Rangers are closing in on a £6.6 million deal for one of Cardiff City's primary summer targets, with Jens Hjerto-Dahl headed to Ibrox.

A fraudster who swindled £11.4million from 115 elderly victims through a decade-long investment scam has been sentenced to eight years behind bars. Steven Long, 59, of Mead Drive, Kesgrave, Suffolk, was jailed yesterday after he admitted two counts of fraud by abuse of position at Southwark Crown Court. The conman operated multiple businesses under the Universal Wealth Preservation banner between 2008 and 2018, targeting pensioners across England with false promises of financial security. Long distributed marketing materials door-to-door throughout Kent, Essex, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, inviting potential clients to attend slick presentations at hotels nationwide. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Thousands signed up for services including trusts, wills and Lasting Power of Attorney arrangements, unaware their savings would be funnelled into risky overseas ventures without their knowledge or approval. Many of those who fell victim were elderly or approaching retirement, drawn in by assurances of secure, high-yield investments placed in what Long described as ring-fenced, risk-free trusts. Instead, their life savings were channelled into unsustainable high-risk schemes overseas without any consent. As the business model unravelled, clients found themselves locked out of their own funds. In several instances, money earmarked for care home fees vanished entirely, with some individuals losing hundreds of thousands of pounds. Prosecutor Charlene Sumnall told the court the victims were "overwhelmingly not wealthy people" but rather "careful, responsible people who had worked tirelessly hard over years to build up, often modest but extremely significant, capital." She added that their age meant they simply did not have enough time remaining to recover what had been stolen from them. While his victims faced financial devastation, Long bankrolled an extravagant lifestyle with their stolen funds. The court heard he resided in a succession of expensive rental properties, boasting that one had previously belonged to a Premier League footballer. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Rachel Reeves' state pension tax pledge could leave millions of pensioners behind British pensioner, 93, becomes 13th person to die in horrific Spain wildfires Pensioner jailed for masturbating on station platform next to woman with pram Long splashed out on timeshares, holidays to Mexico, the United States and Dubai, and used the fraudulent proceeds to support family members, pay staff wages and prop up unrelated business interests. His then-wife Melanie received a Land Rover purchased with victims' money, and five of her annual tax bills were settled using the same illicit funds. Long had previously served eight months in prison in December 2018 for contempt of court after claiming he possessed little more than the clothes on his back and a bicycle. His business associate Raymond Simpson, 79, was handed a five-year-four-month sentence for his role in the fraud. Simpson, a formerly respected independent financial adviser, declined to attend his trial or sentencing, claiming medical reasons prevented him from leaving his home in Portugal. A jury convicted him in his absence on two counts of fraud, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The court heard Simpson was responsible for defrauding £785,380 through investments and a further £615,000 through land purchases in Spain. Judge Gregory Perrins said Simpson had assisted Long by using money taken from trust accounts to invest in "a series of increasingly reckless investments". The judge added that Simpson's motivation, like Long's, was "simple greed" and that he knew his actions were unlawful. Sentencing Long, Judge Perrins said: "Your offending has taken a very heavy toll on the lives of so many and you should feel deeply ashamed." He told the defendant his company had deliberately targeted elderly people and those of retirement age who were ordinary, hardworking individuals, and that he had knowingly abused their trust for his own ends. The court considered 37 victim impact statements, including one from David Cunningham, who lost his late wife Christine's entire £140,000 savings after Long "sensed an easy prey". Mr Cunningham, married for 42 years, said: "I feel ashamed, guilty about my incompetence... I have completely failed my wife and children, which I cannot undo." Detective Chief Inspector Rob Burns of Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU) described the case as "a cold-blooded betrayal of trust on an enormous scale". Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Ben Jacobs has linked Tottenham with an interest in signing West Ham United winger Crysencio Summerville this summer. The Netherlands international seems likely to leave West Ham after their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship, and there have also been plenty of transfer rumours linking him with other big clubs. DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL [...] The post Journalist provides major Tottenham transfer update following crazy 24 hours appeared first on CaughtOffside .

Tottenham Hotspur have rejected a bid from Newcastle United for wantaway midfielder Lucas Bergvall.

Manchester United's director of football Jason Wilcox has addressed supporters ahead of the first pre-season game against Wrexham

Spain star Aymeric Laporte accuses Argentina of 'leaving their mark' on opponents ahead of Sunday's World Cup final.

Graeme Souness has finally been forced to concede that Paul Pogba is 'one of France's greatest ever talents' as the former Scotland midfielder once again switches allegiance to England's opponents.

