The Summer Transfer Rumour Round-up Thread

[ian1964 10,761]

Ah!,missed this thread:)

[der Berliner 3,803]

Snatched from FF

 

Alex Gilbey - Colchester United

 

- 21 year old CM for Colchester. Out of contract in the summer and not signing a new one.

 

Rumour seems to be picking up pace that he is moving here. If you take a look through his twitter (https://twitter.com/agilbey8) he has favourited a few interesting tweets recently.

 

Mistley FC ‎@MistleyFc

@agilbey8 going Rangers.

 

A boy on RM posted a thread on their forum too and a few have said the rumours have been doing the rounds about him coming to us for weeks.

 

Ex Colchester boss Kevin Keen (resigned yesterday) also had this to say about him in January.

"Alex Gilbey is a precious jewel for this football club. In my opinion in two or three years he will be a Premier League player," Keen told BBC Essex.

"He's one of the best players in the division and worth a hell of a lot of money to this football club."

Keen continued: "He's learning very quickly, he's fantastic. He's not just a runner, he can score goals, tackle, win headers, he's a real jewel for this football club."

 

Scores in this video (No. 8 for the chaps in Blue ... I think)

 

Alex Gilbey on TM

[ian1964 10,761]

Rangers boss Mark Warburton warns fans to keep it real over transfer targets for next season

 

06:00, 29 Apr 2016

By Craig Swan

 

ENGLISHMAN warns financial constraints may mean missing out on some potential signings and that some players might just not fancy a move to Glasgow.

 

MARK WARBURTON last night called for transfer realism at Rangers.

 

The Ibrox manager is currently working on an intensive recruitment process as he eyes next term’s return to the Premiership.

 

Warburton has a lengthy list of candidates as he searches for around a dozen new faces, but is aware that financial restrictions may force changes in priority targets.

 

He explained: “Someone on radio the other day said they wanted a 6ft 4in centre-half who could head it and kick it and a 6ft 5ins centre forward who could head it in the goal.

 

“If there is someone who is 6ft 5ins, can play sharp one-twos and has good movement, then he is on £200,000 a week in the Premier League.

 

“That’s the fact of it and they make me laugh.

 

“They say you want a box-to-box midfielder who can score 25 goals a season. That’s Frank Lampard.

 

“We are going to lose targets simply because of the fact that club X comes in and pays them three times what we can afford to pay.

 

“If we lose a player because he is being paid three or four times the money, that is it. we can’t compete with that.

 

“They [England] have got access to TV money that Scottish clubs, at the moment, haven’t got access to.

 

“So it is a recognition of that fact and move on.”

 

Warburton himself may be offered better terms by English teams this summer, but he added: “It happens to everyone. I’m not disputing that fact.

 

“But any manager will only get touted for jobs if his players do well, so you’ve almost got a vicious circle.

 

“The players do well, they get linked to other clubs. Then the manager gets told he’s going somewhere.

 

“I was told five guys had me going to one club last week. It was news to me. But that’s just how the game works.

 

“But everyone involved is a working man. If one of our players with two young kids is offered that kind of money, it’s hard for them to say no.

 

“What we have to do, from Rangers’ perspective, if we lose one of our players is to make sure we lose them on our terms, in terms of the transfer fee.”

 

Warburton reckons the club sells itself, with Ibrox stadium and Murray Park training complex enough to convince any new boy to sign.

 

But the Gers boss admits the financial turmoil which sent them plunging down the leagues has made it harder to attract youngsters to Glasgow in the first place.

 

He explained: “There are a generation of young players who grew up thinking of Rangers being in financial trouble and administration.

 

“The hardest job we have got is getting people up here. Once we land them in Glasgow, show them Auchenhowie and show them Ibrox: done.

 

“The hard part is getting them to Glasgow, as bizarre as that might sound, because they have got this impression in their mind.

 

“If they have got English Championship clubs calling for them on more money, then we have got a hard sell.

 

“When we get them here, you can sell it, absolutely sell it.”

 

For Warburton, one obstacle has now been removed in returning to the Premiership.

 

He explained: “It is better now being in the Premier League after the Old Firm game.

 

“The beauty of the 108.7 million TV audience is that it gives Rangers a fantastic stage to show what they are about, the fans and the atmosphere.

 

“It did a world of good for Scottish football, but it helped us in terms of recruitment.

 

“This is what we are about, we want more, there are four of these next season, minimum.

