Rangers get clear Conor Coady message from new Leicester City boss as transfer 'obligation' boils over
Rangers target Conor Coady has started the first game of Leicester City's pre-season training camp in Austria.
New Foxes' boss Marti Cifuentes sent a clear message to the Scottish Premiership side as he showed his faith in the England cap amid lingering speculation over his future.
Record Sport revealed on Tuesday that Coady had hoped to be given the green light to travel to Glasgow to conclude a much anticipated move to Ibrox rather than lead his team mates on a ten day summer tour.
But Coady remains under contract and the 32-year-old was not given permission to push forward his move to the Scottish Premiership.
With talks now at a standstill, despite the cash strapped King Power outfit have now also earmarked the 32-year-old's replacement - Cifuentes kept Coady as his captain for the clash with Hungarian side Zalaegerszegi.
The experienced defender was in from the start in Cifuentes first game in charge after being appointed as Ruud van Nistelrooy's replacement early this week.
Rangers' boss Russell Martin is set to go into next week's crucial qualification first leg against Panathinaikos without the former England defender in his Euro ranks.
But a deal is not off the table, with Leicester keen to offload players who have entered the final year of their contract - including Coady.
The Leicester Mercury report City could be "obliged to accept any bids" for players who become free agents next summer "rather than lose them for nothing" at the end of the English Championship campaign.
The report notes there has been "no advancements" in talks between Rangers and Leicester in the last week - leaving Martin with Wolves loanee Nasser Djiga and Peterborough recruit Manny Fernandez as his two additions at the heart of his defence he talks into the clash with the Greek side next Tuesday.
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
14 minutes ago
- Metro
7 films celebrating women in sport after the Lionesses win Euro 2025
England is celebrating after the Lionesses brought home the Euro 2025 cup following a nail-biting final against Spain. In a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, the Lionesses avenged that heartbreaking defeat in Sydney two years ago by clawing back the win during penalties. After a nervy 120 minutes, Hannah Hampton was the hero in the shootout, saving three penalties, giving Chloe Kelly the chance to score the winning spot-kick. It marks the first time an England team has won a major trophy on foreign soil, so naturally, fans of the sport are over the moon. Women's sporting achievements are often overshadowed in the public eye, with the Lionesses' win shining a light on their importance for younger generations dipping their toes into sports. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. Various films across the decades have celebrated women in sports, whether that be football, boxing, cricket, or more obscure activities. Following the Lionesses' Euro win, dive into these seven flicks available to stream and rent right now, highlighting incredible sportswomen both fictional and in real life. Where to watch: ITVX and Disney Plus Is there a more perfect film to celebrate the England women's football team than Bend It Like Beckham? And what's more, we'll have a sequel to enjoy soon, too. Released in 2002, Bend It Like Beckham starred Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra and is credited with inspiring a generation of girls to take up football. Its plot follows Jesminder Bhamra (Nagra), who dreams of a career in professional footie. However, her Sikh parents want her to study for a law degree and get married. She meets Jules Paxton (Knightley), a white female striker who invites Jess to join the local women's team. Where to watch: Available to rent on Apple TV Despite being financially unsuccessful, Whip It gained a cult following while also highlighting the incredible sport of roller derby to the masses. Directed by Drew Barrymore and based on Shauna Cross' 2007 novel Derby Girl, it follows Texas teen Bliss Cavendar (Elliot Page), who is falling out of love with the beauty pageant world. She attends a roller derby match between the Holy Rollers and the Hurl Scouts and falls in love with the sport, joining the latter behind her parents' backs. Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Prime Video Fight like a girl with Girlfight, directed by Karyn Kusama, who wrote the screenplay after learning the sport herself. Starring Michelle Rodriguez in her film debut, it follows a troubled Brooklyn high school student, Diana Guzman (Rodriguez), who regularly finds herself in trouble at school. She channels her aggression into becoming a boxer, despite the disapproval of her father (Paul Calderón) and her competitors in the male-dominated sport. Where to watch: Available to rent on Prime Video, Apple TV, and the Sky Store Starring Madonna, Geena Davis, and Tom Hanks, A League of Their Own is a sports comedy with real heart. Set during World War II, sisters Dottie (Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty) are drafted into an all-women's baseball league. They are led by Jimmy Dugan (Hanks), an alcoholic former star who struggles to manage the team and coach them to victory. Where to watch: Netflix Nyad is based on the real-life record-breaking American sports figure Diana Nyad, and was a box office and critical success at the time of its release. Nyad sees four-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening play swimmer Nyad, who, with support from her best friend and coach Bonnie Stoll (Jodie Foster), starts training at the age of 60 to finally attempt achieving her life-long dream: a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida. It co-stars Rhys Ifans as Nyad's chief navigator on her quest, John Bartlett, as well as Anna Harriette Pittman as the young version of Diana, Erica Cho, Luke Cosgrove, Eric T. Miller, and Garland Scott. Where to watch: Available to rent on Prime Video and the Sky Store Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, and Vanessa Lengies star in the 2006 sports comedy Stick It from Bring It On writer Jessica Bendinger. It follows Haley (Peregrym), a gifted athlete who, after her final brush with the law, is sentenced by a judge to join an elite gymnastics academy. Under the tutelage of legendary coach Burt Vickerman (Bridges), she harnesses her natural ability for the sport while her rebellious attitude wins both friends and enemies alike. Where to watch: Available to rent and buy on Prime Video More Trending The Oscar-winning Million Dollar Baby is one of the most influential sports films of modern times, often being cited as one of the greatest films of the 21st century. Starring Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, and Morgan Freeman, it follows cantankerous boxing trainer Frankie Dunn (Eastwood), who agrees to train Maggie Fitzgerald (Swank), a waitress and aspiring boxer. Maggie fights her way through the amateur tournaments, earning herself a reputation for quick knockouts, but she must battle with her self-doubt, her underappreciative coach, and the disapproval of her parents to achieve victory. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'If that's not a sign…' – Ella Toone shares poignant tribute to 'angel' dad after Euro 2025 win MORE: Emmerdale celebrates the Lionesses' Euros victory with last minute special scene MORE: England Euro 2025 hero second favourite to win Sports Personality of the Year
Scotsman
15 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Tomas Bent Magnusson set to fly to Scotland to join Hearts
Icelandic midfielder will be the ninth summer signing at Tynecastle Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Valur Reykjavik officials are today finalising transfer a transfer deal with Hearts for midfielder Tomas Bent Magnusson. The Icelandic club have agreed terms with Tynecastle officials, and 22-year-old Magnusson is preparing to fly to Scotland this week. He will undergo a medical before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract in Edinburgh. Valur left the player out of their Besta Deild Karla league win against Hafnarfjordur on Sunday in the knowledge that he has played his last game for them. Hearts made an official approach for Magnusson last week as head coach Derek McInnes looks to strengthen their midfield options ahead of the new Scottish Premiership season. Provided there are no late setbacks, he could be signed and registered in time to make an SPFL debut in Hearts' opening Premiership match in seven days' time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Speaking exclusively to the Edinburgh News, the Valur football chairman Bjorn Steinar Jonsson explained that the six-figure deal with Hearts is all close to being completed. 'It's more or less in place. We are just working on finalising that today,' he said. 'I met Tomas last night at our game and he was not sure which day he will go. Probably in the next few days he will travel to Scotland for a medical.' Magnusson is an energetic central midfielder who offers an attacking threat at set-pieces. He joined Valur after winning the Icelandic second division last year with IBV despite an opportunity to move to England at the time. After progressing quickly in the top flight and playing UEFA Conference League qualifiers this month, he is now destined for the Scottish Capital. Jonsson provided an insight into the player's attributes and character. 'In our team, I think he is best playing as a defensive midfielder in the No.6 position,' stated the chairman. 