Rangers

Image source, SNS

New Rangers loan signing Ben Godfrey insists he "learned a lot" from his move to Atalanta despite very limited playing time in Italy.

The 28-year-old centre-half made just five appearances from the bench for the Serie A side, totalling 93 minutes, after a £10m switch from Everton in the summer of 2024.

Since then, he has had loan spells at Ipswich Town, Sheffield United and Brondby in Denmark.

"I learned a lot, football wise," he said of his half-season with the Bergamo club. "The game is played completely different; tactically, technically.

"Although I didn't get many minutes, there are still plenty of things I can take from that period."

Rangers will have the option to buy Godfrey at the end of the season and he is keen to take on a leadership role for Derek McInnes' side.

"I'm looking forward to all the challenges and excited to work under the manager," he said.

"The characteristics of the club suit me - when you look at the history and size of the club, it's the perfect place to be.

"If you don't have any pressure then you're not at the level you want to be. It's a given at a club of this size that there's going to be pressure, so it's important to use that in a positive way.

"I don't regret anything from my career. I learn from every week that goes by and I can use all of that experience to be as successful as I can here.

"At 28, I have experienced a lot - I can drive standards every day, that's the type of character I am.

"I'm someone that will always be around to help young players and teach them what it takes to break through at this level.

"I like to lead, I can bring that personality to the pitch."

Godfrey, capped twice by England in 2021, was Rangers' third signing of the summer after Scotland internationals Lawrence Shankland and Ross McCrorie, with goalkeeper Ivor Pandur and midfielder Dan Neil since added.

"The manager is big on character, making sure the right kind of people are in the building," he added.

"We all want to push the club forward."

Rangers have submitted a £3.9m offer for Vanja Dragojević, but Partizan Belgrade are looking for £4.7m, plus a percentage of further sales, for the 20-year-old midfielder. (Mozzart Sport, external)

Partizan Belgrade captain Vanja Dragojević is one of the options on the table as Rangers attempt to add further strength and depth in the middle of the park. (Rangers Review, external)

Rangers have expressed an interest in Sankhoun Diawara, but Basel have made significant progress on a deal while Troyes remain hopeful the 20-year-old centre-half will extend his stay after promotion to Ligue 1. (Foot Mercato, external)

Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin is set for a summer move after the World Cup, with Real Betis exploring a deal and two Italian clubs also interested in the Belgium 25-year-old. (Luca Bendoni on X, external)

Lyon are monitoring Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti in addition to holding discussions with Hearts over forward Claudio Braga. (Foot Mercato, external)

St Mirren have held talks with Leon King after the centre-half was freed by Rangers, but manager Craig McLeish has told the 22-year-old they have to bolster other positions in the squad first before making an offer. (Daily Record, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, SNS

Derek McInnes refused to be drawn on links with a move for Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson but indicated "there's still more work to do" after Rangers made five signings this summer.

Lawrence Shankland was recruited from Hearts before McInnes was appointed Rangers manager and Ben Godfrey, Ross McCrorie, Dan Neil and Ivor Pandur have arrived since.

McInnes has been credited with an interest in bringing Bologna captain Ferguson, whom he worked with Aberdeen, to Ibrox.

"All I want to do is bring players of a high level, technical level, and ability to play for Rangers," he told Sky Sports.

"Obviously, there are a number of players that have been linked with us that do possess that, so I think it would be wrong for me to speak about any player individually.

"I understand it's an obvious link [with Ferguson], but we have just got to work away and see what we can do and what we can bring into the club.

"If it's clear that we can't bring people in, then we move on quickly, but I've got an idea of the players and the types I want to bring in, and hopefully we can work towards that."

McInnes is pleased with the club's transfer dealings so far.

"A lot of the conversations were ongoing before I came in, but obviously getting things over the line isn't easy," he told Rangers TV.

"People think it is easy to get signings in, but when there are good players involved there's more than one team involved, so I think the board and the recruitment team should be pleased with their work.

"Clearly there's still more work to do, but we are pleased with the work we have got done and getting the boys in as early as possible is vitally important."

Rangers open their 2026-27 campaign with a Scottish Premiership trip to Dundee United on 31 July, followed by a Europa League third qualifying round first leg against an as yet unknown opponent.

"With a different manager there's different demands and a different way of doing things, but the adjustments have been good," McInnes explained.

