Benitez on Rangers radar
The San Francisco 49ers-backed consortium poised to take over Rangers is considering Rafael Benitez as the next permanent manager at Ibrox. (Daily Record)Kevin Muscat has also been linked with Rangers but he has reiterated his commitment to Shanghai Port with the club on the brink of exiting the Asian Champions League. (Daily Record)Mystery still surrounds Ryan Kent's departure from Fenerbahce in Istanbul nearly five months after the former Rangers winger had his contract with the Turkish club terminated by mutual consent. (The Herald)Queen's Park boss Callum Davidson plans to use on-loan Rangers defender Leon King as a central midfielder between now and the end of the season. (Scottish Sun)Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.
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Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Hamza Igamane sparks Rangers transfer battle as EPL and French clubs line up bids as stellar price tag set
The Moroccan frontman only joined Gers for £1.7million last summer Rangers striker Hamza Igamane is reportedly the subject of interest from clubs in the Premier League and Ligue 1. The Morocco international enjoyed a productive first season at Ibrox following his £1.7milion move from FAR Rabat last summer, notching 16 times in 46 matches in all competitions. Those displays have helped the 22-year-old make the breakthrough at international level, with Igamane making his senior bow for Morocco in a World Cup qualifying victory against Niger back in March. But reports out of France claim that new Gers boss Russell Martin will have a fight on their hands to keep a hold of the frontman ahead of the new season. Foot Mercato state that Igamane is a target for seven clubs from the top tiers in England and France. They claim that Everton, West Ham and Brentford have been joined by Lens, Lille, Rennes and Strasbourg in the race to land the Ibrox ace. Lille are in the market for a new attacker following talisman Jonathan David's pending exit on a free transfer while Rennes may look for a replacement for Celtic hero Kyogo Furuhashi, who is said to be surplus to requirements after just six months with the Ligue 1 club. However, they add that Rangers are under no pressure to sell the forward and that an asking price of €15million (£12.7million) will have to be met to take Igamane away from Govan. Fellow Ibrox frontman Cyriel Dessers has also been linked with an exit this summer, with Greek outfit AEK keen on the Nigeria international. But Record Sport has learned that Rangers won't be willing to listen to any offers of less than £5million for the 30-year-old. Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell's transfer coffers are set to be given a boost after new Ibrox owners 49ers Enteprises pledged to pump £20million into the recruitment drive. We have also has revealed that talks over potential deals for Leicester City defender Conor Coady and Maccabi Tel Aviv striker Dor Turgeman are ongoing. Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Hearts ‘make transfer offer' for Nigerian striker, 19, amid Lawrence Shankland exit rumours
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HEARTS have made an offer for a Nigerian teenage striking sensation, a report suggests. Derek McInnes is keen to add centre-forwards to his squad ahead of the new season, with the increasing likelihood that Lawrence Shankland could be leaving Tynecastle. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Derek McInnes is eyeing up some reinformcements for the new season Credit: SNS 2 Uchenna Ogundu is only 19 but Jamestown Analytics have been tracking him Credit: Uchenna Ogundu SunSport understands the Scotland cap has remained in talks with the Jambos about a possible contract extension but with interest from West Brom and Saudi Arabia, it will take a lot to tempt him to stay in Edinburgh. It's being reported that Hearts have put forward an offer to sign Uchenna Ogundu from Turkish second-tier side Sanliurfaspor. The Edinburgh Evening News claims the 19-year-old is wanted by a host of clubs across Europe, both on the continent and in the UK. Hull City, Sturm Graz, Fortuna Sittard and Gornik Zabrze have all been mentioned as interested parties. Turkish giants Fenerbahce and fellow Super Lig outfit Samsunspor have also been credited with interest. It's claimed that Fenerbahce would view him as more of a project and could potentially let the player leave on loan, keeping the door open for a move to Hearts. Ogundu has two years remaining on his contract at Sanliurfaspor. The same outlet also reported that the Jambos are in talks with Portuguese striker Claudio Braga. He could cost around in excess of £400,000 from Norwegian second-tier side Aalesund FK. Ogundu moved to Turkey last August from Diamond Academy in his native Nigeria. Robbie Neilson Released by Rangers, finding a home at Hearts, and splitting the Old Firm He scoring six goals and provided