Rangers deal ‘imminent', Celtic move confirmed, Ibrox exits stall over fee
Sign up to our Football newsletter
Sign up Thank you for signing up!
Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More
Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later.
Submitting...
Here is the latest Scottish football transfer news and gossip this Wednesday morning, including the latest rumours surrounding Rangers, Celtic, Falkirk and more.
Dundee defender Luke Graham looks set to be handed a chance by new head coach Steven Pressley.
Falkirk transfer blow
Newly-promoted Premiership side Falkirk have been dealt a blow in their hopes of re-signing Dundee defender Luke Graham, who spent last season on loan at the club. The Dundee defender played 23 times for John McGlynn's side as they achieved back-to-back promotions, and there was believed to be an interest in bringing him back to the Falkirk Stadium this summer.
Advertisement Hide Ad
Advertisement Hide Ad
However, those hopes look to have been dashed by Dundee's new boss Steven Pressley, who is aiming to give him a shot in his first team after being impressed by the player in pre-season. 'He's a great size,' said Pressley. 'A great profile. He's also got really good leadership skills on the pitch. He's a really good communicator, which I like. That's a little bit of a dying breed in football and he's got that. He's impressed me but I want him to take real ownership of his own career. I think if he does that, he's got a real chance. I like him.'
Lionel Messi could be set to depart the MLS in December.
Messi linked to Saudi move
Argentina legend Lionel Messi could be set to depart Inter Miami after just two years with the American club. The 38-year-old footballing icon's contract with the MLS outfit expire in December and, with no new deal yet agreed, several clubs are beginning to show interest in the player. Messi will continue with discussions over a new deal with Inter Miami, but it is now rumoured that Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli are ready to do 'whatever it takes' to sign him when his deal comes to an end at the turn of the year, according to journalist Ekrem Konur.
L'Equipe also report that the Al Ahli have made official contact about a potential mammoth deal to bring him to Saudi Arabia, though Inter Miami are desperate for their star man to stay at the club as they prepare to enter new stadium next season.
Both Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane are linked with departures from Rangers this summer. | SNS Group
Rangers exits 'stalled'
Rangers have turned down a new bid from AEK Athens for striker Cyril Dessers, according to transfer guru Sacha Tavolieri. The 31-year-old Nigerian has been linked with a move away from Ibrox throughout the summer, despite being the Scottish Premiership's top goal scorer last season. It is thought a bid of around £4million has been made for the forward, though the Gers are looking for a figure closer to £5m. As per the report, the forward is keen on completing the move, with Dessers believed to have already agreed personal terms.
Advertisement Hide Ad
Advertisement Hide Ad
Dessers' strike partner Hamza Igamane's well-documented summer move to Lille has also hit a snag, with Tavolieri claiming there's 'a gap regarding the transfer fee that the new Scottish management is unwilling to accept', adding: 'The Moroccan has been clear — he wants to join Lille, with whom he already has an agreement.'
Gustaf Lagerbielke has departed Celtic. | SNS Group
Celtic confirm departure
Celtic have announced that Swedish international centre-back Gustaf Lagerbielke has completed a £2m move to Braga. The defender has become the Hoops the sixth outgoing of the summer, following the departures of Greg Taylor, Daniel Cummings, Scott Bain, Matthew Anderson and Maik Nawrocki.
The 25-year-old had already travelled to Austria to link up with the Braga squad for their pre-season training camp after completing a medical yesterday, but took time to thank Celtic fans via social media following his two-season stay at Celtic Park. 'I want to thank you for the past two years,' said Lagerbielke. 'To all the players I had the privilege to get to know and share a pitch with, to the staff who have always been there and that I've learnt a lot from. An extra big thank you to all the supporters for always being there with the team and making this club so special. I wish you the best of luck for the future and that Glasgow continues to be green and white.'
Elsewhere, Celtic youngster Jude Bonner is set to sign for Scottish Championship side Ayr United on a season-long loan deal, where he will link-up with former Hoops captain Scott Brown.