"It is about building connection, fitness, power, strength and togetherness. Having a good pre-season sets you up not just for the first game but for the demands of the season ahead."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Why have Rangers brought in Ivor Pandur and allowed Jack Butland to go?

Butland was entering the final 12 months of his four-year contract and would have been 34 by the time it runs out.

However, that is hardly veteran material for a goalkeeper considering new manager Derek McInnes had 43-year-old Craig Gordon on his books at Hearts last season.

Butland had a sticky patch of form in late 2024/early 2025 that led to him ending the season as second choice behind Liam Kelly under caretaker boss Barry Ferguson.

However, he won back the jersey last season and was a near ever-present.

On the one hand a steadying influence with his experience and a spectacular shot-stopper on his day, he nevertheless has never totally convinced all Rangers fans in a defence that has been vulnerable for a number of years.

Although Butland made the third most saves in the Premiership last season, he was down in eighth in terms of save percentage having been 11th the previous campaign.

Maybe Rangers just feel they can get better value for money from £6m signing Pandur, 26, who could be sold for a profit in years to come if successful.

Image source, SNS

Goalkeeper Jack Butland has left Rangers to join newly-promoted Premier League club Hull City for an undisclosed fee.

Butland's exit comes two days after Rangers signed Hull goalkeeper Ivor Pandur for £6m.

The 33-year-old former England international made 157 appearances in his three-year Rangers stint, winning the League Cup in December 2023.

Butland told the Hull City website: "The last few years playing at an incredible club like Rangers, somewhere I hold close to my heart, meant it had to be something really enticing to change that.

"The European nights and all the experience I gained up in Scotland, and my experience prior to that, are going to set me up perfectly for the challenge ahead this year.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world and, personally, it's a great opportunity to be on the biggest stage again. I believe it's the level I'm capable of playing at, and I've done it before."

Image source, SNS

Ian McCall believes his former club Rangers would need to use Nicolas Raskin as part of any deal to sign Bologna's Lewis Ferguson.

Reports suggest Rangers are interested in Scotland's Ferguson, 26, while fellow midfielder Nicolas Raskin, 25, has been linked with an Ibrox exit.

Ferguson, son of former Rangers player Derek, featured in all of Scotland's World Cup group games while Raskin has helped Belgium reach the last 16 of the tournament.

McCall played with Derek Ferguson, whose brother Barry was Rangers captain and later Ibrox head coach for a short spell.

"I thought it would have to involve Raskin going the other way, I don't know if that's still the case," McCall told BBC Radio Scotland. "It seems like a prime time to sell him.

"He's got two years of his contract to go. I don't know if that's the only way it's financially feasible.

"I think the Raskin thing would need to happen for it to happen. If [Rangers] have the money to pay £17m [for Ferguson], it seems a lot for me for a holding midfield player. He can be a bit more than that. He can get forward and get the odd goal."

McCall also expects former Hamilton and Aberdeen player Ferguson to "have other options" but that a move to Rangers would "makes sense".

"It would be tempting," McCall explained. "It's something he would fancy. You don't know how much he wants to get home, personally, family wise.

"Lewis Ferguson would be absolutely a no-brainer to improve Rangers. It would be huge, given his background and his family background.

"He's come off a top World Cup, our best performer at the World Cup. If Raskin was going the other way and they're getting £20-25m... it would certainly improve Rangers and there would be a player going the other way."

Rangers have approached Bologna about Lewis Ferguson but have been warned by the Serie A club it would take a major bid for them to even consider selling the 26-year-old Scotland midfielder. (Record, external)

Meanwhile, Rangers will push their asking price for Nicolas Raskin up towards the £25m mark after the 25-year-old midfielder helped Belgium reach the last 16 at the World Cup. (Football Insider, external)

Danilo is set to return to Rangers after NEC Nijmegen confirmed they would not be taking up their option to sign the player outright after the 27-year-old striker's loan. (Record, external)

Rangers-linked right-back Bryan Reynolds is poised for a medical with Rennes after the 25-year-old agreed a four-year contract to move from Westerlo for £3.86m. (Sacha Tavolieri on X, external)

Former Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor has agreed a return to Ibrox to coach their shot-stoppers as a replacement for Coventry City-bound Sal Bibbo. (Chris Jack on X, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Image source, Getty Images

Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin helped inspire Belgium to a dramatic fightback from 2-0 down to defeat Senegal and book a place in the last 16 of the World Cup.

The Belgians were trailing to goals from Diarra and Sar when Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia threw on Raskin and Dodi Lukebakio for Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku after 55 minutes at Seattle Stadium.

