Rangers

Bayer Leverkusen lead the race to sign Rangers' Nigeria defender Emmanuel Fernandez, 25. (Fussballdaten in German, external)

Monday's Scottish gossip

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Rangers have received initial approaches from England, Italy and Spain regarding Nico Raskin and will allow the Belgium midfielder, who has two years left on his contract, to leave if their valuation is met. Rangers Review - subscription required, external

Celtic have offered £7.7m for Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis, who is also being courted by Rangers, Monaco and Besiktas. Murat Ozen on X, external

PSV Eindhoven have agreed to sell winger Couhaib Driouech to Celta Vigo after his proposed switch to Rangers fell through. Jeroen Kapteijns on X, external

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kosta Nedeljkovic does not feel under pressure playing in the right-back position former Ibrox captain James Tavernier made his own for 11 years. In fact, it appears the new arrival is relishing it.

The 20-year-old joined Rangers on loan from Aston Villa on Wednesday and made his debut the following day as a substitute in the 1-0 home win against Jablonec in their Conference League play-off first leg.

"Ibrox is one of the famous and most popular stadiums in the world, so it's a big desire to play here, it was an amazing atmosphere, so I'm very happy to make my debut for this amazing club and we are going step-by-step," Serbia international Nedeljkovic said.

The defender says he's come to Rangers "to fight for the title", and was sold on the move by boss Derek McInnes and international team-mate Vanja Dragojevic, who has also joined Rangers this summer.

"When I spoke with the manager, I made this decision because I think we play football how I want to play, with attacking, with transitions," Nedeljkovic explained.

"Rangers is a big club, I can progress here. I want to play for the club who is always, every game, attacking, so for me this is very important."

And he admits he'll look to the club's former skipper for inspiration in that department, while of course carrying out his defensive duties.

"Everyone knows who James Tavernier is, I know he was the captain here, so I'm not feeling the pressure because I just focus on myself, but how he played," Nedeljkovic added.

"This style of football I really like, so I want to dominate defensively, but also to have a lot of assistant goals, so I want to be like him in the final third. This style of football was amazing."

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Rangers could turn to Lens striker Rayan Fofana, 20, as a short-term loan replacement for the injured Youssef Chermiti. Scottish Sun, external

Rangers are edging closer to an agreement to sign Girona winger Kim Min-Su, triggering a £8.5m release fee for the 20-year-old South Korea international and booking a medical for Monday. Daily Record, external

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Ryan Naderi believes Rangers are "going in the right direction" despite an unconvincing display against Jablonec in their Conference League play-off first leg.

German striker Naderi, 23, scored Rangers' only goal at Ibrox, his second in as many games, to give Derek McInnes' side a slender lead over the Czechs before Thursday's away leg.

It was a second straight victory after McInnes' tenure had begun with two defeats and two draws.

"We're here to play for the qualifying for European competition, so obviously the opponent is tough," Naderi said.

"I agree that the first half wasn't amazing but I'm happy we kept a clean sheet. That was really important.

"We had opportunities to score one, two goals more, but at the end, it's just about keeping up the confidence. Second win in a row and just keep going, stay focused, and I think that's important.

"Not everything was horrible in the games before. It's just that we managed to win games now.

"But it's still progress we're going through, and we still have to improve, and I think we're going in the right direction."

Naderi's strike came early in the second half, and although he admits it wasn't "the most spectacular" of goals, he says the win was most important thing.

"I'm just happy that I somehow put it over the line," he said. "That's what a striker has to do and I'm just happy to help the team.

"With Youssef [Chermiti injured] we miss a unique type of player but we have to try as a team to fill the gap and obviously someone has to score the goals.

"I'm lucky to be the one who, at the moment, gets the ball over the line but it's the whole team who has to fill this gap."

Rangers have opted to take this Scottish Premiership weekend off before the trip to the Czech Republic.

"I'll have family there," Naderi told the visiting reporters in perfect Czech.

"My mum is from the Czech Republic and my grandma lives there. When I was a student I used to go on holiday there.

"It's a nice match. I'll definitely enjoy it. The match is as much important to us as any other match."

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Steven Thompson on BBC Sportsound

Cammy Devlin's challenge was absolutely inexplicable but Rangers managed the game with 10 men.

I think Rangers can definitely score in the Czech Republic and if they do their defensive duties properly I don't see Jablonec causing them too many promblems.

But it's away in Europe and Jablonec will throw more at Rangers so they'll have to defend a lot more dangerous situations than they did at Ibrox.

I think the Czechs will be quietly pleased with a 1-0 defeat - they'll fancy themselves because the Rangers performance won't have filled them with fear.

Andy Halliday on BBC Sportsound

I think Derek McInnes will be delighted with the clean sheet and there looked fairly comfortable.

They defended well, but other than that 20-minute spell at the start of the second half, I thought it was a really poor performance.

What Devlin is doing, I cannot comprehend it. They can have no complaints about the red card.

