Danilo could be poised to lead the line for Rangers this season as he looks to put a disappointing 2024/25 campaign behind him and make a fresh start.

Russell Martin’s side will face Panathinaikos in the second round of Champions League qualifiers, with the first leg set for Tuesday, 22 July, at Ibrox — and Danilo is expected to be involved.

Although Martin is still embedding his tactical vision and shaping the squad with his preferred signings, some existing players have begun to catch his eye during pre-season — and Danilo is one of them.

Danilo shines in pre-season behind closed doors

Rangers have been aggressive in the transfer market, bringing in eight new players so far, though a traditional striker has yet to be added to the squad.

Amid uncertainty surrounding the futures of Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane, Danilo appears to be stepping up at just the right moment. The 26-year-old scored in a closed-door friendly against Barnsley and followed that with another strong performance against Dunfermline, notching a goal and three assists.

According to Andy Newport in the Daily Record (17 July, print edition, page 49), the Brazilian’s standout display in the friendly with Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline has made a strong case for a starting spot. Newport wrote:

“Whispers from the training ground suggest Danilo bagged another goal and three assists in a bounce game at Auchenhowie. He’s now in serious contention to start against Panathinaikos.”

With Dessers sidelined due to visa issues and Igamane nursing an ankle injury — both players also linked with summer exits — Danilo may be the leading option to start up front.

A golden opportunity for Danilo

This pre-season could be a turning point for Danilo. After an underwhelming start to life at Ibrox following his 2023 arrival, the Brazilian now has a prime opportunity to stake his claim as Rangers’ main striker.

His recent performances show a player motivated to prove his worth, and with Martin still considering attacking reinforcements, a strong showing against Panathinaikos could force the manager to rethink those plans.

Danilo’s resurgence could be exactly what Rangers need as they gear up for a crucial European campaign.

Six new Rangers transfer stories: £8.6 million ‘target’ screams at contract offer, bombshell return ruled out for 55 hero

It’s been a whirlwind summer at Ibrox, and things are only heating up further as Rangers prepare for their first competitive clash of the new season under Russell Martin.

With just five days to go before Martin’s dugout debut — a high-stakes Champions League qualifier against Greek side Panathinaikos — the former Southampton boss is deep into a rebuild, having added seven new signings already. All of them are expected to be registered for the two-legged showdown with the 1971 European Cup finalists.

But Martin’s work is far from finished. Backed by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises to the tune of £20 million, both he and sporting director Kevin Thelwell are still pursuing reinforcements across several key positions. However, the need to balance the books means Rangers could offload a number of players before the transfer window shuts.

Ianis Hagi

The Romanian midfielder left Rangers when his contract expired last month and remains a free agent. Though reportedly turning down an offer from Legia Warsaw, interest from Germany and Italy appears to have cooled.
His father, football legend Gheorghe Hagi, ruled out any chance of a shock return to Glasgow, saying:

“He’s closed that chapter. He did well at Rangers, but now he’s moving on. Any decision on his future will be 100% his.”

Weslley Patati

Rangers are now reportedly targeting Brazilian winger Weslley Patati, a key figure in Maccabi Tel Aviv’s title-winning season with 13 goals and 10 assists.
While Patati is also attracting interest from AZ Alkmaar, his future at Maccabi is in doubt after contract talks stalled. His representatives are unhappy with the current terms offered, especially given the club’s £8.6 million valuation of the player.

“They want €10m for him but pay him like a bench player,” a source told Ynet.

Hamza Igamane

Despite being part of Rangers’ preseason camp, Moroccan striker Hamza Igamane is being closely watched by French side Lille, though they’ve so far resisted the club’s £15 million price tag.
Gers legend Derek Ferguson believes Igamane is unhappy and possibly angling for a move.

“He hasn’t featured in some friendlies, maybe to avoid injury. I think he’d jump at the chance to leave,” Ferguson said.

Robin Pröpper

The Dutch centre-back appears on his way out, with FC Twente interested in bringing him back just a year after selling him to Rangers.
While contract issues are delaying a deal, Twente sporting director Jan Streuer remains optimistic:

“It’s looking positive. He didn’t travel with Rangers for their training camp, but you never know in football.”

Luuk de Jong

Veteran striker Luuk de Jong, who helped PSV Eindhoven to the Eredivisie title with 14 goals last season, is reportedly being monitored by Rangers.
With his PSV contract expired and Alassane Plea arriving as a replacement, the Dutch giants may not stand in his way.

“I would’ve liked to keep him, but we had to move on,” said PSV boss Peter Bosz.

Samuels-Smith

The Chelsea teenager was linked with a loan move to Ibrox to bolster depth at left-back, but the 17-year-old England youth international is now reportedly close to a loan switch to Strasbourg, another BlueCo-owned club under the same umbrella as Chelsea.

What’s Next for Rangers?

With Champions League qualifiers looming and a revamped squad still taking shape, the coming weeks could define Russell Martin’s debut season. More arrivals are likely — but they’ll depend on who heads for the exit door first. Expect more twists in this ever-evolving summer saga at Ibrox.