logo
Oliver Antman tees up Rangers transfer as £5m winger makes Ibrox revamp fit his demanding criteria

Oliver Antman tees up Rangers transfer as £5m winger makes Ibrox revamp fit his demanding criteria

Daily Record3 days ago
The ambitious 23-year-old is wanted by Russell Martin as a marquee arrival to underline the new era led by Andrew Cavenagh and Co
Top Rangers target Oliver Antman admits he is primed and ready to make the switch to Ibrox with Go Ahead Eagles close to sanctioning his £5million exit to Glasgow.

The ambitious 23-year-old is wanted by Russell Martin as a marquee arrival to underline the new era led by Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers with talks well under way.

And Antman admits he is relishing a transfer. In a searingly honest interview in the Netherlands with Voetbal International, he said: "Last season was so good for me that the next step would be logical. If something good comes along, I'm willing to take on that challenge."

According to Antman, the time is ripe for a transfer which is complicated somewhat by Celtic's protracted chase of his Eagles team-mate Jakob Breum. The KNVB Cup Winners – participating in the Europa League – expect their two star turns to exit this summer.
It's understood Breum has his heart set on Celtic, however, Eagles supremo Jan Streuer is adamant the Premiership champions are below their asking price with Twente.
And Antman reckons he is now ready to step off the conveyor belt of ready-made talent which has earned Go Ahead a reputation as one of the best finishing schools in European football. added: "I do think this is the moment to take a step, just like Simonis and Enric Llansana did. The club wouldn't have expected me to be worth four times what they paid for me a year ago either."
Antman admits he's in no rush to exit Eagles unless the offer is right. But the Finland international made sure that Rangers make the list for his strict criteria despite one day dreaming of starring in one of the world's biggest leagues.
He said : "I'm enjoying myself, and the Europa League matches are fantastic to experience. That's a special stage for me too. If nothing good comes along, why would I go? I want to play in a top league one day and compete in the Champions League.
"A club in a top-five league would be fantastic, but there are also great clubs in other countries."

Martin is linked with a clutch of wingers with England youth international Jesurun Rak Sakyi wanted on an initial loan with a £10million option to buy.
And Tottenham wonder boy Mikey Moore is another Martin is keen on.

You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Celtic community here.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Son Heung-min next club odds after Tottenham legend makes shock announcement
Son Heung-min next club odds after Tottenham legend makes shock announcement

Metro

time9 minutes ago

  • Metro

Son Heung-min next club odds after Tottenham legend makes shock announcement

Son Heung-min looks set to continue his career in MLS after announcing his intention to leave Tottenham this summer. The 33-yeear-old has spent the last decade at Spurs and achieved his goal of silverware in May when he helped the Premier League team to Europa League success with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. It ended a 17-year trophy drought for the club and South Korea captain Son explained his decision to target a 'fresh challenge' during a press conference in his home country ahead of Tottenham's pre-season friendly with Newcastle on Sunday. After Spurs arrived in Seoul on Friday, Son – following a remarkable 454 appearances and 173 goals for the north London club – confirmed his desire to depart this summer, with Los Angeles FC leading the race for his signature. Son told a press conference: 'Before we start, I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer. 'Respectfully, the club is helping me with this decision. 'It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career, such amazing memories. It was so hard to make this decision. Any MLS Club – 1/3Any Saudi Club – 9/4Any Turkish Club – 4/1Manchester United- 16/1 Any Japanese Club – 16/1 He continued: 'I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change – 10 years is a long time. 'I came to north London as a kid, 23-years-old, such a young age. I leave the club as a grown man, a very proud man. 'I want to say thanks to all the Spurs fans for giving me so much love. I hope the goodbye is also good timing and this is the right time to make that decision. I hope everyone can accept and respect that.' More Trending New Tottenham head coach Frank confirmed Son would start and be captain in Sunday's friendly with Newcastle at Seoul's World Cup Stadium. It could be Son's final appearance for Spurs, despite the UEFA Super Cup fixture with Paris St Germain in Udine on the horizon on August 13. Frank said: 'It's very clear that Sonny will start and lead the team out as captain. If that is the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it here in front of his home fans. It could be a beautiful ending.' Son joined Tottenham in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen and after a tricky debut campaign, he quickly became a fan favourite and subsequently a modern-day Premier League great due to his consistency and personality, clinching the golden boot award in the 2022-23 season, but he is now set to exit after 10 years in north London MORE: Benjamin Sesko U-turns over Manchester United transfer after Newcastle talks MORE: Bruno Fernandes receives new approach to leave Manchester United this summer MORE: Alexander Isak responds to Manchester United approach with £110m Liverpool bid rejected

