Latest news with #EuropaConferenceLeague
Scotsman
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hibs transfer news as club land over £1 million for fringe forward
Edinburgh side still in talks with Bushiri and Hoilett - and are searching for a new striker Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, 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... Hibs will pocket over £1 million for a fringe player who had fallen out of the first-team picture under gaffer David Gray, with Dutch club Heerenveen breaking the seven-figure barrier to land Dylan Vente. The centre forward, who cost the Easter Road club in excess of £500,000 when he was recruited by Lee Johnson in the summer of 2023, is expected to complete his move within the next 48 hours. The 26-year-old, now a full international for Suriname, was allowed to join PEC Zwolle on loan last season after Gray decided that the Dutchman didn't fit into his plans. Vente made the most of his opportunity to play in the Eredivisie, putting up impressive numbers and earning widespread praise for his performances. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The former Feyenoord prospect banged in 13 league goals, plus one in the cup, as Zwolle finished tenth in the table. That attracted the interest of Heerenveen, who finished just one place above PEC. Vente an early hit for Johnson AND Monty - but faded fast Vente, who joined Hibs from Dutch second-tier side Roda, was an early hit for Hibs, scoring on his debut in a famous Europa Conference League win over FC Luzern at Easter Road. Following Johnson's dismissal, the attacker then banged in three goals in Nick Montgomery's first three games as gaffer early in season 2023-24 – but only found the net three times over the next eight months as Hibs missed out on a top-six place on the final weekend before the Scottish Premiership split. The arrival of Scotland hopeful Kieron Bowie for a significant fee last summer forced Vente further down the pecking order as new gaffer Gray looked for a change of style at the top end of the team. Mykola Kuharevich also returned to Easter Road for another loan spell, while the acquisition of veteran free agent Dwight Gayle increased competition for places up front. With two years left on his contract at the time, Vente was keen to get game time elsewhere. Zwolle was an option that suited everyone, not least a Hibs football department keen to reduce overall numbers – while making 11 summer signings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The impending sale of Vente underlines Gray's determination to change up his forward options ahead of the new season. Gayle's retirement, along with Kuharevich signing for Slovan Bratislava earlier this week, leaves Hibs short of bodies at the business end of the park. While a fully fit Bowie and a revitalised Martin Boyle, the latter tied down by a contract extension clause triggered just before the end of last season, represent an ideal first-choice pairing, Gray knows he needs multiple options – beyond Elie Youan – as he looks to compete on two fronts this season. He's still in the market for at least one more striker. Hibs remain in negotiations, meanwhile, with central defender Rocky Bushiri and attacking midfielder Junior Hoilett. Both are now free agents after their Easter Road contracts expired. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bushiri has options in England and Europe – but has NOT definitely decided to leave Hibs. And veteran Canadian international Hoilett is still weighing up his options, with another season at Hibs considered a good option for a player trying to nail down a place in his country's World Cup squad. Sunderland are still talking with Nectar Triantis about his next step after the Australian midfielder's stand-out season with Hibs. Another loan is an option for the Premier League-bound Black Cats, who have put a £1 million price tag on any permanent move for the 22-year-old.
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Chelsea boss yet to speak to Mykhailo Mudryk on doping charges
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed he has not yet spoken to winger Mykhailo Mudryk since the Ukrainian was charged with violating anti-doping rules. The 24-year-old is facing a lengthy ban after the Football Association announced on Thursday it had charged the player. Mudryk has not played since being suspended last December after testing positive for a prohibited substance. He was last seen in public at the Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw last month having attended in a private capacity. Mudryk is not allowed to train with the squad, who are currently at the Club World Cup in the United States. Speaking ahead of the Blues' second match of the tournament against Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, Maresca said: "I spoke with 'Misha' in Poland when we played the Conference League final but I didn't speak with him since that time. "To be honest, I didn't see the news. They communicated (it to) me last night. There is nothing more that I can add at the moment because I don't have more information." Chelsea did not officially comment after the charges were announced but have previously said they are supporting the player. Maresca said: "The last time I spoke with Misha he was quite good. I didn't see him worried, or at least I didn't see him not good. It was OK. "I don't know how he is now but for sure in the next days, weeks, we're going to have a talk." Chelsea are in the market for a new winger this summer, and have been heavily linked with Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, but Maresca says that is not because of the Mudryk situation. The Italian said: "We had already one entire season, almost, without Misha. "We've decided to go for a winger not because of Misha. It's something quite clear, it's a position that we need to improve." Maresca dismissed speculation over the future of another winger in England international Noni Madueke, with reports Arsenal are monitoring his situation. Maresca said: "Noni is our player. In this moment, you can read much speculation about many players, but Noni is our player. We consider Noni our player for next season." Maresca is set to make changes to his side for the Flamengo clash at Lincoln Financial Field due to the anticipated heat. The Blues, who opened their campaign in Group D with a 2-0 win over LAFC, are set to face the Brazilians at 2pm local time, with the temperature forecast to reach 28C. Maresca said: "It's not easy because of the temperature. This is the reason why we're going to try to rotate players. "Unfortunately for us, as a Brazilian team, they are more used to playing in this temperature - but it doesn't matter. We're going to try to do our best to win the game." 200658 JUN 25
Rhyl Journal
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca yet to speak to Mykhailo Mudryk after doping charges
