Dundee United

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In nearly ten years of management, Jim Goodwin "doesn't remember working with a group of players so physically fit so early on" as Dundee United put in the work for their Conference League tie against UNA Strassen.

United are out in the Netherlands for a pre-season training camp in advance of the first leg against the Luxembourg side on Thursday, 24 July and manager Goodwin stressed it's been "beneficial on lots of different grounds".

"It's a really important time in the season for us to bring the boys away, where we can spend some real quality time together, not just on the training pitch," Goodwin told club media.

"An opportunity like this to go abroad and for the players to be mingling all the time throughout the day, it's a good chance for them all to get to know each other really.

"It's been double and triple sessions for the players, lots of fitness work but also a really good opportunity for me to get the message across to the players in terms of how we want to play.

"The players are all desperate to get started now. Fitness wise they look fantastic,

"I don't remember in the ten years of being a manager, working with a group of players so physically fit so early on.

"There was a big emphasis on trying to reduce the age of the team but also to bring better athleticism to the squad, better mobility, better pace, all of these things really important to be able to handle the demands of our busy schedule.

"I think we've put ourselves in a really strong position at this time."

Dundee United winger Rory MacLeod, 19, has agreed terms on a two-year contract with Dunfermline Athletic and is expected to undergo a medical on Friday and finalise paperwork. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Colorado Switchbacks are close to reaching an agreement with former Kilmarnock striker Kyle Vassell, despite Dundee United presenting the 32-year-old with an improved two-year contract offer. (Sky Sports), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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Though it was always going to be a tough ask, there ought to have been a waft of disappointment when it was confirmed Sam Dalby wouldn't be returning to Dundee United.

The big striker scored 15 league goals for United while on loan from Wrexham last season, exploits which earned him a permanent move to Bolton Wanderers this summer.

Only Cyriel Dessers, Daizen Maeda and Simon Murray netted more than the 25-year-old but Jim Spence believes United are going to miss more than just his goals.

"The problem for Jim Goodwin is that Dalby became absolutely talismanic for United," the broadcaster said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Not only did he score the goals and lead the line brilliantly, he just became such a strong, charismatic figure at the club.

"Nothing was too much trouble for the guy. He led the line superbly, scored goals and was just an all-around superstar and that done the United side."

Goodwin signed Australian forward Zac Sapsford from Western Sydney Wanderers - who scored 11 goals in 43 appearances - just a day after Dalby was unveiled at Bolton and said he "represents a terrific piece of business for the club".

"It's a kind of tough shift," added Spence.

"United are not blessed with - and weren't blessed with last season either - prolific goal scorers, and it's not only United who are not blessed with that - goal scorers are usually the highest earners in teams because there are so few of the really great ones about.

"United really, really need somebody who can put the ball in the net with some degree of regularity.

"So at the moment it looks like Sapsford is the guy that Jim is hanging his hat on, unless he's got kind of something else in the pipeline..."

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Jim Goodwin's difficult Aberdeen experience has "definitely" improved him as a manager, says the Dundee United boss.

After moving from St Mirren to Pittodrie, the 43-year-old was sacked by the Dons board in January 2023 following an 11-month spell in charge.

Goodwin was back in work quickly, becoming United manager two months later, but he was unable to prevent the Tannadice side suffering relegation.

However, he guided the club back to the top flight at the first attempt and led them to a fourth-placed finish last term, beating Aberdeen on the final day to finish above Jimmy Thelin's side.

Asked if he is a better manager as a result of his time at Pittodrie, Goodwin told BBC Scotland: "Yeah, I think I definitely am. I've definitely learned a lot about myself in terms of how I approach certain situations and how I handle certain individuals.

"You have to always try to learn and get better. The past two seasons [at United] have been some of the most enjoyable seasons I've had, certainly as a manager."

Having enjoyed an impressive return to the top tier last season, Goodwin is out to emulate that success next term.

"The fact we finished fourth, everybody, from a Dundee United perspective, would want us to be at least in that top six and competing for those European places," he added.

"We're not stupid. We understand how difficult that's going to be, especially when you see the kind of investment that's been made in some of the other clubs."

