Mark Walker

LASK captain Sascha Horvath says his team will not give up on reaching the Champions League league phase despite losing 3-0 to Celtic in Glasgow. He acknowledges that LASK must defend more tightly, close down spaces and convert missed chances, but believes a three-goal comeback is possible in the second leg in Linz.

Former Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow has warned Freiburg that Motherwell are technically gifted, tactically versatile and unlike the physical Scottish stereotype. He praised their passing-based build-up, consistency and defensive record, while advising Freiburg to stay compact, close down spaces and avoid being unsettled. Despite acknowledging that Motherwell should not be underestimated, Schwolow believes Freiburg are significantly stronger and will win if they perform to their potential. His assessment is colored by frustration over Hearts’ previous title setback at Motherwell and a disputed Celtic penalty in the subsequent match.

Marcelo Saracchi says he greatly enjoyed his loan spell at Celtic and helped the club win a double, but believes limited playing time contributed to his omission from Uruguay's World Cup squad. Celtic rotated him with Kieran Tierney, leaving Saracchi with eight league starts, and Marcelo Bielsa reportedly cited his lack of minutes when informing him he had not been selected. Saracchi has since joined Houston Dynamo and hopes eventually to return to the Uruguay national team.

FK Jablonec will provide free tickets to supporters travelling to Ibrox for their European clash with Rangers as a gesture of thanks. The Czech club also postponed league matches against Bohemians and Baník Ostrava to allow its players more preparation and recovery time before the two legs.

Sebastien Pocognoli, expected to succeed Steve Clarke as Scotland manager, previously appeared at Hampden Park for Belgium in a 2-0 victory over Scotland. Pocognoli came on as a second-half substitute in the 2013 match, which Belgium won through goals from Steven Defour and Kevin Mirallas. Despite being a regular during qualifying, he was left out of Belgium’s 2014 World Cup squad before returning later that year and earning his final cap.

Sebastien Pocognoli is expected to replace Steve Clarke as Scotland manager, becoming only the second foreign coach in the national team's history. In an earlier interview, the 39-year-old Belgian described his intense temperament, confidence and desire to balance emotional energy with calm leadership. He rejected comparisons with Diego Simeone, emphasizing that his teams prioritize possession more than Atlético Madrid while sharing an aggressive defensive mentality. Pocognoli discussed his playing career with AZ Alkmaar, West Bromwich Albion and Brighton, his 13 appearances for Belgium and his disappointment at missing the 2014 World Cup. He said that experience helps him understand and support players facing similar setbacks.

Former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand has reached a £2 million severance agreement with Bayer Leverkusen after being dismissed following the club’s sixth-place finish and failure to qualify for the Champions League. Hjulmand is now available and remains a reported contender to replace Steve Clarke as Scotland manager. Former Rangers loanee Malik Tillman criticised Hjulmand’s management, saying he did not enjoy his time at Leverkusen, felt unsupported by the management, and experienced poor communication.

Benfica manager Marco Silva said the absence of supporters contributed to his team's disappointing 2-2 home draw with newly promoted Academica de Viseu. Benfica had been punished with a behind-closed-doors match after earlier pyrotechnics incidents. Silva acknowledged his side's frustration but said it must channel that response positively in the Europa League return match at Hearts' Tynecastle, where Hearts face an almost impossible task after losing the first leg 6-1 in Lisbon.

Shkendija striker Fabrice Tamba believes the club's home supporters could help overturn Hibernian's narrow first-leg advantage in their UEFA Europa Conference League rematch. Shkendija enter the match with confidence after Tamba scored twice against local rivals Vardar, while Hibs also received a boost from their 2–1 win over Rangers at Ibrox.

Galatasaray have reportedly joined the race to sign former Rangers striker Robbie Ure, who is valued at around £9 million by Swedish league leaders IK Sirius. The 22-year-old has scored 15 goals in 14 matches, including 10 in his last five games. Ure says he is enjoying his current form and remains relaxed about the possibility of moving clubs in the future.

Sturm Graz midfielder Simon Seidl praised the atmosphere at Tynecastle after his side defeated Hearts 6-0 on aggregate in Champions League qualifying. Seidl scored the opening goal in Edinburgh and said the sold-out stadium, passionate supporters and travelling Sturm Graz fans made the victory particularly memorable. He credited the Austrian side’s intensity and collective performance for their dominant result.

St Mirren midfielder and Ireland international Killian Phillips is attracting interest from New England Revolution, San Jose Earthquakes and LA Galaxy. The MLS clubs are reportedly considering a move worth about £375,000 for the 24-year-old, who was born in San Diego and holds an American passport. Phillips became a permanent St Mirren player after a successful loan spell and played a key role in the club’s Premier Sports Cup triumph and relegation play-off victory. A move to a bigger club could improve his chances of featuring in Heimir Hallgrímsson’s Ireland plans, leaving St Mirren facing a challenge to retain him.

