Major Luuk de jong transfer clue amid Rangers links
The former Newcastle and Barcelona forward did not travel with the rest of his teammates as Peter Bosz's squad headed for their pre-season training camp in Germany.
And the striker's departure from PSV appears to have been all but sealed with his No.9 shirt being taken off him.
Instead, it has been assigned to fellow frontman Ricardo Pepi.
"It's a privilege," the American told ESPN. "Many legends have worn this number at PSV. I'm taking on the challenge of writing my own history.
"There should always be competition. It keeps you sharp and that makes you a better player.
"I don't want to bother him [De Jong] at the moment, because I know he's figuring out what career path he wants to take.
"I'm sure the club has discussed it with him. I trust he'll make the best choice for himself. We've always had good conversations. We have a good relationship."
Rangers have been linked with the experienced forward as Russell Martin continues to shape his squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Jamie Vardy had also been a player heavily touted with a move to Ibrox, however, cold water appears to be have poured over that suggestion.
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
'Fair to lose the plot' - Bob MacIntyre on venting his frustration in The Open
Oban man reckons his chance of winning at Portrush has gone after slipping eight behind Scottie Scheffler Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... It wasn't the day he was hoping for and his frustration was there for all to see as Bob MacIntyre first bounced a club off the ground after hitting his approach at the 14th then clattering his bag with another club following a poor bunker shot at the same hole. 'I think it's fair game to lose the plot every now and again,' said the Oban man afterwards. 'I've lost the plot after both of those shots, a bit of anger came out.' On a day when he was hoping to get closer to Scottie Scheffler after starting out five shots behind the world No 1, MacIntyre ended up slipping further back. Signing for a third-round 70 for a six-under total, he's now eight behind the American heading into the closing circuit in the 150th Open at Royal Portrush. It will take a remarkable turnaround for the Scot to go one better here after finishing runner-up to J.J. Spaun in last month's US Open at Oakmont. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Unless I get off to a hot, hot start, it's probably out the window,' said MacIntyre of his chances of becoming the first Scot since Paul Lawrie in 1999 to lift the Claret Jug. 'If we don't get off to a hot start, it's going to be how high can we finish here. Unless I do have a hot start and I see myself close to the lead and within a few shots, then we'll throw the kitchen sink at it. But, seeing the leaderboard, it's just jogging for position.' Bob MacIntyre reacts to a missed birdie putt on the 12th green on day three of The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush |After a low-key start to the round, the 28-year-old looked to have ignited his day when making an eagle-3 from seven feet at the seventh to move to seven under. One of those shots was immediately given back when taking a bogey from the middle of the fairway at the eighth before he was on the front foot again as a 14-foot birdie putt dropped at the 11th - one of the hardest holes this week albeit playing a bit easier. Three matches ahead, Rory McIlroy raised the loudest roar of the day as he made an eagle at the 13th and, if MacIntyre had managed to match that or even birdied it, then it could have been a different outcome. Having to settle for a par, though, after three-putting set the tone for the frustration that was to follow over the closing stretch. 'Just stops the momentum,' he said of that hole. 'You feel like you're actually gaining, and then, yeah, it was just a day that was so-so.' He reckoned what happened at the 14th had stemmed from a 'wrong decision' on the tee. 'It made the second shot really difficult for a left-handed golfer,' he said of having to try to hold it up in the wind but finding a greenside bunker. 'That bunker is dead,' he added of being left with one aim of just getting it out but hitting it over the other side of the green. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bob MacIntyre walks with caddie Mike Burrow at Royal Portrush |MacIntyre had spoken at the end of last year about trying to close the gap on Scheffler but, along with lots of others, is finding that extremely difficult indeed. 'He's by far the best player in the world,' said the Scot of the man he first came across in the 2017 Walker Cup in Los Angeles. 'I remember at the start of this year asking Mike [Burrow, his caddie] to look at all the stats to see how close we are to No 1 in the world. Mike stopped after a couple of stats checked and he went to No 2 because, when we checked the stats, Scheffler was further ahead of No. 2 in the world than I was at wherever I was, 15, 16 in the world, to No. 2. Yeah, he's an exceptional player, great guy. Yeah, works so hard.' If Scheffler is the man holding the Claret Jug on Sunday night, MacIntyre is determined to finish as close as he possibly can to him. 'When I left here yesterday, I thought beautiful links golf working its magic and I'm sitting on my couch almost in tears because I'm watching flags are limp, guys are spinning it on greens,' he said of Scheffler and the other later starters in the second round getting a rain-softened course. 'That little bit too far back' 'I thought walking away from here last night that I wouldn't be more than three shots back, ended up five shots back from the best player in the world, and it feels like, yes, you can still be in it if something happens, but you just feel that little bit too far back. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I don't know if that had an effect on me what I felt. I was having to push a little bit more, and a couple of mistakes came in early on. Now tomorrow is go out there and finish as high as we can, get as many World Ranking and Ryder Cup points as we can.'
