Celtic and Rangers are both in the race to sign an English defender in the summer transfer window.

The two Scottish clubs are often going head-to-head in battles for new signings due to being of similar stature.

Celtic might have an advantage over Rangers when it comes to battling for players in the current summer transfer window after they won the Scottish Premiership title last season.

Rangers will be looking to head in a new direction after appointing Derek McInnes as their manager, poaching him from fellow Scottish side Hearts.

Celtic will be looking for a little stability after it was confirmed that Martin O’Neill would continue as manager, signing a permanent deal after his temporary spell.

Celtic and Rangers Battle for Defender

According to a report from journalist Pete O’Rourke, Celtic and Rangers are among the clubs keeping tabs on former West Brom defender Michael Parker in the summer transfer window.

Parker, who stands at around 6ft 4in, left West Brom back in February, making the move to Swedish side Orgryte IS.

The 21-year-old played 10 times in the top division in Sweden, but he’s now been tipped for a move back to the UK.

Parker also spent time on loan at Hereford last season, and he’s a central defender who can also play at left-back.

Parker Has Plenty of Interest

Celtic and Rangers will need to ensure that they are able to offer Parker a pathway to senior football in the future.

The 21-year-old has plenty of interest, including from Anderlecht, Udinese, and Strasbourg, so it might not be easy for either Celtic or Rangers to win the race for his signature.

Parker hasn’t been playing at a strong level lately, so he might find it difficult to get up to speed in Scotland or at some of the other aforementioned clubs.

There’s every chance he would come in at academy level to begin with, but there’s no doubt he’ll still be looking to see a pathway to first-team football eventually.

Tottenham have been handed a boost in their pursuit of Sandro Tonali this summer.

Spurs have had a busy start to the summer transfer window, signing three new defenders and bringing in a goalkeeper already and they are not done there.

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi has moved his transfer business further up the pitch, with Tottenham in talks to sign both Tonali and West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes.

Tottenham have already had an offer in the region of £75million rejected by Newcastle for the Italian and the Lilywhites are preparing to go back in with a new offer for the 26-year-old.

Spurs have already agreed terms with Tonali

via Reuters

Reports have suggested that personal terms will not be an issue, with Tottenham reportedly already agreeing to a £200,000-a-week contract with Tonali.

However, the biggest problem – aside from agreeing a fee with Newcastle – appeared to be the competition Spurs would face in trying to complete a deal.

Manchester City have also been linked with a move for Tonali, although their initial focus was on getting a deal over the line to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

That transfer finally looks set to go through, after City agreed on a £116million move to sign Anderson, with add-ons taking that figure past the British transfer record Liverpool paid Newcastle for Alexander Isak last summer.

With question marks over the long-term future of Rodri at the Etihad Stadium, City, under new manager Enzo Maresca, will be looking for added reinforcements and Tonali is seen as the perfect candidate, despite the similarly large price tag on his shoulders compared with Anderson.

City are keen to have conversations with Newcastle over a move to sign Tonali, with an offer in the region of £95million being readied by the Citizens, according to Spanish publication Marca.

Man City plot alternative transfer move

Burt Granofsky/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA

However, City may well have turned their attentions elsewhere, due to Spurs’ long-standing pursuit of Tonali.

According to the Athletic, City are now looking at making a move to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Moroccan who has been shining at the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico so far this summer.

The Athletic report states that “Sandro Tonali is of interest but he has an offer from Tottenham – which is another factor influencing the interest in Bouaddi”.

Spurs will be keen to get Tonali to sign on the dotted ine and continue the transfer revolution going on under De Zerbi.

Iran have posted a statement hitting out at US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin for his comments after their World Cup exit.

Iran’s time at this year’s tournament in North America came to an end last weekend in dramatic fashion. After draws against Belgium and New Zealand, Team Melli knew a victory over Egypt in their final group match on Saturday would see them progress to the last 32.

Amir Ghalenoei’s side thought they had scored a last-gasp winner at Seattle Stadium when Shoja Khalilzadeh found the back of the net. The goal was chalked off for the tightest of offside calls, though, meaning they had to settle for a draw.

Despite that disappointment, Iran still had a chance of progressing as one of the eight best-performing third-placed sides. However, they were knocked out of the competition after Austria’s 96th minute equaliser against Algeria.

‘One of Donald Trump’s Key Allies’ Celebrates Iran’s World Cup Exit

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Sipa USA via Reuters

Iran’s football team has faced multiple hardships during this summer’s World Cup amid the war between the two countries.

While Iran were allowed to play their matches in the United States, they were not allowed to stay in the country for a prolonged period and were forced to travel to and from Mexico in between games.

Iran lodged an official complaint to FIFA due to their travel issues, with head coach Amir Ghalenoei describing themselves as ‘the most oppressed’ team at the World Cup, while captain Mehdi Terami also hit out at FIFA and the United States for the hardships they were forced to endure.

Mullin, described as ‘one of Donald Trump’s key allies, has now expressed his relief at Iran’s group stage elimination in a World Cup briefing at the government’s Special Event Coordination Centre on Monday. He told reporters, per the Telegraph:

Iran Hit Out at Mullin

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Iran have not reacted well to Mullin’s comments. An official for the FFIRI said: “Iranians are used to the mistreatment and lies of US officials, so no one in Iran is surprised by these hostile remarks.

“These remarks once again demonstrate that U.S. officials have no commitment to international law or the principles expected of a host nation capable of organising a global sporting event.

“After our match against New Zealand, our head coach [Amir Ghalenoei] said that the United States did not want Iran to remain in this tournament because of the inhumane and unprofessional treatment our team experienced. These latest comments only reinforce that belief.”