Rangers

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Derek McInnes' arrival at Rangers is a "really solid" appointment, says Ibrox goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Butland, 33, is hopeful Rangers can gain "stability" under McInnes, who featured as a player for the Ibrox side in the late 1990s.

"[I have] bumped into him a few times over the years," Butland told TalkSPORT.

"He's an ex-Rangers player, we've had the odd chat here and there, we've always had a bit of back and forth about the club.

"I know how much he cares about it, I know how much it means to him.

"For the club, it's a really solid appointment, someone that we can hopefully build around for a number of years - gain some stability with someone that knows what it means, knows the culture.

"It's a really good appointment, I'm looking forward to it."

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Bologna have opened preliminary talks with Rangers over the signing of Nico Raskin, 25, while new Ibrox manager Derek McInnes would like Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson to move in the opposite direction. (TeamTalk), external

Hull City have made an offer for Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin in the region of £12-14m but the Ibrox club value the Belgium international at nearer £20m. (Mike White on X), external

Rangers have agreed to pay Bristol City around £1.5m to bring Ross McCrorie back to Ibrox. The 28-year-old defender has completed his medical and will put pen to paper on a three-year deal with another 12 month club option. (Daily Record - subscription required), external

Rangers have been priced out of a move for Westerlo right-back Bryan Reynolds, with French club Rennes offering around £3.3m for the 24-year-old American. (Daily Record - subscription required), external

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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New Rangers manager Derek McInnes says his job is to make the club "relevant" domestically again by winning trophies.

McInnes made a dramatic switch from Hearts last week and says it is all about taking Rangers back to the top of Scottish football after one title in 15 years.

He says work is well under way to build a side to "impose" themselves next season.

"I don't want teams to come here and feel comfortable and play their way into the game," McInnes said.

"All of a sudden, that fear factor isn't there playing against Rangers. We've got to make teams really struggle when they play against us.

"We've got good players currently and we're going to bring in good players. You have to have quality to be a Rangers player but it takes a lot more than that.

"There's an identity and an intensity that is required to win games domestically.

"We want to do well right across the board and in Europe and all the rest of it - but we need to start being more relevant again, winning trophies domestically, and that for me is key."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Rangers manager Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media for the first time since his appointment.

Here are the key points:

• Becoming Rangers boss was a "very special" moment for McInnes and his family and something he has always wanted to do.

• He feels "ready" for the job and is well aware of the responsibility being Rangers manager brings having supported and played for the club.

• Rangers fans have "suffered" for the past 15 years with just one league title and his job to change that as quickly as possible, starting this season.

• The call from Rangers was a "surprise" when it came during his holiday. Considering how much he enjoyed his spell at Hearts he said he had "a lot to consider" but he has made the right decision.

• On his style of play, McInnes says his aim is to create a Rangers team that will "impose ourselves on the opposition" and ensure there is a fear factor for opposition teams at Ibrox.

• Signings will be "collaborative" but he has been assured he will have the final say on incomings and outgoings.

• The club need to use their budget "wisely" but work is under way to recruit players, plus McInnes feels he and his staff can get more from the current squad.

Rangers are closing in on a deal to bring 28-year-old versatile Scotland-capped defender Ross McCrorie back to Ibrox from Bristol City. (Rangers Review), external

Celtic have submitted an improved offer for Zinedin Smajlovic worth £3.9m plus £1.7m in bonuses, but Sandefjord are under no pressure to sell amid rival interest from Rangers, Olympiacos, Hull City, Fenerbahçe, Toulouse, Feyenoord and Lyon in the 22-year-old centre-back. (Rudy Galetti on X), external

Rangers are preparing to submit a formal offer for 22-year-old Dundee centre-back Luke Graham in the coming weeks. (Football Insider), external

Head coach Steven Pressley says Dundee have received "plenty of phone calls" about Luke Graham this summer, but there has been no firm offers for the centre-half. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Rangers have confirmed the permanent appointment of Stig Inge Bjornebye as performance director at Ibrox.

The former Norway international joined the club on a temporary basis in December as a consultant.

"Rangers is a club with huge expectations, and that is one of the reasons I am excited to take on this role permanently," the 56-year-old told club media.

"Our responsibility now is to provide the football departments and the players with everything they need to win, while also creating a clear pathway for the next generation of Rangers players."