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler marches clear in 153rd Open at Portrush
American on course to become just second top-ranked player after Tiger Woods to lift Claret Jug Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scottie Scheffler marched into a commanding position at the top of the leaderboard in The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Bidding to become just the second current world No 1 after Tiger Woods to be announced as the Champion Golfer of the Year, the 29-year-old sits four shots clear heading into the closing circuit on the County Antrim coast. On a dramatic day, home hero Rory McIlroy thrilled a massive crowd as he made a charge while eagles were being made left, right and centre for a while. By the time the dust settled, though, it seemed though another procession - a victory one in this instance - had been set up for Sunday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scheffler's lead is the largest at this stage since Brian Harman went on to claim the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool two years ago. Having opened with rounds of 68-64-67, he'll become just the seventh player to record four rounds in the 60s if he can add one more. Like Woods in his prime, Scheffler has been a brilliant closer and there is nothing whatsoever to suggest he'll fail to do so here. Scottie Scheffler walks on the 18th green during day three of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush |'I like being out here competing,' said the two-time Masters champion and current PGA champion. 'This is why we work so hard - to have opportunities like this and I'm excited for the challenge of tomorrow. Winning major championships is not an easy task, and I've put myself in a good position. Going into tomorrow I'm going to step up there on the first tee and I'm going to be trying to get the ball in the fairway, and when I get to the second shot I'm going to be trying to get that ball on the green. There's not really too much else going on.' To the delight of the home fans, McIlroy rolled in a monster birdie putt across the first green for a birdie before raising the loudest roar of the entire week when he converted an eagle putt from 56 feet down over two tiers at the par-5 13th. The grand slam winner gave it his all as he signed for a 66 but, despite that, he's heading out in the final round trying to make up five shots on the game's current dominant force and talked about the outcome being 'inevitable' but, at the same time, vowing to push Scheffler as hard as he possibly can. 'Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he's become a fantastic player,' said the world No 1. 'He's improved so much with his putter. Yeah, it's going to be tough to catch him tomorrow if he keeps playing the way he does. But, if I can get out tomorrow and get off to a similar start to what I did today, get the crowd going, hopefully he tails out a couple groups behind me, and you never know. But I just need to go out and play another really good round of golf tomorrow and see what happens.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scheffler shows his class Though he eagled the seventh and made birdies at the eighth and sixth, it was a par save at the 11th on a blemish-free card that probably showed why Scheffler is miles out in front in the Official World Golf Ranking and looks as though he can be the top dog as long as he wants. A pulled approach left him in some thick stuff up on a bank but, after getting it out to nine feet, in went the putt. He also did well to avoid spillage three holes later. 'I think the card could look stress-free, but I had two really nice par saves on the back nine that were key,' he admitted. 'I think anytime you can keep a clean card around a major championship, you're going to be having a pretty good day.' In truth, he rarely has a day day on the golf course, which means that the chasing pack - Li, who is bidding to become the first Asian to win this event, is the closest challenger, one ahead of Fitzpatrick - have their work cut out on the final day of the 2025 men's major season. 'I think it would be silly to say that you can never let your mind wander,' said Scheffler of how he aims to keep his focus. 'But I think most of what I can control is the time I have when we're thinking about the shot and when I'm over the ball, and most of that's just being committed to what I'm doing. I have a picture of what I want to do, and that's what I'm committed to try and make happen.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Home hero Rory McIlroy celebrates an eagle putt on the 12th green during the third round at Royal Portrush |Alongside McIlroy on eight under is newly-crowned Genesis Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup, as well as three-time Alfred Dunhill Links champion Tyrrell Hatton and Harris English, with defending champion Xander Schauffele one further back after posting a 66 to have an outside chance of becoming the first player to retain this title since Woods in 2006. After a best-of-the-day 65, Russell Henley sits on six under along with Bob MacIntyre, the Hojgaard twins - Nicolai and Rasmus - and 2023 winner Brian Harman, with experienced English duo Lee Westwood, who was out in 40 then home in 29, and Justin Rose, who had eight birdies, three bogeys, one double bogey and two shanks in his 68, both on five under. 'Let's be realistic,' said Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, speaking about himself being five back but in general as well of the task facing the chasing pack. 'But, if you get off to a good start, then obviously put a bit of pressure on early doors and hope for the best really. It's clear what I have to do tomorrow.'
