Rangers have set their sights on Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and are preparing a swap deal for the Croatian, according to Alan Nixon.
Pandur has emerged as a target as the Gers look to add a senior shot-stopper to new manager Derek McInnes’ squad. They are said to have also explored a move for Sunderland’s Anthony Patterson, but are now focused on Hull’s number one.
The 26-year-old enjoyed a fine season with the Tigers, helping them earn promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs. He has been at MKM Stadium since January 2024 and has just one year left on his contract.
Rangers Ready Swap Deal For Pandur
Nixon claims on Patreon that Rangers don’t want to pay Hull’s £10million asking price for Pandur. Instead, they are willing to send Jack Butland in the opposite direction.
The 33-year-old was Danny Rohl’s number one throughout last season, appearing 55 times across competitions. A player plus cash deal could appeal to the newly-promoted Premier League side.
Pandur is currently on international duty with Croatia at the World Cup but could be on the move during the tournament. McInnes will expect to be backed in the summer transfer window, and the Croat could be the first of many new faces to arrive at Ibrox.
Former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones has sent a message to Dustin Poirier in the wake of the 37-year-old’s arrest at an Atlanta airport on Sunday evening for public drunkenness.
‘The Diamond was taken into custody after threatening a police officer, having been kicked off a plane because he was intoxicated. Footage of the fighter’s arrest has since emerged and quickly gone viral.
Since being charged, Poirier has addressed his situation in a series of social media posts, admitting that he needs to seek treatment for issues with alcohol. If found guilty, the Louisiana native could face up to a year in jail, together with a $1,000 fine.
Poirier retired from the Octagon after losing to Max Holloway at UFC 318 last July. In the days following his arrest, Dustin has opened up about how much he has struggled to adapt to life after fighting.
While reaction to his arrest has been split, Poirier has received plenty of support from inside the MMA world, with names such as Daniel Cormier sending well-wishes to the struggling former interim lightweight champion.
Jon Jones Sends Message to Dustin Poirier After Recent Arrest
Having retired from the UFC himself last year, pound-for-pound great Jones has now weighed-in on Poirier’s arrest. ‘Bones’ frequently encountered issues with the law across his own career and took to social media to share his thoughts with his former colleague.
“Wanted to write and tell my [expletive] Justin Poirier to keep your head up,” Jones wrote on X, while getting Poirier’s name wrong. “Life happens. This too shall pass. Just keep yourself busy my man, it helps.”
In a separate tweet, Jones expressed his admiration for how honest Poirier had been about his personal struggles since hanging up his gloves.
“I do respect the fact that he’s being honest about his mental state,” remarked Jones.
“I swear, in some weird way, retiring from UFC almost feels like retiring from the military or something. There’s so many similarities. I have conversations with my special forces buddies about this type of stuff all the time. It’s a huge change, or at least it can be.”
As if to illustrate how difficult it can be to walk away from the life of a professional fighter, Jones went on to tease a potential comeback of his own, revealing that recent stem cell treatments had helped to combat the arthritis that had initially played a role in convincing him to retire.
Jones is currently training amateur wrestling standout Gable Steveson ahead of his Octagon debut at UFC 329 next month and he hinted that the experience had prompted him to consider his own fighting future.
“Never say never. Right now we are finishing up Gable [Steveson]‘s training camp. He’s looking extraordinary. I’ve been his main training partner, and I’m moving like I never left. Stem cells must be working,” he wrote.
A Tottenham transfer nightmare could become reality as the search for a new midfielder goes on. Spurs are hoping to land a holding or hybrid midfielder this summer to replace and upgrade on Yves Bissouma, who leaves the club at the end of his contract at the end of this month.
Roberto De Zerbi is being given the chance to overhaul his squad this summer, with Tottenham desperate to avoid a third straight bottom-half finish. Spurs have already made a strong start to the summer, snapping up four signings, including the £52million signing of Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke.
In a potentially huge blow to Tottenham’s bid to land Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tronali, it is being reported the Italian would prefer to join Arsenal this summer.
The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has posted on X: “I’m pretty relaxed about the Bruno situation at Newcastle following today’s links to Arsenal. He wants a new contract at #nufc and has done for a while. I’m viewing it through that lens at the moment. I also don’t think Tonali really wants to go to Spurs. I’m told he would prefer Manchester City or Arsenal. As ever let’s wait and see. Any chance Newcastle could sign some new players instead of being linked with current ones leaving!!”
Tottenham have already seen a £75million bid rejected by Newcastle for Tonali, and they are yet to make another offer at this stage. It will be interesting to see if this report is accurate, and indeed whether it leads Spurs elsewhere.
Having said that, the issue for Tonali is that Arsenal and City are less likely to make a move for him this summer, given both teams seem to have other priorities.
Spurs could pivot to Fernandes
via Reuters
Tottenham have also been linked with a move for West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes of late, with Manchester United also keen on the Portugal international. With Newcastle said to want £80million to £90million for Tonali this summer, Spurs may well lean towards Fernandes, especially with the news the former prefers a move to Arsenal.
Fernandes will likely be available for £80million following West Ham’s rejection, and that could be defining when it comes to choosing between the two. Fernandes is also likely to be willing to join any club with European hopes, while Tonali is likely to want a club competing in the Champions League, which Spurs cannot offer.
The wife of Brazil star Raphinha has broken her silence on strong claims that the 2026 World Cup star is ‘facing serious family and financial problems’.
Raphinha is currently recovering from a hamstring injury after appearing in the Selecao’s first two group games against Morocco and Haiti. The Barcelona winger was forced to sit out of the 3-0 win against Scotland.
During his absence, there was speculation that Raphinha would leave Brazil’s camp. Meanwhile, a former World Cup winner claimed the 29-year-old would head home to address personal and money problems he’d been facing.
Brazilian Icon Makes Raphinha Claim
Raphinha
Vampeta, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002, claimed Raphinha was facing financial issues on the Red Cast podcast. The retired midfielder even went as far as saying the Barcelona star is eyeing a move to Saudi Arabia to ease his money troubles.
More specifically, he stated Raphinha is ‘praying he can join Al-Hilal’. Vampeta did acknowledge this information was ‘gossip’ he’d heard, but still said: “Raphinha is facing serious family and financial problems. He’s praying he can join Al-Hilal; he’s having a really tough time. He is counting on joining Al Hilal to turn things around.”
Raphinha’s cousin then came out, telling the ex-Brazil star that he will need to provide an explanation for telling ‘lies’. “You’ll have to explain these lies, my friend,” they said.
However, Leo Dias on X then claimed that Raphinha’s father had kept 80% of the player’s rights and career earnings throughout his career. It was then claimed the Brazil star and his wife realised they weren’t in the financial position they believed they were when trying to buy a new house recently.
Raphinha’s Wife Responds to Alleged Money Problems
Natalia Belloli, Raphinha’s wife, has now spoken out about the rumours, calling them ‘absurd’. Speaking in comments published by Daily do Garotinho (per GOAL), Belloli said:
“Honestly, I think it’s absurd that I even have to talk about my financial situation. If we were earning only 10% of what Raphinha makes today, we would still be incredibly blessed.”
She then explained why there was a period of silence, saying: “I see no reason to put that on social media because I’m fully aware of the social reality we live in. If I posted something saying, ‘Look, I’m not poor, I’m still rich,’ people would accuse me of lacking class.
“I thought the story would die down, but these rumours have now reached Spain, and everyone believes we’re going through financial hardship.”