Dundee United are poised to miss out on Kyle Vassell, with the 32-year-old striker in advanced talks with Colorado Rapids after leaving Kilmarnock. (Sunday Mail), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Dundee United were held 1-1 by Championship new-boys Arbroath in David Gold's testimonial.

Jim Goodwin started with a strong XI and Bert Esselink - one of five new signings in the team - headed the Premiership side in front after three minutes from debutant Dario Naamo's teasing delivery.

United had further chances, before making 10 changes just after the hour, and a young team would concede with 11 minutes to play when Scott Stewart levelled.

Dundee United have offered 32-year-old striker Kyle Vassell, who has left Kilmarnock, a two-year contract, but Colorado Springs Switchbacks have also expressed interest and clubs in England and abroad are monitoring his situation. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Dundee United are among several clubs considering a move for former Kilmarnock captain Kyle Vassell, but any suggestion that they have formally tabled a contract is wide of the mark. (The Courier), external

Kyle Vassell is one of a host of strikers Dundee United are considering and the Englishman has other options in the Scottish Premiership and England, including League One club Burton Albion. (Daily Record), external

Ross County beat Dundee United and St Mirren to the signature of 21-year-old left-back Len O'Sullivan from Glenavon. (Scottish Sun, print edition)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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New Dundee United loan-signing Dario Naamo "personifies the modern-day wingback," according to Jim Goodwin, who has the option to buy the Finland youth international next summer.

Naamo, 20, joins from Admiral 2 Liga side SKN St Polten, having previously worked with former Dundee United opposition analyst, Stevie Greive at SJK Seinäjoki in his homeland.

He arrives at Tannadice just two weeks after starring for Finland in the Under-21 European Championships.

"Dario boasts maturity beyond his years having competed in senior football from the outset of his flourishing career," Goodwin said of his latest signing.

"He personifies the modern-day wingback - energetic, combative and technically accomplished, with a desire to impact the game at both ends of the park.

"Furthermore, he'll provide both depth and quality to our ever-strengthening playing group, adding healthy competition to his position - a key asset of every successful squad.

"We're excited to integrate him with the rest of his teammates and look forward to closely tracking his progression as a player and a person during his time at Tannadice."

Listen as Martin Dowden previews the season ahead for Dundee United with veteran journalist Jim Spence and Ronny Costello from the Dode Fox podcast.

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Playing European football for Dundee United will be "a dream come true" for new signing Isaac Pappoe, while "winning a trophy" is the goal.

The Ghanaian central midfielder has joined on a season-long loan from Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, with manager Jim Goodwin describing the 21-year-old as "a really exciting talent".

"I'm very excited to be here and that's a dream [playing European football]," Pappoe said.

"It's a dream come true. I'm just here to give everything as a player.

"I'm here to help Dundee United to be successful this season, maybe to get to the Europa Conference group stages and to get to win a trophy this season. That's the goal.

Pappoe joined the Hungarian giants from Swiss club Aarau, where United said he "maintained a phenomenal 87% passing accuracy, averaged in excess of five interceptions per 90 minutes and ranked second in the division for passes into the final third".

"I'm a lovely player," he added.

"I'm a good player with the ball, without the ball and I give everything on and off the pitch.

"My experiences elsewhere I think have helped me because in life you have to face a different culture and different people.

"That gives you a lot of experience in life and I think I enjoyed each and every one."

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Dundee United have signed Ghanaian central midfielder Isaac Pappoe on a season-long loan from Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, with manager Jim Goodwin describing the 21-year-old as "a really exciting talent".

Pappoe made only five appearances last season after being signed a year ago from Swiss club Aarau.

But Goodwin said United had "worked extremely hard" to sign him "amid strong interest from elsewhere".

The United boss told his club website: "His energy and work ethic is infectious and he has terrific ball-carrying and progressing abilities.

"Out of possession, he reads the game intelligently - a quality which allows him to intercept passes in dangerous areas and transition defence into attack quickly."

Goodwin is confident Pappoe will follow in the footsteps of Luca Stephenson, Emmanuel Adegboyega and Sam Dalby from last season in proving a "great success" via the loan market.

The midfielder began his career with Golden Kicks in Ghana's capital, with whom he earned a call up to his national under-21 side.

