Robbie Copeland

Scottish clubs produced mixed results in the Conference League playoff first legs. Hibernian secured a goalless draw away to Gent despite Owen Elding missing a penalty, leaving the tie level ahead of a sell-out return at Easter Road. Hearts drew 2-2 with Rapid Vienna after goals from James McPake and James Wilson, while Motherwell lost 3-1 to Freiburg after taking an early lead through Regan Charles-Cook and later having Martin Moormann sent off. Rangers defeated Jablonec 1-0 through Ryan Naderi and will take the advantage to the Czech Republic.

Rangers manager Derek McInnes said the club is seeking additional creative players to provide better service for its forwards after a 0-0 pre-season draw with West Ham, the team's second consecutive match without an open-play goal. He expects one completed deal and potentially another signing before Friday's Scottish Premiership opener against Dundee United, while also seeking greater defensive depth. Thelo Aasgaard is expected to be available, but Nico Raskin will miss the opener after returning from a lay-off and World Cup duty.

The Premier Sports Cup last-16 draw produced an Ayrshire derby between Kilmarnock and Ayr United, while defending champions St Mirren will visit Rangers. Celtic travel to Dundee United, Hearts host Inverness, Hibernian face Partick Thistle, Aberdeen meet Dundee, Dunfermline host Ross County, and Stenhousemuir welcome Motherwell. The matches are scheduled for the weekend of August 15, with broadcast dates and times to be confirmed.

Rangers prepare for one of their final pre-season matches as Derek McInnes fields several new signings against St Etienne at Ibrox. McInnes, set to serve a touchline ban at the start of the league season, uses the match to assess his squad while Ben Godfrey captains the side. St Etienne manager Ian Cathro welcomes the challenge as his team builds toward the new campaign. Transfer interest surrounds defender John Souttar, and the fixture offers fans an early look at selections ahead of Rangers’ upcoming domestic and European commitments.

Derek McInnes received a four‑game touchline ban, with one game suspended, after criticising a late VAR‑awarded penalty that kept Celtic in title contention last season. His comments were deemed to breach SFA rules prohibiting public criticism of match officials. The decision follows a hearing by the Scottish FA’s compliance officer. Elliott Watt was also sanctioned with a four‑match ban and a fine for Motherwell due to his own remarks about the incident.

Hearts begin their Champions League qualifying campaign away to Sturm Graz with new manager Wouter Vrancken introducing two recent signings into the starting lineup. Harry Milne captains the side amid several summer changes, while Amadou Ba-Sy is included in the squad after scoring twice in a recent friendly. Sturm Graz captain Jon Stankovic expects a challenge similar to last year’s matches against Celtic and Rangers. Progress over two legs would guarantee at least Europa League group-stage football, with potential future opponents including Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze.

Celtic have agreed personal terms with German U21 midfielder Mika Baur as they negotiate a £4m transfer with Paderborn. Despite interest from several Bundesliga clubs, the 22-year-old is close to joining as Martin O’Neill looks to strengthen a thin midfield amid uncertainty over Arne Engels’ future. Baur would become Celtic’s second summer signing after Camilo Duran.

Rangers will receive 1,027 tickets for their Europa League qualifying match against Jagiellonia Bialystok on August 6, with no official club travel provided. Fans must arrange their own flights to Warsaw and travel over 200 kilometres to Bialystok. Match dates and times remain subject to change pending confirmation.

Wayne Rooney dismissed the extended World Cup halftime show during the Spain–Argentina final as “crap” during BBC coverage, surprising fellow pundits Joe Hart and Micah Richards, who were more positive about the performance. Rooney said he liked some of the artists involved, including Shakira and Justin Bieber, but felt the show lacked energy. Gabby Logan responded by highlighting the BBC’s commitment to honesty.

Ryan Fox secured a historic win at The Open 2026 at Royal Birkdale, finishing at ten under par to become the first New Zealander since Bob Charles in 1963 to lift the Claret Jug. Americans Cameron Young and Sam Burns trailed closely behind at nine and eight under. Bob MacIntyre began strongly but ended at two under and received a conduct warning after striking his driver on the tee box.

Large sections of Celtic Park sat empty as supporters boycotted the preseason match against Middlesbrough, leaving striking visuals of unoccupied stands despite a sizeable away following. Camilo Duran scored his first goal for Celtic to earn a draw after David Strelec opened the scoring, while players and managers interacted with the sparse crowd amid continued dissatisfaction with the club’s board.