 

“We want more of that, so, hopefully, that really helps with recruitment.”

 

Of course, another barrier not so easily removed is cash. While money swishes around England, it is tight in Scotland.

 

But Warburton has no issue with players knocking him back for better deals elsewhere.

 

He said: “I laugh when supporters talk about so and so being greedy. It is not greed, it is just looking after your family. We have to recognise that.

 

“If we lose out on a signing target, then make sure you have other options. We have to keep fine tuning it, find solutions and find better players.

 

“We will continue to improve our training because we will find tough defences in the future.

 

“But I think we can go into next season full of confidence in our style of play.”

 

Read more at http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-boss-mark-warburton-warns-7856316#KRRMLGMMfi7x77v3.99

[der Berliner 3,803]

I know this is in the other thread too, but has more relevance to this one

 

Rangers’ crisis club reputation hampers bids to sign players

 

Mark Warburton believes his efforts to sign players from England have been hampered by an ongoing perception of Rangers as a club in crisis in the aftermath of their financial collapse in 2012.

 

But the Rangers manager is confident this season’s success in winning promotion to the Premiership and the Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Celtic can finally shed them of that image and persuade higher quality players to sign on at Ibrox this summer.

 

The on-field progress achieved by Warburton in his first season in charge has come in tandem with a more stable environment off the pitch which he hopes will make them more attractive to potential transfer targets.

 

“There are a generation of younger players who have grown up thinking of Rangers being in financial trouble and administration,” said Warburton.

 

“The hardest job we have got is getting them even to come to Glasgow to speak to us, as bizarre as that might sound, because they have got this impression of the club in their minds.

 

“Once we can get them to the training ground and show them Ibrox, then it’s done. But this season, because we were in the Championship, some of them just didn’t want to play here.

 

“They question whether the league here is good enough. If they have got English Championship clubs after them, offering more money, then we have got a hard sell. But once we get them here, we can absolutely sell Rangers to them.

 

“It will be better now that we are going back into the Premiership. It is better after the Old Firm game. The beauty of that massive TV audience was that it gave Rangers a fantastic stage to show what we are about – the fans and the whole atmosphere.

 

“I think it did a world of good for Scottish football but it also helped us in terms of recruitment. We can say ‘this is what we are about, we want more of this and there will be a minimum of four of these Old Firm games next season’. Hopefully that really helps with recruitment.”

 

Warburton, however, recognises that the size of Rangers and their support will not be enough to convince some players to choose them ahead of relatively smaller English clubs with greater financial muscle.

 

“They are working men, don’t forget,” added Warburton. “I laugh when supporters talk about so and so being greedy. He is a working man. If he has got a wife and two kids and is offered ‘X’ in Scotland and three times that down south, what is he going to do?

 

“It is not greed, it is just looking after your family. We have to recognise that. If we lose a player because he is being paid three or four times the money, that is it. We can’t compete with that. They have got access to TV money that Scottish clubs, at the moment, haven’t got access to. So it is a recognition of that fact and move on. We are going to lose targets simply because of the fact that club X comes in and pays them three times what we can afford to pay.”

 

The former Brentford manager also accepts that he and his more successful players could attract interest from some of those bigger-spending English clubs if Rangers continue to progress.

 

“It happens to everyone,” he said. “I’m not disputing that fact. But any manager will only get touted for jobs if his players do well.

 

“So you’ve almost got a vicious circle. The players do well, they get linked to other clubs. Then the manager gets told he’s going somewhere. I was told five guys had me going to one club last week. It was news to me. But that’s just how the game works.

 

“Everyone involved is a working man. If one of our players with two young kids is offered that kind of money, it’s hard for them to say no.

 

“What we have to do, from Rangers’ perspective, if we lose one of our players is to make sure we lose them on our terms, in terms of the transfer fee. And if we lose out on a signing target, then make sure you have other options.”

 

Regardless of the market in which Rangers can afford to trade as they look to strengthen their squad for their return to top flight action, Warburton insists he will not compromise on the type of player he signs or the style of football he has adopted at the club.

 

“Someone on radio the other day said they wanted a 6ft 4in centre half who could head it and kick it and a 6ft 5ins centre forward who could head it in the goal,” he said.

 

“That’s not us and will never be us. As long as we are here, we will never play that way. We will keep playing our way and do what we have to do. We have to keep fine tuning it, find solutions and find better players. We will continue to improve our training, because we will find tough defences in the future. But I think we can go into next season full of confidence in our style of play. Our philosophy won’t change. We just have to be brighter with it and better at it.”

