Future remains in the balance for striker Wells

RANGERS midfielder Niko Kranjcar admits their shock European exit is hard to shake from their minds.

But the Croatian is determined to prove critics wrong when the Ladbrokes Premiership season kicks off.

Rangers were given an unexpected month off from competitive football following their 2-0 Europa League defeat by Progres Niederkorn in Luxembourg but they returned to Ibrox on Saturday to record a 1-1 friendly draw against Marseille.

Kranjcar netted an equaliser with an impressive top-corner free-kick and is targeting three points against Motherwell at Fir Park on August 6 to continue the healing process.

Kranjcar said: “Unfortunately the European result happened, but fortunately there are still two weeks before the season starts.

“We want to start getting it right and the only way we can start getting it right is by winning three points in the league, and obviously to try and win in the cup games too.

“It was a really difficult time for all of us as none of us believed we would be allowed to lose that game.

“I think it is still there deep down emotionally in us, and we are ready to go and prove some people wrong.”

Portsmouth have confirmed the death of a fan who fell ill during their friendly against Bournemouth on Saturday.

The spectator received treatment during the interval of the match, which Bournemouth won 2-1, but it was unsuccessful.

A statement on www. portsmouthfc.co.uk read: “The club are sad to announce that a Pompey fan has passed away after falling ill at today’s match.

“Despite valiant attempts by medical staff - who were quickly on hand to administer CPR - and following transportation to hospital, he was unable to be revived.

“Next of kin have been notified and our thoughts are with them at this time.” from the current four-and-a-half year contract he signed when joining for a then-club record £1.3m from Bradford City back in January 2014.

Astonishing to think that record figure has already been broken six times this summer alone, but that is the changing landscape Huddersfield Town now find themselves in after Premier League promotion.

No disrespect to Wells’ ability or commitment to the cause, but tying him down to a new contract is perhaps not as important as it was six or seven months ago, with the club now appearing to hold all the aces in the negotiation pack.

It’s incredible what a financial shot in the arm to the tune of £185m can do for a football club’s perspective and priorities, with Town already successfully strengthening their attacking artillery with the captures of Laurent Depoitre, Tom Ince and Steve Mounie.

Arguably Wells stock was at the highest ahead of the last January transfer window where he appeared to cement himself as Town’s main man with a run of four goals in six crucial games between Bristol City at home on Saturday, December 10, and Wigan Athletic on Monday, January 2.

Speculation was rife at the time the striker was set for a move to rival Championship side Norwich City after head coach David Wagner revealed a new contract offer was rejected during the previous summer.

Speaking to the Examiner at the time, Wells said: “I think a bit of what came out (about the new contract rejection) has been misconstrued.

“If anyone questioned my attitude towards the season so far, I would strongly disagree.

“I am working hard and I will continue to do that.”

Yet a bid never came for the player – either from Norwich or any other club – and although his commitment couldn’t be questioned the flow of goals dried somewhat, with fellow striker Elias Kachunga eventually ending the campaign as the club’s top goalscorer with 13 goals (and all from