Rangers

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Image source, SNS

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."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Rangers host Jablonec in the first leg of their Conference League play-off on Thursday.

Here are the key points from the Ibrox boss:

• New signing Kosta Nedeljkovic is in the squad and ready to play - if registered in time - as he has been training with Aston Villa.

• James Penrice will also feature and McInnes says Rangers now "look a bit stronger than we did a week ago" at full-back.

• The priority in recruitment now is forward areas, with the club seeking a striker and a winger, two positions which are "the toughest ones" to fill because they make the difference and can "change the whole dynamic of the team".

• On the search for a number nine, McInnes says: "It wasn't an area we were looking to try and do, but obviously with Youssef [Chermiti's] injury, the lads are all actively trying to find and source good options for us to try and see if we can deliver one. We're poring over different options and different strikers and so we're hoping we can land on the one that we want, and hopefully we can bring them here quickly."

• After beating St Mirren on Sunday for a belated but "important" first win of his tenure, McInnes says everyone "was a bit brighter, a bit more of a spring in their step" on Monday.

• He adds: "There's still certain things we need to improve on, clearly, but scoring five goals at home in any sort of game is good shooting. So we've got to take the positives from it, and I thought it was some good performances. So absolutely, going into this game, everything seems a bit easier, a bit more enjoyable when you're winning."

• On potentially bringing in a new centre-half: "Never say never but the priorities are the top end of the pitch."

• McInnes says Nicolas Raskin has been a "dream" to work with despite continued speculation over the Belgium midfielder's Ibrox future.

• On his decision to drop skipper Lawrence Shankland to the bench last weekend, the Ibrox boss says: "Being captain does not guarantee anything, and he accepted that. He is not going to stamp his feet. Somebody has to be club captain and, having had the benefit of working with Lawrence previously, he is a brilliant captain and a brilliant boy. He has a lot to offer."

• McInnes isn't worried about Shankland's goal return - one in five games so far - because he is "too good not to score on a regular basis".

• He adds: "Sometimes people can over-emphasise these things. For me, it is a case of letting him play his natural game. The best strikers have that instinctive side to their game, where everything looks natural and seamless. I have no doubt he will do well here."

• Jablonec are "clearly a well-organised team" and boast "a few good individuals" who can cause danger and McInnes says: "Although I expect a tough game, I expect it to be tougher for them."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

The win over St Mirren will have come as a blessed relief to Derek McInnes, giving him his first victory as Rangers manager and restoring a modicum of positivity around Ibrox after a trying start to the season.

No time for resting on laurels though as another crucial game rolls around. Jablonec of the Czech Republic arrive to try to inflict another European bloody nose after last week's demoralising Europa League exit to Jagiellonia Bialystok.

Rangers' star has waned in Europe since the most recent high of the Europa League final in 2022, but failure to beat a side that finished fifth in their domestic league last season and the resulting absence from European competition would be an astonishing fall from grace.

At least Rangers go into Thursday's first leg feeling a bit better about themselves, having at last found a cutting edge against St Mirren on Sunday.

There were several good performances, most notably from debutant James Penrice who, with a goal and assist, slotted in seamlessly.

Vanja Dragojevic also caught the eye, starting for the first time in his favoured central midfield berth and capping an impressive display with a fabulous first goal for the club, albeit it was his stray pass that allowed St Mirren to pull a goal back before half-time.

Alongside him, Tochi Chukwuani, criticised in some quarters towards the end of last season and for a disappointing showing in Poland two weeks ago, showed up well, driving Rangers forward and helping them to an emphatic win.

It was not without its scares though and McInnes will surely recognise that a better, more ruthless opponent would have likely taken greater advantage of a continuing softness at Rangers' core that affords the opposition goalscoring opportunities.

Nonetheless, Rangers will take the positivity from the overall performance and result and hope they can build on it on Thursday evening.

Image source, Getty

Right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic says it was an "easy decision" to join Rangers on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.

The deal for the 20-year-old Serbia international comes with a conditional obligation to buy.

Nedeljkovic, who spent the last season-and-a-half on loan at RB Leipzig, said: "I am very excited. Rangers is such a big club, a big family, and I am excited to join and help the team have success together.

