A Worcestershire MP has recalled how a political rivalry with Dame Esther Rantzen turned into a lasting friendship, following her death at the age of 86.
Nigel Huddleston first met the veteran broadcaster and Childline founder when they stood against each other in Luton South at the 2010 general election.
But what could have been an awkward relationship between political opponents instead became a friendship that continued for many years.
"Esther and I probably should not have got on," the Conservative member for Droitwich and Evesham said, adding: "But, like so many people who met her, I was completely charmed by her and we got on like a house on fire from day one."
Dame Esther had entered the race as an independent following the MPs expenses scandal, turning what Huddleston expected to be a contest between the Conservatives and Labour into what he described as a "media frenzy".

#political #friendship

Chelsea's season is barely underway, yet questions are already emerging around Estêvão's role under new head coach Xabi Alonso.
According to ESPN Brazil, the young Brazilian is concerned that his opportunities could be reduced under Alonso, despite wanting to remain at Stamford Bridge. The report, written by Renato Senise, suggests the player has privately discussed his situation with close ****** ociates.
The timing is significant. Estêvão missed the final stretch of last season because of a right thigh muscle injury suffered in April, which also ruled him out of the World Cup. Having returned to Chelsea, he now faces a difficult battle for regular first team football.
Alonso has taken charge of only three Chelsea matches so far, two in the Premier League and one in the English League Cup, but the early signs have prompted concern.
Estêvão made a seven minute appearance against Fulham before starting against Luton Town in the cup. He was then an unused substitute during Chelsea's 4-3 victory over Brighton.

#brazilian #stamford

There are victories, and then there are statements.
On a night when Reading desperately needed a spark to ignite their season, they delivered a performance that reminded us of the quality we have running through this side. The only disappointment was the number of supporters inside the Select Car Leasing Stadium to witness it.
Mansfield Town arrived hoping to continue their strong start to the campaign. Following a recent 5-2 victory over promotion hopefuls Luton Town, the Stags were hoping to continue winning habits, but instead left on the back of a 5-0 defeat, which in truth could have been much worse.
Although many Reading players could be singled out for praise, I was particularly impressed with George Earthy, whose movement off the ball and passing ability reminded me of a certain Frank Lampard. I wonder if he ever made it in the game!
Paddy Lane had one of his best performances in a Reading shirt and Kyreece Lisbie continues to impress with his direct style of play and willingness to make things happen going forward.

#following

Under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez helped the club win the 2025 Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup later that summer but noises emerged at the start of this year about him wanting to leave.
It began once Maresca left Stamford Bridge in January and two months later, following Chelsea's Champions League exit, Fernandez said he did not know whether he would be at the club next season.
His first choice was to join Real Madrid but the La Liga giants never came in with an offer, feeling the Premier League midfielder was overpriced.
New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso spoke to Fernandez this summer in an attempt to try and change his mind and for him to stay, but the player's heart was set on leaving.
Having been jeered by his own supporters during the home pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad, there was only one direction of travel thereafter and that exit was seemingly rubberstamped after being left out of the wins over Luton and Brighton.

#club

Albeit they've conceded five goals from their opening two Premier League matches, Xabi Alonso seems to have Chelsea back on track after a dodgy 2025/26 campaign as the Blues have opened their season with three wins on the bounce. They beat Fulham 3-2 for their Premier League opener, topped Luton Town 2-0 in the Carabao Cup, and most recently beat Brighton and Hove Albion 4-3 in the league. While the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager will certainly be hoping for more solidity in his defense, three straight wins is not a bad start to life in the English top flight at all.
Per statistics provided by OptaJoe, Alonso has become only the fourth manager to have his side open up the season with seven or more goals in his first two Premier League matches, and that's not even counting the scored against Luton Town in the EFL Cup. The other three managers to have done this are Bobby Robson in 1999 with Newcastle United, Michael Laudrup with Swansea City in 2012, and Marcelo Bielsa with Leeds United in 2020. Alonso joins an elite list of managers in a start that's breathed an air of reassurance after there was heavy speculation as to whether or not he made the right decision to join Chelsea in hi post-Real Madrid job search.
After his unprecedented Bundesliga ****** le campaign with Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023/24 season, Alonso was a man in HIGH demand throughout Europe and he was someone who was even on Bayern's radar at the time when it became clear they'd need to replace Thomas Tuchel. The who's who of European giants were all keen to try to line him up as their next manager, but Alonso had made the decision to stay with Leverkusen for the 2024/25 season and then ultimately wound up at Real Madrid to replace Álvaro Arbeloa.
Ironically enough, the pair of Spaniards will not be competing against one another in the Premier League as Arbeloa is currently serving as Fulham manager, though his start to life in England has not gone as swimmingly as it has for Alonso as Fulham lost their opening two league matches of the season, the first of which to Alonso's Chelsea and the second of which to Sunderland.
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#Chelsea #fulham #leverkusen #manager

Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Manchester City agreed to a $169 million deal for Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez.
Sources told ESPN, The Athletic and the BBC about the agreement Tuesday. Fernandez, who joined the Blues from Benfica in 2023, totaled 10 goals and four ****** ists over 36 appearances during the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
He played for 26 minutes during the Blues' season-opening 3-2 win over Fulham on Aug. 24 in London. He did not play Thursday in a Carabao Cup win over Luton Town or in the Blues' second Premier League game, a 4-3 win over Brighton on Sunday in London.
The 25-year-old totaled two goals over seven appearances for Argentina during the 2026 World Cup. His $169 million transfer fee ties the Premier League record, which was set last summer when Liverpool acquired Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.
Manchester City sits atop the Premier League, at 2-0. The Sky Blues will host Coventry in the third match of their 2026-27 Premier League campaign at 10 a.m. EDT Saturday in Manchester.

#premier #league #fernandez #totaled

Manchester City have reached that familiar point in a transfer window where the story is about quality, timing and nerve. Deadline day tends to bring theatre, but for City the picture appears sharper than most. The priorities are clear, the names are substantial, and the sense from The Athletic is that Enzo Maresca's club are pressing hard to finish business that could shape the tone of the season.
For all the noise of the wider market, the relevant line for City is straightforward. "City will aim to push through a deal with Chelsea for Enzo Fernandez, who they had identified as a key target before the end of last season." That sentence carries weight. It speaks to long-term planning rather than impulse, and it frames Fernandez not as an opportunistic late-window raid but as a midfielder City have been tracking with purpose.
The second live issue is in attack. "City will also hope to complete a move for Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, after a £60m deal with £5m in add-ons was agreed in principle on Monday evening." In the compressed language of deadline day, that reads as significant progress. When a fee is agreed in principle and a medical is scheduled, the transfer has usually moved beyond flirtation and into the final administrative bend.
Those two pursuits, Fernandez and Ndiaye, reveal much about where City believe the squad stands. There has been talent added, there has been movement out, and there has also been that slightly untidy feel that often comes when a powerful squad is being remodelled in real time. The challenge for Maresca is to weld all of this into a **** le-chasing whole quickly.
If City complete the Fernandez deal, it will be the headline move, because elite central midfielders alter the rhythm of teams. The report notes that Chelsea set "a public deadline of August 14 for bids", yet the matter has remained alive. More tellingly, "Fernandez has been left out of Chelsea's squad for games against Luton Town and Brighton." Those absences inevitably intensify the feeling that something material is developing.

#squad

Xabi Alonso looks for a third straight win for Chelsea in all competitions in his first home Premier League game in charge when Brighton visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Wesley Fofana's return from suspension and Moisés Caicedo's likely comeback against his former club give the head coach his strongest available XI of the season so far.
Moisés Caicedo is hopeful of returning after a training injury kept him out of Chelsea's first two matches, with the fixture giving the Ecuadorian the chance to face the club he came through before his move to Stamford Bridge.
Marco Palestra remains unavailable with a separate issue, and Jordan Henderson continues his recovery from a wrist injury sustained celebrating England's World Cup last-16 win over Mexico. There is no fresh concern over Levi Colwill or Geovany Quenda after both were rested for the Carabao Cup win over Luton.
Wesley Fofana returns from suspension and is available for Chelsea for the first time this season, strengthening Alonso's central defensive options. Enzo Fernández remains a peripheral figure amid continued Manchester City transfer speculation and may again be left out of the matchday squad. Robert Sánchez is expected to keep his place in goal despite his position coming under scrutiny after a shaky display at Fulham.

