Rangers

As well as suggesting Joe Aribo's Ibrox exit is nearing and confirming the signing of Antonio Colak is close, Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst was also looking ahead to the new campaign.

After being appointed mid-season, the Ibrox manager guided his side to the Europa League final and also won the Scottish Cup.

There was disappointed in the league, however, as Ange Postecoglou's Celtic claimed the title back off Rangers.

"We’re very focussed and prepared for next season," Van Bronckhorst told Sky Sports. "We still expect some new players to come in. August is going to be a very important month and we have to be ready.

"Being the manager or a player for Rangers, it comes with expectations. We are all working hard to achieve those ambitions. Celtic were champions last season, and when you’re first at end of the season you deserve it so all credit to them.

"But it’s a new season ahead. We have to be very consistent throughout. The margin [between both teams] is very close so the margin for errors can be very big."

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Antonio Colak is on verge of completing a move to Rangers, with personal terms set and a £2m fee agreed for the striker with Greek club PAOK. (Scottish Sun) , external

Rangers will be signing an "Ally McCoist-type" striker in Antonio Colak, says former Ibrox midfielder Robert Prytz. (Scottish Sun) , external

Southampton are to pay £6m for Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo, which could rise to more than £10m with add-ons included. (The Athletic), external

Alex Lowry, 19, is ready to step up and challenge for a regular first team place should Rangers sell midfielder Joe Aribo, says former Ibrox player and youth coach Kevin Thomson. (Daily Record), external

Rangers are considering a move for Finnish striker Kai Meriluoto, according to reports in the 19-year-old's homeland. (Football Scotland), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip column...

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Former Rangers and Celtic striker Kenny Miller says he can "sense the frustration" at the lack of Ibrox incomings.

Centre-back John Souttar has been Giovanni van Bronckhorst's only summer signing, while Celtic have added Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota to their squad on a permanent basis, plus left-back Alexandro Bernabei and goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist.

"This is the way it's always judged in Glasgow," Miller told Sky Sports. "You're always judged against your rivals. The fact Celtic have gone out and spent a lot of money, with almost £18m on four players.

"Rangers have done decent enough business in regards to keeping players, but there's no doubt they need to strengthen. I've absolutely no doubt new signings will come in the door."

The Ibrox side are reportedly on the verge of signing Croatia striker Antonio Colak, meanwhile Joe Aribo is strongly linked with a move to Southampton.

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BBC Scotland's Nick McPheat

Adaptability. Availability. Goal contributions.

Joe Aribo played 5,571 minutes over a staggering 70 games for club and country last term - more than any other player in world football.

His versatility has been key in regularly switching between the midfield three and front trio, but at the end of last term the Nigerian was tasked with leading the attack after injuries to Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe.

Deployed as a central striker, Aribo helped Rangers achieve the unthinkable of reaching the Europa League final, which ended in a heart-wrenching penalty shootout defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Nigerian netted the opening goal in the Seville showpiece, his 26th - and potentially final - strike for the club.

Over his three years in Glasgow, Aribo has contributed to 51 goals in 148 games, with 19 of those coming last term in the shape of nine goals and 10 assists.

No other Rangers midfielder has scored more in any of the three seasons Aribo has been at the club, a void Giovanni van Bronckhorst must fill if the widely-reported sale to Southampton goes through.

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Rangers are on the verge of landing their top transfer target after an agreement was reached in principle to sign PAOK striker Antonio Colak, according to multiple reports in Greece. (Daily Record), external

Colak is now expected to leave PAOK's training camp on Wednesday to head to Glasgow where he will undergo a medical before he joins up with the Rangers squad, potentially later this week. (Scottish Daily Express), external

Meanwhile, Southampton are in negotiations to sign Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo, who will not be allowed to leave the club for a total fee below £10m. (The Athletic), external

Transfer talks for Aribo could see an agreement reached within the next 48 hours, but Rangers are determined to hold out for a package which amounts to £10m. (Scottish Sun), external

Former Celtic scout John Park has been appointed to a senior role at city rivals Rangers. (Scottish Sun), external

Read all Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

Hearts look set to be priced out of a deal for Everton striker Ellis Simms, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Tynecastle, while Rangers have no interest in the forward. (Scottish Sun), external

Rangers are getting a much more-rounded centre-back in Nikola Katic than the one Steven Gerrard loaned out last summer, says Hadjuk Split boss Valdas Dambrauskas. (Daily Record), external

Rangers B-team manager David McCallum it is up to teenage forward Alex Lowry to prove he belongs in the Ibrox first team. (Scottish Sun), external

Former Scotland captain Barry Ferguson admits he is surprised Rangers or Celtic haven't made an approach to Aberdeen for his nephew Lewis Ferguson so far this summer. (Daily Record), external

As Zak Lovelace joins the Rangers academy from Millwall, the Ibrox youth set-up are waving goodbye to Rory Wilson, who has joined Aston Villa.

The 16-year-old striker has signed his first professional deal at Villa Park.

"We are delighted that Rory has joined us having had a number of clubs interested in signing him," said Villa academy manager Mark Harrison.

"He is a goalscorer with a lot of potential, having also represented Scotland at international youth level."

Rangers have announced teenage striker Zak Lovelace has joined their academy from Millwall.

