Latest news with #Rangers'
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Conor Coady to Rangers transfer jolted by 'obvious' Leicester boss revelation as Mbuyamba pitch made
The push by the Glasgow giants to sign the experienced centre-back has dragged on throughout the summer Boss Marti Cifuentes admits Leicester City need to cut the size of their squad amid Rangers' interest in Conor Coady. The defender has been a target at Ibrox all summer and both the Scottish Premiership giants and Coady had been keen to make a deal happen in time for the Champions League qualification double-header against Panathinaikos. But the England cap remains in training with the Foxes as they prepares for the English Championship campaign after Premier League relegation. Cifuentes has praised the 32-year-old following his pre-season showings - and has kept Coady as his captain going into the new campaign. However, Cifuentes told BBC Radio Leicester that cash-strapped City would have to cut their cloth before the end of the window. The Spaniard said: 'It's very clear we have a lot of players in the squad. Definitely there is a lot of quality, but at the same time we need to understand that we need to trim this squad. 'At the moment we have 32 players which is quite a lot. It's not what I want. Everybody is aware is that the market, there's a lot of weeks until it's closed. A lot of things can happen. 'The important thing in these days is to learn from the players, to understand more what they can give to the team, what they can give to the idea, and take some decisions. 'What I know for sure is that I don't like to work with very big squads. 'I know the Championship and hopefully we're going to do very well in both cup competitions. "We're going to need enough players to rotate, to make sure everybody's ready during the season. You never know if you're going to have a bad period of injuries. 'At the same time, I'm a big believer that we have a fantastic academy so I want the young guys, even the ones who are not here today, that have a chance to train with us to show themselves, to hopefully have opportunities during the season. 'I think it's pretty obvious some changes will happen during the next weeks.' Xavier Mbuyamba is also reportedly on Rangers radar as the club search for defensive reinforcements. The Dutch defender has just helped FC Volendam return to the Eredivisie by winning the second division title. The 23-year-old - who was previously linked to Celtic back in 2023 - has entered the final year of his deal and is reportedly available for £450k this summer. And former Volendam star Kees Kwakma is baffled that the centre-back hasn't found a move - as he told suitors exactly what they will be getting. He told ESPN's Voetbalpraat: "It's striking that Xavier Mbuyamba still hasn't found a club. "He's a true, pure defender. He's very fit and still very young at 23. He's definitely an investment that can make a difference, so I expect things to move forward."
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Owen Beck sees transfer triggered by two key Liverpool decisions as Rangers receive final answer
The Light Blues were linked to the former Dundee loanee - but his long and short-term future won't be in Govan Owen Beck was one of the names to feature on Rangers' summer revolution wishlist. And Liverpool have now signed off on TWO key decisions over the fate of the left-back. Arne Slot has shown the faith he has in the 22-year-old left-back by handing him a new long-term deal at the English Premier League champions before sanctioning a temporary move away for the season ahead. But that won't be at Ibrox, with the defender moving to Derby County to reunite with former boss John Eustace for the campaign ahead after playing under him during a stint at Blackburn Rovers. We told previously how Beck was wanted back north of the border after a successful loan stint at Dundee previously - but that move hinged on one condition. Ridvan Yilmaz was that key factor and he remains on the books as things stand under Russell Martin. He has been linked constantly with a return to his homeland - but as yet, nothing has materialised on that front for a player who has struggled largly with injuries in Glasgow. Celtic also previously targeted the defender but his future in the short and long-term has now been determined as he admitted a stint at Derby is a 'no-brainer' He explained: "Obviously, I know the gaffer well from last year. "I spoke to him with that experience of working with him before in mind. It moved pretty fast and was a no-brainer for me. We built a really good connection. I feel like he got the best out of me. "When he called up and we had that conversation again where he was looking to bring me in, it was a no-brainer, really! "I enjoyed playing under him. As I said, I feel like he got the best out of me. I feel like he can get even more out of me this season, and I can push that step further." On his targets for the season ahead, he added: "First and foremost, I want to play games. I want to play and stay injury-free. "In the game, I'm going to set myself personal goals. Also, I'm sure the gaffer will have goals that he wants the team to achieve. "Hopefully, I can hit my personal goals and help the team achieve theirs too."