Brendan Rodgers on 'bow at his feet' Paul McStay and new loanee hopes
Brendan Rodgers on 'bow at his feet' Paul McStay and new loanee hopes

The Herald Scotland

time23 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Brendan Rodgers on 'bow at his feet' Paul McStay and new loanee hopes

Rodgers admitted that he will need time to assess the 19-year-old's fitness levels before he will be able to determine when his new acquisition will be able to make his competitive debut for the Scottish champions. However, the Northern Irishman, who already has Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales and Dane Murray in his squad, feels that his latest recruit has many qualities which will suit his Celtic side. Read more: 'He is a very gifted young player, obviously having come through the system there at Manchester City,' he said. 'His profile fits very much with what we want from a centre-half. He's quick, he's dominant, he's a good defender. At Celtic, your centre-halves need to be able to progress the ball and that's a big strength of his. 'We've taken him on loan for a year. He's obviously a little bit behind because he hasn't played so many games over the course of pre-season, but we've brought him through for the rest of the season. Once that's done, then we can measure where he's at. He's been training at Manchester City so we need to just assess that. 'We always need all our centre-halves at Celtic. You play so many games, so many intense games, and he'll join our squad. But all of the players are here to compete. There's always the opportunity for any player to come in and play, no matter how old. (Image: SNS Group) 'I've put young players in front of international players before. So every player that comes in has the opportunity to start. But, yeah, we'll assess him on where he's at and his fitness and his football when he comes in and take it from there. 'But adding him to our group makes us stronger in that department. There are lots of links with various players, but I would see him being not our last defender, but our last central defender.' Meanwhile, lifelong Celtic fan Rodgers has admitted that he is looking forward to meeting up with Paul McStay again tomorrow when the Parkhead legend unfurls the league flag before the opening William Hill Premiership game of the season against St Mirren. Read more: 'Paul would probably play in two positions for me,' he said. 'He was amazing. When the club spoke to me and told me that there was the possibility of him coming to do the flag day, I went into my boy mode again. 'What an amazing icon of the club he is. It's just a shame you don't see so much of him, he's obviously on the other side of the world now. But that was my memories growing up - with Paul on the team. He is just an icon of the club, such a humble guy. 'I had the privilege of meeting him for the first time when I was here. He came into my office and it was just brilliant. To see him on Sunday will be amazing. He was such an icon at such a tough time for Celtic. I can't speak highly enough of him. 'I don't know Paul that well, but I know many people who do I was struck by the humility of the guy when I met him. All I really wanted to do was bow at his feet.'

Brendan Rodgers makes Celtic manager admission ahead of new season
Brendan Rodgers makes Celtic manager admission ahead of new season