At just 18, he moved to Ashdod in Israel then, in summer 2023, joined Aarua.

United point out that, during his season in Switzerland, he "maintained a phenomenal 87% passing accuracy, averaged in excess of five interceptions per 90 minutes and ranked second in the division for passes into the final third".

That led to a switch to Ferencvaros on a four-year contract, but Pappoe is now "excited" to have the chance to win more game time in the Scottish Premiership and experience yet another "different culture".

"It was a tough season for me last season, but I got a lot of experience and learned a lot," he added.

"It is a good platform for me to improve as a young player."

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Dundee United are set to sign Finnish Under-21 right-back Dario Naamo on a season-long loan from St Polten with the option to buy the 20-year-old. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip in full.

Dundee United forward duo Owen Stirton, 18, and Jorte van der Sorte, 29, will have scans on their pre-season injuries. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Meshack Ubochioma has left Dundee United to "pursue other opportunities", the Scottish Premiership club have announced.

The 23-year-old joined the Tannadice club in 2024 and made just three appearances and netted one goal.

The winger joined Livingston on loan last term and played six times for David Martindale's promoted side.

Dundee United have held talks with Ferencvaros as they pursue a loan move for 21-year-old midfielder Isaac Pappoe, who is keen on a switch to Scotland after struggling to make his mark in the Hungarian champions' first team since arriving from Aarau last summer. (The Courier), external

Dunfermline Athletic and Partick Thistle have both declared an interest in Louis Moult after the 33-year-old striker was released by Dundee United. (Daily Record), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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BBC Sport has taken a look at which players will be free agents on 1 July.

The majority of major football leagues run from late summer to late spring, with pre-season in June and July. Therefore, contracts across most divisions typically expire at 23:59 on 30 June each year.

Those whose contracts are expiring but have already agreed transfers to new clubs are not included, as they will not become free agents.

Some Scottish Premiership contracts expire on 31 May rather than 30 June - the below players either already are or will become free agents.

Aberdeen: Tom Ritchie

Celtic: Greg Taylor

Dundee: Scott Fraser, Antonio Portales, Joe Shaughnessy

Dundee United: David Babunksi, Allan Campbell, Lewis Moult, Bryan Mwangi

Falkirk: N/A

Hearts: Jorge Grant, Barrie McKay, Lawrence Shankland

Hibernian: Maksymilian Boruc, Junior Hoilett

Kilmarnock: Kyle Magennis, Kieran O'Hara, Kyle Vassell

Livingston: N/A

Motherwell: Moses Ebiye, Harry Paton, Dominic Thompson, Davor Zdravkovski

Rangers: Adam Devine, Tom Lawrence, Ianis Hagi

St. Mirren: Dennis Adeniran, Elvis Bwomono

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Manager Jim Goodwin confirmed Dundee United are "not finished" in the transfer market after he praised the "great business" the club have done already.

United kicked-off their pre-season with a 3-0 win against Highland League side Brechin City on Saturday.

"We felt it was really worthwhile," Goodwin told club media.

"Obviously, the players have only been back training for about 10 days, they've been working extremely hard and the plan was always just to get everybody in the group 45 minutes at least and we managed to do that.

"I thought the first half was really good, really good tempo in the game and scored some good goals. The second half was a little bit slow in possession. We didn't really create enough clear goalscoring opportunities, albeit we had two or three good half chances.

"The whole thing about these pre-season fixtures is the application and the professionalism of the players. We don't want to lose any games. We want the defenders to get in good habits early, keeping clean sheets, doing the basics well.

"We want the forward players and the attacking players to be creative and to get some end product out of the game. So, I thought overall it was a really good end to a really positive week for us.

"We're a very new group and obviously, we're not finished in terms of the recruitment process either.

"I think we've done some great business up to now, managed to get some really good quality players in but we know that we are at the early stage of that still.

"It sometimes doesn't happen quite as quickly as what we would like but when you're speaking to good quality players, they tend to have good options as well.

"Delighted with what we've managed to do up to now, really pleased with how the players have returned to pre-season, looking really fit, looking really sharp and we'll just gradually build on this as we go forward.

