
Vaclav Cerny makes transfer intentions clear as Rangers stars told the truth by Russell Martin over ins and outs
Vaclav Cerny has dropped a major hint that he is on the brink of joining Besiktas.
The Wolfsburg loanee impressed in his year-long loan at Rangers last season but is expected to be moved on by the Bundesliga side this summer.
As well as Beskitas, Cerny has also been linked with domestic rivals Trabzonspor, while reports in Italy also claim he is on the radar of Serie A club Torino.
But the latest social media activity from the Czech Republic star has suggested that he is close to joining the Istanbul giants.
Via his Instagram account, the 27-year-old liked a post by Turkey international midfielder Orkun Kokcu, who has just sealed a loan move to Besiktas from Benfica in Portugal.
Russell Martin has bolstered his squad with five new faces, as well as Lyall Cameron's pre-arranged arrival from Dundee.
But the former Southampton boss also knows that in order to balance the books, several players will have to be shown the door.
The likes of Rabbi Matondo, Clinton Nsiala and Ben Davies have also been linked with moves elsewhere while Martin has confirmed that defender Robin Proper is poised to re-join FC Twente just 12 months after his exit from the Eredivisie side.
And during Gers training camp at the England national team's St George's Park training complex last week, Martin made an honest assessment about the players who are currently on the fringes of the squad.
He said: "I think the plan's been pretty consistent all the way through, really. From the time we first spoke about it, from the time I first got the job. We sat down and spoke about the squad structure, how it's made up.
"And not just in terms of ability and positions, but character, experience, development, players that have the potential to become real assets for the club. So, there needs to be a healthy balance of all of it.
"And I think we're pretty much... Listen, we all want... I'd rather have a few more players in now, but you'd rather wait and get the right ones. I think everyone, every situation is different. Every situation is different.
"But, yeah, I think you can probably ascertain that if they're not here, they're not involved with us, they've either been close to something else, or they're just not needed in their position this week, because we have a lot of players."
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Scottish Sun
10 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Michael Stewart blasts Rangers' recruitment as pundit takes aim at club for allowing key star to leave
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MICHAEL STEWART reckons Rangers should have plenty to be concerned about after the 1-1 draw with Motherwell. And he certainly isn't convinced about the club's recruitment so far. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 4 Rangers conceded late on against Motherwell Credit: PA 4 The players were booed off by their unhappy fans Credit: Willie Vass 4 Michael Stewart has been scathing about the recruitment at Ibrox Credit: BBC SPORTSCENE New Rangers boss Russell Martin admitted his side were lucky to escape with a point at Fir Park. James Tavernier headed the Light Blues into an early lead but Well took control of the game in the second half and levelled late on through Emmanuel Longelo. Martin took aim at his players after the game, telling some of them to 'drop the egos' and calling into question the squad's mentality. The Gers, under new American ownership, have brought in eight new players this summer, nine if you include the permanent deal for Oscar Cortes. But BBC pundit Michael Stewart certainly hasn't been convinced about the recruitment so far. Former Southampton boss Martin is trying to instil his own style of play into the squad and Stewart isn't sure the new recruits have what it takes in terms of the intensity needed. Speaking on Sportscene, Stewart said: "There's too many players that just ball watch, they don't partake in the game. "Too many of them as the manager said, self preservation. "When you're on the ball and you want to play that open, expansive style you've got to have everybody looking for the ball, the same when you're out possession, you're all active. "There's too many players in the Rangers side that don't do that. Billy Dodds on returning to Rangers under Barry Ferguson, defeating Mourinho & ending Celtic Park hoodoo "It's the character as well. "You look at the back end of last season, Barry Ferguson and his coaching staff, every week they went on about the mentality. "But if you don't sign the right players with that intensity then you're never going to get that style of performance. "You look at the players they brought in so far, I'm not convinced they've got that intensity in their game." Host Steven Thompson then asked Stewart about natural right-back Max Aarons, one of the new signings, being deployed at left-back instead. Stewart reckons that highlights wider issues about the signing strategy at Ibrox and questioned why no deal was done to bring Vaclav Cerny to the club permanently. The winger enjoyed a stellar campaign on loan from Wolfsburg last season but hasn't returned to Rangers this season. Stewart continued: "This comes to the bigger picture about what are you trying to do with the team? "They had a fee and a deal in place to sign Vaclav Cerny. "Now I appreciate the management structure wasn't in place but somebody at that club has got to recognise that this is as good a guy as we're going to get, he's already in the buillding ,do the deal and sign him. "Instead, you're left with Kieran Dowell playing right. "That's just not going to..." While the Gers have already added eight players, Stewart reckons it's going to take FOUR more for the team to even be competitive in the league this season. Winger Oliver Antman could be the next one through the door with the Gers looking close to sealing a deal for the Finland international. Stewart said: "They're going to have to be signing at least four starting eleven players for them to be competitive and you're not convinced that what they've done so far is going to get them to that stage." 4 Vaclav Cerny was a key man for Rangers last season Credit: Willie Vass Have YOU got a point for Kris Boyd? Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah chew over the big talking points each week SOMETHING you've just got to get off your chest from the weekend action? A burning Scottish football talking point you can't wait to bring up with Kris Boyd and Roger Hannah? SunSport's GoBallistic show wants to hear from you! So why not help set the Scottish football agenda for the week ahead! Have your say on the game's big topics by emailing us on: GoBallistic@ It's YOUR turn to Go Ballistic! Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page