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Scottie Scheffler sets up victory procession - The Open field will have to go some to stop march to title
American on course to become just second top-ranked player after Tiger Woods to lift Claret Jug Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As a parade got under way nearby, Scottie Scheffler marched into a commanding position at the top of the leaderboard in The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Bidding to become just the second current world No 1 after Tiger Woods to be announced as the Champion Golfer of the Year, the 29-year-old sits four shots clear heading into the closing circuit on the County Antrim coast. On a dramatic day, home hero Rory McIlroy thrilled a massive crowd as he made a charge while eagles were being made left, right and centre for a while. By the time the dust settled, though, it seemed though another procession - a victory one in this instance - had been set up for Sunday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scheffler's lead is the largest at this stage since Brian Harman went on to claim the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool two years ago. Having opened with rounds of 68-64-67, he'll become just the seventh player to record four rounds in the 60s if he can add one more. Like Woods in his prime, Scheffler has been a brilliant closer and there is nothing whatsoever to suggest he'll fail to do so here. Scottie Scheffler walks on the 18th green during day three of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush |'I like being out here competing,' said the two-time Masters champion and current PGA champion. 'This is why we work so hard - to have opportunities like this and I'm excited for the challenge of tomorrow. Winning major championships is not an easy task, and I've put myself in a good position. Going into tomorrow I'm going to step up there on the first tee and I'm going to be trying to get the ball in the fairway, and when I get to the second shot I'm going to be trying to get that ball on the green. There's not really too much else going on.' To the delight of the home fans, McIlroy rolled in a monster birdie putt across the first green for a birdie before raising the loudest roar of the entire week when he converted an eagle putt from 56 feet down over two tiers at the par-5 13th. The grand slam winner gave it his all as he signed for a 66 but, despite that, he's heading out in the final round trying to make up five shots on the game's current dominant force and talked about the outcome being 'inevitable' but, at the same time, vowing to push Scheffler as hard as he possibly can. 'Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he's become a fantastic player,' said the world No 1. 'He's improved so much with his putter. Yeah, it's going to be tough to catch him tomorrow if he keeps playing the way he does. But, if I can get out tomorrow and get off to a similar start to what I did today, get the crowd going, hopefully he tails out a couple groups behind me, and you never know. But I just need to go out and play another really good round of golf tomorrow and see what happens.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scheffler shows his class Though he eagled the seventh and made birdies at the eighth and sixth, it was a par save at the 11th on a blemish-free card that probably showed why Scheffler is miles out in front in the Official World Golf Ranking and looks as though he can be the top dog as long as he wants. A pulled approach left him in some thick stuff up on a bank but, after getting it out to nine feet, in went the putt. He also did well to avoid spillage three holes later. 'I think the card could look stress-free, but I had two really nice par saves on the back nine that were key,' he admitted. 'I think anytime you can keep a clean card around a major championship, you're going to be having a pretty good day.' In truth, he rarely has a day day on the golf course, which means that the chasing pack - Li, who is bidding to become the first Asian to win this event, is the closest challenger, one ahead of Fitzpatrick - have their work cut out on the final day of the 2025 men's major season. 'I think it would be silly to say that you can never let your mind wander,' said Scheffler of how he aims to keep his focus. 'But I think most of what I can control is the time I have when we're thinking about the shot and when I'm over the ball, and most of that's just being committed to what I'm doing. I have a picture of what I want to do, and that's what I'm committed to try and make happen.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Home hero Rory McIlroy celebrates an eagle putt on the 12th green during the third round at Royal Portrush |Alongside McIlroy on eight under is newly-crowned Genesis Scottish Open champion Chris Gotterup, as well as three-time Alfred Dunhill Links champion Tyrrell Hatton and Harris English, with defending champion Xander Schauffele one further back after posting a 66 to have an outside chance of becoming the first player to retain this title since Woods in 2006. After a best-of-the-day 65, Russell Henley sits on six under along with Bob MacIntyre, the Hojgaard twins - Nicolai and Rasmus - and 2023 winner Brian Harman, with experienced English duo Lee Westwood, who was out in 40 then home in 29, and Justin Rose, who had eight birdies, three bogeys, one double bogey and two shanks in his 68, both on five under. 'Let's be realistic,' said Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, speaking about himself being five back but in general as well of the task facing the chasing pack. 'But, if you get off to a good start, then obviously put a bit of pressure on early doors and hope for the best really. It's clear what I have to do tomorrow.'