 

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/rangers/rangers-crisis-club-reputation-hampers-bids-to-sign-players-1-4114092

 

What we see here is the image painted - over years - by the "efforts" of the Scottish media and BBC (via BBC Scotland) in partilcular. Of course, "we" caused our downfall to a degree off the park, and no-one is denying that. But for the better part of a year now we are well on the up off the field too, which does not stop the media going on about a club (!) in administration and liquidation in every other article they write. And as the saying goes, some of the dirt thrown at someone clings to him, no matter how little (or true).

[der Berliner 3,803]

Minor blast from the past ...

 

The chap who scored for Atletico Madrid against Bayern in midweek, Saul Niguez, is the younger brother of one Aaron Niguez, who graced our hallowed turf in 2008/9.

[der Berliner 3,803]

Rangers bid for Livingston teen Matthew Knox rejected but are set to return with improved offer

 

06:00, 1 May 2016 By Scott McDermott

 

THE Livingston teen is wanted by a string of top clubs and Rangers have had their initial bid of £75,000 rejected.

 

LIVINGSTON have rejected an initial £75,000 bid from Rangers for teen star Matthew Knox – because they value him at DOUBLE that figure.

 

The 16-year-old is wanted by Mark Warburton after impressing in a Murray Park trial and AGAINST Gers in Livi’s 1-0 Championship win on Tuesday night.

 

Mailsport understands the Ibrox club tabled a first offer worth £75,000 for Knox this week, which includes incentives and add-ons.

 

But Livingston have knocked it back and are holding out for a deal worth £150,000.

 

Rangers are keen to conclude a deal for Knox quickly - with several English clubs also keen on the youngster - and they’re expected to return with an improved bid.

 

He’s already had trials at Manchester United, Liverpool, Spurs, Everton and Nottingham Forest – as well as his stint with Gers.

 

Knox made his debut for Livi in December just four days after his 16th birthday and has made seven appearances in total for David Hopkin’s side.

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/rangers-bid-livingston-teen-matthew-7870095#ieTU4xB6Br4oxQGB.97

 

Before we start debating our offer, we should note that what "Mailsport understands" needs not to be a fact. He looked good enough to offer a fair price and you would hope that we do not exploit Livingston's dire financial straights. But as always in this business, the seller can demand whatever he seems fit, no matter whether it is value for money.

[ian1964 10,761]

Luca Gasparotto to leave Rangers this summer

 

 

https://twitter.com/lucagasparotto3

Edited May 1, 2016 by ian1964

[ian1964 10,761]

From today's Scottish Sun website . . .

 

RANGERS will press ahead with plans to re-sign Dominic Ball for next season.

 

The on-loan Spurs starlet has impressed this season at both centre-back and, latterly, in a defensive midfield role.

 

Mark Warburton is keen to extend his stay at Ibrox, whether it's on another season-loan long or on a permanent basis.

 

The 20-year-old England youth has previously stated that he’s open-minded about another campaign with the Light Blues, after a previous short-term stint with Cambridge United.

 

Ball is highly thought of at White Hart Lane and Spurs want him to get more first-team games.

 

Meanwhile, Gers are also looking to bolster their development squad — with several comings and goings expected this summer.

 

Youth chiefs have run the rule over 18-year-old Leicester City left-back Michael Kelly — who used to play for Aberdeen — and a contract offer could be forthcoming.

 

Kelly has appeared at Under-17 level for Scotland, and it’s a position Rangers are short of numbers in.

 

SunSport also revealed this week that Rangers are likely to seal a deal for in-demand Livingston striker Matthew Knox.

 

There will be a mini clear-out from the second string, headed by 21-year-old centre-back Luca Gasparotto.

 

The Canadian Under-23 cap managed four first-team appearances and caught the eye on loan at Airdrie and, most recently, Morton.

 

Gasparotto has been tipped to move to Falkirk, who are also keen on Hearts pair Sean McKirdy and Liam Henderson.

[MacK1950 2,399]

Would be good to see Ball again next as a bona fide Rangers player if not we should not let Luca go as he no doubt will be able to do a job for us.

[pete 2,499]

Would be good to see Ball again next as a bona fide Rangers player if not we should not let Luca go as he no doubt will be able to do a job for us.

 

I haven't seen Gasparotto very often but the games I saw he was very poor. After watching a season of Wilson we need to get in a few real good defenders.