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In today's Scotsman, Ben Lyttleton writing about Rangers forthcoming game against Hapoel Tel Aviv, writes in passing "The recent defeat at home to Maccabi Petach-Tikva was put down to Shum not telling his defence how to deal with their striker, Omer Golan, a player set to join QPR in January and the match-winner over Hapoel. ......""
See - Ben Lyttleton - Trouble looms for hapless Shum
. Scotsman
In September Haaretz reported:
Gregory named QPR manager, swoops for Omer Golan
By Haaretz Correspondents and Agencies, By Shaul Adar and Moshe Boker
Shortly after being named coach of English Championship (second division) side Queens Park Rangers yesterday, John Gregory approached Maccabi Petah Tikva with an offer for striker Omer Golan.
If Petah Tikva does not stand in the Israel international's way, he will head to Loftus Road in a 1.5 million euro move during the January transfer window, a source close to Gregory said yesterday.
Former Aston Villa boss Gregory, 51, returns to management three-and-a-half years after leaving Derby County, and will be taking over a team that is lingering at the bottom of the Championship.
Israeli agent David Ben Abu was behind the deal, and it was Ben Abu who was dispatched to Israel yesterday to conduct talks with Petah Tikva and Golan. If Golan does sign for the English side, he can expect to earn some 600,000 euros a season.
Gregory met with Golan in Tel Aviv two months ago and told the striker he wanted to sign him when he returned to management. Yesterday, when Gregory, who was linked with the coaching position at Maccabi Netanya over the summer, was appointed by QPR, he made good on that promise.
A source close to Ben Abu said yesterday that Gregory had been tracking Golan for some time. "John has been monitoring the player discretely for a while now, and in his opinion, Golan is the best striker in Israel. QPR also believes that it will be able to sell Golan on for a much higher sum within a year or two."
Petah Tikva, however, is well aware of Golan's potential worth. Last season, it turned down a similar 1.5 million euro offer from another English side, Sheffield United, and is reported to be holding out for 3 million euros and a 30 percent cut of any future sale. Haaretz
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