The Summer Transfer Rumour Round-up Thread

[Frankie 8,531]

Guess they are waiting on Europe or is it we don't want to announce pre cup final and disturb the current players focus?

 

I'd guess Europe but focus may well be an argument when we have so many players leaving.

[MacK1950 2,357]

If Nino is half as good as our last Croatian (Dado) he will be welcome.

[buster. 5,100]

I'd guess Europe but focus may well be an argument when we have so many players leaving.

 

The difference Europe would make is that MW has already stated the need for '1 or 2 more' if we were to qualify. Perhaps players with experience such as some linked these past few days.

 

However qualifying for Europe may actually mean we play the same number of or less games because we wouldn't play the 4 LC group games.

We'd be unseeded in the first Euro qualifier and we'd have quite a few new players to bed-in quickly so there would be no guarrantee of progress.

Edited May 16, 2016 by buster.

[MacK1950 2,357]

My big worry is that all rumours seem to centre on midfielders and forwards,we urgently need full back cover as it is severely lacking in the player pool.

[buster. 5,100]

My big worry is that all rumours seem to centre on midfielders and forwards,we urgently need full back cover as it is severely lacking in the player pool.

 

1. 2015/16 isn't yet finished

 

2. No Speculation doesn't mean it isn't happening

[Maxdazzy 0]

Also hoping to have a Q&A with a linked player's agent later this week.

 

If you have any questions you'd like to ask such a person, please post them.

 

Keep an eye on the site for this.

 

Did Mark Warburtons sizzle reel that included big games like the recent Old Firm he spoke about using to entice players to Ibrox include a gag reel/out takes?

[Bearman 9]

From 'Ibrox Noise' http://www.ibroxnoise.co.uk/2016/05/profile-rangers-latest-signing-target.html?

 

Profile: Rangers' latest signing target, Niko Kranjcar

 

With Mark Warburton confirmed as having held talks with Niko Kranjcar, what would Rangers be getting if the midfielder joined? The 31 year old has represented his country in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008 and UEFA Euro 2012. He won 81 caps for the Croatia national team scoring 16 goals in the process. His latest match for the national team was on 15 Oct 13, but unfortunately he missed the 2014 FIFA World Cup due to injury.

 

His English career started on 31 Aug ’06, when Niko was brought over to the south coast to play for Portsmouth and sign for their charismatic manager Harry Redknapp. He transferred from Hajduk Split for a transfer fee of £3.5m on a three-year-deal. In his first year for the Pompey he played in 28 games in the Premiership and also made 7 appearances for Croatia.

 

In season 2007-08, and his second year playing at Fratton Park, Niko played in 10 games for Croatia, which included the Euro Championships, and featured in 42 games for Portsmouth, including the FA Cup win in May 2008.

 

In 2008-09, he continued playing in the Portsmouth first team and amassed another 25 games for them and scored 4 goals in the process.

 

Niko played his last 5 games for Portsmouth at the start of season 2009-10 and appeared in one game for Croatia before joining Tottenham Hotspur, on 1 Sep ’09 on a 3-year-deal that cost them £2.5m for his services. He played 32 games in his first part season for Spurs and scored a reasonable 8 goals into the bargain.

 

In his second season at White Hart Lane, in 2010-11, he played in 5 games for Croatia and scored 4 goals and also featured in 21 games for Spurs after picking up some injuries during that season.

 

In season 2011-12, Niko played another 6 games for Croatia and featured in only 18 games for what was to be his last year with Tottenham Hotspur.

 

In 2012-13 season, on 1 Jul ’12 he moved to the Ukraine to join up with Dynamo Kiev for a fee of £2m. He played 4 games for Croatia, played in 4 Champions League fixtures and 2 Europa Cups and 19 games in the Ukrainian League.

 

In 2013-14 season, on 2 Sep 13, Kranjčar joined Queens Park Rangers on a season long loan to reunite him with his former boss Harry Redknapp. This was the third time that Harry had signed Niko, having previously worked with him at Portsmouth and Tottenham. After a groin problem delayed his debut, Kranjčar eventually started playing for his new team. His last game in the Premier League was on Sun 10 May 14, playing in a match against Manchester City for Queens Park Rangers, where he featured in 33 of their games and scored 2 goals.

