Latest news with #RussellMartin
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Nico Raskin goes public to fight for cursed Rangers pal as he tells £6million man this is your season
It's a fresh start at Ibrox under Russell Martin and Raskin is certain his good pal can grasp his new life in Govan with both hands Nico Raskin has gone public in his fight for Rangers pal Danilo ahead of the new season. The striker arrived for big money under Michael Beale but it has been an overall underwhelming time in Glasgow to date. Injuries have been a main source of frustration but he is back and with a full pre-season to come, he will be raring to go as talk over Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane's futures rumble on while the likes of Luuk de Jong and Dor Turgeman have been named as potential incomings. But Danilo is out to impress and shared some snaps of him getting down to work in pre-season to Instagram. He wrote: "Back on the field, back on the grind." Big Manchester City summer recruit Tijjani Reijnders also showed his support by saying: "Let's go irmao." It's all systems go at Rangers with work on the grass and behind the scenes well underway in Govan. Max Aarons is the first new face of the 49ers era in the door after Lyall Cameron had previously signed a pre-contract and it is just the beginning as the Light Blues faithful watch on and hope for more and more. On the field, Martin and Co face a huge Champions League qualifying journey as they bid to dine at Europe's top table. They will safely need to navigate three rounds to be there and it all starts against Greek giants Panathinaikos in a tasty two-legged tie. 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 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.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Why this season's 3rd-place battle could be one for the ages
We all know the main reason why: Rangers have never fully recovered from their 2012 financial disaster and it's left them trailing miles behind Celtic with the notable exception of the 2020/21 title, which they themselves won at a canter. But with the way in which Scottish football operates, they should still be able to give their rivals a good go of it until the last couple of games of the campaign each and every year. Because, sure, they may be terrible at player trading – both in terms of getting money for their best and brightest and squandering a lot on poor investments – but they still have resources which dwarf the other ten teams in the top flight. They should still win every match they play except when facing Celtic and it's a credit to the rest of the league that they don't. Early indicators would suggest next season doesn't look like it's going to buck the trend. Regardless of whether Russell Martin is the long-term answer or not, with Rangers' new hierarchy seemingly looking to cash in on their best and brightest so they can reinvest as part of a new long-term trading model suggests a campaign of transition. And that's going up against a Celtic side that is fairly settled after coming within a couple of penalties, and a Kasper Schmeichel error, from winning the treble last time out. However, if we as a country could possibly tear attention away from Glasgow for just a few seconds, there's an exciting battle brewing just beneath them. Hibs, Aberdeen and Hearts, undoubtedly the three biggest clubs outside of Glasgow, should all be feeling good about themselves as they look ahead to the new campaign. Everything changed for the Dons when Dimitar Mitov saved those two penalties in the Scottish Cup final. Prior to that they were a team who were drifting perilously into an uncertain future. Jimmy Thelin's red-hot start as Dons boss had given way to a sustained run of poor form across the rest of the campaign that was only slightly better than relegated St Johnstone. They were stuck in a stick or twist situation with their Scandinavian head coach and may have significantly tightened the purse-strings this summer having already thrown money at the issue in January. Then the Bulgarian custodian made himself a club legend and everything changed. Suddenly Thelin has credit in the bank again, faith instilled in him from the supporters and above, and they've now got another £5 million of additional income coming through the door, a fair chunk of which will be spent on the squad. It's the second time in three years they'll have that. Europe does tend to impact early-season results for non-Old Firm teams, especially those who make it to the group stages, but there's simply too much investment here for them not to be in the mix. Hibs have been making their supporters happy in recent days as they appear poised to add Josh Mulligan and his versatile talents from Dundee, and have also agreed a new deal for Rocky Bushiri, who went from figure-of-fun outcast to the club's Player of the Year last term. A caution for Hibs (other than the fact that teams rarely finish third two seasons in a row) is the potential folly of running it back with largely the same group of players, as rumours continue to circle about a potential £1 million deal to re-sign Nectar Triantis on a permanent basis. But they aren't satisfied to just get the band back together. It would have been easy to trust Jordan Smith to continue his steady form across the second half of last term but the club are not standing on sentiment and have recruited Austrian Raphael Sallinger to be the new No.1. Jamie McGrath also provides another excellent option for a coach in David Gray who expertly rotated his squad in the second half of last term. Furthermore, Kieron Bowie is poised for a monster season in attack if he can stay fit. As for Hearts, there are a lot of unknowns coming in from abroad as the Tony Bloom era kicks into gear, but they have maybe the most steady hand they could possibly hire in Derek McInnes. If there's anything the former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock manager knows, it's finishing in the top four of the top-flight. His promise to bring a bit of grit and toughness back to Tynecastle has got fans purring at the prospect. It feels like we've been waiting on these three clubs to slug it out with each other for years but it hasn't happened on a consistent basis. In fact, on only three occasions since 2009 have they all finished in the top half. There was a battle between the three in 2022/23, with Aberdeen storming from behind to take third from Hearts, who then had to fight off Hibs for fourth in a tense final-day meeting at Tynecastle. But that was a season in which none of them had a particularly good time of it. Aberdeen sacked manager Jim Goodwin halfway through; Hearts did likewise when Robbie Neilson's side surrendered the healthy lead in third, while Lee Johnson at Hibs always seemed to be a couple of games away from the chop. It certainly wasn't a vintage season for any of them and Aberdeen took the 'crown' on just 57 points. And nobody knew there even was a race until Hearts started faltering in the spring. This campaign promises to be different. Long term it wouldn't be a good thing for the league to have even less parity than it does at the moment, but for one season it would be thrilling to see all three fly out of the traps and every contest feel like a significant moment in the race. It's just a shame there won't be a guaranteed European bounty waiting for the victor at the end this time.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