#Chelsea #club

We're all done with match action from the first month of the new season, a tad earlier than originally planned. Reading's trip to Oxford United, initially set for August 29, was postponed due to a clash with Reading Festival (at time of writing there's no confirmation on when this game will move to).
We have however had five games across all competitions: two in League One, two in the League Cup and one in the Pizza Vase. Reading have recorded one normal-time win (3-0 at Stevenage) as well as two 1-1 draws that preceded shootout triumphs (Bromley, Wycombe Wanderers), a goalless stalemate at AFC Wimbledon and a 3-4 league defeat to Luton Town.
Performances have been somewhat mixed, with the display at Stevenage (6.64/10, going by our Player Ratings) the clear standout. Otherwise, three displays were remarkably similar (Bromley 5.6, Wycombe 5.64, Wimbledon 5.62), while the one against Luton (5.27) was a lot lower.
That all works out to an average of 5.75. For a bit of context, that's higher than the 2025/26 season-wide average of 5.59 and above every month that campaign but one (August 2025, 5.85).
So now it's time to pick a standout. We've narrowed the choice down to a shortlist of three players, and you can vote for your favourite at the bottom of the article.

#stevenage

Chelsea's latest selection call has quickly become one of the biggest talking points of the week, with Daily Mail reporting fresh detail on Enzo Fernandez's omission and the growing uncertainty around his future. Xabi Alonso's decision to leave the midfielder out against Luton was always going to invite scrutiny, particularly given the timing and the background noise linking Manchester City with a potential £120 million move.
Alonso moved swiftly to explain the situation after the Carabao Cup win, making clear that the call rested with him after a direct conversation with the Argentina international. His message was pointed and revealing. "We need the players that are in the best situation to play. We need to take everything into consideration – players that are in a good moment, players that are not feeling that energy to play."
That line, around energy and readiness, felt central to the matter. Alonso continued: "For me, it is very important they feel this desire to play and to have good preparation." Those remarks offer a useful insight into how he is trying to shape standards at Chelsea, with availability clearly about more than fitness alone.
The key detail is that Alonso held talks with Fernandez after training on Wednesday, then opted against including him in the squad. In Alonso's own words, "We talked and we decided it was better not to be part of the squad. He is a top player." It is a careful explanation, supportive in tone, though it does little to quieten the wider transfer noise.
Manchester City's interest has naturally sharpened the spotlight. Reports of a possible £120 million deal gathered pace once Fernandez was absent, though Chelsea's side of the story remained that they were still waiting for a formal approach. That distinction matters. Interest and talks are one thing, a concrete bid is another, and clubs at this level tend to move only when all sides feel there is a workable structure.

#noise

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Brighton at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 14:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
There are no fitness concerns over Levi Colwill and Geovany Quenda after the pair missed Chelsea's Carabao Cup win over Luton Town on Thursday.
But Alonso said they don't want to push Colwill "too hard" after the defender recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury last season.
A decision is still to be made on whether Moises Caicedo is fit enough to return to training on Friday.

#colwill #brighton

Manchester United midfielder Dan Gore is in advanced talks to join League One Luton Town on loan.
Gore spent last term at Rotherham, where he made 34 appearances.
Although he was part of Michael Carrick's squad for the start of pre-season, the plan had always been for Gore to spend the season away from Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old had a number of options, but it is thought working with Jack Wilshere, who played in a similar position, has been a key factor in Gore's choice, although a deal is still to be agreed.
Meanwhile, it is understood no final decision has been made around the short-term future of left-back Harry Amass.

#made #manchester

It was that time of year again when the early rounds of the English League Cup were being played in the midst of a hectic Premier League schedule. Sunderland had played their first four games of the season following promotion and, despite an exciting victory over Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day, had failed to win since, picking up just one point from their next three games.
Included in that run was a dismal 3-0 defeat away to Wigan Athletic, a result that shocked supporters given the inept nature of the performance. A home defeat to Liverpool compounded the misery before Roy Keane's side travelled to London to face Luton Town in the League Cup.
Keane made just four changes to the team that had faced Liverpool and, in hindsight, the decision did little to ease the growing frustrations surrounding the side. Sunderland were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by the Championship outfit, who took great delight in their victory as chants of "Premiership, you're having a laugh" rang around Kenilworth Road.
Greg Halford's dismissal certainly didn't help Sunderland's cause, but this was now four consecutive defeats and, more concerningly, the manner of those defeats was beginning to cause genuine concern among the fanbase.
On the very same evening, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest were also meeting in the League Cup, with Sunderland loanee Clive Clarke lining out for Leicester.

