Minute's applause at Ibrox for 'one of a kind' supporter
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
23 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Rangers exact Jefte transfer profit revealed as Palmeiras deal announced and one more exit nears
Jefte has officially left the club and another fringe man looks set to follow Left-back Jefte has sealed a switch to Palmeiras - and has netted Rangers a bumper profit. The Brazilian joined the Light Blues from Fluminese last summer for just £600,000 after catching the eye on loan at APOEL. Record Sport understands a £6.5million payout has been landed for Jefte with the package set to include performance related add-ons and a sell-on clause. It means that the Ibrox side have turned a £5.9m profit minimum on the player and can look to reinvest a chunk of that in a new starting left-back. He's not the only player leaving either as it's being reported Jose Cifuentes is closing in on a move away of his own. MLS reporter Tom Bogert reports the Ecuador midfielder is on the verge of a loan move to Toronto FC. It's believed the deal is a loan until next summer with a buy option which Toronto can trigger should he prove a success back in MLS. Cifuentes was tipped as a game-changing signing by Michael Beale, who brought him to the club in 2023, but he's struggled to settle and since spent time on loan at Cruzeiro in Brazil and Aris in Greece. 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 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.
Daily Record
25 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Celtic fan frustration boils over as 'sack the board' chants ring out during Kairat stalemate
The Scottish champions were held to a goalless draw in the first leg of their Champions League playoff with the Kazakhstan champions Brendan Rodgers might face an uphill battle convincing the Celtic board to part with their bank card. But the Hoops boss has an even bigger mountain to climb if he's to unlock the riches of the Champions League. Celts were given an Almaty scare at Parkhead last night after being held to a goalless draw by the unknowns from Kazakhstan. Having seen off Astana and Shakhter Karagandy in previous years, Celtic were heavy favourites to plant one foot in the £40million group stages. No wonder too, when you consider Kairat Almaty have only ever had one European adventure - a 2021/22 Conference League group stage appearance when they finished bottom of their section with just two points. But the Scottish champions won't be packing a home aggregate lead in the suitcase for next week's gruelling 4000-mile trek east as the Glasgow giants gamble throwing away a golden ticket to the revamped league phase. Rodgers made six changes to the second-string team that dismantled Falkirk 4-1 as his big hitters - including Cameron Carter-Vickers and Benjamin Nygren - were restored to the line-up. Yet unlike Friday night under the lights, there was no party atmosphere as they were held to a stalemate, leaving the tie wide open ahead of a gruelling 4,000-mile journey to Kazakhstan. Frustrated Rodgers has been crying out for signings this summer to bolster his depleted attacking options. And Celtic's lack of potency was there for all to see as they failed to break down a resolute Kairat Almaty backline - even with 10 minutes of stoppage time. Now, they stare at the prospect of Europa League football - unless they become the first Scottish side to win on Kazakh soil on Tuesday. AJ injury It's never a good sign when a player crumbles to the deck off the ball. Alistair Johnston looked stricken on the ground as he pulled up after racing back to cover a counter-attack. The Canadian international, who has made a brilliant start to the season, required medical attention and was eventually stretchered off at 35 minutes. Deputy Anthony Ralston was subbed on as his replacement as he linked up with James Forrest down the right-hand side. However, Johnston's prognosis will be a major concern for Rodgers, especially amidst a crucial run of games. It looks almost certain that the 26-year-old will miss Saturday's visit of Livingston, next week's jaunt Kazakhstan and the small matter of a Glasgow derby at Ibrox. Rodgers has made it clear he's in the hunt for a new left-back to serve as back-up to Kieran Tierney. If Johnston is out for the long term, he'll need to dip into the market for another right-back too. Our of tune Playing against a team ranked 315th in UEFA's coefficients - even lower than St Johnstone - most fans thought it'd be a case of how many against an unknown side from Central Asia. But the Hoops looked completely out of sync, especially in the first-half. Nothing clicked and disgruntled fans made their voices heard as one too many passes went astray. The ever-reliable James Forrest, Swedish playmaker Nygren and Japanese maestro Reo Hatate were guilty of overcooking too many balls. It was a thoroughly disappointing first 45 minutes from the Hoops, who could have no complaints about going into the break goalless. In fact, Almaty came close to going ahead, only for Valeri Gromyko's close-range tap-in to be disallowed for offside. Shockingly, Celts headed down the tunnel with an XG of just 0.05 after registering just two shots. Celtic did show more energy after the