'That is where he has shown his best ability. He is primarily a defensive midfielder. Valur have a lot of possession in most games, they are a tough team, and he has moved forward with the team to score some goals. Partly that has come from set-pieces, where he can definitely be dangerous with his heading ability. He is also fighting for the second ball and winning it in those situations. 'Tomas has taken a big step with us this season. He only joined us after last season. He was playing with his hometown club, IBV, from the Vestmannaeyjar islands. He took a big step this season and has been an important player for us in domestic matches. He also played very well in our European Conference League games so far this year. If he continues and takes the next step, I think he can definitely be strong enough for Scotland. I would think it is a league that fits him well. He is a young player and he needs to take the next steps on his journey to be able to fight into the Hearts team. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad English transfer interest in Icelandic midfielder 'This transfer only came up a few days ago and it's an opportunity for him. When he was joining our club, he almost signed for a club in England and we just managed to sign him. We knew his dream was to take the next step and go abroad to test his skills there. Hearts is a big club and we have sold players to them before [goalkeeper Haraldur Bjornsson in 2005]. This is an opportunity we definitely want to see Tomas take and hopefully he will be successful at it.' Jonsson compared Magnusson to the former Iceland international defender Herman Hreidarsson, who coached the player at IBV last year. 'He had a great season last year when IBV won the second division here in Iceland and got promoted. He was one of the best players in that league,' explained Jonsson. 'We had recommendations from his coach there, Herman Hreidarsson, and he gave a very high recommendation as one of the favourite players he had coached. Tomas has similar abilities to what Hreidarsson had during his career - a fighter and a good team player. Hreidarsson was a defender, a bit of a different player, but you can definitely see some of the same qualities in Magnusson. 'Both guys come from the Vestmannaeyjar islands, so you definitely have some of the same characteristics in players. Tomas will fight and do all he can do for his team. With that, he builds good team spirit with his team-mates. He really helped us build a good team dynamic in the last few months. He came into our club as a new guy and fitted in well. He is unafraid, open, smiling, young, and he will fit in really well to a team. I think he will be an important part of the Hearts squad. He needs to adapt to a new country but he is an open, fun and energetic guy.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hearts plan to sign Magnusson to harness his development over the next few years, with the potential to sell him for future profit. That appears to align with the player's ambition, too. 'Definitely. I think that's where his aspirations lie,' said Jonsson. 'He wants to go there, fit in, shine and take the next step. I think he definitely has all the ability for that to happen but he needs to put a lot of work in.' Hearts are hopeful of completing the signing of Burkina Faso international forward Pierre Landry Kabore as soon as possible. They working to secure all the paperwork to confirm Kabore as their eighth summer signing, with Magnusson to follow as the ninth. McInnes has already welcomed seven new recruits to Riccarton since pre-season began - Norwegian right-back Christian Borchgrevink, Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis, Portuguese forward Claudio Braga, Irish midfielder Oisin McEntee, Belgian striker Elton Kabangu, Scottish centre-back Stuart Findlay and Albanian winger Sabah Kerjota. READ MORE: New Hearts transfer target
Daily Record
15 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Marko Lazetic sees Aberdeen reignite transfer interest as AC Milan 'ready' to sell striker
The Serbian was on the Pittodrie side's radar last season but the move collapsed Aberdeen have reportedly reignited their interest in AC Milan 's Serbian striker Marko Lazetic. And the Italian giants are said to be 'open' to selling the 21-year-old with a sell on clause. Jimmy Thelin is looking to strengthen the Scottish Cup winners ahead of the Scottish Premiership kick off. The Dons tried to land Lazetic in the January transfer window last season but the move collapsed. Lazetic was on loan from the San Siro back in his homeland with FK TSC Backa Topola. Now Sky Sports report that Aberdeen are back in for the frontman. Lazetic started his career with Red Star Belgrade before making the move to Italy. Aberdeen kick off their Scottish Premiership campaign with a trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts next Monday. Listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