Rangers advance their pursuit of Jens Hjerto-Dahl after the Tromso midfielder delivered another standout performance, scoring in a 4–1 win and strengthening his £6.6 million transfer case. Progress on Nico Raskin’s expected £17 million move to Villarreal has revived the deal, with Rangers also eyeing Vanja Dragojevic. Cardiff and Celtic have shown interest, but Rangers are currently leading the race.

Graeme Souness argues that England’s World Cup exit was caused by the players’ shortcomings rather than Thomas Tuchel’s tactics, rejecting claims of a dressing‑room backlash. He contends that England’s squad lacks true world‑class talent beyond Harry Kane and criticizes the tendency to overhype players like Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson. Pointing to Argentina’s superior quality, he maintains that England failed to raise their level when it mattered and urges a more realistic assessment of English players to avoid repeated disappointment.

Marcelo Saracchi confirmed he will not return to Celtic after negotiations over a second spell broke down despite his desire to rejoin the club. The defender expressed disappointment and thanked fans for their support during his loan from Boca Juniors. Celtic face growing concerns as multiple deals stall, with Saracchi and Kelechi Iheanacho not returning, Maik Nawrocki departing, and uncertainty surrounding key players. With only Camilo Duran added and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain retained, supporter frustration is increasing amid a slow transfer window.

Scottish clubs remain active in the transfer market, with Celtic weighing potential departures such as Daizen Maeda while Rangers continue rebuilding under Derek McInnes through multiple signings and possible sales. Aberdeen near a £300,000 deal for Livingston’s Lewis Smith and reinvest funds from Topi Keskinen’s exit. Manchester United secure a £48 million move for Andrey Santos and advance talks for Youri Tielemans, while Arsenal chase Bruno Guimaraes. Across Europe, several clubs pursue or complete deals including Roma re-signing Paulo Dybala, Inter targeting John Stones, and Lecce bidding for Robbie Ure. Additional updates cover squad developments, managerial decisions, and player ambitions across the Scottish Premiership and major European leagues.

Gordon Strachan amused spectators at the Scottish Open after taking a Rangers supporter's seat as part of a lighthearted prank captured on TikTok. While attending the tournament where Tom Kim claimed victory, Strachan pretended to be asleep before engaging in a humorous exchange with the returning fan. The moment generated laughter from the surrounding crowd and spread online as a comedic highlight of the event.

Dan Neil captained Rangers in a 1-1 friendly draw against Kaizer Chiefs in Spain, where Findlay Curtis scored a late equaliser after the South African side took the lead. Derek McInnes used the match to rotate his squad, giving minutes to new and returning players, with Lawrence Shankland debuting and several others featuring from the bench. Rangers continue preparations for the season with upcoming home friendlies against St Etienne and West Ham.

Tom Kim secured victory at the Scottish Open with a 17-under finish, maintaining a steady lead despite pressure from Min-Woo Lee and Matt Fitzpatrick. Bob MacIntyre briefly held the lead but fell out of contention, while Rory McIlroy’s strong final round was not enough to close the gap. Kim’s fourth PGA Tour win serves as momentum ahead of The Open at Royal Birkdale.

Allan McGregor accepted a permanent role as Rangers' goalkeeping coach after initially being surprised by the offer from CEO Jim Gillespie. Although he had concerns about lacking coaching badges and how the appointment might appear, assurances from Gillespie and manager Derek McInnes resolved his doubts. McGregor will work with new signing Ivor Pandur, Liam Kelly and younger goalkeepers as part of McInnes' new coaching setup.

Celtic are close to signing Camilo Duran for a fee of up to £5.5 million, significantly higher than earlier reports. The club is also pursuing goalkeeper Tjark Ernst, with both Celtic and Feyenoord prepared to trigger his €5 million release clause while negotiating a lower fee due to his contract situation. Meanwhile, Celtic look likely to miss out on Cole Campbell, who is expected to join SV Elversberg, with Borussia Dortmund retaining a buy‑back option.

Celtic are close to signing Camilo Duran after the Colombian forward agreed personal terms, with the club expected to meet Qarabag’s £3 million valuation. Duran’s breakout season, including strong Champions League performances, has driven interest, and only final details between the clubs remain. The move could make him Qarabag’s record sale following Leandro Andrade’s departure earlier in the summer.

