Rangers

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Former Benfica, Spartak Moscow and Egypt manager Rui Vitoria will lead Panathinaikos into their Champions League qualifier with Rangers.

The 55-year-old has won multiple league titles and cups in Portugal and took over the Athens side in October last year after their dismal start to the 2024-25 season.

The Portuguese coach led Panathinaikos to a second-placed finish the Greek top flight, but they finished 16 points off winners Olympiakos.

He also guided the team to the last 16 of the Conference League where they were dumped out over two legs by Serie A club Fiorentina.

Goalscoring proved an issue for Panathinaikos in the Greek Super League last term, netting 42 goals in 32 games, but Rangers will have to keep an eye on Brazilian winger Tete.

Mostly deployed on the right of attack in a 4-3-3 shape, the former Leicester and Lyon forward, who signed for reported £6.2m from Galatasaray last summer, scored 11 times.

That tally was matched by striker Fotis Ioannidis, who has six goals in 17 Greece caps, and Serbia forward Filip Djuricic.

Uruguay winger Facundo Pellistri, a signing worth £5m from Manchester United last year, scored four and assisted five.

Although the goals did not necessarily flow, Vitoria's side were good at sharing them out.

Russell Martin's first assignment as Rangers boss will be a Champions League second-round qualifier against Panathinaikos.

The first leg will be played at Ibrox on 22-23 July, with the return in Greece the following week.

Swiss team Servette and Brann of Norway were Rangers' other potential opponents, but they have been paired with last season's Greek top flight runners-up.

The Athens side have never lost to Scottish opponents over 90 minutes in four meetings with Rangers, two with Motherwell and one with Aberdeen, winning four of their seven games.

However, it was Rangers who progressed when they last met the Ibrox side.

Having beaten Aberdeen 3-0 at home in the 2007-08 Uefa Cup group stage, the Greeks exited on away goals after a 0-0 stalemate in Glasgow was followed by a 1-1 draw in Athens in the round of 32.

Panathinaikos have not reached the Champions League proper since 2010-11 and last season started in Europa League qualifying, beating Botev Plovdiv but losing to Ajax before qualifying for the Conference League by defeating Lens.

They lost 4-1 at home to eventual winners Chelsea and beat The New Saints 2-0 in Wales in the new league stage, finishing 13th, before beating Vikingur Reykjavik in the knockout phase then losing to Fiorentina in the last 16.

Rangers fans, we want your thoughts on the draw. Are you confident of making it past Panathinaikos? Share your views here.

Rangers have approached Leicester City over a deal for Conor Coady, but there is interest in the 32-year-old centre-back from elsewhere, including his former club, Wolverhampton Wanderers. (Sky Sports), external

Rangers head coach Russell Martin is keen to build his side around forward Hamza Igamane and midfielder Nicolas Raskin, who are both in demand from potential suitors. (Football Insider), external

Het Nieuwsblad reports that Aston Villa have started talks with Nicolas Raskin about a potential transfer out of Rangers for the 24-year-old Belgium midfielder. (Het Nieuwsblad via Daily Record), external

Rangers are keen on a loan deal for right-back Max Aarons, but Bournemouth are believed to favour a permanent exit for the 25-year-old. (Sky Sports), external

Despite reports in Greece, no deal has been finalised with AEK Athens, who are keen on 30-year-old Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers. (Sky Sports), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Russell Martin faces a tough competitive debut as Rangers head coach - and on Wednesday he will find out if his new side face Brann, Panathinaikos or Servette in the second qualifying round of the Champions League.

The new Ibrox boss, whose side are seeded for the draw, needs to come through three stages if he is to manage in Europe's elite club competition next season.

On paper, Panathinaikos would provide the toughest test, the Greek side being 111th in the European club rankings, 86 places behind Rangers, with Servette 139th (one behind Hearts) and Brann 189th.

The Athens side have never lost to Scottish opponents over 90 minutes in four meetings with Rangers, two with Motherwell and one with Aberdeen, winning four of their seven games.

However, it was Rangers who progressed when they last met the Ibrox side.

The furthest Servette have progressed in the Champions League, meanwhile, is the third qualifying round, where they were beaten by Rangers after a 1-1 draw in Switzerland followed a 2-1 loss at Ibrox.

