Rangers Profit from Antman Transfer as Scottish Market Heats Up
Rangers are poised to bank a tidy profit on Oliver Antman, with the Finland winger set for a £4.5m move to Anderlecht that will deliver around £1m more than the Ibrox club paid for him. For a player whose time in Glasgow has been relatively brief, it is sharp business and a clear signal that Rangers are prepared to trade aggressively when the numbers stack up.
The sale, though, leaves a gap out wide, and the hunt for a replacement is already under way. One of the names on the shortlist is a familiar one. Vaclav Cerny, who previously spent time on loan at Rangers, has emerged as a candidate to fill the void. His last spell at Ibrox never quite caught fire, but the club know his profile, and his inclusion on the list underlines the desire for a ready-made option rather than a long-term project.
McInnes in the dugout despite ban
Off the pitch, Rangers are also fighting on another front. Derek McInnes has been hit with a four-game touchline ban by the SFA, yet the manager will still be in the technical area for Friday’s Scottish Premiership opener against Dundee United. The club have lodged an appeal, which delays the start of the suspension and ensures McInnes remains pitchside at a crucial early marker in the campaign.
Recruitment work continues in parallel. Rangers have turned their gaze to the Championship and beyond, with Coventry City winger Jahnoah Markelo on their radar. Amario Cozier-Duberry of Brighton remains another active target, keeping the focus firmly on adding pace and creativity in wide areas as Antman prepares to depart.
Celtic knocked back in Arthur move
Across the city, Celtic have hit resistance in their own defensive rebuild. Brentford have rejected a permanent bid for Benjamin Arthur, who impressed enough during his loan spell at Parkhead last season to earn a serious offer. Celtic’s interest is no secret, but Brentford are standing firm for now, forcing the Scottish champions to decide whether to return with improved terms or look elsewhere.
On the attacking front, Celtic’s pursuit of Haissem Hassan is running into hard negotiation. Real Oviedo sporting director David Fernandez has made it clear the forward will only leave on the Spanish club’s terms. No cut-price deal, no softening of stance. If Celtic want Hassan, they will need to match Oviedo’s valuation and conditions, or walk away.
Kilmarnock move for Yfeko as United face interest in Eskesen
Lower down the Premiership, Kilmarnock are closing in on a move for former Rangers defender Johnly Yfeko. After two years with Exeter City, the 23-year-old is on the verge of a return to Scottish football. For Kilmarnock, it is a chance to add a physically strong, versatile defender with knowledge of the Scottish game, without paying the premiums attached to more high-profile targets.
Dundee United, meanwhile, are bracing themselves for interest in the middle of the park. Midfielder Julius Eskesen has drawn attention from Danish side Esbjerg fB. Any move would test United’s resolve as they prepare for their league opener against a Rangers side already dominating the headlines.
Skov Olsen on the move again, Chesnokov plots Russian switch
One former Rangers loanee is also on the move. Andreas Skov Olsen, whose spell at Ibrox last season never lived up to expectation, has undergone a medical at Basaksehir ahead of another loan switch from Wolfsburg. His time in Glasgow promised far more than it delivered, and this latest move feels like another attempt to finally unlock the consistency that has so far eluded him.
Islam Chesnokov, who only left Hearts a month ago to join Tobol in Kazakhstan, has already agreed his next step. The forward has lined up a move to Russian club Krylia Sovetov next year. It is a rapid, winding route out of Scottish football, and a reminder of how quickly careers can pivot once players step off the domestic stage.
Money in, bids rejected, managers appealing bans: the Scottish game heads into the new season with its usual cocktail of tension and opportunity. The deals struck over these few weeks will echo deep into the campaign.