two assists in 19 appearances for Sanliurfaspor after making his debut in January. The Jambos' recruitment partner Jamestown Analytics have reportedly been monitoring the striker for some time. Ogundu stands at 6ft 2in tall and can also play as a right winger. SunSport also understands McInnes is close to completing a deal for trusted defender Stuart Findlay. The big centre-back started his career at Celtic as a youngster before heading down south to join Newcastle in 2016 - after loan spells at Morton, Dumbarton and Kilmarnock. He then became a key player under McInnes over the last two years. Hearts have already pushed through the signings of Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink, Greek wide man Alexandros Kyziridis and Irish midfielder Oisin McEntee, whilst making Belgian striker Elton Kabangu's loan a permanent transfer. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
When is Rangers Champions League draw and who could Russell Martin's side face in qualifiers?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSELL MARTIN only started work as the new Rangers head coach this week. But time doesn't wait for anyone - especially not in Scottish football - and particularly when it comes to the Champions League qualifiers this summer. 2 Rangers will be back in the Champions League draw again Credit: Getty 2 Rangers lost in Champions League qualifying to Dynamo Kyiv last year Credit: PA Rangers will enter Uefa's top competition at the second qualifying round stage. Winning that tie is of paramount importance to Gers as it will significantly impact how difficult it could become to secure European group stage football of some sort for the season ahead. The Light Blues made another deep run in Europe last season, reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League before losing to Athletic Bilbao. They'll start a level above for this campaign and will hope to improve on their last showing in the Champions League proper when they finished with the worst record of any team during the 2022-23 season (Gers failed to qualify at all last year). Here's all you need to know for the Champions League draw, when Rangers will find out who they play. When is the Champions League second qualifying round draw? The Champions League second qualifying round draw will be held on Wednesday, June 18 It will be held at the House of European Football in Berne, Switzerland Proceedings will get underway at around 11am UK time Are Rangers seeded for the draw? Yes, Rangers are seeded for the Champions League second qualifying round draw Their club coefficient ensures they will be in the League Path for the qualifying rounds For the second qualifying round, they are seeded alongside Red Bull Salzburg and Viktoria Plzen Who could Rangers face in the Champions League second qualifying round? Rangers will face either Panathinaikos, Servette or Brann in the Champions League second qualifying round All three of those teams are unseeded Like Rangers, all three of those sides finished second in their respective leagues When are the the Champions League second qualifying round fixtures? The first leg of the ties will take place on 22/23 July The second legs will be held on 29/30 July What happens if Rangers lose in the second qualifying round? If Rangers lose in the second qualifying round, they will drop into the Europa League third qualifying round as an UNSEEDED team. Moment Ally McCoist interrupts live radio to congratulate his 'wee pal' on signing for Rangers That would put them at the mercy of some strong sides on the continent. Anderlecht, Braga, Midtjylland and PAOK are all confirmed as seeded sides in the Europa League third qualifying round. Those fixtures are scheduled for 7 and 14 August and there is NO parachute into the Europa Conference League league phase for the losers at this stage. Instead, Gers would face a play-off to reach the group stages. It's hard to say whether the Glasgow side would be seeded here or not as the 26 winners of the Conference League's third qualifying round and the other four would-be losers in the Europa League third qualifying round are obviously yet to be determined. Of the team current in the picture though, only Serie A outfit Fiorentina have a higher club coefficient than Gers. But in the worst case scenario, Rangers would be OUT of Europe by the middle of August. What happens if Rangers win in the Champions League second qualifying round? A win in the the second qualifying round would guarantee group stage football for Russell Martin's Gers. That's because the losers of the Champions League third qualifying round drop into the league phase of the Europa League. And if Rangers win the third qualifying round tie as well then they would of course go into the play-off round. It's straightforward from there: win and it's into the Champions League proper, lose and it's the Europa League league phase once again. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