In their only other meeting with a Scottish side, they lost by a single goal to Aberdeen in the European Cup second round in 1985.

Last season, they were ousted by Chelsea in the Conference League play-off round after beating Braga.

Rangers' final potential opponents, Brann, have only once qualified for group-stage football - back in 2007 in the Uefa Cup.

Last season, the Bergen side beat Go Ahead Eagles in the Conference League second qualifying round, then defeated St Mirren 4-2 on aggregate after a 3-1 win in Norway, before losing to Astana in the play-off round.

Whichever of the three sides they face, Rangers will begin their campaign on 22/23 and 29/30 July.

Emerge victorious and they will be in the Champions League third qualifying draw on 21 July. Lose and it will be the same stage of the Europa League.

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Rangers midfielder Lyall Cameron is determined to play his part in getting his new club "back to where it belongs" after joining from Dundee.

Despite signing a pre-contract agreement in February, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder has become the first fresh face to join under new head coach Russell Martin.

Cameron, who made his Dundee debut aged 16 against Raith Rovers in 2019, made 119 appearances for the Dens Park side, scoring 33 goals and providing 14 assists.

"It was a no-brainer [to move]," he said. "As soon as Rangers came up I was desperate to be here. Being from Scotland as well I know what the club stands for.

"It's definitely a big change, they play a lot more games, there are a lot bigger expectations, so it's going to be a massive change for me.

"I'll need to learn to deal with that, but it's something I'm really looking forward to. It's a new project, they're looking to build and improve and win leagues again.

"It's something great to be part of and I want to come here and make an impression and do as well as possible and get this club back to where it belongs."

We asked for your views on what Rangers head coach Russell Martin needs this summer in the transfer window.

Here's what some of you said:

Arran: Would be very fun to see Jamie Vardy come, of course they're only rumours though. More English league players! As big as my loyalty to the SPFL is, I still think we should be taking advantage of Russell Martin's links and connections to the English leagues. They have so much money and are able to make so many good investments all the time, it'd be nice to see some of those good investments come to Ibrox.

Jay: Spend £9m and bring Vaclav Cerny back in, we know his quality and fit with the club. Build the team around him, Nicolas Raskin and Mohamed Diomande. I'm actually pro-Cyriel Dessers, but if money is being offered take it and sign an established striker. We missed a trick with the knowledge and influence Davide Ancelotti would have had bringing in upcoming stars, but I'll back Martin for now and hope for smart business!

Billy: Rangers should definitely keep Raskin and Dessers. Let Robin Propper go and get someone solid beside John Souttar. We're good between the sticks and for full-backs. Wide men needed to provide opportunities for strikers.

Brian: The defence needs to be toughened up as a priority, Jack Butland's frailties on crosses and his slack passing out from the back were exposed and Liam Kelly was far from convincing as a replacement, no doubt lack of confidence in the goalkeeper led to near enough blind panic by the defenders in clearing balls and defending corners. Recruit tough, no-nonsense defenders and build from there.

Paul: The centre of defence has to be the priority. Build from the back. With the amount of work needing done to the squad, either, or both of, Raskin and Hamza Igamane will have to be sold to generate the necessary funds. Massive summer ahead and we need to get a move on with pre-season starting next week.

Andrew: We need a keeper, left-sided centre-half, right and left full-backs, right and left wingers and a centre-forward, plus squad players who enhance the bench with academy players given chances.

Jordan: Raskin at this time is irreplaceable. He is getting better game by game and is establishing himself in the Belgium team. We should do everything to keep him and cash in on him this time next year when his stock rises even further. We need to drastically improve our defence, and need four or five new signings for the starting XI. Right now bringing in squad players just isn't what we need.

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Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku, 23, is set to join Rangers. (TeamTalk), external

Rangers are closing in on a double swoop - with 25-year-old right-back Max Aarons arriving on loan from Bournemouth and joining Poku once his Peterborough contract expires. (Sun), external

New Rangers head coach Russell Martin is keen to keep Jack Butland at Ibrox if the 32-year-old goalkeeper can prove his worth in pre-season after losing his starting place at the end of last season. (Football Insider), external

Jose Cifuentes, 26, is expected to return to Rangers following a loan spell at Aris Thessaloniki. (Herald - subscription required), external

Everton and West Ham United could take a gamble on launching a bid for Rangers striker Hamza Igamane, 22. (Football Insider), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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The transfer window has reopened for business for the remainder of the summer.