Daily Record
10 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Russell Martin told to walk the talk as Rangers boss joins flops in Hotline firing line
Ryan McDonald takes your calls as Gers fans react to another poor start to the Premiership campaign It was an unwanted hat-trick for Rangers as Russell Martin let rip at his stars after another opening-day calamity. Gers kicked off their title charge by dropping points for the third year running - and Martin didn't hold back as he pointed the finger at his players. The new gaffer's machine-gun post-match interview caught some fans by surprise. But Alan Flett reckons some long-overdue home truths were finally aired: "Great post-match interview from Russell Martin, he told it exactly how it is. "Year after year, we are gifting league titles to an inferior Celtic team, because we have too many players in our squad who are not interested in playing against the likes of Motherwell. "They're right up for the midweek European games, but when the SPFL matches come round, they switch off. This has been going on for far too long and in Russell Martin, I hope we now have a manager who can sort it out." Willie Mercer, Dumfries, emailed: "I have no issue with Russell Martin calling it as it was after Saturday's game. "However, he did not practice what he was preaching about players not putting the effort in and not doing the hard running required and expected of a Rangers player. "When he left Kieran Dowell on the park for the whole match, given the fact he was the biggest culprit of not meeting these standards and was to blame in part for Motherwell's goal. "My advice to Martin is practice what you preach in interviews or guys like Dowell will cost your job." Rick Hart didn't sugarcoat it either: "Motherwell deserved to win on Saturday, they had passion and belief, Rangers had none of it. "In fact, they were rubbish. A couple of decent attacks but they gave the ball away too easily midfield. If this is the new Rangers team, we are in for a long, dismal campaign. "Quick note to Barry Ferguson… when they come and ask you to be the interim manager again, tell them to shove it." Jimmy Mac, Glasgow, fears history is already repeating itself: "Russell Martin is completely out of his depth. How many managers have we had who talk the talk and it ended there? Mirror image, Martin? "The Panathinaikos games were nothing more than luck and if you can't beat Motherwell, then there is no hope of winning the league or cups. You are going to come against better teams in the SPFL. "Martin is playing players out of their natural positions in midfield and one centre forward to try to beat low blocks proves he lacks management skills. "Play two centre forwards to feed off of each other with the attacking and defending midfielders playing in their natural positions or it's goodbye Martin at Christmas." Scott Gowers, Edinburgh, was just as scathing: "Once again, the start of the league campaign and Rangers drop points. Martin promised his own fast-flowing attacking play from the back. "With a set-up playing players out of position and players who have agreed deals elsewhere, I can understand players like Yilmaz being really annoyed and wanting away. "With this style of sloppy defensive passes, the only fast-flowing play will be a Rangers keeper picking the ball out of the net. "Martin is under serious pressure already. The performances against Panathinaikos were very similar and Rangers got lucky. "The Connor Coady situation is a total embarrassment to Rangers and more so the 49ers and the board. "Rangers don't try to kill off games when in the lead and are a total embarrassment under Martin." Steve Macleod, Wokingham, emailed in with a dig and an offer: "Some early free advice for newbie Russell Martin. You'll win nothing with players like Danilo and Dowell and while your tactics will occasionally look pretty, they won't win every week. "If we're to be serious contenders for this year's title, you need a major early rethink. I'm here if you need me." Don't be waiting by the phone… Across the city, Sean McGarvey, Cumbernauld, is already predicting another stroll for the champions: "Howling at the state of 'Martin-ball'. It appears to be no coherent tactics, non-existent full-backs, and a defence that gets ripped every time the other team strings a one-two together. "Happy days for Celtic fans. We will have a field day against this! Motherwell had them on the ropes. This season should be good!" But it's not all rosy in the Parkhead garden either, as Jim Docherty warned: "It has been apparent for a number of years that the Celtic board will not sanction paying exaggerated fees for players, but still want top dollar for their own players. "This is because of the financial constraints of playing in Scotland where you will NEVER compete with other nations and they're happy being top dogs in a poor league." And finally, Charles Maxwell took aim at the fixture schedulers: "Friday night football. Half 5 on a Saturday and half 4 on a Sunday! It's good to see the SFA and SPFL keeping tradition alive. I'm back shift next week. Any chance of a game the back of ten?" Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.


Daily Mirror
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Ian Holloway vows to 'hunt down' Swindon fan who threw CHAIR at Walsall goalkeeper
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