And goals from substitute striker Romelu Lukaku and midfielder Youri Tielemans in the last four minutes of normal time forced extra time.

Captain Tielemans was then brought down inside stoppage time of extra time and scored the winner from the penalty spot.

Belgium await the winners of the tie between hosts United States and Bosnia-Herzegovina, a game that will again be played in Seattle on Monday.

Image source, SNS

Rangers say James Taylor is to step down from his role as the Scottish Premiership club's chief financial officer "by mutual agreement".

The son of former Scottish FA chief executive David Taylor had spent three years in the role.

In a three-line statement on the club website, Rangers say: "James and the club have agreed that this is the right time for him to pursue new opportunities.

"The club thanks James for his contribution and wishes him every success for the future."

There was no indication of what that future holds, or of when Rangers might appoint a successor.

On his LinkedIn profile, Taylor pointed out that he had previous senior leadership roles at Mastercard, Barclays and Zonal.

He added that he had "recently oversaw a transition to record revenues of over £94m and the club's first positive pre-player trading profit in recent years".

We asked for your thoughts on Ivor Pandur's £6m switch to Rangers and Jack Butland's impending departure to Hull City.

Here's a selection of your replies:

Jayden: Great signing, finally a half-decent keeper.

Kev: Butland's time was up. A keeper who kept clean sheets all the way through the play-offs will do me nicely. Derek McInnes starting from the back.

Brian: As good as Butland was, his distribution to the outfield mainly finished in a throw-in for the opposition. A good stopper but dodgy in close action. I wish him well at Hull City if he does end up there.

Craig: Thank God we have signed a keeper who can play with his feet because Butland was useless at distributing.

Chris: Jack served us well in the main although he always had a mistake in him that unfortunately came out at crucial times. I don't know much about this new chap but I feel McInnes knows a good player, so the new goalkeeper gets my vote.

Billy: Don't know much about the new keeper, but I need to have faith in McInnes' judgement. I wish Butland all the very best, but welcome to Rangers Pandur, a new era beckons.

Alan: I'd be surprised if he's not an upgrade. Butland always looked devoid of confidence - meek, when you need a rock at the back. Next stop defence, that needs sorted.

Rab: Butland can leave with his head held high; he was a good signing at the time, and did really well initially. Sadly, time seems to have caught up with him, but he will always be welcome back at Ibrox. Pandur seems to be just what we need to make progress. Time will tell, but he looks like a great signing.

Matthew: I've always been a fan of Butland. Yes, he could make mistakes, but he was also a fantastic shot-stopper a lot of the time and has pulled off more than his fair share of incredible saves to keep Rangers in games. I for one will miss him. On paper, this doesn't look like an upgrade, but McInnes has alluded to Pandur's character and presence and that is something we desperately lack at the moment. Time will tell.

Image source, SNS

Jermain Defoe urged Dan Neil to join Rangers before the midfielder signed a three-year contract at Ibrox.

Neil, 24, had revealed he sought advice from former Rangers forward Defoe, who had similarly advised Mikey Moore, the Tottenham winger who spent last season on loan at Ibrox.

"It's a special football club to be honest," Defoe told Sky Sports.

"I always knew that Rangers was a big club but I didn't know how big.

"Before he even spoke, it was 'you've got to go'. You have to go. If you want a challenge, I said you have to go."

Defoe helped Rangers win the 2020-21 Scottish Premiership and Neil joins an Ibrox team coming off a disappointing season in which they finished third.

Derek McInnes has replaced Danny Rohl in the dugout and former Sunderland midfielder Neil joins Ben Godfrey, Ross McCrorie, Ivor Pandur and Lawrence Shankland in becoming a Rangers player this summer.

"For Rangers, they're signing a top player," said Defoe, who also played for Sunderland. "A top young player that is a good character. He works hard.

"And that's sort of one of the demands up there, you have to run around and work hard and give everything when you wear that shirt."

Image source, SNS

Dan Neil sought advice from Jermain Defoe before joining Rangers and believes the Ibrox club has the right "characteristics".

Neil has signed a three-year with Derek McInnes' side after eight years at Sunderland and a short loan spell at Ipswich Town last season in which he helped the Tractor Boys win promotions to the Premier League.

Former Sunderland striker Defoe scored 32 goals in 74 Rangers appearances, helping them win the 2020-21 Scottish Premiership.