Meanwhile, James Barrow has arrived from Wigan Athletic to replace Rhys Owen as first team performance coach.

"Stig has quickly become a valued member of our football leadership team," said chief executive officer Jim Gillespie. "His experience across elite football, both as a player and as an executive, brings important expertise to the club.

"His appointment completes a football structure that is focused on one objective: giving our manager, staff and players the best possible platform to deliver success for Rangers."

Tottenham Hotspur have sanctioned another loan departure for Mikey Moore and Rangers are hoping he will return to Ibrox amid interest from the Championship and Europe in the 18-year-old winger. (TeamTalk), external

Rangers are set to demand around £20m for Nicolas Raskin this summer as clubs from the Premier League, Serie A and Super Lig all race to sign the 25-year-old Belgium midfielder. (Football Insider), external

Rangers are well-placed to re-sign Czech Republic winger Vaclav Cerny for around £5m in the coming weeks, with the 28-year-old open to leaving Besiktas. (Football Insider), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Lawrence Shankland is looking forward to working with Derek McInnes again after the manager followed him in making the move from Hearts to Rangers.

The 30-year-old striker joined the Ibrox club on a two-year deal after losing a tight title race with Celtic on the final day of the season.

McInnes has since followed, replacing Danny Rohl who opted to take up an offer from RB Salzburg.

"I am pleased for the manager, it is a good opportunity for him and I am pleased for myself to be there," said Shankland from Scotland's World Cup camp.

"I haven't had too much time to think about it if I am being honest, it is something I am putting to the back of my mind.

"I am looking forward to a fresh start when I go back but right now I am looking to focus on this World Cup.

"When I looked back at the date when everything happened since the end of the season, to get this point, it is actually not been that long.

"The main thing is I want to try to enjoy this tournament and I will think about the rest of the stuff when I get back home."

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Bailey Rice believes he "can show a lot more" after signing a new one-year contract with Rangers, with the option of a further year.

The midfielder, 19, has made 16 appearances for the club, with four of those starts.

"It's brilliant," he told club media.

"I have been a fan since I was a kid, so I know what it means to play here and I know what the club means to me, so it is a great achievement.

"It is such a great club, I have had some great moments but I have also had some of the hardest moments of my career with injury, but that can only make me a better player and I feel I can show a lot more than I already have."

Former Rangers defender Colin Hendry expects the Ibrox club to sign more Scots after Lawrence Shankland was recruited from Hearts. (Record - subscription required), external

Besiktas are reportedly negotiating with Wolfsburg over whether to land Andreas Skov Olsen on a permanent basis or secure another loan deal for the 26-year-old winger, who was with Rangers last season. (Sun), external

Monday's Scottish gossip

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Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin was handed his first start at a World Cup finals but could not inspire Belgium to victory over Iran in Los Angeles.

The 25-year-old, who had come on as a substitute in their opening 1-1 draw with Egypt, was given a holding role in his 15th Belgium appearance but was himself withdrawn after 58 minutes of the goalless stalemate in Group G.

Belgium dominated the first half but created few clear opportunities.

They suffered a blow shortly after Raskin was replaced with Club Brugge's attacking midfielder, Hans Vanaken.

Nathan Ngoy was shown a straight red card for bringing down Mehdi Taremi in the 66th minute after the defender's loss of control allowed the Iranian through on goal.

All three Group G games so far have been drawn as New Zealand face Egypt in their second matches at 02:00 BST in Vancouver.

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In signing Lawrence Shankland, Rangers have secured a striker as lethal as Hearts legend John Robertson, former Tynecastle manager Craig Levein has suggested.

And, in also taking Derek McInnes from Hearts, they have a manager perfectly suited to the Ibrox club, he told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

Levein thinks Hearts will find it difficult to replace 30-year-old captain Shankland as: "He's the type of player, he'll play well into his 30s, because the thing that deteriorates most once you get into your mid-30s is your pace and he plays his game in his head.

"Rangers probably spend 65-70% of their games in the opponents' last third in the Premiership, so he is not going to deteriorate.

"I played alongside John Robertson and he is getting to that level, his finishing is that good. Like Robbo, he scores a lot of goals from headers and he's got that calmness in the box."

As for McInnes, Levein added: "Most leagues have their own idiosyncrasies and I was delighted when Hearts brought Derek in because he knows those idiosyncrasies better than anyone.