Under fresh ownership and with a new head coach in charge, Rangers are set for a busy couple of months in the market.

Midfielder Lyall Cameron has come in following the expiry of his contract at Dundee, with more deals to follow.

Is there a particular area of the squad that needs improving, or certain players you are desperate to see sign?

Or maybe holding on to a key player is the biggest priority? And what about departures? Should the club be looking to move anybody on?

Send us your thoughts

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With reports linking Cyriel Dessers with a move away from Rangers, we asked if it is time to cash in on the striker or give him a chance under new boss Russell Martin.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Matthew: I would keep him. Danilo is a non-starter, Hamza Igamane is unfinished and Dessers has undoubtedly come up during some moments, such as in Europe. Unless we sign a guaranteed better option, then please hold on to him. We complain he misses a lot of chances, but at least he gets himself in the situation to have enough chances to miss, as well as scoring a bunch.

Stuart: Dessers should stay, 25 goals a season guaranteed. Great work-rate and can handle the pressure of the nine shirt. Responds sensibly to daft questions from the press and scorer of great goals.

Mark: Even with 50-plus goals I would let him go. We cannot afford to let any striker have five shots on goals before scoring. we need someone in who will score more often.

Nigel: Not a bad record. The problem is it should have been at least 80 goals by now. Even when he does score there always seem to be an element of luck. He is too unreliable, spends most of the game diving and complaining, wouldn't take a penalty when we needed him, and you would never bet on him to score in a one-v-one. He seems like a nice guy, but it's worth the risk to sell.

James: Everyone has their price and if the price is right, it would be foolish not to move him on. In his 30s now also.

Alexander: Can't we send Danilo instead?

Marty: Dessers can be frustrating, but he is a proven goalscorer. A goal every other game is phenomenal. His goal against Man Utd last season showed when he is confident he is a natural goalscorer. Unless we bring in quality up front I would be reluctant to see him leave, especially for anything less than what we paid for him.

Luke: From a pure money perspective, if you can get £5-6m for a guy who isn't likely to retain his value long term, given his age, then really it's a no-brainer to sell him and take the cash. From a football perspective, it's a lot harder. But I think Martin will want his own team, so I think they'll sell.

Rangers have been given encouragement in their efforts to sign Conor Coady as Leicester City are open to selling the 32-year-old centre-half. (Football Insider), external

Meanwhile, Rangers midfielder Nedim Bajrami insists he is going nowhere despite transfer speculation linking the 26-year-old with a move to Serie A. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

Rangers face competition from 25 other clubs around Europe for out-of-contract Peterborough winger Kwame Poku. (Daily Record), external

English Championship clubs Norwich City, Birmingham City and Wrexham are all interested in Rangers target Harry Darling, whose contract at Swansea City expires at the end of the month. (Scottish Sun), external

Having left his role as Rangers assistant after just five months, Issame Charai is now favourite to become head coach at Belgian club Westerlo. (The National), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip.

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Since signing two years ago, Cyriel Dessers has score 51 goals in 109 Rangers games.

Despite such impressive numbers, he's still split sections of the support.

This morning, he dominated the gossip, with a potential move out of Ibrox being rumoured.

The 30-year-old was last season's top scorer in the Premiership with 18 goals and former manager Philippe Clement recently heaped praise on him in an exclusive interview with the BBC.

As the folks who watch him week in, week out for your club, we want to hear from you.

Would you trade in on Dessers or would you rather he sticks around for the Russell Martin era?

Give us your thoughts here.