#leicester

Chelsea want a higher price than £120m for Enzo Fernandez amid Manchester City's ongoing interest in the midfielder.
Chelsea had long been open to business for a £120m fee for the Argentina international in what was already a complicated saga, but it is understood that no longer applies, partly due to how summer market valuations have risen.
One of the higher prices was the £116m fee City themselves paid to Nottingham Forest for Elliot Anderson this summer, and it now appears they would have to greatly increase on that club record to secure Fernandez.
Fernandez was not in Chelsea's squad to face Luton (Getty)
Chelsea would also want to make sure they are able to secure a replacement. There remains a great deal of sensitivity and tension around the Fernandez situation, particularly with how former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca sees him as a key signing for his new club at City.

#higher #club

Xabi Alonso said it was "decided" that Enzo Fernandez would not be in Chelsea's squad to face Luton Town in the Carabao Cup, despite saying the previous day that he expected the midfielder to be involved.
Fernandez has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester City this summer and Enzo Maresca's side are expected to return with an offer for the Argentina international despite missing an informal deadline earlier this month.
Fernandez is not in Chelsea's squad to face Luton (Getty)
The fee Chelsea would consider to sell Fernandez is around £120m and the transfer deadline closes next Tuesday. Manchester City's midfield rebuild is not yet done despite spending around £200m on signing Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Alonso named a strong team to face Luton, selecting both Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, both Fernandez was not in the squad depsite the new Chelsea manager saying he expected him to be included on Wednesday.

#fernandez #despite #manchester #Chelsea

Bromley have signed experienced midfielder George Saville from Luton Town for an undisclosed fee.
The 33-year-old made 38 appearances in League One for Luton last season, scoring two goals.
He began his career with Chelsea and made permanent moves to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Millwall, Middlesbrough and back to Millwall before joining the Hatters in the summer of 2025.
Saville is the latest arrival in what has been a huge squad overhaul for Bromley since they won promotion to League One last season.
The length of Saville's deal is undisclosed.

#saville #undisclosed

Chelsea's Carabao Cup campaign begins at Stamford Bridge on Thursday against a Luton Town side still chasing a repeat of their sole major trophy, the 1988 League Cup.
History is firmly against the visitors: Luton have been eliminated in eight of their last nine EFL Cup ties against Premier League opposition, while Chelsea have advanced from 27 of their last 28 EFL Cup ties against sides from outside the top flight, a run stretching back to a penalty-shootout exit to Burnley in November 2008.
Luton head into the match unbeaten across three fixtures this season, coming from behind to beat Reading 4-3 on the opening weekend before a 2-2 draw with newly-promoted Notts County and a 3-0 win over Gillingham in the first round. Chelsea, by contrast, are still finding their feet under Xabi Alonso, whose competitive debut brought a 3-2 win at Fulham three days earlier. Thursday offers the new head coach an early look at squad depth before a testing run of fixtures ahead.
Date: Thursday, 27 August 2026Kick-off: 19:30 BSTVenue: Stamford BridgeReferee: Elliot BellLast meeting: Luton Town 2-3 Chelsea, Premier League, 30 December 2023
Jordan Henderson (wrist) and Emmanuel Emegha (hamstring) remain sidelined, and Wesley Fofana is suspended, serving the second of a two-match ban carried over from a red card against Sunderland last season. Moises Caicedo and Marco Palestra both missed the win at Fulham after picking up injuries in training and remain doubts, with Caicedo more likely to return for the weekend. Alonso is expected to make wholesale changes and could hand full debuts to several summer signings.

#premier #fulham

Where to watch Chelsea vs. Luton live stream, TV channel, start time for EFL Cup match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Chelsea welcome Luton Town to Stamford Bridge in the Carabao Cup after making a winning start to the Xabi Alonso era.
The Blues beat west London neighbours Fulham 3-2 at Craven Cottage to kick off the 2026/27 Premier League season in style.
The failure to qualify for European football last season means Chelsea must now play in the second round of the Carabao Cup for just the third time in the 21st century.
Luton, in the Premier League as recently as 2023/24, have taken four points from their first two League One games of the campaign. They are managed by former ******* nal midfielder Jack Wilshere.

#Chelsea #luton #sporting #carabao

After losing the first game of the Premier League season, Tottenham hopes to avoid an upset in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, Aug. 26, hosting second-tier Charlton Athletic in London.
That matchup is one of four matches on Wednesday with Premier League sides Newcastle United and Everton also in action. Chelsea (vs. Luton) and Fulham (vs. Wimbledon) play on Thursday, the last of the 11 Premier League teams not involved in European competition who entered the second round.
The nine teams playing in Europe will join play for the third round, with the draw for those matches set to be held at the conclusion of Wednesday's games.
The Carabao Cup is being streamed on Paramount+.
Watch Carabao Cup live

#second #TOTTENHAM

AFC Wimbledon have signed forward Harry Cornick on a one-year deal with the option of a further year.
The 31-year-old was released by Bristol City in the summer after three-and-a-half years at Ashton Gate. He spent the second half of last season on loan at Stevenage.
Before that he played a key role in Luton Town's rise from League Two to the Championship, scoring 38 times in 235 games.
"Harry's a player that I've long admired, and he's had a good career," Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson told the club website.
"He's obviously had a difficult season last season with the injury that he picked up.