Advertisement Hide Ad
Advertisement Hide Ad
Djeidi Gassama is expected to join Rangers this summer. | PA
Rangers deal 'imminent'
Rangers head coach Russell Martin is closing in on his sixth signing of the summer after it emerged that Sheffield Wednesday winger Djeidi Gassama was 'on the brink' of completing a move to Ibrox. According to a report in the Sheffield Star, the 21-year-old is set to put paper on a four-year-deal with the Glasgow giants, with the two clubs believed to have agreed an undisclosed fee for the transfer of the player.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
25 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Carpenter using Argentinian experience to fuel England debut in USA
The Sale Sharks star, 23, will don the Red Rose jersey for the first time on Saturday night when Steve Borthwick's side take on the USA in Washington DC. Full-back Carpenter was part of Borthwick's squad during England's 2-0 series victory over Los Pumas but was unable to get on the pitch as experienced teammate Freddie Steward started both matches. But he will finally make his long-awaited Test match bow in the American capital this week as one of three players to earn a debut alongside second row Arthur Clark and centre Max Ojomoh. Carpenter, who was born and raised in Leeds before moving to the Salford Community Stadium, loved being part of those South American victories but says seeing his teammates deliver them made him more determined to succeed. 'It was definitely good to be a part of – but frustrating not to be involved,' he said. 'It definitely made me hungrier – Test level is a massive step up from the Premiership, and that was something that Steve mentioned at the start of the camp very early on. 'Watching the lads made me hungrier, and Freddie being here as experienced England player makes it really helpful to learn from him and work with. 'Competition been ridiculously high, not just with him but throughout the whole squad. 'Ultimately that has driven a better environment. 'Before we left the boys mentioned it's a squad effort – the lads that didn't play in Argentina were buzzing as well, because it was everyone's hard work. 'Those boys delivered it, but there were 36 lads who were training for three or four weeks before that, getting them ready and prepping them really well.'It was definitely a squad effort and it was fantastic to be a part of, especially in the changing room after. 'Not to play in the two games was tough, because you just want that first cap to happen, but it's happening this week. 'I couldn't be happier and I can't wait to get out there with the lads and prove what we can do.' Carpenter starts at Audi Field alongside fellow Sale Shark – and most experienced player in the group – George Ford, as well as prop pairing Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour. The Yorkshire star discovered he was playing at a team meeting at Washington DC's famous Watergate Hotel on Wednesday morning before a gruelling training session in red-hot American conditions. He informed his nearest and dearest at the first opportunity and dad Will, mum Jackie, partner Federica and brother Josh have all flown out to watch him pull on the famous England jersey for the first time. It's been a long journey from first picking up a rugby ball aged five but Carpenter can't wait to have all his family there roaring him on under the Saturday night lights. 'They were all ecstatic', he added. 'They were probably even prouder than I was as we were a bit stuck in the moment and focused on what we had to do at the weekend. 'But to hear them all buzzing for you is really special. 'It's a bit surreal – when you're that young you think it's miles away from what you're capable of, but as you progress though the academy to Premiership and start performing, it gets closer and closer. 'For it to finally come is fantastic and something everyone is ready for. 'I'm really excited for it – not just for myself but everyone else as well.' The match against the USA Eagles will be streamed live on RugbyPassTV and England Rugby's YouTube channel.