Rangers are preparing a £6m offer for Westerlo forward Matija Frigan, 22, and the sale of Cyriel Dessers, 30, may help fund such a deal. (Scottish Sun), external

Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers has agreed a £30,000-per-week contract at AEK Athens. (Daily Record), external

Rangers are exploring a deal for Harry Darling, 25, after the centre-back's deal expired at Swansea City. (Rangers Review, external - subscription required)

Defender Robin Propper, 31, is stalling on returning to Twente Enschede until he discusses his Rangers future with new head coach Russell Martin. (The Herald, external - subscription required)

Rangers would be willing to accept £20m for Belgium midfielder Nico Raskin, 24. (Football Insider), external

Raith Rovers say supporters will have the final say as they explore a possible partnership with Rangers. (The Courier, external - subscription required)

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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Issame Charai has left his role within the Rangers coaching staff by mutual consent.

The Belgian was appointed Philippe Clement's assistant manager in January, and continued to serve under Barry Ferguson's interim reign.

Chief executive Patrick Stewart said Charai was "a real asset" to the Ibrox club.

"Through the managerial transition in February and beyond, he handled himself superbly and was a real asset to Barry and his staff during their period in charge of the team," he told the club's website.

"As the men's first-team moves forth into this new era under Russell, it has been agreed between the club and Issame for him to move on."

Charai said he leaves with fond memories of the "constant" support.

"This is a really special club, and as it enters a new era, I want to wish everyone associated with the club the very best for what comes next," he added.

"Above all, I want to thank the Rangers supporters for their amazing backing across the period. We had some high moments and some low moments, but their support was the constant. It is something I will always remember and be forever grateful for."

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The SPFL confirmed attendances have risen for a third consecutive season and thanked fans for their "incredible support".

Crowds across all leagues, cups and play-off matches totalled more than 5.3 million, a rise of nearly 185,000 from the 2023-24 season.

"We will be having further meetings with key stakeholders over the summer to review the most recent season and look ahead to 2025-26," the SPFL statement ends.

"We remain committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable matchday experience for players and supporters - they are the lifeblood of our game and deserve nothing less."

Turkey Under-21 winger Emirhan Demircan has rejected Rangers, Besiktas and Hoffenheim after his contract ended with Bayern Munich and has agreed a deal and undergone a medical with Utrecht. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Hamburg have joined the race to sign Westerlo forward Matija Frigan and are willing to launch an £8.5m bid that would put Rangers out of the running. (Daily Record), external

New Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic could make Westerlo striker Matija Frigan one of his first acquistions. (Novilist), external

Brentford, Everton, West Ham United, Lens, Lille, Rennes, and Strasbourg are all tracking 22-year-old Rangers striker Hamza Igamane. (TeamTalk), external

Former Rangers midfielder Steven Davis, currently on Northern Ireland's coaching staff, says he has not given up on his dream of managing the Ibrox club some day. (The National), external

Liverpool are in talks with former Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst to become their assistant head coach. (TalkSport), external

Mitchel White has joined Liverpool from Rangers as a first-team physical performance coach. (Glasgow Times), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

Rangers forward Hamza Igamane, 22, is being tracked by French quartet Lens, Lille, Rennes and Strasbourg, along with clubs in England. (Foot Mercato, external - in French)

Brentford, Everton and West Ham are keen on Rangers forward Hamza Igamane. (Football Insider), external

Boss of Latvian side RFS Gregory Vignal dreams of returning to Rangers as manager one day and thinks his current side would finish in the top three of the Scottish Premiership. (Daily Record), external

And Vignal says former Chelsea and Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez was interested in the Rangers vacancy before Russell Martin was appointed head coach at Ibrox. (Glasgow Times), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

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Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande scored the winning spot-kick for Ivory Coast in a 5-4 penalty shootout victory against the Canadian Shield winners, Canada.

Hosts Canada were guaranteed to be crowned the inaugural winners of the invitational tournament by forcing the penalties after a 0-0 draw with bottom-side, Ivory Coast, who lost 1-0 to New Zealand three days before.

Substitute Diomande, 23, fired the decisive fifth penalty under Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair just after 23:00 local time.

Rangers are considering a move for Christian Eriksen, 33, on a free transfer ahead of his imminent departure from Manchester United, according to former Old Trafford assistant manager Mick Brown. (Football Insider), external

Rangers could be priced out of a move for Croatian striker Matija Frigan, with Hamburg willing to pay Belgian club Westerlo around £8.5m for the 22-year-old. (Daily Record), external

New Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell says he won't shy away from making ruthless decisions as he helps manager Russell Martin reshape the squad at Ibrox. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

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