Player availability for the Scottish Premiership opener could hinge on the USA–Belgium World Cup match, with FIFA’s 21‑day rest recommendation potentially sidelining Auston Trusty, Nicolas Raskin and Thelo Aasgaard depending on their teams’ progression. Timing constraints make Aasgaard already unavailable for Rangers’ first match, while Raskin or Trusty could miss their respective openers based on tonight’s result.

Mexico supporters attempted to disrupt England’s World Cup preparations by gathering outside the team’s hotel in Santa Fe, setting off fireworks and playing loud Mariachi music until the early morning. Police intervened to control the large crowd. England face Mexico in the last‑16 match at the Azteca, with the winner progressing to meet either Brazil or Norway in Miami.

Celtic are urged to move quickly to sign Camilo Duran, whose energetic playing style and decisive performances for Qarabag make him a strong fit for Scottish football. His technical ability, relentless attitude, and key contributions in domestic and Champions League matches highlight his potential value, particularly given the modest reported £3m fee. Comparisons to Daizen Maeda and warnings against past transfer misfires underscore the argument that Duran is a standout opportunity Celtic should not miss.

Aberdeen fell 1–0 to FC Twente in a pre-season friendly in Goor, with Lucas Venegoor of Hesselink scoring the decisive goal. Despite a major miss from Toyosi Olusanya, manager Stephen Robinson praised his team’s organisation, pressing, and defensive structure, highlighting strong performances from several new signings. Robinson believes his squad still needs two or three additions as preseason preparations continue and expressed satisfaction with the squad’s bonding and overall progression.

Lyon are reportedly targeting Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti and Hearts forward Claudio Braga as they search for attacking reinforcements following Endrick’s departure. Rangers are said to value Chermiti at £25m while Lyon aim for closer to £17m, and Hearts are expected to demand a record fee for Braga after his strong debut season. Both Scottish clubs have been active in the transfer market, and it remains unclear whether Lyon want both players or view them as alternatives.

Rangers continue an active transfer window by expressing interest in 20-year-old Troyes defender Sankhoun Diawara, who is entering the final year of his contract after a standout season in Ligue 2. The club has also made a bid for Partizan Belgrade captain Vanja Dragojevic, a move that will not affect their pursuit of Lewis Ferguson. Following the arrival of Dan Neil as their fifth summer signing, manager Derek McInnes indicated that further additions are expected and praised the club’s recruitment work so far.

Ross McCrorie ruled out discussing a potential Rangers move for Lewis Ferguson, stressing respect for Bologna while acknowledging their friendship. He highlighted Derek McInnes as the decisive factor in his return to Rangers following a transfer from Bristol City, noting their successful previous spell together at Aberdeen. McCrorie expressed confidence in McInnes’ leadership and reflected on his development since leaving Rangers in 2021, describing their renewed partnership as a key motivator for his return.

Rangers have submitted a £3.9 million bid for 20‑year‑old Partizan Belgrade captain Vanja Dragojevic as they pursue a sixth summer signing under Derek McInnes. Partizan are expected to sell but want a higher fee of around £4.7 million plus a future‑sale percentage, despite the player’s €15 million release clause. Dragojevic, already capped twice by Serbia, would join recent arrivals Dan Neil, Ivor Pandur, Lawrence Shankland, Ross McCrorie and Ben Godfrey if the deal progresses.

Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson outlines a dual transfer strategy focused on developing academy talent and identifying young prospects to sell for profit. He highlights the club’s history of successful player development and praises the recruitment work already in place. While managing the potential departure of Elijah Just, he stresses balancing youth integration with experienced players as Motherwell prepare for their Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Celtic are pursuing Hertha Berlin goalkeeper Tjark Ernst, who is expected to decide his future soon amid interest from Wolfsburg and Ajax. Hertha officials acknowledge multiple offers but hope to retain him. Japan’s Daizen Maeda reflects positively on his team’s World Cup effort despite a late loss to Brazil, praising supporters and expressing pride while apologising for the defeat.

Ange Postecoglou made a playful dig at Rangers during ITV’s World Cup coverage, joking that the five stars on Brazil’s shirt represent genuine achievements. His remark amused Celtic supporters and followed analysis praising Japan’s strong performance, particularly the pressing of Daizen Maeda, whom he described as world class.

Callers criticise Celtic’s lack of transfer activity and praise new Rangers manager Derek McInnes for capitalising on it. Several suggest Steve Clarke could suit the Celtic job while others thank him for his service as Scotland manager despite the team’s disappointing tournament. Some contributors argue Scotland’s players and football culture lack ambition, while others debate potential successors to Clarke, including Duncan Ferguson and Neil Lennon.