
Jesurun Rak Sakyi to Rangers directly addressed by Russell Martin as boss reveals previous transfer plot
Russell Martin admits he's a massive fan of Rangers linked winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi – revealing he previously tried to sign him while he was still Southampton manager.
It was reported yesterday the Ibrox side made the first move to sign the Crystal Palace winger with a loan bid tabled that included a stunning £10million buy option for the 22-year-old.
It's believed that first offer was rejected by Palace but the suggestion is that Rangers haven't been put off and could return to the table with a renewed bid for a player who scored seven times on loan at Sheffield United last season.
It's no secret Martin is keen to strengthen his wide options further this summer, with Djeidi Gassama widely expected to be just one of a number of new wingers coming in the door.
The fact Gers started the 2-0 win over Panathinaikos with Kieran Dowell and teenager Findlay Curtis on the flanks speaks to the lack of depth, and it certainly seems Rak-Sakyi is one the boss would be happy to bring in.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he revealed his personal interest in the former Chelsea youth prospect stretches back to when he was in charge of Southampton – and tried to take him to the south coast club before negotiations with Palace collapsed.
Asked directly about Rak-Sakyi, Martin said: "There's a lot of players we've been linked with. Some wide of the mark, some very close and some spot on.
"He's a player I like. We tried to take him to Southampton, it didn't quite happen. I like him and the recruitment staff like him, but how far that's gone... I'm not too sure.
"He's a really good player. We look at all sorts of different profiles that we think can help the team, it doesn't necessarily have to be one type of profile. Players are very different.
"We just need the ones with the right mentality who are desperate to come and play here. We'll see where we end up in four weeks' time."
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Belfast Telegraph
29 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Kai Rooney's Manchester United defeat Rangers in front of bumper SuperCupNI crowd at Coleraine Showgrounds
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Celtic outbid for target, Rangers deal hampered, Lennon Miller bids, Hibs get Triantis answer
Latest transfer news and speculation in Scottish football 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... Here is your Tuesday evening transfer bulletin featuring Celtic being outbid for a key target, how the deal could impact Rangers, Lennon Miller developments and a resolution in Hibs' pursuit of Nectar Triantis. Celtic outbid for target Celtic have been told to up their transfer bid for Jakob Breum after Go Ahead Eagles revealed they have already turned down a higher offer for the midfielder from one of their Dutch rivals. The Hoops have had three bids rejected for Breum, according to reports in the Netherlands, with an initial bid of £1.3million swiftly rejected, while the most recent offers also fell well short of his club's valuation. The 21-year-old, who is under contract until 2027, joined Go Ahead as a left winger from Odense two years ago but was transformed into a central attacking midfield player. The Denmark Under-21 international delivered 10 goals and five assists in the Eredivisie last season. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Celtic target Jakob Breum (left) in action for Go Ahead Eagles against Ajax in February. (Photo by MAURICE VAN STEEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images) | ANP/AFP via Getty Images Addressing the interest from Celtic, Go Ahead CEO Jan Willem van Dop confirmed that the club had already knocked back a higher offer from FC Twente. "There was a question (from FC Twente), and that was about Jakob Breum. That's negotiable, but only if the price is right. And we couldn't reach an agreement on that. What I did find positive was that his thoughts were certainly higher than the official offer Celtic ever made. "I've told Celtic that we won't be accepting their offer. I spoke to Breum's agent on the phone Monday morning, and he hopes he'll go that certainly not the most difficult club, but it has to be a good fit. And if we can't reach a financial agreement, we also have the right to say: well, it's not going to happen." Rangers deal hampered Celtic's pursuit of Jakob Breum could provide a stumbling block to Rangers' attempts to sign his Go Ahead Eagles team-mate Oliver Antman. Finnish international winger Antman is reportedly on Russell Martin's radar as he looks to bolster his attacking options for his maiden season in charge. However, Go Ahead CEO Jan Willem van Dop has intimated that the club will only sell one of Antman and Breum this summer. With Breum already the subject of interest from Celtic and Twente, it could hamper Rangers move for Antman. Asked about interest from the Glasgow giants in Breum and Antman, van Dop responded: "Those are the guys who are in the spotlight. I think one of them will ultimately leave." Rangers target Oliver Antman. Cr: Getty Images. | AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, Russell Martin has indicated he would be keen to add Mikey Moore to his squad amid speculation Rangers are poised to sign the Tottenham teenager. The 17-year-old has made 21 appearances for Spurs but their new manager Thomas Frank explained on Tuesday he would like to 'find the right option' for the attacker to get the necessary game time to accelerate his development. When asked about Moore at his pre-match media briefing on the eve of Wednesday's Champions League qualifier with Panathinaikos in Athens, Gers boss Martin said little to dispel suggestions he is set to move to Ibrox. I think I've said to you all the way along that as soon as it's done you'll be the first guys to know,' Martin said on Tuesday. 'There's lots of players we like, lots that we're linked to. He's a really good player and if at any point he becomes a Rangers player we will let you know.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lennon Miller bids Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou conceded there is 'a high probability' that prized asset Lennon Miller will be sold this summer. Askou revealed on Tuesday that the Lanarkshire club have received offers for the 18-year-old Scotland international, who is currently recovering from a minor injury, and that he may have played his last game for the Steelmen. 