"He was successful with Aberdeen and with Kilmarnock, the only downside being Bristol City - and the Championship is a difficult league to get success in if you haven't played in it.

"I think at times the Old Firm need to grind out results and Derek is very capable in those sort of situations.

"With the season he had it Hearts, he will be very disappointed he didn't get it [the title] over the line, but he can be very proud of what he did in a very short space of time, along with Jamestown, putting together a team that were competing until the last day.

"As a Hearts supporter, you have to be grateful for what he did at the club in the last season.

"Congratulations to Derek, because he's a Rangers man, isn't he, at heart? Good for him to get back to the team he played for."

Rangers are exploring other right-back targets as Scotland's 24-year-old Nathan Patterson's wage demands are a hurdle and he will command a decent fee despite entering the final 12 months of his Everton contract. (Football Insider), external

Midfielder Nicolas Raskin, 25, says he is leaving his future with Rangers to his agents while he is concentrating on playing for Belgium at the World Cup. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller is poised to become Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach permanently after leading his side to an Israeli Cup final victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva as caretaker after Ronny Deila left. (Glasgow Times), external

Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Ian McCall has described new Rangers manager Derek McInnes as a "total control freak" and expects him to be "hands on" in how the club is run.

Having led Hearts to within minutes of the title last season, McInnes was this week appointed Ibrox boss after Danny Rohl's move to Red Bull Salzburg. It is McInnes' sixth club as a manager.

And former Rangers midfielder McCall told BBC Sportsound: "Derek McInnes, I think, as the new manager - I hope he doesn't mind me saying - is a total control freak. He'll want to be in control of all the things that are going on.

"He wants his hands on everything. I do think that Derek is very, very hands on in all aspects of management.

"He's exactly what they're looking for. They need a manager and that's what Derek is. The way he manages best is he likes to have a print on all over the club.

"The biggest thing he's got to get right is who he signs. His signing record is very good. He won't be scared of it. There is no chance he'll be scared of it. He'll embrace it all."

Retired midfielder Andy Halliday played for Rangers from 2015-20 and later turned out for Hearts.

And he sees need for further significant change at Ibrox this summer.

"It'll interesting in terms of recruitment," said Halliday. "They have so much work to do. I still think they've got glaring holes within their squad."

However, Halliday believes Rangers are "already in a stronger position" after recruiting Lawrence Shankland and appointing McInnes, both from Hearts.

"It gives them a stronger edge than if it was Danny Rohl," Halliday said.

"It's almost been 10 years in the making. How many times has McInnes been linked with the Rangers job? It's probably been the best time for McInnes and I think it's been the best time for Rangers.

"He's been a part of the club before, he obviously lives in Scotland, he knows what it's all about.

"It's a positive appointment. "They're already in a stronger position going into next season.

"Lawrence Shankland's the best striker in the country and they've got him as well."

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New Rangers manager Derek McInnes can "totally understand the frustration" of Hearts fans over the silence from himself and the club following their title agony.

Hearts left Celtic Park immediately after the 3-1 final-day defeat at Celtic Park where home fans invaded the pitch.

McInnes, 54, has not spoken publicly since but has now issued a 475-word statement through the Hearts Standard website.

"It's such a special football club and we had such a brilliant season together," said McInnes.

"I'm well aware I haven't spoken since the last game of the season. I totally understand the frustration from fans around the lack of communication, both from myself and the club, considering the manner in which the season ended. The frustration is justifiable.

"Hearts came so close to completing one of the greatest seasons in the club's history. Despite how the season ended, it was still hugely successful and memorable. A record points total, Champions League qualification, three derby wins and so many more highs and memories along the way.

"Unfortunately, the team didn't get what they deserved in the end."

Hearts led the Premiership table by two points going into the final game and were tied at 1-1 with the defending champions at half-time. Two late goals turned the match and title in Celtic's favour.

A couple of games prior, Hearts had been held 1-1 by Motherwell and head of refereeing Willie Collum later admitted McInnes' side should have had a penalty at Fir Park.

"I was so angry and devastated at how it all played out for us after putting so much effort in," McInnes said.

"The decisions that had a huge impact on the outcome were hard to take. Trying to process it all was part of my thinking as to why I didn't speak.

"When I arrived, I said I wanted to make Hearts something. A team that resonated with the supporters and a team that fans were excited to watch on a Saturday, no matter where and when. I believe we achieved that.