 

In 2014-15 season, on 1 Jul ‘14 Niko left the club following the expiration of his loan, but returned on the last day of the summer transfer window on 1 Sep 14 for another season-long loan at Queens Park Rangers and played in 22 games and scored 2 goals.

 

In 2015-16 season, after being released in Dynamo Kiev, he went to USA and trained with the New York Cosmos. However, he could not be a part of the squad due to the foreign players' rule, but as luck would have it, in the middle of March 2016, one of the foreign players obtained an American citizenship, and Kranjčar finally signed for the Cosmos. Their head coach Giovanni Savarese added:

 

“Niko is not only a world class player, but also a fantastic human being. He has elite vision and technical ability with the ball at his feet, and we’re confident he can bring creativity to our approach in the attacking half of the field.”

 

Kranjčar the World Cup veteran will be aiming to help the reigning Soccer Bowl champions hit the ground running in the 2016 NASL campaign. His current deal is only for 10 games as things stand, but there may be an opportunity for an extension into the Fall Season if all goes well over the coming months.

[ian1964 10,720]

Alex Neil: Norwich ace Graham Dorrans is going nowhere

 

NORWICH gaffer Alex Neil has told Rangers they have NO chance of luring Graham Dorrans back to Scotland.

 

SunSport revealed yesterday Gers boss Mark Warburton has the Scotland star in his sights.

 

But Neil insisted attacking midfielder Dorrans will be a key man within his squad next term as they bid for an instant return to the Premier League.

 

Dorrans has just a year left on his Canaries deal.

 

Neil said: “Graham’s going nowhere. He’ll be staying here. I want him part of the squad for next season, he will be an important player for us.

 

“He’s got a year left of his contract and he’s spoken to us about a possible extension. There has been no interest in Graham — and Rangers won’t be able to afford him anyway.”

 

Dorrans, 29, made 25 appearances for relegated Norwich this season.

 

The star, who has 12 Scotland caps, joined the Canaries last May in a £2million deal.

 

Suffering the drop from England’s top flight has left ex-Hamilton Accies gaffer Neil assessing his playing staff for the 2016-17 campaign

 

Neil admitted he fears clubs will come calling for his top stars, but insists Norwich’s financial position means they DON’T have to sell players.

 

And he has got no intentions of letting ex-Livingston ace Dorrans leave Carrow Road.

 

But Dorrans, along with other high-profile names like Scotland star Steven Naismith, could be keen to stay in the Premier League. Naisy, an £8m January signing from Everton, has already been linked with several clubs.

 

Meanwhile, Niko Kranjcar could be a Gers player as early as next week after New York Cosmos admitted they are resigned to losing the key midfielder at the end of the spring campaign.

 

Former Tottenham, Portsmouth and Croatia star Kranjcar has scored once for Cosmos after signing a short-term deal in March.

 

Ibrox gaffer Warburton is understood to have met Kranjcar, 31, in New York, and will be able to pick up the 81-times capped midfielder for free.

 

A Cosmos spokesperson said: “Niko is our player until the end of the spring season — so if the Rangers thing is a done deal then we are not due any sort of compensation.

 

“He has been very happy here in New York and we have loved having him. We would love to have him here longer, but it will be out of our hands if he wants to move on.

 

“We always said we would sign him here until the spring season and then we would see what happens after that.

 

“But the spring season ends on May 28. We have got him until then and planned to speak to him to see if he would stay.”

 

But it looks certain that Ibrox boss Warburton will continue his rebuilding by landing Kranjcar.

 

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/rangers/7154850/Alex-Neil-Norwich-ace-Graham-Dorrans-is-going-nowhere.html

[der Berliner 3,716]

Joey Barton has gone on holiday to mull over a possible move to Rangers as the 33-year-old midfielder considers the next step in his career. (Daily Record)

 

Norwich manager Alex Neil tells Rangers they have no chance of luring Graham Dorrans back to Scotland, saying the midfielder is a key member of his relegated squad. (Sun)

 

Bristol City are considering a move for out-of-favour Rangers goalkeeper Cammy Bell. (Herald)

[the gunslinger 3,366]

Neil will be lucky to still be there