Burning Rangers updates as Cerny in bomb squad, Hagi rejects 'extraordinary offer' and Henderson goes unclaimed
Vaclav Cerny's future at Wolfsburg has been thrown further into doubt after the club's transfer chief confirmed they are looking to reduce their squad size ahead of the new season.
The Czech Republic international has returned to the Bundesliga side following his loan spell with Rangers where he netted 18 goals in all competitions, including six strikes in the run to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Cerny is reportedly the subject of interest from Turkish duo Trabzonspor and Besiktas, with the latter said to have submitted a £6million offer for the player.
Wolfsburg have just appointed Dutchman Paul Simonis as their new manager off the back of his shock KNVB Cup triumph with Go Ahead Eagles and their sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz insists cutting down on their squad list is a priority.
He told Zevener-Zeitung: "Our focus is on reducing the squad. We want to slim down."
One other big name who has left Rangers this summer is Ianis Hagi. The Romanian playmaker is on the lookout for a new club after his contract at Ibrox ran out.
The 26-year-old is said to have knocked back an approach from Polish outfit Legia Warsaw, with the club's transfer chief recently going on record to state that the player was simply out of their price range.
And Hagi's boss at international level Mircea Lucescu, now claims that the ex Gers midfielder has snubbed an even more 'extraordinary' offer from a significant European team.
Speaking to Fotbal Club (via DigiSport), he said: "We'll see what happens, another day or two. I don't want to... I spoke to him recently, I don't want to discuss it right now.
"The team he could have joined was an extraordinary one, very good, in a very strong championship. He's a very good player, a talent, you just have to find his place. See where he could give the best performance.
"He should play, he knows very well, he's a professional. He was about to get a very good transfer. I can't discuss it, because it's none of my business.
"It wasn't about money, no. Sure, some people care about money, despite all my insistence on changing the team."
Meanwhile, Ajax have confirmed the departure of midfielder Jordan Henderson.
The former Liverpool captain - who has won 84 caps for England - joined the Amsterdam giants from Al-Ettifaq in January 2024 but is now a free agent after both parties mutually agreed to terminate his contract.
Henderson, 35, was linked to Rangers earlier this year as a number two to Steven Gerrard prior to Russell Martin getting the job.
While talk of a return to boyhood club Sunderland has never gone away, Sky Sports insist that the veteran is not a target for the Black Cats.
Speaking to Ajax's website, the Premier League and Champions League winner said: "I would like to express my immense gratitude to everyone associated with Ajax for giving me the opportunity to represent this incredible institution over the past few years. To play for this club was an honour in itself.
"To have the privilege of captaining it was even more so. My only regret is that we didn't deliver more success for the amazing supporters. They deserve to be celebrating major titles again, and I'm sure that time will come soon.
My family and I were made to feel so welcome, not just by the club but also in the wonderful city of Amsterdam. We will always be grateful for that.
"Due to the tragic events of last week, and the devastating loss of my former teammate Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, it doesn't feel right at this moment to say or do more than share this brief statement. However, I am fully aware that I owe this club, my teammates, and the supporters a fuller and more personal thank you.
"I will, of course, do that when the time feels more appropriate. For now, I want to express my appreciation to Ajax once again, as well as everyone I haven't had the chance to speak to in person yesterday, all of you who make this club so special."
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