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Dundee United started their pre-season fixtures with a 3-0 win over Brechin at Glebe Park.

Led out by Ross Graham, the captain for the day nodded in an early opener before young wing-back Scott Constable made it two.

Under-18 winger Harry Welsh got the third and final goal before the break, and Jim Goodwin made wholesale changes at the break with plenty of youngsters involved.

New signing Bert Esselink, who only joined yesterday, made his non-competitive debut while Kenyan international Richard Odada made a rare appearance.

Dundee United (First-half): Richards; Iovu, Shields, Graham (c); Constable, Camara, Sibbald, Ferry; Welsh, Sapsford, Trapanovski.

Dundee United (Second-half): Adams; Odada, Dewar, Esselink; Strain, Beattie, Sevelj, Gilligan; MacLeod, Stirton, O'Donnell.

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Dutch centre-half Bert Esselink believes his decision to ignore advice not to move to Cyprus when he was 20 has paid off after reaching his "target" of playing in the United Kingdom by signing for Dundee United.

Now 25, Esselink has joined the Scottish Premiership club at the end of his contract with relegated Polish outfit Stal Mielec.

In his first interview with United's club website, he explained that, having come through the youth ranks with De Graafschap and having just finished his university degree, he was given the chance to join PAEEK, then in the Cypriot second tier.

"My girlfriend and I decided to go to Cyprus even though people said don't do it and I am grateful we made that decision at the time," Esselink said.

It paid off with a move to APOEL Nicosia, with whom he got a taste of Europa Conference League football.

"The step to the biggest club in Cyprus was a big one - it makes you bigger as a player," Esselink said. "But there are bigger stages than playing at APOEL.

"I did not play many minutes, but it was good to experience how much European football can mean for a club."

In addition to the chance to play in Conference League again this season, Esselink was attracted to the "history" and "warmth" he felt from Dundee United.

"When I was young, I always said I wanted to play in the UK," he said.

Esselink is not daunted by the Premiership's tough reputation given the Polish Ekstraklasa "style of play is to be aggressive".

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Dundee United have signed Bert Esselink after 25-year-old centre-half left Stal Mielec following their relegation from the Polish top flight.

United manager Jim Goodwin expects the Dutchman, who has signed a a two-year contract with a club-held option to extend for a further 12 months, to have a "transformative impact" on his defence.

"His mobility and bravery allows him to engage with the opposition higher up the pitch and the statistical data reinforces his intelligence when selecting a progressive passing option," Goodwin told United's website.

"Bert is also comfortable defending in a deeper block, using his awareness to remain compact and defend the box both on the ground and in the air."

Esselink came through De Graafschap's academy in his homeland before making his senior debut for Cypriot club PAEEK, helping the Nicosia-based club secure promotion to the top tier for the first time.

His release clause was triggered by APOEL Nicosia, but he moved to Olympiakos Nicosia in search of first-team football.

Esselink moved to Poland in 2023 and Unied say that during his two seasons with Stal he ranked among "the division's most successful duel combatants, possession winners and forward-pass completionists".

However, playing 28 times last season, 22 of them starts, he could not prevent his side dropping to the second tier after finishing 16th of 18 teams in the Ekstraklasa.

"Bert's arrival will have a transformative impact on our ability to regain possession in key areas and play on the front foot," Goodwin added.

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Dundee United are closing in on the signing of towering centre-back Bert Esselink, 25, after he left Polish side Stal Mielec (Courier - print edition).

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Fixture details for Dundee United's Europa League second round qualifier with UNA Strassen have been confirmed.

The first leg at Tannadice will kick off at 19:45 BST on Thursday, 24 July, with the second leg in Luxembourg taking place away from UNA's home ground.

The 2,400-capacity Stade Municipal will host the match on 31 July - kicking off at 19:00 local time (20:00 BST) - in the town of Differdange.

United say full allocations and ticket information will be confirmed in due course.

Meanwhile, the Tannadice side have signed goalkeeper Yevhenii Kucherenko, who will prove a "long-term asset" for the club, predicts manager Jim Goodwin.

The 25-year-old from Ukraine has been brought in from LNZ Cherkasy in his homeland on a two-year contract, with United holding the option of a further 12 months.