Scott Allan on BBC Scottish football podcast

I don't think Jablonec are a fantastic side. The onus will be on them to take the game to Rangers at home, try get back into the tie, and McInnes will look to exploit that with the bit of quality out wide in Daisuke Yokota and the pace of Djeidi Gassama.

It's a game where Rangers should be able to dominate possession, even though it's an away tie in Europe. Rangers have to try to win that game from the get-go.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

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What must Andrew Cavenagh in America be making of all this?

Eleven new signings in recent weeks at Rangers and close to 30 since his consortium moved in last summer.

Their running total of transfer fees long since careered past the £25m mark. Last January, it sped across the £35m barrier and now it's knocking on the door of £50-£60m on new players.

These players. These largely dull, pedestrian Rangers men playing in front of a mostly hushed and increasingly tired stadium with 15,000 empty seats.

They won on the night, and so hope lives for some of kind of European story this season, but it was so desperately lacking.

Within the club there is patience and a mindset that this is a long road Rangers are on and an acceptance they're only at the start of it.

There is a commitment to spend and spend again. Cavenagh and his backers have been true to their word, they have stumped up fortunes. Have they spent well? Right now, it's impossible to say that they have.

Compare this to Celtic's elan and fluidity the night before. Compare the sustained class of Camilo Duran to anything that Rangers have. Duran cost somewhere between five and six million.

Where is Rangers' Duran? Where is their Callum McGregor, their Benjamin Nygren, their Kieran Tierney, their standard-setters, their goal machines, their players who drive the team forward?

Where, indeed, is their Nico Raskin? On the bench on the night. Unused. A wee injury, apparently. Nothing to do with the rumoured gathering interest from Fenerbahce, we were told.

Read the full piece from Tom English

We asked for your views after Rangers beat Jablonec 1-0 at home in the Conference League play-off first leg.

Here's what some of you said:

Bob: Surely Derek McInnes doesn't want a European campaign? If he does, why on earth did he choose that team? Where did he think goals were going to come from? Who did he think was going to pass the ball accurately? Poor poor team selection.

Ronnie: Once again Rangers struggle against a team nobody had heard of prior to the draw. Yes, we won and could have had another two goals, but our overall play was slow, predictable, uninspiring and lacked any creativity. We must improve fast. The manager doesn't escape criticism either as he continues to baffle us with team selection and his substitutions.

Alexander: Another poor display culminating in Cammy Devlin getting sent off. There is a reason why he was a free transfer, he wasn't good enough for other clubs. A few players don't realise that they are slowly eroding the club with some of their performances. So far only three of the new signings are good enough. McInnes has a lot of work to do.

Jon: I think it's unfair to be making generalisations about the Rangers team and players at this stage as they have just begun to play together and will need time. We are also in a position where we have ripped it up and started again for a few seasons now ( players, managers, coaches and board alike) unlike Celtic, who have been able to tweak and adjust while keeping the core of their team.

El: The team is all over the place and unfortunately so is McInnes. The starting 11 is inconsistent and substitutions always late not to mention questionable.

Alex: It was a win and a clean sheet, so can't complain too much I suppose. But it wasn't great. The first half was particularly poor with too much back-passing and giving away possession cheaply. If Djeidi Gassama scored that sitter it'd have put the game to bed, but once again we lacked that killer instinct and quality in front of goal. Another (clinical) striker required and attacking midfielder. Confused why Thelo Aasgaard didn't come on, and Lawrence Shankland was too late. Strange night.

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Reports from Spain indicate Rangers are interested in Girona winger Kim Min-su, 20. (Sun, external)

Speculation suggests Rangers will pay £8m for South Korean Kim. (Scotsman - subscription required, external)

Rangers manager Derek McInnes is confident the club "will get" further recruits. (Sun, external)

McInnes hopes to have "a couple of additions in" before their next Scottish Premiership match away to Aberdeen on 30 August. (Record - subscription required, external)

The Rangers boss believes new recruits will improve the performances of his existing squad. (Glasgow Times, external)

And McInnes praises defender Olwethu Makhanya, 22, for how he has adapted to Scottish football. (Herald - subscription required, external)

Friday's Scottish gossip

Ryan Naderi rescued Rangers from another disappointing European night as his second-half goal helped Derek McInnes' side to victory in the first leg of their Conference League play-off against Jablonec.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Rangers head coach Derek McInnes: "I was disappointed with a lot of the first half, we didn't have any real impetus or concerted pressure.

"We needed to bring a bit more intelligence but also be a bit more enthusiastic with some of our tempo. I thought we were far better in the second half, we connected the game better and gave us a far better chance of causing them problems. I don't think they caused us too many problems in terms of goalmouth chances.

"Djeidi Gassama has got to score and make it two, that's a big moment.

"The red card changed it because then it was about trying to manage the last 15/20 minutes of the game. The positives are a clean sheet, another win, another goal for Ryan Naderi and we've got something to take to the Czech Republic.

"We've still got a lot of work to do but in the meantime it's important we win games. The enthusiasm and work rate was there in bucketloads but we need to show a wee bit more composure and poise."

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Rangers have already made 11 signings this summer with at least another couple likely.

