far that has not been able to tempt Isak or his agent, Vlado Lemic, to extend or improve his contract at St James' Park. The player is holding out for the £300,000-a-week wages he believes he could get at Anfield. The reason given for Isak missing the club's pre-season tour to Asia (a thigh injury) was criticised by Alan Shearer. The Swede had also returned home last weekend instead of being part of Newcastle's squad at Celtic Park and was then pictured training on his own on Monday. A scan on his thigh came back clear. Liverpool have already made one call to Newcastle to inquire about the availability of Isak and were told emphatically that the forward is not for sale. That was 11 days ago but it has so far not deterred them. Newcastle, who have missed out on João Pedro and Hugo Ekitike, faced further frustration when James Trafford, a player they have chased for 12 months and for whom they submitted a £27million bid, joined Manchester City on Friday. Eddie Howe, the Newcastle head coach, has admitted this is becoming an extremely difficult transfer window. Newcastle are also yet to return with an improved bid for the Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, having had a £25million offer turned down during the week. Their only summer recruit so far has been Anthony Elanga, signed from Nottingham Forest for £55million. Newcastle are close to announcing the appointment of David Hopkinson as chief executive and Ross Wilson as sporting director.

Motherwell 1, Hertha Berlin 1: Stamatelopoulos strike forces draw
Motherwell 1, Hertha Berlin 1: Stamatelopoulos strike forces draw

Daily Record

time41 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

Motherwell 1, Hertha Berlin 1: Stamatelopoulos strike forces draw

Jens Berthel Askou's side were given a tough challenge in their last pre-season game Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was the hero as Motherwell forced a draw against 2 Bundesliga giants Hertha Berlin at Fir Park in their final warm-up match of the summer before hosting Rangers here next Saturday. ‌ A Fabian Reese penalty looked like being enough to separate the sides, before Stamatelopoulos struck late on for the Steelmen. ‌ Motherwell had a few forays forward early in the first half, but Hertha took the lead from the spot in nine minutes and dominated the rest of the 45, but without overly testing keeper Callum Ward. ‌ Ward's foul on Jon Thorsteinsson as he darted onto a clumsy pass-back was what led to Reese opening the scoring, and the Germans never really looked back. Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou said this game would give Motherwell a test similar to that which they'll face against the Ibrox side in eight days' time, so it will have been job done. But Motherwell didn't really pose a threat in the first half, which will have concerned the Dane. The second half was much the same, though Motherwell grew into the game more, as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos had a couple of flurries up front, and Lukas Fadinger had their first serious shot on target in 75 minutes. And it was left to Stamatelopoulos to squeeze a shot in at the right post corner with seven minutes left. ‌ Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou kept with the same line-up as their 3-0 win over Morton on Tuesday, and again there was no place in the squad for Lennon Miller, amid mounting speculation. Good news for Well fans was the emergence of goalkeeper Aston Oxborough to the bench, following his pre-season injury. Motherwell carved the first opening in six minutes, but Elliot Watt saw his shot deflected over. But Hertha were awarded a penalty when a clumsy pass-back left goalkeeper Callum Ward with a decision to make, and he upended Jon Thorsteinsson, with referee Nick Walsh immediately pointing to the spot. ‌ Reese stepped up and confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom right corner. That sent the German side flying and Reese was only denied his second of the game moments later by a brilliant defensive block. ‌ Maurice Krattenmacher was sent through on goal by Tjark Ernst's kick-out in 25 minutes, but a well-timed challenge by Paul McGinn shepherded the ball safely back to Watt. Marton Dardai nearly scored direct from a corner on the right in 34 minutes, with Ward forced to claw it out from under his bar. A neat passing move in 41 minutes ended with Reese's rising shot being well saved by Ward. ‌ Deyo Zeefuik's header was well saved from a Diego Demme free kick inside first-half stoppage time. Thorsteinsson should have doubled Hertha's lead in 54 minutes when he was sent through on the left, but fired a low shot inches past the near post. ‌ Oxborough replaced Ward on the hour, but didn't have an awful lot to do. Fadinger had a low shot well saved by Ernst in 75 minutes as Motherwell tried to get back into the game. But Motherwell levelled in 83 minutes when Slattery's cross from the right was squeezed in at the near post by Stamtelopoulos. ‌ MOTHERWELL: Ward (Oxborough, 60), Koutroumbis (O'Donnell, 78), McGinn, Gordon, Longelo, Watt (Halliday, 71), Slattery, Fadinger, Maswanhise, Just (Said, 71), Stamatelopoulos Subs (not used): O'Donnell Booked: Watt (23) HERTHA BERLIN: Ernst, Zeefuik, Leistner, Dardai, Cuisance, Demme, Eitschberger, Krattenmacher (Hildebrandt, 81), Karbownik (Berner, 71), Thorsteinsson, Reese Subs (not used): Smarsch (GK), Ozkanli

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