The Herald Scotland

time23 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

Brendan Rodgers makes Celtic manager admission ahead of new season

Rodgers - who yesterday revealed that he had, despite holding talks with major shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Michael Nicholson in recent weeks, not been officially offered an extension to his current deal – was adamant that outside noise about his personal future would not have any impact on his side on the park this term. But his revelation that Celtic will need to show they share his ambition – and that effectively means spend more money in the transfer market so that his side can do even better domestically and go even further in Europe – before he puts pen to paper on a new agreement is only going to fuel 'will he stay or will he go?' speculation further. Read more: 'There's no further update, no,' he said at his first pre-match press conference of the 2025/26 campaign at Lennoxtown ahead of the William Hill Premiership meeting with St Mirren at Parkhead tomorrow. 'But, for the sake of honesty and clarity, I can tell you exactly where we're at. 'I said when I came here first that I'd do a minimum of three years. People had me out the door at the end of last season. I was going to various places. I said then, like I'll say now, there's nowhere to go. I love being here. I've done two years, I've got one more year to go. 'Dermot, Michael, and I had a conversation over the summer on where we were at, where it sits with me and everything else. I said I'm very happy here. I love being at Celtic. But there are conditions. 'We want to be able to improve and be better because I'm not the type of manager who's for maintaining anything. If it's just something to maintain, I'm not the manager for Celtic, it'll be someone else. But to build and grow and develop and push? Then of course. 'So, when that time comes, when the club offers me a deal or not, then it doesn't make a difference to me because I will give everything here every single day of my life to the very last day. And when the club feels there's a time to make an offer, then they will do so.' (Image: Craig Williamson - SNS Group) Rodgers continued, 'It's slightly different from a manager's perspective to a player's. For players, clubs need to ensure that they're tied in, especially at this time of the year when there's maybe only a short time left. It's slightly different for a manager, but it doesn't change my hunger and desire here for the work. 'As I say, I'm not the one who's going to sit here and just maintain levels. This is a really fast-moving club and you have to keep moving, move quickly. It's one of the biggest clubs in world football that has a demand and an expectation of it. The only way you get better within that is by improving and developing. 'So, the message to the supporters is that everyone here will be doing their utmost to improve on last season. It's a really exciting season ahead. I'm so looking forward to it. And like I said, if we can add to where we need to add, then it can be even better for us. 'Celtic has an expectation and should have an expectation because of the size of the club we are and what the demands are here. Yes, there have been some challenges on the pitch and off the pitch since I've arrived. But that's management, that's coaching. In the main, I've absolutely loved it here. And I will continue to do so, however long that is. 'But like I said, there has to be that ambition from everyone. It's no good for the manager to have it and the players not, or whatever else. Everything has to be aligned. And I know that the club are also very keen to continue to progress and develop.' Read more: Asked if he was at all concerned about the uncertainty about his own position rumbling on and starting to become a distraction for his players this term, Rodgers said, 'Well, it depends on who it disrupts. It certainly won't be the players. It won't be the staff. And it won't be me. 'So I don't feel it will disrupt. Of course, I know in your world there's lots of speculation around it. But that's why I'm being honest and clear with you where it sits right at this very day. 'But it's not going to distract. The focus is very much on the team and improving the squad. That ambition - for Celtic to be the best - is all I'm concentrated on. So, no, I don't think it will be a disruption at all.' (Image: Mairo Cinquetti - SNS Group) Rodgers has strengthened his [[Celtic]] squad with no fewer than seven new players during the close season. But he remains, with the Champions League play-off matches looming in little over a fortnight, eager to do more business in the transfer window. Increasing his options up front is, with Nicolas Kuhn having not been replaced, a priority. 'I don't conclude the deals,' he said. 'There are always time lags on them for different reasons. Of course, we would love to get players in earlier. There's no doubt I would have liked to have players in by now, but it's not the case. 'I'm not going to kill my own joy and overthink stuff. I focus on what's here. We know the work that we need to do. It's my responsibility to convince the club that we really need them. I'm not doing that job as well as maybe I can, but I will continue to pursue that because it's something that's important for us. 'There is no shadow of a doubt, attack is the priority. People say, 'Is it frustrating?' It's arithmetic for me, it's just pure counting. If you count up the players that we have lost in that area over the last period, look at the players who have gone, then clearly we need to replace that. It's a key part of our team, it's a key part of how we play, it's a key part of what excites supporters. That's what we want to bring to the club.'

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