"I'm still only 24 and going into free agency was a bit of a weird one," Neil told Rangers TV.

"I was looking at certain characteristics in football clubs in what I wanted and what drives me as a footballer and a person. Rangers fit all the criteria.

"I spoke to Jermain Defoe, I spoke to [former Rangers manager] Graeme Murty. They were the main ones.

"[Scotland and former Sunderland forward] Ross Stewart was from Glasgow so I spoke to him about the area and things.

"They all spoke glowingly of the club and the area.

"It's a chance to fight for trophies and fight for titles. Football is everything in this city."

Neil, who wishes the Black Cats "nothing but the best", had been linked with a move to Ibrox for some time and says he talked with new manager McInnes "quite soon after he got appointed".

"I came here a few months ago and had a little tour," Neil explained. "It's an amazing football stadium."

And of his playing style, he explained: "I like to try and get on the ball and try and dictate games as much as I can. I'm a bit of a talker on the pitch as well."

Italian media link Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard, 24, with Atalanta, whose head coach Mauricio Sarri is a fan of the Norway international. (Record), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Jack Butland has posted a farewell message to Rangers fans, with the goalkeeper expected to depart to Hull City following the arrival of Croatian Ivor Pandur.

After three years and more than 150 appearances for the club, the former England international says the Ibrox support have created "lifelong Rangers fans" within the Butland family.

"Three years ago I made a decision to join this great football club, with no hesitation, and I'm so glad that I did," the 33-year-old said on Instagram, external.

"While it's been a rollercoaster, I've always tried to represent the club in the best way I can, both on and off the pitch, and I leave with great pride knowing that I truly gave the fans, the club and my team-mates my all.

"To the fans that followed us everywhere, you are what makes this club so great. We created memories and atmospheres all over Europe and the sound of Ibrox in full voice will stay with me forever.

"This is only goodbye for now. You've created a family of lifelong Rangers fans - once a Ranger, always a Ranger - me and my family will always be that."

Croatian goalkeeper Ivor Pandur has made the switch from Hull City to Rangers, with Jack Butland expected to go the other way.

So Rangers fans, what do you make of the signing who helped Hull to promotion to the Premier League?

Is he the right man to replace the departing Butland?

Tell us your thoughts here.

Croatia goalkeeper Ivor Pandur is on the cusp of joining Rangers in a £6m transfer from Hull City, with Ibrox number one Jack Butland heading in the opposite direction, after the club promoted to the Premier League were forced into player sales to comply with Financial Fair Play rules. (Hull Daily Mail, external)

Ivor Pandur has undergone a medical while in the United States with Croatia's World Cup squad as the 26-year-old prepares to sign for Rangers for £6m from Hull City, with fellow goalkeeper Jack Butland moving in the opposite direction. (Scott Burns on X, external)

Rangers are set to complete a £6m move for Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur as 33-year-old Jack Butland prepares to head in the opposite direction in a £3m deal. (Rangers Review, external)

Ivor Pandur's £6m transfer to Rangers will be completed before Jack Butland's £3m switch to Hull City to allow the Premier League club the purchase of the Englishman after Tuesday's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) accounting period. (Inside Ibrox, external)

Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Pierce Charles was also of interest to Rangers, but the key driver of that was Danny Rohl and the 20-year-old is no longer a target after the German's departure as head coach. (Pranev Shahaney on X, external)

Rangers will pay £3.8m for Ben Godfrey if they opt to sign the centre-half permanently next summer following the 28-year-old's loan from Atalanta. (The National, external)

Rennes believe they are close to signing 25-year-old Rangers-linked right-back Bryan Reynolds from Westerlo for £3.45m. (L'Equipe, external)

Goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo is leaving Rangers a year after joining and will join newly promoted Premier League club Coventry City as part of Frank Lampard's backroom staff. (Rangers Review, external)

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

José Cifuentes has returned to Rangers at the end of his loan to Toronto after the Major League Soccer club decided not to trigger their option to buy the midfielder.

The 27-year-old made 17 appearances, 16 of them starts, scoring one goal and recorded four assists for the side who finished 12th in the Eastern Conference and 25th overall.

However, he missed the final four games of the season with a knee injury.

The Ecuador international joined Rangers from Los Angeles in 2023 but fell out of favour after 20 appearances and has since had loans with Cruzeiro in Brazil, Aris Salonika in Greece and then Canada.

Cifuentes is entering the final year of his contract with the Scottish Premiership club.