restart but their lack of cutting edge was laid bare by the fact they ended the night with only two efforts on target. There was a complete lack of urgency, intensity and creativity. Idah hooked It looks like Rodgers is running out of patience with £9million striker Adam Idah. The Irishman barely touched the ball in an anonymous showing. As the second most expensive signing in the club's history, these are the nights when you expect the former Norwich star to come alive and repay the fee. But the out-of-sorts 24-year-old was sacrificed at the break as Rodgers made a much-needed tactical switch. South Korean winger Yang continues to blow hot and cold but he made an immediate difference after being thrown on for a crucial second-half. He occupied the left-hand flank as last year's 33-goal hitman, Maeda, was deployed through the middle to try and break down the stubborn Kairat defence. But it didn't work out. Sack the board The Green Brigade vented their fury at directors sitting in the comfy seats as the clock ticked down. Chants of 'sack the board' rang around Parkhead, with all corners of the stadium joining in. Chairman Peter Lawwell and chief exec Michael Nicholson were told in no uncertain terms where to go as supporters let rip at the club's moneymen for failing to back Rodgers in the transfer market - and gambling a place in the Champions League group stages. Fans have coughed up fortunes already this season on increased season ticket prices, endless merchandise and Celtic TV subscriptions. It's no wonder they're feeling short-changed with tens of millions gathering dust in the Bank of Parkhead. Golden boy There aren't too many household names in Kairat's squad. But all the talk beforehand was about Chelsea-bound wonderkid Dastan Satpaev. The golden boy of Almaty has agreed a deal that will see him move to Stamford Bridge when he turns 18 next August. And it's clear the most talked about youngster in Kazakhstan is destined to have a huge future in the game. He almost broke the deadlock early into the second-half with an audacious long-range lob that narrowly sailed over the bar - much to the relief of scrambling keeper Kasper Schmeichel. However, the 5ft 5in youngster was - quite literally - overshadowed by Brazilian powerhouse Edmilson. The former Celtic striker is a big unit and bulldozed Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales, causing huge problems in the air. He won the high ball before Kairat's offside finish and had the Hoops backline in knots at times. Rafael Urazbakhtin's men have already punched well above their weight by reaching this stage in the competition for the first time in their history. After stunning Slovan Bratislava in the last round, lightning struck twice in Glasgow. Celts have made hard work of it in the former Soviet republic in the past, and Rodgers' men will have to be at their best to rescue this tie in Almaty. The last time Callum McGregor and James Forrest were in Kazakhstan in 2019, Scotland were on the wrong end of a 3-0 spanking. They'll need a different outcome on Tuesday.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Rangers outcast closes in on exit as ‘MLS club finalise deal to sign forgotten Ibrox star'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RANGERS star Jose Cifuentes is close to sealing an exit from the club, according to a report. The midfielder has become a virtual outcast at Ibrox and has been expected to move on. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Jose Cifuentes' torrid Rangers spell could be coming to an end Credit: Willie Vass 3 Cifuentes was in the stands to watch Rangers take on Club Brugge last month Credit: Willie Vass 3 He had a spell with Aris in Greece last month Credit: Alamy Ecuador international Cifuentes, 26, was a key target for former Rangers boss Michael Beale. Having agreed a pre-contract deal to sign him from MLS side LAFC, the Gers got the deal done in August 2023 for £1.2million. But his time in Glasgow has been a nightmare. Finding starts hard to come by, he made just nine league appearances in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign. He was red-carded against Dundee in what is his last Premiership appearance to date. When Philippe Clement replaced Beale as Gers boss, Cifuentes' future was immediately in doubt. He joined Brazilian club Cruzeiro on loan in February 2024, but that deal was ripped up just six months later. That deal was ended to allow him to join Greek outfit Aris on a season-long loan for the 2024/25 campaign. Cifuentes impressed buy Aris didn't take up their option to make it permanent. That meant Cifuentes returned to Ibrox this summer but he hasn't had a look in under new boss Russell Martin. Rangers fans should NEVER have walked out on their team despite Brugge battering He was in the stands at Ibrox to watch the pre-season friendly against Club Brugge but hasn't seen any game time. Now, he looks set to move on. MLS insider Tom Bogert is reporting that Toronto FC are 'finalising a deal' to sign Cifuentes. It's claimed that it will be another loan deal for the player, running until the summer. Toronto will then have the option to purchase Cifuentes. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Scottish Sun. is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun.