#last

Live coverage of 23 matches across League One & Two
League One: Leicester have Oliver Skipp sent off after going 2-0 down at home to Burton
Bromley level with Cambridge in their first-ever third tier home match
Also Wimbledon v Reading; MK Dons v Huddersfield; Peterborough v Mansfield; Stevenage v Oxford; Stockport v Blackpool; Wigan v Orient; Wycombe v Plymouth
Luton and Notts Co share spoils in 2-2 draw and Doncaster & Barnsley play out goalless draw in lunchtime kick-offs

#league #home #leicester #bromley

Everton have received a significant late boost in their attempt to sign Brooke Norton-Cuffy from Genoa, according to a report by Kaustubh Pandey for Sport Witness, drawing on quotes translated from Italian outlets Genova24 and Secolo XIX. Genoa head coach Daniele De Rossi publicly confirmed that a late-window sale is a genuine possibility, and that discussions could move fast after their Serie A fixture against Napoli. That's a fairly open door from a manager whose club have, crucially, already identified a replacement in Como's Ignace Van Der Brempt.
Giving Everton transfer hope, he said – via Genova24: "As long as he's here, he'll play. He's training well. I think he's better than last year. I know the transfer market issues well. At most, I'll talk about it after the match."
The financials make this one genuinely attractive for Everton. Genoa originally signed Norton-Cuffy for just €2m, so even at the €20m asking price, they would be pocketing a healthy profit and negotiating from a relaxed position. For Everton, the reported £17m fee is modest by current market standards for an English full-back with real Premier League-ready qualities.
Norton-Cuffy, 22, is an England under-21 international who spent time with ******* nal's academy before building genuine senior experience across multiple loan spells in English football. That background means there is no adaptation period to account for, no bedding-in process, no language barrier. He has recorded 44 appearances across two Serie A seasons with Genoa, including 27 this campaign with two goals, one ******* ist and 25 starts.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 27: Brooke Norton-Cuffy of Coventry City warms up prior to the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final between Coventry City and Luton Town at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

#everton #genoa

Here it is then: the curtain-opener. The start of the season proper, our bread and ******* er: league football. The excitement was in the air as the warm weather and promise of shiny new things at the SCL gave the fanbase reason to arrive in their masses to watch the spectacle of a visiting, promotion-tipped Luton Town.
There were some changes to the stadium that I could see and notice. The sound system definitely seemed louder, the pitch's advertising boards were now upgraded to the electronic screen versions and the bins inside the concourse had been replaced with newer ones, which provided options for general waste and recycling. And of course, safe-standing was present in the South Stand.
From where I was sitting, it seemed the West Stand possibly had some new seats, but I couldn't be sure. Certainly over in the East Stand, we had the same seats from last year where I was sat. However, the WiFi and phone signal were still terrible, the toilets the same (although clean) and the only difference in the food and drink selections were the slight price increases.
This effectively boils down to an appropriate metaphor for the game itself: it promised a lot of change, but ultimately, underwhelmed where it mattered.
The starting line-up was pretty much as we expected, seeing the 4-2-3-1 shape from pre-season in use. However, the only pleasant surprise was seeing Jack Marriott start. Also in the line-up were home debuts for Udoka Godwin-Malife (or 'Dokes', because I'm not writing that again), Kyreece Lisbie and Josh Stokes.

#season #seemed #seats #seeing

League action is back!
The Royals narrowly went through to the second round of the Carabao Cup last Saturday, beating Bromley on penalties. It was Joel Pereira that had the last laugh in that game, saving Ethon Archer's penalty, but plaudits should go to Kyreece Lisbie, who had a great game.
Lewis Wing missed a penalty but the captain settled that by kicking off the scoring in the shootout. It will be Stevenage that Reading play in the next round (which I predicted), so we will be able to focus on the league at least.
Luton Town beat Gillingham 3-0 in the cup, with their campaign getting off to a smoother start than the Royals'. Goals by Nahki Wells, Bennadict Benagr and Giddeon Kouda sealed the deal for the Hatters, who face Chelsea in the next round. So it is likely Luton will also be focusing on the league, but these games are never predictable.
We finally hit matchday one of League One, with Reading vs Luton kicking off at 12:30 on Saturday. It will be available on Sky Sports and will be played at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, which has a capacity of 24,161. The referee to take us into league action will be Leigh Doughty.