"I also wanted to make Tynecastle Park a place fans wanted to come to and a place opposition teams didn't. I felt Tynecastle was even more special than it normally is and I had that feeling every time I walked out the tunnel and into the home dugout. An unbeaten home record was a brilliant achievement."

McInnes thanked players and the club's staff, saying: "I've spoken to every single one of them over the last few days and wish them only well.

"A big thanks to the support I received from the board, particularly Calum Paterson, and also Graeme Jones for a brilliant, strong working relationship.

"And, finally, the Heart of Midlothian support. I felt like one of you. I wish I'd got to Hearts sooner and that my time at the club was more than 12 months. It was only a short time but it was a brilliant time. I wish Hearts only good things going forward."

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Rangers will host West Ham in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, 26 July, kick-off 16:00 BST.

The match will be the final warm-up match for new manager Derek McInnes before the Scottish Premiership opener at Dundee United on Friday, 31 July (20:00).

The sides last met in a friendly in 2022, Rangers winning 3-1 at Ibrox.

Nuno Espirito Santo's West Ham will be in the Championship in the coming season, having finished third bottom in the Premier League last term.

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Nicolas Raskin has made clear his intention to leave Rangers this summer in search of the next step in his career amid interest from Atalanta and other clubs in the 25-year-old Belgium midfielder. (TeamTalk), external

PSV Eindhoven are preparing to follow up their interest in 22-year-old striker Youssef Chermiti but have yet to weigh up their signing shortlist with Rangers likely to cash in if offered £25m. (Ed via Record), external

Besiktas pitched Chermiti as one of four potential striker targets this summer, but head coach Vincenzo Italiano is not keen on a deal for Rangers' forward. (Yanpas via Record), external

Friday's Scottish gossip

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New RB Salzburg head coach Danny Rohl has insisted he leaves Rangers "in a stronger position" after his eight months in charge.

The 37-year-old German brought the Ibrox side back into the title race after a disappointing start to the season under Russell Martin only for them to lose four of their final five games and finish third behind Celtic and Hearts.

After cutting short his two-and-a-half-year contract with Rangers to sign a three-year one at the club who finished third in the Austrian Bundesliga, Rohl said on Instagram: "As I move on to a new chapter, I wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone connected with Rangers.

"It's been an incredible honour to be part of this amazing club.

"Thank you to the players, staff and, of course, the brilliant supporters for the way you welcomed and backed us.

"It was a privilege to experience your passion and have you by our side."

Rohl thanked chairman Andrew Cavenagh and added: "I'm proud of the work we all did together over the past year.

"While there is always more to achieve, I believe the club is in a stronger position and well placed for what lies ahead."

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A new season brings new drama and an opportunity for city rivalries to renew once again.

Despite finishing in the bottom half of the table, both Dundee clubs successfully avoided the drop and will play at least three more derbies in this season's Premiership.

Last term they contested four derbies, United won two, Dundee won one and the other was a draw.

The Dundee pair are the first of the three rivals to meet this term as United host Steven Pressley's side at Tannadice on 22 August. There's a new year meeting at Dens Park on 2 January before another match at Tannadice on 13 March.

On 2 September, it's the turn of Hibernian and Hearts to go head-to-head in the first Edinburgh derby of the season.

Hearts won three out of four Edinburgh derbies last term, including the dramatic post-split game at Easter Road where Hibs, having gone a goal in front early on, found themselves reduced to nine men for almost a full half.

It's Hearts' turn to host on 26 December before another Easter Road meeting in the final pre-split game on 10 April.

The first Glasgow derby of the new campaign is on 20 September at Parkhead. The sides met six times across all competitions last term - Celtic won three, including both the cup matches, while Rangers won one and the other two ended in a draw.

The pair meet at Ibrox on 2 January before returning to Parkhead on 27 February.

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The domestic Derek McInnes era at Rangers begins on Friday 31 July (20:00 BST) as they travel to face Dundee United at Tannadice.

Here are some other key Premiership dates for your diary.

The first home game will be the following week when Edinburgh side Hibernian visit Ibrox on 9 August (16:00).

McInnes' men will have to travel for the first Old Firm derby of the campaign, they meet Celtic at Parkhead on 20 September (12:00).

They're away for the final game before the split too ending the pre-split campaign how they started, in Dundee. This time they're up against Dundee at Dens Park on 10 April (15:00).