logo
Three emerging Celtic transfer headlines as Ambrosino gets second chance and Hoops 'lead' chasing pack for Man City kid

Three emerging Celtic transfer headlines as Ambrosino gets second chance and Hoops 'lead' chasing pack for Man City kid

Daily Record3 days ago
Brendan Rodgers is desperate to bolster his ranks even further ahead of the coming season
Reported Celtic target Giuseppe Ambrosino is set to be handed another chance by Napoli.

The Italy U21 star was linked with a move to the Hoops earlier this month after catching the eye on duty for his country at the European Championships in Slovakia.

The striker spent the whole of last season on loan at Frosinone in Serie B and with just 12 months remaining on his contract, has an uncertain future with the Scudetto winners.

Ambrosino's chances of forcing his way into Antonio Conte's plans were plunged into further doubt when he was left out on a training camp trip to Dimaro in the north of Italy.
But it's now being claimed that the 21-year-old is set to be given a lifeline at Napoli.
According to Il Corriere del Mezzogiorno (via tuttonapoli.it), the forward will be included in the squad that travel to Castel di Sangro in the heart of the Apennine Mountains for another training camp ahead of the new season.
Napoli kick off the defence of their Serie A crown with a trip to Sassuolo on August 23.
Meanwhile, Celtic are now said to be leading the race to sign Manchester City youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey on loan.
The champions' interest in the 19-year-old has emerged in recent days and the Manchester Evening News now report that Brendan Rodgers' side are confident of pipping clubs in England's second tier to bring the defender north of the border.

Simpson-Pusey has made six first team appearances in total for Pep Guardiola's Etihad giants, including two outings in the Champions League.
Another player who is reportedly Celtic's radar is Go Ahead Eagles' Danish winger Jakob Breum.

The Hoops are alleged to have seen a bid of £1.5million knocked back by the Eredivisie club and their technical director Jan Willem van Dop has now gone public with details of the bid.
Fellow Dutch outfit FC Twente are also very keen on the player. Speaking to Oosttribune, van Dop said: "Well, obviously that's something to talk about if the price is right.
"And we didn't get out of that. What to me was the only positive of that was, that they (Twente) offered at least already above the official offer that was ever made by Celtic.
'Because that was one and a half million. So his thinking was higher.
"I at least indicated that we did not go along with the bid that they made. And coincidentally this morning, obviously we still had the agent on the line who hopes that he will go that way.
"And we are, I think, really not the hardest club, but it has to fit. And if we don't come out of it financially better, we also have that that right, I think, to then say, 'Well, then it's not going to happen.'"
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hibs hope to land Hanley
Hibs hope to land Hanley

BBC News

timea minute ago

  • BBC News

Hibs hope to land Hanley

Hibs keen on experienced Scotland international, while Celtic are linked with Swedish centre-half... Hibernian aim to sign Scotland centre-half Grant Hanley, with the 33-year-old free agent a guest at Easter Road for last night's Europa League qualifying loss to Midtjylland. (Scottish Sun), external Celtic had top scout Paul Tisdale checking out Swedish centre half Viktor Eriksson in action for Hammarby on Thursday. (Scottish Sun), externalRangers are still in the driving seat to land Conor Coady but Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes has been refusing to sanction an exit for the 32-year-old defender. (Daily Record), externalCeltic and Rangers are among the clubs being linked with 20-year-old Monaco left-back Kassoum Ouattara. (Foot Mercato - in French), externalSwiss club Basel are eyeing up a move for Hull City winger Abu Kamara, who has also been of interest to Rangers. (Football League World), externalCeltic have been told that Slovan Bratislava may look to cash in on striker David Strelec if they don't reach the group stage of the Champions League. (Sport24 via Daily Record), externalBlackburn Rovers have agreed a deal to sign Hibernian and Australia defender Lewis Miller. (Lancashire Telegraph - subscription required), externalIcelandic midfielder Tomas Bent Magnusson has arrived in Edinburgh to join Hearts and could be signed before Monday's opening Premiership match against Aberdeen. (Edinburgh Evening News), externalFollowing the release of Richard Jensen, Aberdeen are also expected to offload fellow defender Slobodan Rubezic. (Press & Journal), externalSheffield United have held talks with Scotland forward Oli McBurnie about a potential return to Bramall Lane. (The Star), external