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Manchester United reportedly make initial contact with the representatives of a Bundesliga midfielder.

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Follow Sports Mole's live World Cup 2026 news blog on Saturday, July 18, as France and England prepare to contest tonight's third-place playoff.

Midweek league opening for Bourne who entertain former Stamford boss in friendly.

Chelsea are close to signing Shim Mheuka to a new contract, after which he will be sent on loan to get senior experience. If you enjoy CaughtOffside coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content. Chelsea [...] The post Chelsea’s teenage goal machine ready for senior loan after contract breakthrough appeared first on CaughtOffside .

As the final whistle sounded in Atlanta, Lionel Messi collapsed to his knees, overwhelmed by joy. If the sight of Messi reaching another World Cup final underscored his status as the greatest footballer of all time, it also encapsulated a theme of the 2026 tournament: the central role of veterans.

Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United during the Brentford vs West Ham United Premier League match at Gtech Community Stadium, London / Crysencio Summerville of West Ham United in action during the Premier League away game against Fulham at Craven Cottage

Manchester City players wore this Puma pre-match jacket during the 2022/23 season, when they won the Premier League title for a third year running.

Shea Charles in action with Daniel Farke looking at camera right inset

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City's first Premier League season in a decade is edging ever closer

Sources have given me an update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Maxence Lacroix, with Arsenal and other clubs also possibly set to enter the equation. Crucially, there has been a lack of progress on the Blues’ pursuit of Lacroix despite ongoing efforts to bring him to Stamford Bridge. DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE [...] The post Sources: Chelsea still in talks to sign World Cup star but asking price “has risen”, Arsenal also in race appeared first on CaughtOffside .

Arsenal are awaiting assessments on several key players with the club concerned that their Premier League title defence could be hampered by a World Cup injury crisis.

Jeremie Aliadiere speaks exclusively to Sports Mole to give his thoughts on the third place playoff between France and England in the World Cup this Saturday.

Leeds United’s new £34m signing Tarik Muharemović has been assessed by his former boss

Manchester United and Newcastle United are reportedly both interested in a potential transfer swoop for Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Hugo Larsson. The talented 22-year-old has impressed in the Bundesliga, already notching up 119 appearances for his current club. According to Bild, Man Utd and Newcastle currently look to be the two teams showing the most interest [...] The post From Germany: Man United & Newcastle interested in signing 22-year-old talent appeared first on CaughtOffside .

Fabrizio Romano has revealed what will give Tottenham the "green light" from Manchester City to complete a deal for Savinho.

FLW's Rotherham fan pundit is intrigued by the reports linking Andreas Weimann to South Yorkshire, but is slightly hesitant, too

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Arsenal have reportedly agreed a deal to sign promising young centre-back Elijah Upson after he turned down the chance to stay and sign a new contract with Tottenham. DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL CAUGHTOFFSIDE APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY The 18-year-old is a highly-regarded talent, and also [...] The post “Here we go” for Arsenal to sign Tottenham defender, says Fabrizio Romano in morning update appeared first on CaughtOffside .

Al-Nassr manager Ange Postecoglou with Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall inset

Rangers manager Derek McInnes and Leicester City's Stephy Mavididi

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Selecting the players, games and kits from Old Gold history he deems to be the most underrated is Sky Sports broadcaster and host of the 'Mutchy & Denno' podcast, Johnny Phillips.

The Arsenal midfielder talks about how Luis de la Fuente has created a team built on respect and how they plan to beat Argentina in the World Cup final The night before the biggest day of their lives, the Spain players who were about to win the 2010 World Cup gathered in the Da Vinci Hotel in Sandton, just north of Johannesburg, drank hot chocolate, ate chocolate croissants and talked. The night before the biggest day of their lives, the Spain players seeking to emulate them 16 years later will gather in the MC Montclair in New Jersey and talk too, but there won’t be any chocolate this time. Some rituals are not to be repeated. “I think the nutritionists killed that one for us!” Mikel Merino says, hopping off the bus, freshly tuned up for the final, and heading into a tactics room at the Melanie Lane training ground, where Spain’s penultimate day of preparation is about to begin. “We used to do the Cola Cao and cakes in the under-19s and under-21s, copying the seniors, but not any more. Everyone has their own routine, but the main thing is to normalise it all: just another game, doing something we know how to do, that we’ve done since we were five years old and that we love. Treat it like something to be enjoyed, another day in our lives.” Continue reading...

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