The 24-year-old is facing a lengthy ban after the Football Association announced on Friday it had charged the player. Mudryk has not played since being suspended last December after testing positive for a prohibited substance. He was last seen in public at the Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw last month having attended in a private capacity. Mudryk is not allowed to train with the squad, who are currently at the Club World Cup in the United States. Speaking ahead of the Blues' second match of the tournament against Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, Maresca said: 'I spoke with 'Misha' in Poland when we played the Conference League final but I didn't speak with him since that time. 'To be honest, I didn't see the news. They communicated (it to) me last night. There is nothing more that I can add at the moment because I don't have more information.' Chelsea did not officially comment after the charges were announced but have previously said they are supporting the player. Maresca said: 'The last time I spoke with Misha he was quite good. I didn't see him worried, or at least I didn't see him not good. It was OK. 'I don't know how he is now but for sure in the next days, weeks, we're going to have a talk.' Chelsea are in the market for a new winger this summer, and have been heavily linked with Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, but Maresca says that is not because of the Mudryk situation. The Italian said: 'We had already one entire season, almost, without Misha. 'We've decided to go for a winger not because of Misha. It's something quite clear, it's a position that we need to improve.' Maresca dismissed speculation over the future of another winger in England international Noni Madueke, with reports Arsenal are monitoring his situation. Maresca said: 'Noni is our player. In this moment, you can read much speculation about many players, but Noni is our player. We consider Noni our player for next season.' Maresca is set to make changes to his side for the Flamengo clash at Lincoln Financial Field due to the anticipated heat. The Blues, who opened their campaign in Group D with a 2-0 win over LAFC, are set to face the Brazilians at 2pm local time, with the temperature forecast to reach 28C. Maresca said: 'It's not easy because of the temperature. This is the reason why we're going to try to rotate players. 'Unfortunately for us, as a Brazilian team, they are more used to playing in this temperature – but it doesn't matter. We're going to try to do our best to win the game.'
Leader Live
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca yet to speak to Mykhailo Mudryk after doping charges
The 24-year-old is facing a lengthy ban after the Football Association announced on Friday it had charged the player. Mudryk has not played since being suspended last December after testing positive for a prohibited substance. He was last seen in public at the Europa Conference League final in Wroclaw last month having attended in a private capacity. Mudryk is not allowed to train with the squad, who are currently at the Club World Cup in the United States. Speaking ahead of the Blues' second match of the tournament against Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday, Maresca said: 'I spoke with 'Misha' in Poland when we played the Conference League final but I didn't speak with him since that time. 'To be honest, I didn't see the news. They communicated (it to) me last night. There is nothing more that I can add at the moment because I don't have more information.' Chelsea did not officially comment after the charges were announced but have previously said they are supporting the player. Maresca said: 'The last time I spoke with Misha he was quite good. I didn't see him worried, or at least I didn't see him not good. It was OK. 'I don't know how he is now but for sure in the next days, weeks, we're going to have a talk.' Chelsea are in the market for a new winger this summer, and have been heavily linked with Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens, but Maresca says that is not because of the Mudryk situation. The Italian said: 'We had already one entire season, almost, without Misha. 'We've decided to go for a winger not because of Misha. It's something quite clear, it's a position that we need to improve.' Maresca dismissed speculation over the future of another winger in England international Noni Madueke, with reports Arsenal are monitoring his situation. Maresca said: 'Noni is our player. In this moment, you can read much speculation about many players, but Noni is our player. We consider Noni our player for next season.' Maresca is set to make changes to his side for the Flamengo clash at Lincoln Financial Field due to the anticipated heat. The Blues, who opened their campaign in Group D with a 2-0 win over LAFC, are set to face the Brazilians at 2pm local time, with the temperature forecast to reach 28C. Maresca said: 'It's not easy because of the temperature. This is the reason why we're going to try to rotate players. 'Unfortunately for us, as a Brazilian team, they are more used to playing in this temperature – but it doesn't matter. We're going to try to do our best to win the game.'
New Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Maresca plans player rotation as Chelsea battle heat and fatigue at Club World Cup
PHILADELPHIA: The gruelling North American summer heat and the toll of a long season have forced Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca to adjust his team as they prepare for Friday's top-of-the-table clash against Brazilian giants Flamengo at the Club World Cup. With the game expected to decide who will finish top of Group D ahead of the knockout rounds, Maresca said that he has reduced the intensity and duration of training sessions to ensure his players remain competitive. "It's not easy because of the temperature," Maresca told a press conference on Thursday. "We're going to try to rotate players. Unfortunately for us, the Brazilian team are more used to playing in this kind of temperature. But it doesn't matter. We're going to try to do our best and win the game. "We need to rotate three, four, or five players each game. It's impossible for players to be at 100% for 11 months straight. So we are trying to train less and prioritise tactical aspects rather than physical intensity in our daily sessions." Chelsea resumed training for the tournament shortly after winning the Europa Conference League title on May 28 following the conclusion of their Premier League campaign and Maresca is focused on winning more silverware. "This feels like pre-season because we had some days off after the Premier League and then started again," he explained. "But it's not pre-season; it's a big competition. We're here to win games and go as far as possible." The Italian manager expressed his support for forward Mykhailo Mudryk, who was charged with an anti-doping rule violation by England's FA on Wednesday. "Misha is a Chelsea player and I trust all Chelsea players," he said. "I haven't spoken to him recently but the last time I did, he seemed fine. Until I have more information, there's not much I can add." Chelsea and Flamengo are tied on three points at the top of Group D following 2-0 wins against LAFC and Esperance de Tunis respectively. --REUTERS
