Rangers Profit from Antman Transfer as Market Activates

Rangers have moved decisively in the final stretch of pre-season, banking a significant profit on Oliver Antman and immediately turning to familiar names as they reshape their attacking options.

The Ibrox club have accepted a £4.5m offer from Belgian side Anderlecht for the Finland winger, a deal that will deliver around £1m profit after his short spell in Glasgow. Antman’s time at Rangers has been brief, but productive enough to attract serious interest from the continent, and the club have chosen to strike while his value is high.

Attention has already swung to his replacement. Former Rangers loanee Vaclav Cerny is among the players on the shortlist to fill the gap on the flank. Cerny, who previously showed flashes of quality during his spell in Glasgow, now finds himself back in the frame as the club look for a ready-made option who understands the demands of the environment.

McInnes on the touchline despite ban

Off the pitch, Rangers manager Derek McInnes will be in the dugout for the Scottish Premiership opener against Dundee United on Friday, despite being hit with a four-game touchline ban by the SFA.

The club have lodged an appeal, which allows McInnes to take his place on the touchline while the process runs its course. It is a significant boost heading into the curtain-raiser, with Rangers keen to start strongly amid a summer of change.

Recruitment work continues in wide areas. Rangers are interested in Coventry City winger Jahnoah Markelo, while Brighton’s Amario Cozier-Duberry remains a live option. The flanks are being rebuilt on the fly, and Antman’s sale has only sharpened the need to get those calls right.

Celtic bids rebuffed as Hassan stance hardens

Across the city, Celtic have been met with resistance. Brentford have rejected a permanent bid for defender Benjamin Arthur, who spent last season on loan at Parkhead and impressed enough for the champions to push for a full-time deal.

Celtic are also pursuing Haissem Hassan, but Real Oviedo have drawn a clear line. Sporting director David Fernandez has made it plain the winger will only leave on the Spanish club’s terms. No cut-price exit, no rushed decision. If Celtic want him, they will have to play by Oviedo’s rules.

Kilmarnock move for ex-Rangers defender

Kilmarnock are closing in on a deal for former Rangers defender Johnly Yfeko. The 23-year-old, who has spent the last two years with Exeter City, is edging towards a return to Scottish football as Killie look to add depth and athleticism at the back.

Dundee United, meanwhile, are braced for interest in the other direction. Midfielder Julius Eskesen is attracting attention from Danish side Esbjerg fB, a move that would take him back to his homeland if a deal can be agreed.

Skov Olsen on the move again, Chesnokov plots next step

Andreas Skov Olsen, whose loan spell at Rangers last season never caught fire, is on the verge of another fresh start. The winger has undergone a medical at Basaksehir ahead of a further loan move from Wolfsburg, hoping Turkey offers the platform that Glasgow never quite did.

Islam Chesnokov’s journey has taken an even sharper turn. Just a month after leaving Hearts for Kazakh side Tobol, the forward has agreed to join Russian club Krylia Sovetov next year. It is a rapid, calculated step in a career that has become increasingly nomadic.

Money moving out of Ibrox, bids knocked back in the East End, players shuttling across Europe in search of minutes and momentum. The season has not even kicked off, but the Scottish game is already deep in the kind of transfer turbulence that can define a campaign before a ball is properly kicked.