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Rangers transfers: Jerusun Rak-Sakyi loan bid 'rejected despite £10m obligation to buy'
Crystal Palace rebuff approach as Ibrox side maintain quest to land new winger Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... Rangers' pursuit of options at winger continue apace after it emerged that they have had an approach for Crystal Palace's Jesurun Rak-Sakyi rejected by the English Premier League club. It is being reported that Rangers have made an initial loan offer with an obligation to buy next summer of Rak-Sakyi, with the final fee potentially worth up to £10million, according to The Athletic - which would be the second highest amount paid for a player by Rangers behind the £12m spent on Chelsea's Tore Andre Flo back in 2000. However, Palace chiefs are claimed to have thrown out the proposal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rak-Sakyi is a 22-year-old right-winger who has been capped by England up to under-21 level. He has three years remaining on a long-term contract at Crystal Palace and spent last season on loan at Sheffield United in the English Championship. Rangers transfer target Jesurun Rak-Sakyi spent last season on loan at Sheffield United from Crystal Palace. | Getty Images Rak-Sakyi returned to Selhurst Park for pre-season training earlier this month with his future unclear despite his deal running until 2028. Rangers' interest in him was first reported last month. He has not been able to sufficiently impress current Palace head coach Oliver Glasner since the Austrian took over and appears to be behind other players in their frontline. Rangers remain very keen to strengthen their options out wide. While Djeidi Gassama, who scored in Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League win over Panathinaikos, came in earlier this month from Sheffield Wednesday, he prefers to play on the left wing. Head coach Russell Martin remains short of tangible quality on the right flank, with Kieran Dowell - primarily a central midfielder - deployed there against the Greeks. The emergence of teenager Findlay Curtis, as well as the return to fitness of Colombian Oscar Cortes, does give Martin some further cover out wide, but the new manager is understandably desperate to add more quality to that part of the team. One of Rangers' best players last season was Czech internationalist Vaclav Cerny, who played predominantly on the right, but his loan from Wolfsburg expired in May and the chances of a return appear very slim. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Martin has admired Rak-Sayki for some time It is understood that Martin wanted to sign Rak-Sakyi while he was in charge of Southampton and targeting the Palace winger - who can also represent Ghana as well as England - is another example of Rangers plundering the English market. Under the watch of new sporting director Kevin Thelwell, Rangers have brought in Max Aarons and Joe Rothwell (Bournemouth), Nasser Djiga (Wolves), Emmanuel Fernandez (Peterborough), Thelo Aasgaard (Luton) and Gassama (Sheff Wed). Rangers also want to freshen up their options at No 9. All three of last seasons striker in Danilo, Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane featured against Panathinaikos, but the latter duo's futures remain under some speculation. AEK Athens have been linked with Dessers, while Lille and a host of other European sides have a reported interest in Igamane. Any incomings in that area, however, are likely to hinge on what happens to the current attackers. Rangers are in Athens next week to play the second leg of their tie with Panathinaikos. Should they win, they will face either Servette or Viktoria Plzen in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Defeat would result in the Ibrox side dropping into the Europa League third qualifying round against Shakhtar Donetsk or Besiktas. Regardless of what competition they are in, Martin will want further options for their European campaign.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rangers fired Panathinaikos Champions League warning as star vows to exact revenge for 'unfair result'
Russell Martin and his troops take a two goal advantage to Athens for the return clash of their second qualifying round tie Fotis Ioannidis has promised to overturn Rangers' first leg Champions League advantage in Athens next week. Panathinaikos trail the Light Blues 2-0 from the first leg after strikes from Findlay Curtis and Djeidi Gassama at Ibrox. The result means Russell Martin's side make the trip to Greece with a two-goal cushion after their Champions League qualifying rivals wilted in Govan and were reduced to ten men. However, key man and skipper of the Greek giants Ionnadis, has vowed to gain revenge against Rangers. He said: "Nothing is over. We and all the players really feel that we can win and turn the result around. We know we can do it. "It was a difficult night because we all thought we had the players to win it ahead of the match. We had chances and one moment from Rangers changed everything. "It is very important for us that the fans support us and stay patient. They can be our 12th man and we know they can act as the push we need to win on the night and then go on to qualify." And teammate Anastasios Bakasetas - the captain of Greece - moaned that the result was 'unfair.' He pointed out: "I think it's clear that the result was unfair to us. "I think that if any team should have won, it was us. But it's also a law of football, when you don't score a goal, you have to accept it. And we had very clear opportunities to score. "But there's no point complaining now. We still have one game to rectify this. We all believe we can still qualify." Martin and Co are at the first hurdle of their quest to reach the lucrative league phase of Europe's top competition. Should they complete the job in Athens, they will advance to the third qualifying round and face Viktoria Plzen or Servette. Reaching the next round would also guarantee Europa League group stage football at a minimum for the Ibrox side. But if they are unsuccessful in the tie, then it is one of Beşiktaş or Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League third qualifying round.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Russell Martin gets Rangers lift-off thanks to inspired 18 y/o and one man's timely return to form