'Yeah, he's still here, he's training, we're trying to get him back into full training after he's had a minor thing here over the summer and there's been some bids on him recently and it's something the board is working with,' the manager told Sky Sports. 'I'm trying with the staff here to get the team ready for Saturday, so it's going on in the background and will probably intensify here in the coming days. Who knows how long it's going to take, there's been a lot of speculation, a lot of rumours, a lot of interest in him for a long time and of course it's intensifying now.' Motherwell have received offers for Scotland international Lennon Miller. | Getty Images Bologna and Udinese are among the clubs reportedly leading the chase for Miller, who has also been linked with Celtic. Asked if he expected the teenager to remain at Motherwell beyond the end of the transfer window, Askou said: 'We'll see. Obviously there's a high probability that he will move this summer, but nothing is finalised yet. Obviously there's concrete things going on which we expected at the moment, so it's going to be interesting to see how it's all turning out. For now he's still a Motherwell player and he's doing his best to get back to full training so we can maybe see if we see him on the pitch again or not, but we're trying our best to get him ready.' Hibs get Triantis answer


Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Djeidi Gassama 'ready' for Rangers start as glaring clues on XI to face Panathinaikos emerge
Russell Martin has big calls to make going into the second leg at Ibrox Russell Martin certainly wouldn't have hand-picked the searing heat of Athens and 40,000 Panathinaikos fanatics as his first-ever away game in Europe as a gaffer. On top of that, he'll turn up at the Olympic Stadium in Greece's capital with a crucial - but precarious - 2-0 lead from the first-leg of their Champions League qualifier at Ibrox. So the pressure's on, for Rangers ' new boss. But at his pre-match press conference in the bowels of the stadium, you wouldn't have known it. Physically, Martin was roasting after coming off a flight from Glasgow to be met by near 40 degree temperatures. But mentally, the manager was cool, calm and collected in his analysis of their victory a week ago - and what's required to finish the job here in Athens. Martin has become renowned for his unwavering belief in his system, style and philosophy. And despite the hostile atmosphere here created by the home support - that won't change come kick-off. Of course, he knows that he'll have to rely on his players to get a result and progress to the next phase of Champions League qualifying. But if his squad are as confident and measured as their boss, Rangers should be well equipped to qualify. Ahead of the second-leg tie against the Greeks, Martin said: 'The players need to display courage, discipline, aggression in the right areas, intensity, all of that. 'And nothing will change. We can talk about the approach for this game, but it's not going to change. 'We have to be the team we always want to be. I think this football club demands that. 'Late on in the game, you have to manage it as well as you possibly can depending on the situation. 'But the approach going into it has certainly not been any different. For me it's the same situation we found ourselves in before the first game. 'It's a tough match against a good opponent that we have to be ready for. I think we'll be better than we were last week. 'We have to be, and it's down to the players when they step out over the white line to make sure we stick to the work, the detail - and really believe in what we're doing. 'Can the players cope with the atmosphere? I hope so. We have a lot of international players. I think we have to manage the game and take the crowd out of it as much as we possibly can by doing it our way and trying to dominate in as many aspects as we can. 'I'm actually looking forward to the atmosphere. It'll be a really good experience for the guys. 'But we have a lot of players who have played in big games and big occasions for this football club. 'I'm really confident the guys can handle it.' One player who made a huge impact in the first game at Ibrox was new boy Djeidi Gassama, who arrived from Sheffield Wednesday. The French winger came off the bench and was explosive in his attacking play - scoring the vital second goal with a wonder strike off the bench. Martin couldn't contain his excitement about the potential in the 21-year-old - and warned Panathinaikos he's preparing to unleash him at the Olympic Stadium. He said: 'I think he's ready to start. He made a big impact for us when he came on last week. 'You saw plenty of the reasons why we wanted to sign him. 'We had the luxury of working with him in pre-season, behind closed doors, seeing him every day and understanding the talent and ability he has. 'And he felt this environment would be perfect for him to grow and continue improving. It's early days. But Gass is a player that really excites us and I think can make a big difference for us. 'Hopefully, he does the same again tomorrow night.' If Martin can navigate this tie, he'll secure European group phase football this season, whether it's in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference. Given where he's at in his Ibrox rebuild, he believes it would be a significant achievement - not for him personally but for the club as a whole. And he's determined to get over the line by seeing off the Greeks and giving Rangers fans something to shout about early in his tenure as manager. He said: 'We have a chance to give the travelling fans - and they will travel in their numbers everywhere for this football club - a night to remember. 'And we want a night to remember ourselves. I think it would be huge for the club to go through. It's not about me, it's about the club. 'It's about the players, the team, the fans. So, take anything personally out of it, it would be brilliant for the football club if we win. 'This was a tough draw for us, for sure, but we have to make sure that's the case. We have to bring our own game plan and try to instil it as much as we possibly can. 'The opportunities in the game need to be ones that we create. I don't expect to be given anything and I don't expect us to give them anything either. 'We took a lot, so much learning from last Tuesday night. We have to make sure we take that into tomorrow.'