MusaCeltic and Rangers are considering summer signings ahead of the 2025/26 Scottish Premier League fixture list being revealed this morning.
Both sides will return to pre-season training next week as preparations for the upcoming season are in full swing, with both sides eyeing silverware. Here are some of the key transfer headlines as the two sides of an old firm face off.
Luis Palma endures Honduran nightmare
Celtic outcast Luis Palma has admitted he suffered his worst moment in football after being caught at half-time during Honduras’ 6-0 defeat to Canada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Vancouver.
The 25-year-old winger, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Greek Super League champions Olympiakos, will return to Parkhead for pre-season training despite falling out of favour with Brendan Rodgers.
Olympiacos decided not to activate the £3.3m release clause in his contract with Palma’s Hoops that would have allowed him to move permanently after making just three league appearances.
And his campaign to forget hit a new low on international duty after he was sent off at half-time by Honduras head coach Reinaldo Rueda in their crushing defeat.
Reflecting on the humiliating night, Palma admitted: “Very sad, one of the lowest moments of my career. We have to accept that we are going through a very difficult period at the moment. But we all know that it was not even remotely acceptable. Now we have to use this as a learning experience for the rest of the tournament.
“The whole team is devastated by this failure. Only hard work will help us. We have to turn over a new leaf. We didn’t have a clear idea of what we wanted to play and it showed. These defeats have hit us all hard.”
Issame Charai on managerial appointment
Former Rangers assistant coach Issame Charai is confident he knows all about how to handle pressure from the stands as he prepares for his first managerial job at Belgian side Westerlo.
The Moroccan was appointed manager of the Jupiler Pro League side earlier this week after leaving Ibrox “by mutual consent” after being told he would not be part of new boss Russell Martin’s backroom team.
Charai previously managed his country’s under-23s and has also been assistant manager at various clubs, including Philippe Clement and interim boss Barry Ferguson last season.
He has left after just five months in Glasgow and is well aware of what to expect from his first spell in club football, given his experience in Scotland and the furious reaction to Rangers’ poor results.
“Believe me, I have no problem handling “At Rangers, if we drew 1-1, the whole stadium would criticize us. In Morocco, you couldn’t leave the field when you lost because of angry fans. I have complete confidence in myself.
“Without being arrogant, I was ready for it for a while. In recent years, I have been called by quite a few clubs, both at home and abroad. But at the time, I never felt that this was the right project.
“The experience I gained at Rangers, Strasbourg, the Moroccan under-23 team was invaluable. I have been a coach for 14 years. It was time to go my own way.”
Musa
Kwaghterna Garshagu