"For me, it was an easy decision after meeting with the coach; I only wanted Rangers. It is a big opportunity and a big responsibility. I always try to be positive and work hard so I am ready to help the team."

Manager Derek McInnes says Nedeljkovic will "further strengthen a key area for us", with Dujon Sterling and Ross McCrorie also competing for the right-back berth.

McInnes added: "He has already gained some valuable experience at a high level in England and Germany, as well as representing Serbia internationally.

"Kosta is an athletic and energetic full-back who is keen to get forward, but he also has a real desire to defend and compete."

Rangers fans, what do you make of Nedeljkovic's signing, which takes the number of new arrivals to 11. Let us know your thoughts.

Aston Villa right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic could join Rangers in time to be included in the squad for Thursday's Conference League play-off first leg at home to Jablonec. (Scottish Sun, external)

Wolves have made an enquiry for Brighton winger Amario Cozier-Duberry after Rangers failed with a £7.5m bid for the 21-year-old. (Anthony Joseph on X, external)

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Couhaib Driouech says he is sorry to have missed "a great step" after the late collapse of his proposed move to Rangers, revealing he had mentally made the switch from PSV Eindhoven before the deal broke down.

The 24-year-old winger was at Ibrox to watch the second leg of Rangers' Europa League defeat by Jagiellonia Bialystok last Thursday.

However, an injury issue led Rangers to withdraw their interest.

"It was a roller coaster of emotions, but I am back," said Driouech, addressing the saga for the first time in an interview with ESPN. "I think there was a disagreement between the doctors.

"I had a small tear in my thigh. I think it was made worse because I took a knock to the knee that week, and that turned into a hematoma.

"But I feel good and I am back on the pitch. I have no influence on what they decided there.

"I would have considered it a great step. It's a shame, but I'm also happy to be back.

"You're basically already there in your head. You already see yourself playing in a different kit, but it's not the first time this has happened to me. It sucks, but that's just how it is."

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James Penrice hopes to capitalise on an impressive debut performance by making the starting Rangers left-back spot his own.

The 27-year-old was signed on loan from AEK Athens on Saturday and featured in Derek McInnes' XI 24 hours later with Tuur Rommens out injured.

The former Hearts defender went on to score and assist in the 5-1 League Cup last-16 victory over St Mirren, setting up a quarter-final with Celtic.

"[Rommens] is obviously injured and I'm coming in to play," Penrice said.

"I want to keep performing and that's kind of where I am. I want to make the jersey my own and hopefully I can do that."

Penrice revealed he was upset when a proposed move to Ibrox last winter failed to materialise.

However, the former Rangers academy player, who is a boyhood fan of the club, is thrilled to finally be back in Govan.

"January was close, it didn't happen for a number of reasons and I ended up staying and winning the league with AEK," Penrice added.

"When I had heard there was a sniff this window, it was all I wanted. I pushed like mad and then I've got to say thank you to AEK as well because they made it happen.

"You kind of get doubts [about it happening]. I was quite upset it didn't happen in January, I'm not shying away from that.

"But as soon as I found out in the summer there was a chance, as I said, I pushed like mad and it was the only thing I wanted."

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James Penrice is very likely to be added to Rangers' European squad, with room for one more addition before Wednesday's midnight deadline.

Rangers take on Czech side Jablonec for a place in the Conference League, with the first leg at Ibrox on Thursday.

The initial squad had to be registered on Friday, the day a loan agreement for AEK full-back Penrice was finalised.

The 27-year-old turned in a impressive display on his debut, scoring and providing an assist in Sunday's 5-1 demolition of St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup.

Ross McCausland, who scored on his return as a substitute at the weekend, is included, as is centre-half Ben Godfrey, who has missed four games through injury.

The squad is supplemented by a B-list of homegrown talent, which includes Scotland winger Findlay Curtis.

Youssef Chermiti and Tuur Rommens are currently sidelined for Derek McInnes's side, while Scotland defender John Souttar is again overlooked.

Rangers squad

Goalkeepers: Pandur, Kelly, Munn

Defenders: McCrorie, Godfrey, Nsiala, Sterling, Makhanya, Fernandez

Midfielders: Neil, Barron, Aasgaard, Devlin, Cameron, Yokota, Gassama, Dragojevic, Chukwuani, Raskin

Forwards: Shankland, Naderi, Miovski, McCausland