The 16-year-old broke into the English Championship side's first team last season and became the second youngest player in their history to make a senior appearance.

Eleven Premiership B-teams, including Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibernian, Dundee United, Livingston, St Mirren, Rangers, Motherwell, Celtic, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock, have learned their first round and potential second round opponents for next season's SPFL Trust Trophy.

The first round ties will played in the midweek of 9/10 August before second round fixtures take place a fortnight later on 23/24 August.

First-round draw: 

• Brora Rangers v Aberdeen B

• Hearts B v Buckie Thistle

• Fraserburgh v St Johnstone B

• Hibernian B v Brechin City

• Elgin City v Dundee Utd B

• Bonnyrigg Rose v Livingston B

• St Mirren B v East Stirling

• Spartans v Rangers B

• Motherwell B v East Kilbride

• Albion Rovers v Celtic B

• Kilmarnock B v Cowdenbeath 

Second-round draw:

• Elgin City or Dundee Utd B v Stenhousemuir

• Forfar v Kelty Hearts

• Hibernian B or Brechin City v Stirling Albion

• East Fife v Fraserburgh or St Johnstone B

• Hearts B or Buckie v Brora or Aberdeen B

• Spartans or Rangers B v Dumbarton

• Motherwell B or East Kilbride v Annan Athletic

• Albion Rovers or Celtic B v Bonnyrigg or Livingston B

• FC Edinburgh v Stranraer

• Kilmarnock B or Cowdenbeath v St Mirren B or East Stirling

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Southampton have emerged as frontrunners in the race to sign Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo as the Nigeria international enters the final 12 months of his Ibrox contract. (Daily Record), external

The Antonio Colak to Rangers transfer saga is set to be resolved in the next 48 hours as PAOK Salonika have secured a deal for Fortuna Dusseldorf's Khaled Narey to replace the striker. (Express), external

Rangers have rejected a loan bid from French club Auxerre for striker Fashion Sakala. (Homme du Match via Football Scotland, external)

Read the rest of Monday's Scottish gossip...

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Fans of Rangers and rival clubs have been paying tribute outside the gates of Ibrox to former goalkeeper Andy Goram, who died on Saturday at the age of 58 after a short battle with cancer.

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Neil Warnock says the biggest regret of his career was not managing in Scotland, and revealed he twice spoke to Rangers about becoming their boss. (Daily Record), external

PAOK are reluctant to sell striker Antonio Colak to Rangers until they have found a replacement, with a fee and terms reportedly agreed. (Sun), external

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish described Andy Goram as a "phenomenal goalkeeper" after his death at 58. (Sun), external

Read the rest of Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Read more: Andy Goram dies at age 58

Rangers are set to submit another bid to land Jason McAtee on loan from Manchester City. (Football Scotland), external

Read the rest of Saturday's gossip

Rangers have been among the least active of Scottish Premiership clubs in the summer transfer market so far when it comes to their first team, but this week they have snapped up three products of rival academies.

The latest, Bailey Rice, had rejected top-flight rivals Motherwell's offer of a first professional contract as he prepares to sign on the dotted line when he turns 16 in October.

He quickly followed the similar path taken by fellow midfielder Kieron Willox from Inverness Caledonian Thistle and forward Cammy Cooper from Partick Thistle, with all three clubs accepting undisclosed fees.

Motherwell say that, despite the departure, they were able to "promote nine of the 10" they wanted to keep from "an exciting, and much-coveted" squad despite a number having "significant interest from big clubs on both sides of the border".

Caley Thistle say they "did our best" to keep Willox, who had been with them for six seasons, following interest in the winger from a number of Premiership clubs.

Fellow 16 year old Cooper had been with Championship rivals Thistle since 2014, had featured regularly for their under-18 side last season and helped Scotland Under-17s reach this year's European Championship finals.

While Cooper departs, midfield duo Ben Stanway and Zander MacKenzie have been promoted from the under-18s to Ian McCall's first-team squad at Firhill.

Rangers are determined to push through a deal for striker Antonio Colak as discussions continue with Greek club PAOK. (Herald), external

Rangers remain favourites to land 28-year-old Antonio Colak but face competition from Copenhagen, Panathinaikos, Real Mallorca and his former club Malmo. (Scottish Sun), external

Sevilla have targeted another striker instead of Rangers centre forward Alfredo Morelos - and it's former Ibrox flop Umar Sadiq who is in line for a £22m move to Spain. (Scottish Sun), external

Rangers winger Ryan Kent is once again linked with a move to Elland Road this summer as Leeds prepare to sell Brazil star Raphinha. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip column...

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St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson has revealed he made a "desperate" attempt to lure Rangers midfielder Steven Davis to Paisley.

Robinson, who worked with Davis during his time with the Northern Ireland national team, sent a text to the 37-year-old to ask if he would be interested in a move before the former Southampton man opted to pen a one-year extension at Ibrox.

"I was hoping he wouldn’t get another deal," Robinson said. "There were a lot of rumours he was coming to St Mirren. I texted him to say: ‘Is there any truth that you are interested?’.

"But he had already signed a contract with Rangers and I wasn’t surprised by that. Steven's a top-class person and a top-class professional and you don’t get as many caps as he has without being a fantastic player."

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