Powys County Times
25 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Carpenter using Argentinian experience to fuel England debut in USA
Jubilant Joe Carpenter says watching England's Argentinian triumph from the sidelines intensified his hunger for a hard-fought international debut. The Sale Sharks star, 23, will don the Red Rose jersey for the first time on Saturday night when Steve Borthwick's side take on the USA in Washington DC. Full-back Carpenter was part of Borthwick's squad during England's 2-0 series victory over Los Pumas but was unable to get on the pitch as experienced teammate Freddie Steward started both matches. But he will finally make his long-awaited Test match bow in the American capital this week as one of three players to earn a debut alongside second row Arthur Clark and centre Max Ojomoh. Carpenter, who was born and raised in Leeds before moving to the Salford Community Stadium, loved being part of those South American victories but says seeing his teammates deliver them made him more determined to succeed. 'It was definitely good to be a part of – but frustrating not to be involved,' he said. 'It definitely made me hungrier – Test level is a massive step up from the Premiership, and that was something that Steve mentioned at the start of the camp very early on. 'Watching the lads made me hungrier, and Freddie being here as experienced England player makes it really helpful to learn from him and work with. 'Competition been ridiculously high, not just with him but throughout the whole squad. 'Ultimately that has driven a better environment. 'Before we left the boys mentioned it's a squad effort – the lads that didn't play in Argentina were buzzing as well, because it was everyone's hard work. 'Those boys delivered it, but there were 36 lads who were training for three or four weeks before that, getting them ready and prepping them really well.'It was definitely a squad effort and it was fantastic to be a part of, especially in the changing room after. 'Not to play in the two games was tough, because you just want that first cap to happen, but it's happening this week. 'I couldn't be happier and I can't wait to get out there with the lads and prove what we can do.' Carpenter starts at Audi Field alongside fellow Sale Shark – and most experienced player in the group – George Ford, as well as prop pairing Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour. The Yorkshire star discovered he was playing at a team meeting at Washington DC's famous Watergate Hotel on Wednesday morning before a gruelling training session in red-hot American conditions. He informed his nearest and dearest at the first opportunity and dad Will, mum Jackie, partner Federica and brother Josh have all flown out to watch him pull on the famous England jersey for the first time. It's been a long journey from first picking up a rugby ball aged five but Carpenter can't wait to have all his family there roaring him on under the Saturday night lights. 'They were all ecstatic', he added. 'They were probably even prouder than I was as we were a bit stuck in the moment and focused on what we had to do at the weekend. 'But to hear them all buzzing for you is really special. 'It's a bit surreal – when you're that young you think it's miles away from what you're capable of, but as you progress though the academy to Premiership and start performing, it gets closer and closer. 'For it to finally come is fantastic and something everyone is ready for. 'I'm really excited for it – not just for myself but everyone else as well.'
Powys County Times
25 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Steven Pressley's Dundee see Premier Sports Cup hopes dashed by Alloa loss
Steven Pressley suffered a second defeat as Dundee manager as Alloa left their visitors' hopes of Premier Sports Cup progression in ruins. Dundee were on the end of another 1-0 defeat at the Indodrill Stadium after losing their opening game against Airdrie. The decisive moment came midway through the second half when Luke Graham could only turn Steven Buchanan's shot into his own net as he tried to clear in the goalmouth. The result moved Alloa on to nine points at the top of Group C, three ahead of Airdrie with a game more played. Mikael Mandron hit a hat-trick as St Mirren started and finished strongly in an 8-2 home win over Annan. Mandron put Saints three up inside nine minutes following Killian Phillips' double but trialist Myles Gaffney pulled two goals back for the visitors before Richard King converted a penalty on the hour mark. Stephen Robinson's side went goal crazy in the final 10 minutes with Mandron completing his treble and Jayden Richardson and Roland Idowu also on target. Ayr are a point behind Saints with a game in hand in Group D after Curtis Main hit a double in a 4-0 home win over Arbroath. Falkirk could not follow up their seven-goal thrashing of Brechin as they were held to a goalless draw by Cove in another trip to the North East. The Bairns gained a penalty shoot-out bonus point but Spartans moved top of Group A with a 2-0 win at Glebe Park. Stephen O'Donnell hit the only goal as Motherwell moved top of Group G with victory over Stenhousemuir at Ochilview. O'Donnell had earlier had a goal disallowed and Callum Slattery hit the bar from a free-kick before the defender converted from a back-post corner four minutes before the break. Livingston bounced back from defeat by Kilmarnock with a 2-0 home win over Brora Rangers. Danny Wilson opened the scoring with an overhead kick just after the half-hour mark and Zak Rudden headed the second with six minutes left. Ross County cut the gap on Group B leaders Partick Thistle to two points after Jay Henderson's second-half winner in a 1-0 victory over Queen of the South at Palmerston. East Kilbride moved top of Group F as they followed up their shock triumph over Raith Rovers with a 4-1 win at Elgin with the help of Jack Leitch's first-half double. St Johnstone joined the SPFL newcomers on six points after Uche Ikpeazu's 90th-minute goal – his first for the club – earned a 1-0 win at Inverness. Josh Cooper hit a double as Dunfermline got off the mark with a 4-0 win at Dumbarton.