Plucky Greek journo's Rangers question to Russell Martin shows Panathinaikos devastation - and Ibrox fans must get real
Plucky Greek journo's Rangers question to Russell Martin shows Panathinaikos devastation - and Ibrox fans must get real

Daily Record

time31 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

Plucky Greek journo's Rangers question to Russell Martin shows Panathinaikos devastation - and Ibrox fans must get real

Seriously, the criticism of him and his team's performance has been ridiculously over the top writes our man who was in Athens Only one plucky Greek journalist managed to muster a question at Russell Martin's post-match press conference in Athens. ‌ The rest were probably hurting too much. ‌ The guy was gutted, having just watched Panathinaikos get dumped out of Europe by Rangers in their own backyard. ‌ When he addressed Martin on the podium, the pain was etched on his face. He asked the Rangers manager if he felt his side had all the luck in their Champions League qualifying tie. And if he didn't, could he pinpoint a single aspect of the game where the Scottish team were better than Rui Vitoria's beaten side. At one point, you wondered if there might be tears. OK, I'm over-egging it. But the point I'm trying to illustrate is just how devastated the Greeks were by the 3-1 aggregate result. ‌ Yet in the aftermath of Rangers' victory, judging by some of the reaction, Martin and his players should somehow feel guilty about their Champions League progression. Seriously, the criticism of him and his team's performance has been ridiculously over the top. Even Record Sport's own Keith Jackson, was scathing in his assessment. ‌ On the way home from Greece, Rangers fans at the airport seemed deflated, rather than elated. Football's changed eh? Remember the days when it was all about winning? Now, if your team's display is not aesthetically pleasing, for some the result is almost irrelevant. It's madness. ‌ Martin has worked with this group of players for a matter of weeks. A hotchpotch squad of some guys riddled by failure for years, others who want out, some who aren't good enough - and a few prized assets the manager will hope to build upon. He's then added a raft of new signings to the mix, a couple of whom aren't even fully fit yet. ‌ On top of that, he's been 100 percent clear that he's bringing a completely new way of playing that will take time to implement. Remember, for Rangers this isn't just a tweak or tinker job in terms of style. It's a seismic, cultural change not seen at Ibrox in years. ‌ So, after 57 days in the job, what exactly were supporters and pundits expecting from Martin and this team? Free-flowing phases of play and attacking football from the off? Get real. When the draw for the Champions League qualifiers was made, Panathinaikos was the nightmare pairing for Rangers - the toughest possible opponent at this stage. ‌ Most outsiders felt it would be a tall order to go through. Instead, they've scored three outstanding goals over two legs to win 3-1 and secure a guaranteed Europa League group spot again. But Martin's getting flak? ‌ Would supporters or critics rather be in the shoes of that Greek journalist or the Panathinaikos fans after Wednesday night? Absolutely delighted with how they played, creating loads of chances - but out of Europe altogether before August? ‌ Didn't think so. So why the negativity? Martin's squad is still a million miles away from being Champions League ready. He'll want at least another four players in before the transfer window closes, with a few going out as well. ‌ But right now, he's had to navigate a hugely difficult European tie with the cards he's been dealt. And he hasn't done too bad a job. Of course, there were scares at Ibrox and in the Olympic Stadium. Aye, Jack Butland had to pull off a few good saves in the tie. But that's what he's there for. ‌ Rangers were under the cosh for 45 minutes in Greece and had to dig in. But with Panathinaikos two goals behind, at their own ground, with 40,000 fanatics demanding they go for Rangers' throats - did anyone seriously expect anything else? Martin's team could obviously have been better on the ball but it's still early days. ‌ There WERE glimpses of what he wants from this team and how he expects it to look. But he's still well short of quality in the final third of the pitch. I've read accusations of Rangers being 'wide open'. So what does that make Panathinaikos, who shipped three goals in the tie? ‌ The key thing about Wednesday night - which is a really important sign of what the players think of their new gaffer - is the shift they put in for him in testing conditions. They didn't wilt. Instead, they grafted their a***s off for Martin and his staff. That tells me they've bought into him, which is vital. When Ange Postecoglou arrived at Celtic in the summer of 2022, he also vowed to transform the Hoops' playing style. ‌ Early on, just like Martin, he was thrown into a tricky European qualifier against FC Midtjylland - and came a cropper. Celtic were beaten by the competent Danes but excuses were made for their new Aussie gaffer. ‌ That's despite the fact he deployed a multi-million pound forward line in the two games, consisting of Liel Abada, Odsonne Edouard and Ryan Christie. All of whom are considerably better than Martin's attacking trio - Kieran Dowell, Danilo and Findlay Curtis - against the Greeks. Postecoglou also lost his opening league game at Tynecastle against Hearts when, while trying to get his team playing out from the back, the likes of new Swedish defender Carl Starfelt was all over the place. ‌ Again, it was seen as a work in progress. There were signs it was coming together but defeats to Rangers at Ibrox and Livingston in West Lothian suggested his style wouldn't work away from home. Their Old Firm rivals were apparently certs for the title. ‌ We all know what happened next. Before too long, Postecoglou's side were sweeping aside all before them and hoovering up trophies. Martin has a long way to go - with a mountain of work ahead of him - to get to that stage. But he knows that. And he knows it'll take time, as well as more quality players. ‌ If he gets found out at Fir Park on Saturday and loses his Premiership opener to Motherwell? Or if there are early slip-ups in the league that leave them trailing Celtic? There will be a queue of people lining up to have a pop - and I'll be in it. ‌ Because unlike in Europe, domestically Martin HAS to get results even amidst a period of transition. If it goes haywire on that score, of course he'll deserve flak. But after an emphatic Champions League victory over Panathinaikos this early in his Ibrox reign? That's grossly unfair.

