Rumour Mill: Andre Carvalhas | Manuel Pascali | Wales

Published on 21/02/2013 11:37

Celtic have targeted Portuguese winger Andre Carvalhas as a potential summer signing; Kilmarnock’s Manuel Pascali has been ruled out for the rest of the season and Wales are set to snub Rangers’ offer of facilities before their match with Scotland.

Celtic eye Portuguese winger Carvalhas

Celtic could make a move for Portuguese winger Andre Carvalhas, who is out of contract in the summer. The 23-year-old is currently with Segunda Liga team Naval, but is reportedly keen to experience football outwith his home country. Carvalhas, who has scored seven goals this season, is also attracting attention from Wigan Athletic, Italian pair Palermo and Siena, and Greek side Panionios.

The winger, who came through the youth ranks at Benfica, is reported as saying: “Perhaps this summer is the moment for me to try a new challenge outside of Portugal.

“I am waiting to see what happens but I have decided that I now want to accept a new challenge.”

Celtic were believed to be keeping tabs on Portuguese duo Helder Barbosa and Baba Diawara during the last transfer window. (Daily Express)

Manuel Pascali set to miss rest of season

Kilmarnock skipper Manuel Pascali looks likely to miss the rest of the season after being told he needs surgery on a hamstring injury that will sideline him for up to five months. Pascali was substituted during Killie’s 3-0 win away to Hearts at Tynecastle, with the full extent of the injury only just becoming clear. The 31-year-old suffered a similar blow this time last year, a broken leg forcing him out of Kilmarnock’s League Cup win over Celtic and the last few SPL games. Manager Kenny Shiels said he was ‘gutted’ for the player and has called on his team to ‘pull together and step up again.” The team lost influential duo Michael Nelson and Liam Kelly in the January transfer window, and Shiels will be anxious that his team doesn’t lose momentum in the SPL battle. (Daily Record)

Wales set to snub Murray Park offer

Rangers appear to have had their latest offer of training facilities turned down. The Ibrox side were reported to have offered the Welsh the use of Murray Park prior to their World Cup qualifier against Scotland at Hampden next month - but a Welsh FA spokesman has said: “There has been no official correspondence from Rangers on this issue. No contact has been made.

“In any case we have now arranged to fly up to Glasgow on the Thursday before the game and train at Hampden.”

Charles Green had already seen Juventus take him up on an offer to use Murray Park prior to their Champions League clash with Celtic, and the Rangers chief executive was keen to repeat the offer with Wales. However, despite not yet making contact with the Welsh FA, Green’s efforts look to be dead in the water already. (Daily Record)

Jimmy Calderwood interested in Dundee post

Former Aberdeen and Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood has thrown his hat into the ring for the vacant managerial position at Dundee, following the departure of Barry Smith yesterday. Calderwood has raced into an early lead to take the reins at Dens Park, and the one time Kilmarnock boss has said he is keen to get back into football. (Daily Express)

Rangers and Rapid sort out Jelavic cash

Rapid Vienna have called off a court action lodged with Fifa over money owed to the Austrian side from the sale of Nikica Jelavic to Rangers. Rapid were owed £1 million from the Craig Whyte regime, and didn’t receive a penny when the Croatian striker transferred to Everton for around £5 million in January last year. Rangers won’t face disciplinary action after they agreed to pay a sum of £800,000 to the Austrians following a settlement agreement three months ago.

Charles Green has also settled with Orebro, GAIS and Palermo for fees owed for the transfers of Mervan Celik, Alejandro Bedoya and Dorin Goian respectively. (The Scotsman)

Joint Russian-Ukraine league on cards

A cross-border Russian-Ukraine league could start as early as next year, according to reports from the countries. Conglomerate Gazprom, a major sponsor of the Champions League and the owners of Zenit St Petersburg, are determined to unite the two countries in a new league called the United Championship. Alexei Miller, chief executive of Gazprom, confirmed that the move needed UEFA’s approval and that he was confident of receiving the go-ahead. Belgium and the Netherlands are also looking at a cross-border league and Charles Green travelled to Belgium last week for discussions with Standard Liege chairman Roland Duchatelet, who has warned that without a Dutch-Belgian league, the game in the two Benelux countries would ‘die’.(various)