#saturday #reading #action

Reading owner Rob Couhig says his goals for the upcoming season are to make the club self sustainable and to push for promotion.
The Royals chairman spent an hour of Tuesday morning on BBC Radio Berkshire, taking questions from supporters, with the start of the League One season now just days away.
The club kick-off their campaign with a home match against Luton Town at the SCL on Saturday, having been hard at work over the summer making improvements to the ground.
Some sections of the Reading support have grown frustrated with Couhig over the summer and some previous transfer windows after a slow start in the market.
Questions have also been raised about his future and whether his stay at the club might be for the short-term.

#Royals #tuesday #radio

West Ham United and Northern Ireland striker Callum Marshall has joined League One club Luton Town for an undisclosed fee.
Luton said the 21-year-old has agreed a "long-term" contract.
Marshall made three first-team appearances for West Ham after signing from Linfield in January 2022 and was part of the squad that won the FA Youth Cup in 2023.
He spent the 2024-25 season playing in League One for Huddersfield Town, scoring 10 goals during a loan spell, and ended last season in Germany on loan at Bochum.
Luton boss Jack Wilshere told the club website: "From the first moment I met Callum, I knew how hungry he was for success.

#loan

Nedim Bajrami is expected to leave Rangers in the coming days, with a return to Italian football emerging as the most likely destination for the 27-year-old Albania winger. (Inside Ibrox)
Leicester City and Swansea City are leading the race to sign John Souttar, with the 29-year-old Scotland centre-half certain to end his four years with Rangers. (Rangers Review)
Rangers and Cardiff City face serious competition for Tromso midfielder Jens Hjerto-Dahl, with Hull City now very interested in the 20-year-old. (Rune Robertsen on X)
Trabzonspor are to make a transfer bid of a one-season loan with an £8.6m purchase option for Besiktas winger Vaclav Cerny, the 28-year-old who spent a year on loan with Rangers. (MyNet)
League One club Luton Town have held talks with Rangers over a move for 23-year-old winger Ross McCausland. (Rangers Review)

#year #italian

Morgan Rogers' friendship with his new club-mate Cole Palmer goes back a long way - and actually inspired the latter's famous 'cold' goal celebration.
Palmer first performed it in December 2023, after scoring two goals in a 3-2 win at Luton, and he has since taken ownership of the celebration, registering a trademark for it with the UK Intellectual Property Office.
However, it was first meant as a tribute to Rogers, as he had performed the celebration after scoring a goal for Middlesbrough against West Brom.
It was after moving from his local club West Brom to Manchester City that Rogers first struck up a friendship with Palmer. Both were 16 years old and soon starred in attack for City's FA Youth Cup-winning under-18 side in 2020.
Palmer is not the only familiar face Rogers will encounter at Stamford Bridge though.

#west

Wales defender Tom Lockyer has agreed a deal to join Australian A-League side Melbourne Victory.
The 31-year-old, who has 16 caps for Wales, joins Melbourne on a free transfer after leaving Bristol Rovers at the end of last season.
Lockyer made his return to football with the Gas last October after nearly two years out following a cardiac arrest during a Premier League match for Luton in December 2023. It was the second time he had collapsed on a pitch in eight months after also having done so in the Championship play-off final.
"I am thrilled to have joined Melbourne Victory and cannot wait to get this next chapter of my career under way in such an amazing city," Lockyer told the club website.
Lockyer returns to football with Bristol Rovers deal

Luton Town boss Jack Wilshere hasn’t ruled out a second loan for Man City’s Emilio Lawrence
Wilshere says “there is a chance” of a return but decision ultimately down to Lawrence & Man City
Lawrence impressed for Luton after an initial adjustment period in the second half of last season
Luton Town manager Jack Wilshere has refused to rule out a second loan move for Manchester City youngster Emilio Lawrence, insisting “there is a chance” of the winger returning to Kenilworth Road for another campaign, as per a new report.
Lawrence, 20, arrived at Luton Town on loan from Manchester City in January, part of a duo of temporary additions that Wilshere brought in during his first transfer window as manager, alongside Kasey Palmer – with both players having gone on to leave a positive impression over the second half of the season.