The total number of arrivals since the start of last summer's transfer window stands at an eye-watering 28 - leading to concerns from former Ibrox player Andy Halliday over the club's "scattergun" approach to recruitment.

And Halliday says there is now a "gulf" in quality between Rangers and Celtic.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, he said: "The key word is strategy. I can't describe Rangers' recruitment over the last 12 months as a strategy - more scattergun.

"When you see the amount of players they have brought in over a 12-month period, it doesn't look as if there's much strategic plan behind it.

"In terms of the players that have come in the building this year, the jury's out on some, some have done okay.

"But you look for immediate upgrades when they're coming in. I'm not too sure at this moment in time if there's immediate upgrades in the starting 11.

"I still think Rangers will do another two or three before the end of the transfer window and I'm expecting it to be the £7m, £8m, £9m players that are going to make a real difference."

Halliday joked he was "punching myself" rather than punching the air at Celtic's "outstanding" Champions League play-off first-leg win over LASK on Tuesday night, adding: "I think the gulf between Rangers and Celtic at this moment in time looks pretty big, given that towards the end of last season, you didn't feel as if there was too much between the sides.

"You look at the players who have come in - Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran, Mika Bauer, who I thought was impressive last night as well - I think they've made Celtic infinitely better."

Rangers host Jablonec tonight in their Conference League play-off first leg and Halliday says there can be no excuses from Derek McInnes' men.

"They're coming up against a decent side. Jabloenc finished fifth in the Czech league and have started this season ever so well, unbeaten," he said.

"But you can't offer Rangers much in terms of excuses when they're playing in the Conference League. They have to beat whoever's in front of them.

"It's not going to be easy, but it's certainly one you'd expect Rangers to go through."

Rangers fans, we asked for your thoughts on the signing of 20-year-old Serbia international right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.

Here's what some of you said:

Matthew: We definitely need a right-back, but I just hope his injury problems don't add more issues to an already - at times - injury-prone squad. He could be the best player in the world, but if he's on the sidelines he can't help. Hopefully he's able to avoid those and we can see the best of him in a Rangers shirt.

David: He's very young with limited game time over the last two seasons, so it looks like a bit of a project perhaps. However, it's a big opportunity for him as he's noted for his pace and tireless workrate, with right-back still a problem position in the side.

Bill: Why do we keep buying young players? If the academy players aren't good enough, replace the scouts and or trainers and produce our own talent.

Jock: Quality on both sides with Penrice and Kosta now. Still need a centre-back and striker at least.

Liam: New signings, yes, positive, but when there's seven new faces in the starting XI that haven't had time to play together much, it leaves me worried for success in the short term.

James: The main positive is he is not a previous employee of Hearts, nor is he a journeyman from the lower echelons of the leagues in England. We'll see if he is of the standard we should be signing once he plays a few games.

Chelsea pair Dario Essugo and Geovany Quenda and Tottenham's Mateus Fernandes have visited Portuguese countryman and Rangers forward Youssef Chermiti in hospital during the latter's initial recovery from an ACL injury. (Sun, external)

Former Rangers forward Ross McCormack, 40, has joined Giffnock North AAC. (Sun, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Findlay Curtis is a man on mission - to be one of the best players in the Premiership this season.

The 19-year-old Rangers academy graduate has played a part in all five of the club's matches so far after a successful loan stint at Kilmarnock last term preceded a couple of appearances against Haiti and Brazil at the World Cup.

Coming off the bench in the 1-0 win over Haiti earned him the accolade of becoming the youngest Scot to feature at a World Cup.

Now Curtis aims to utilise that experience on the club front, starting with Thursday's Conference League play-off first leg against Jablonec.

"I think obviously I've come back with different parts of my game where I've got better," he said.

"It's given me a real confidence to show the world what I can do and I want to be one of the best players in the league this season. Hopefully across the season I can add goals and assists as well.

"The gaffer's been brilliant. He's given me bits and bobs that I need to add to my game which will make me better, but apart from that he's a man-manager, he gets round the boys really well and it's an exciting chapter for the football club."

Curtis faces plenty of competition to establish himself as a Rangers first pick. Derek McInnes is scouring the market for another winger or two having signed Daisuke Yokota this summer and with Djeidi Gassama and Ross McCausland already on the books.

"Obviously they've brought in more people for my position, but you just need to keep on fighting," said the academy graduate.

"I think that's the main thing, you need to try and make your mark at the club. I think doing that in training and obviously coming into the game you need to do that.

"There's always competition at Rangers, they're going to bring in boys no matter what, but all I can do is just be performing in training and games and do as much as I can. I'll be fighting no matter what to secure that position throughout the season.

"The minutes I've had I think I've done well, coming in later than the boys for pre-season has been tough but you just need to build up that stamina again and it was a big reset from the World Cup back to now. "

Curtis aims to emulate fellow wide-man Mikey Moore who made an impact at Ibrox last year while on loan from Tottenham.

"I think Mikey did it very well last year and I want to go on and do that, I want to be one of the best players in the team and I want to bring this club success."