Motherwell vs Rangers Scottish Premiership prediction, odds and betting offer
Motherwell vs Rangers Scottish Premiership prediction, odds and betting offer

Daily Mirror

time32 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Motherwell vs Rangers Scottish Premiership prediction, odds and betting offer

Rangers will be looking to mount a serious title challenge this season under Russell Martin's guidance as they start their Scottish Premiership campaign at Motherwell New season and new manager at the reins as Rangers look to regain the Scottish Premiership title under Russell Martin's guidance as the Glasgow club head to Fir Park to face Motherwell in their season opener. The Gers had a disappointing league campaign last season ending 17 points adrift from Celtic as they equalled the Teddy Bears' 55 league title record. Their season saw Philippe Clement shown the door, arguably a lot later than many hoped for, in February and replaced by Barry Ferguson on an interim basis but could only manage six wins in 15 matches towards the end of the season. Despite an impressive display in the Europa League - leaving in the quarter-finals - the Gers failed to pick up any silverware domestically after bowing out of the fifth round of the Scottish Cup and runners-up in the League Cup. But the new found of positivity amongst Rangers fans comes as Russell Martin begins his tenure as the new Rangers boss as makes his league debut against a Motherwell side who are widely tipped for a bottom-half finish this season but far enough to be away from the relegation conversation too. Motherwell vs Rangers preview Rangers have shown resilience despite their growing injury list. Their recent matches highlight an ability to adapt tactically and maintain control even when missing first-team regulars. Expect Rangers to dominate possession and look for patient ways to break down Motherwell's defence. However, they will need to be alert to the threat of quick transitions from their opponents. Motherwell head into their Scottish Premiership fixture with cautious optimism after a steady pre-season. Their form late last season was inconsistent, but they have shown an ability to surprise stronger sides. With Rangers expected to be without key players such as Dujon Sterling and Rabbi Matondo due to injury, Motherwell may see an opportunity to unsettle the Ibrox side. Managerial strategy is likely to focus on defensive discipline, with Motherwell aiming to frustrate Rangers and pounce on any lapses. The Lanarkshire club could set up compactly at the back, looking for openings on the counter-attack or through well-rehearsed set pieces. This approach has served them well in the past against bigger clubs. Motherwell vs Rangers Motherwell - 11/2 Draw - 19/5 Rangers - 2/5 18+ | Gamble responsibly | | Odds subject to change Motherwell vs Rangers Chelsea to win and both teams to score - Over 2.5 goals - 18+ | Gamble responsibly | | Odds subject to change Motherwell vs Rangers Betting Offer If you are on the lookout for the latest free bet offers, then look no further. Here, not only do we bring you numerous free bet offers, but all from the very best betting sites in the industry. Each bookie we recommend is fully licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, so you know you are always betting on a safe and trustworthy site. Check out the Mirror Betting Hubs Free Bets offers here. Gamble responsibly Reach plc is committed to promoting safer gambling. All of our content and recommended bets are advised to those aged 18 or over. Odds are subject to change too. We strongly encourage our readers to only ever bet what they can afford to lose. For more information, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store