Russell Martin Finalizes Preparations Ahead of Crucial European Showdown

Rangers wrapped up their pre-season with a behind-closed-doors win over Hamilton Accies as Russell Martin readies his squad for a major Champions League qualifying clash against Panathinaikos at Ibrox.

The low-key friendly served as the final tune-up before Tuesday’s high-stakes first-leg encounter, after plans for a match against Partick Thistle were reportedly blocked by Police Scotland. According to The Scottish Sun, the proposed game at Firhill against Mark Wilson’s side was vetoed due to concerns over fan congestion, with Celtic also hosting Newcastle United on the same day in Glasgow.

Instead, Martin’s men took on John Rankin’s Accies, securing a 2–0 victory thanks to a brace from Danilo. The game gave Martin one last opportunity to assess his players before his first competitive match as Rangers manager.

New signing Djeidi Gassama featured off the bench but isn’t yet fully match-fit. Martin acknowledged the former Sheffield Wednesday winger is still building sharpness but brings a unique flair to the squad.

“Gassama is a bit behind physically and isn’t quite ready to start,” Martin said. “But he’s different from anyone else we’ve got — excellent in one-on-one situations and full of individual quality.
We’re confident he’ll make a real impact within our system. He’ll be in the squad and fully ready by the second leg. For the first leg, we’ll likely have to manage his minutes.”

Looking ahead, Rangers are also planning to give some of their fringe players a runout this weekend, with a Rangers XIset to face Hartlepool United of England’s National League on Sunday.

The club is “struggling” to reach an agreement with the rangers, and Everton has asked

Igamane’s Move to Lille in Doubt as Other Clubs Show Interest

Igamane has reached a personal agreement with Lille, with the French Ligue 1 side eyeing him as a replacement for Jonathan David. However, Rangers have yet to approve the transfer and were reportedly planning to hold off on any decision until after their Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos.

Now, uncertainty surrounds whether the move to Lille will happen at all. According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Lille are struggling to finalize terms with Rangers, and more clubs have now entered the race for the striker.

Everton and Udinese have both made initial inquiries about Igamane, while Feyenoord have also joined the chase. The Dutch club is expected to receive a significant financial boost from the imminent sale of Igor Paixao to Marseille, and they appear to view Igamane as a strong potential addition. With extra funds, Feyenoord may be able to present an appealing offer.

However, it remains unclear whether Igamane would prefer a move to the Eredivisie over clubs in Ligue 1, Serie A, or the Premier League.

The 22-year-old striker enjoyed a strong campaign last season, scoring 16 goals in 46 appearances for Rangers during a turbulent year that saw Philippe Clement lose his job as manager. Igamane also found the net four times in the Europa League, scoring against FCSB, Nice (twice), and Tottenham Hotspur—with his brace against Nice likely catching Lille’s attention.

Rangers still have Igamane under contract for another four years, putting the club in a strong position to demand a high transfer fee should they decide to sell.