New boss off to a flyer with 2-0 first leg victory in Champions League qualifier Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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... Ultra possession football is all very well and while Russell Martin might see this as the way forward for Rangers, sometimes it pays just to get the head down and run at defenders. Teenager Findlay Curtis, a glorious throwback to the days of tanner-ba' wingers, profited from this course of action to score one of the great European goals at Ibrox and set Rangers on the way to establishing a very handy 2-0 lead before the second game of this Champions League second qualifying round tie in Athens next week. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fellow winger Djeidi Gassama, who was watching from the bench when Curtis opened the scoring in thrilling style, took his lead from the 18-year-old. The 21-year-old scored a goal that was almost as good on what turned out to be a terrific night for the home team and their new manager. Findlay Curtis celebrates after scoring Rangers' opener against Panathinaikos at Ibrox. (Photo by) | Getty Images Indeed, there will be frustration from Rangers that they didn't finish the contest off against ten men. They had chances to make it three, perhaps even 4-0, which is remarkable in light of the way they were hanging on at times in the opening half. Step forward No. 52 Curtis, who not only put Rangers in front six minutes after half time with a wonderful solo goal. He was then shortly afterwards the victim of a crude foul from Giorgos Vagiannidis. It saw the right back – who was booked for simulation in the first half – sent off. All of a sudden, Curtis seemed unplayable. It was a coming of age performance from an academy graduate who had posted notice of such talent on an emotional night at Old Trafford against Manchester United at the start of this year in the days following Denis Law's death. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sir Alex Ferguson was in the crowd that night and he was in the directors' box here to see a Scot give the Martin era lift off. Gassama, signed from Sheffield Wednesday earlier this summer, struck almost as stylishly minutes after coming on the park as a substitute, lashing a shot past Bartlomiej Dragowski from 20 yards. Rangers now have a commanding lead going into a tricky second game in Athens. It's one they would certainly have taken if offered before kick-off and they would have bitten your hand off for it at half time. Substitute Djeidi Gassama celebrates scoring Rangers' second goal against Panathinaikos at Ibrox. (Photo by) | Getty Images Mostly, the observation that it is hard to recognise a team is seen as a negative comment. In this new era at Rangers, however, distancing themselves as far as possible from recent sides was the goal. Martin certainly wishes to stamp his own identity on a team and it will take time. Contrary to James Tavernier's pre-match pledge about seeing a different Rangers, this team were at times all too familiar. Before Curtis' inspired intervention, they might have been two, possibly three, goals down. How could it be otherwise? Martin has not even been in the job 50 days yet. Although he is trying to be busy in the transfer market, only three new signings started here in his first competitive game. Rangers had to bear some of their old hallmarks, not all of which are negative. Jack Butland, for example, looked more like his old self. Although Curtis was rightly named man of the match, the Ibrox 'keeper, who lost both form and his place last season, was immense as he helped keep Rangers in the tie, with one save from Filip Durucic in the second half a particular standout. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Of course, the Rangers fans might still have to be patient. They will have to be forgiving. There was certainly a lot more passing the ball around at the back. This inevitably meant digging holes for themselves. They were fortunate the Greek visitors were unable to exploit them although they ought to have done so by the time the game was turned on its head in the space of seven or so second half minutes. Already processing going 1-0 down, the Greeks were then left on a damage-limitation exercise after Vagiannidis's red card. It was ironic that Rangers' opener stemmed from Butland mishandling a Duricic shot. The 'keeper quickly quelled alarm by retrieving the ball before rolling it out to Nico Raskin. The midfielder took a few strides into the visitors' half before transferring the ball to Curtis. The winger did the rest, coming inside before unleashing a curling shot into the corner past Dragowski. It changed everything. It certainly changed the mood in the stadium. At one point in the first half, Max Aarons had put his boot through the ball and then gestured to Martin, who was looking agitated at the touchline, as if to say, what more can I do? Rangers were on the rack in these early stages. Butland more than justified his return to the side. He was in the right place to beat away a point blank effort from Duricic just nine minutes in and then watched with relief as Pellistri hammered the ball against the post from equally close in, although the angle did provide the winger with some mitigation. Nemanja Maksimoviv headed over shortly afterwards. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Goalkeeper Jack Butland performed heroics for Rangers in the 2-0 victory over Panathinaikos at Ibrox. (Photo by Alan Harvey / SNS Group) | SNS Group The Obstacles Become Our Way – an old Stoic adage to do with overcoming adversity – were the chosen words of wisdom for the pre-match tifo, which depicted an epic scene involving a warrior, a lion and familiar Athens landmarks. While it was geographically relevant and certainly acceptable for the Ibrox censors after controversial recent efforts, another phrase might have been more appropriate: Rome wasn't built in a day. Athens in the second leg will still be hazardous, especially given the likely stifling heat. There were signs of what Martin is trying to do and signs those players brought in might be able to deliver his vision. Joe Rothwell was tidy at No. 6 and Aarons was, well, not much different to Ridvan Yilmaz at left back. Martin surprised by including Curtis in the starting XI at left wing. He could barely have believed how well this seeming gamble paid off. The teenager quickly caught the eye with some heroic tracking back early on.