SIR DAVID MURRAY EXCLUSIVE: Why I'm still worried about Rangers ... and whether American owners will be able to give Russell Martin the money he needs
Sir David Murray has raised doubts about 49ers Enterprises giving Rangers the rapid investment they need - and says he 'worries' about the club failing to reach next season's Champions League. The former Rangers owner told Mail Sport that he doubts the entire £20million outlay being touted by the club's new owners will be available for players and said he was yet to see evidence of bold work to give new manager Russell Martin the 'tools' he needs. He said: 'In the short term, I would judge them on the first three sales and the first three financial signings they make, because that will give you an indication of direction of travel. So, who have they signed so far? A loan player from Bournemouth (Max Aarons), who's not played a lot of football, but who Russell Martin knew from Norwich. 'I hope they give Martin the tools. I'm not sure they've paid off all the players they've got. Because you don't buy a player for £6m and pay it right away - it's over three years or something. So do they still have debts to pay? Instead of £20m, is that going for new players or is that just going in the books?' Rangers are yet to cash in on any players in this window and have limited their business so far to 25-year-old right-back Aarons, who started just two games on loan at Valencia after his move there last January. He has had only 14 Premier League starts for Bournemouth since August 2023. Rangers are also looking at Leicester City 's 32-year-old Conor Coady. Murray said he welcomed the arrival of new US owners. 'I don't think it's going to be an overnight change,' he said. 'They're true business people who will take a view and take time. They'll have a proper business plan. This'll not be a three-month plan. It'll be a five-year-plan. The way I ran a football club, you couldn't run it like that today.' The club's business model has always been built around Champions League revenues and Murray expressed concern about the tricky tie Martin has been handed against Panathinaikos in the second qualifying round, including having to play the second leg in Greece. 'I'm worried they haven't got the best draw in the Champions League against Panathinaikos with the first game at home,' he said. 'You always want the second game at home, when you know what you've got to do. I think it's a very tough task.' Murray, 73, said that Rangers were missing out on some of the Scottish talent that he always wanted to make the core to the team, citing Motherwell's 18-year-old midfielder Lennon Miller, who is now on Sunderland's radar. 'I'm not trying to be arrogant but, in my day, we would have bought him by now. But Rangers haven't bought him,' said Murray. He also cited Lewis Ferguson, who was a youth player at Rangers. 'They let him go to Hamilton and then to Aberdeen,' said Murray. 'Why didn't they buy him when he went to Italy? A young, energetic player with a release value and they didn't buy him. I don't understand that.'
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Hamza Igamane may leave Rangers amid interest during transfer window
The 22-year-old joined Gers as a relatively unheralded signing last summer on a five-year deal from AS FAR in his homeland. After a slow start to his Ibrox career, Igamane burst to prominence with a double in the 4-1 Europa League win away to Nice in November and went on to notch 16 goals in his first season in Scotland. The forward's form last term has caught the eye of Lille, who are reportedly poised to make an eight-figure bid for the striker. Marseille have also been linked with Igamane. Rangers are likely to be open to cashing in on the striker if their valuation is met as they strive to rebuild their squad under new American ownership and a new manager in Russell Martin. Igamane's fellow striker Cyriel Dessers is also attracting interest in Europe, with AEK Athens and Feyenoord keen on the Nigerian. Gers have already added midfielder Lyall Cameron and full-back Max Aarons this summer while they have been in discussions with Leicester defender Conor Coady and have been linked with Liverpool left-back Owen Beck.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Does arrival of 'quality' Aarons mean 'back-up role' for Tavernier?
We asked for your views on the signing of right-back Max Aarons and what his arrival could mean for Rangers captain James what some of you said:Elaine: It's a start. Russell Martin clearly has knowledge of good players down south who can come in and do a job. Personally, I don't care if it's only a loan. You never know what'll happen by the end of the Can see him playing right-back and Tavernier playing further forward or Fresh energy and different qualities. Hoping Tavernier will be used as a back-up only. Would like to see Aarons start at right-back and Ridvan Yilmaz, if he stays, at left-back. Optimistic of more fresh energy and quality coming in while ridding ourselves of the deadwood, like Robin Propper, Danilo If Tavernier gets any game time this season it should be only if Aarons can't manage for some reason. Time to move along, he's served his time but his time is While Tavernier is probably a better player going forward, he was found wanting so many times last season, especially at the back post. I hope Aarons is a more solid option at the back. Given this is our first signing under Martin and he has been brought in as a right-back, Tavernier surely can't remain as On his day Tavernier was a good servant and defender for us, but age has caught up with him and maybe he didn't have his best season last time, but he can produce something when needed. Aarons is only a loanee, who knows what can come of it if it's a really good season. Fingers crossed he doesn't have injury woes like some others. Things are now moving a bit better, let's hope the rest go through Tavernier is on his last legs, but he will be a record-breaker for a long time. Aarons sounds like he is quality. Good If Aarons adapts quickly to Scottish football, his speed and strength undoubtedly pose a threat to Tavernier. Admittedly he has not scored many goals, but he can defend and gets forward quickly. It is up to Tavernier to produce his past form to keep his place. Nicolas Raskin has the potential to become a great team captain.