Former Rangers midfielder Dragan Mladenovic believes compatriot Vanja Dragojevic can have a much more successful spell at Ibrox. Rangers paid about £5 million to sign the 20-year-old from Partizan Belgrade, making him only the third Serbian player to represent the club after Mladenovic and Gordan Petric. Mladenovic struggled to adapt after his 2004 move, but says Dragojevic's youth, aggressive playing style, work rate and willingness to tackle should help him succeed, provided he adapts to Scottish football and follows guidance from Rangers staff.

Tromsø midfielder and Rangers target Jens Hjerto-Dahl suggested he may have played his last match for the Norwegian club after missing a penalty in a 1–0 Europa League defeat to Hradec Králové. Rangers reportedly had a £5.3 million bid rejected, while Cardiff City is said to be leading the race after preparing to meet Tromsø’s £8 million valuation. Hjerto-Dahl said he would remain focused on Tromsø while awaiting developments and hoped to play in the return leg.

Billy Gilmour has returned to first-team training with Napoli after missing the World Cup because of a knee injury suffered in a warm-up match against Curaçao. The Scotland midfielder is expected to miss the opening games of the season but could return to competitive action toward the end of the following month. He also missed much of the previous season after surgery for a groin injury.

Ange Postecoglou began his tenure at Al-Nassr with a 2-1 defeat to Benfica’s reserve team during preseason preparations in Portugal. His squad will continue preparations with additional matches against Spanish and Portuguese sides ahead of the Saudi league’s August kickoff.

Malisheva midfielder Vusal Isgandarli warns that Hibernian are viewed as a major target ahead of their Europa Conference League meeting in Kosovo. He expects a difficult match but believes his side can win after advancing past Vllaznia in the previous round, expressing confidence that another strong home performance can create an advantage.

Jagiellonia Bialystok strengthened their squad ahead of their Europa League clash with Rangers by signing 20-year-old Swedish winger Jeremy Agbonifo on loan from Lens. The club, having lost several players over the summer, sees Agbonifo as a key addition due to his unpredictable style and attacking confidence. Agbonifo praised the team’s progressive approach and expressed enthusiasm for contributing to their European campaign and league ambitions.

Alexander Schwolow will leave Hearts to join Mainz knowing he will serve as backup to long‑time first‑choice goalkeeper Robin Zentner. Mainz manager Urs Fischer confirmed Zentner will start but said performances will determine roles and praised Schwolow’s character and familiarity with the region.

Jens Hjerto-Dahl downplays his potential move from Tromso despite interest from Rangers and Cardiff City, stressing his focus on daily training and match performance while acknowledging supporters urging him to stay. He contributes a goal in a 4-1 win as Tromso maintain strong form, with his manager praising his composure and commitment.

Manchester United completed the signing of Andrey Santos from Chelsea on a five‑year deal, marking their first transfer of the summer. The club continues to pursue midfield reinforcements, including talks for Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans following recent departures and injuries. Santos expressed excitement about joining United and working under Michael Carrick. His move follows loan spells at Vasco da Gama, Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg after limited opportunities at Chelsea. Tielemans remains a potential target despite a recent injury while playing for Belgium.

Celtic are pursuing a return for full-back Marcelo Saracchi after his placement on Boca Juniors’ transfer list, but face competition from Estudiantes de La Plata, led by club president Juan Sebastián Verón. Saracchi prefers another loan rather than a permanent move and continues to attract interest from South American clubs as he enters the final 18 months of his Boca contract.

Rangers are moving closer to signing Partizan Belgrade captain Vanja Dragojevic after Partizan brought in Kenyan midfielder Timothy Ouma on loan from Slavia Prague, signalling they are preparing for Dragojevic’s departure. Dragojevic has reportedly missed pre-season games, and Rangers have already added several players ahead of the new campaign.

Daizen Maeda dismisses suggestions he should compete as an Olympic athlete after his exceptional speed and stamina drew attention during the World Cup. He recounts past ambitions in gymnastics and sprinting before returning to football with encouragement from family and friends, emphasizing his natural running ability and humble attitude.

Dinamo Zagreb president Zvonimir Boban says the club has received transfer enquiries for Scotland defender Scott McKenna but believes the player is content to stay. Despite a difficult World Cup, McKenna contributed to a league and cup double in his first season, attracting interest from other clubs. Boban noted that several foreign players, including McKenna, have shown no desire to leave.

Argentina advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals with a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Egypt in Atlanta, overturning a 2-0 deficit in the final minutes. Goals from Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi levelled the match before Enzo Fernandez secured victory in stoppage time. Egypt had taken a surprise lead through Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico after a VAR-disallowed effort, with goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir producing several key saves to keep them ahead. Argentina’s late surge preserved their title defence and ended Egypt’s impressive run.

Hayato Inamura explains that his return to FC Tokyo was driven by his ambition to break into the Japan national team, inspired by his friend Daizen Maeda’s success at the World Cup. Despite playing only once for Celtic, he says his time in Scotland helped him grow as a player and provided valuable experience as he aims to revive his career and pursue international opportunities.